Beach Umbrellas at Risk of Extinction: This Invention is the Perfect Alternative to Worrying About the Sun and Wind
Spending a day at the beach is no longer as simple as it was a few years ago, when you just had to put on your swimsuit, fill an ice cooler with food and drinks, and head to the nearest shore to set up your umbrella and towels. Although the essence remains the same, people are looking for greater conveniences in all aspects of life, including when it comes to traveling and something that seems as simple as going to the beach.
Technology has also arrived at the coast, and you just have to look around to see inflatable and electric boards gliding over the water, or even propellers that allow for faster swimming with less effort. Now, the revolution has reached beach umbrellas, and soon we will say goodbye to this object as we know it. This new invention is an inflatable canopy that has a very simple setup and provides shade for four people underneath.
How does it work?
The inventor of this product is the company ShadeSock, which went viral on social media last summer. It is priced around $177, and although it may seem expensive, it is a long-term investment because it lasts much longer than a regular umbrella. The company presents it as a product that "flies silently without making any flapping noise," in contrast to other beach umbrellas that move too much in the wind.
Its design allows the canopy to inflate to capture more wind than it releases. With this accumulated pressure, it avoids moving. It features a 360-degree self-adjusting structure to help the canopy rotate according to the sun's and wind's needs. Its dimensions are 2.4 meters wide and 3 meters long, providing shade for a group of up to four people. Additionally, the material has two layers of UFP 50+ protection against UV rays.
What about strong or very weak winds?
A content creator named Arin Solange, who specializes in finding products on Amazon, uploaded a video demonstrating how it works along with other beach tips. Some people commented positively, saying it is "like a cloud," although there are users who are more hesitant. One remarked, "If you're in Cádiz and there's Levante wind, you'd take it to Murcia." Another asked, "What happens if there's no wind?" in the comments section.
The creators also respond to these types of questions. According to the company, the canopy is designed to withstand strong winds, although it comes with a rope in case it needs extra support. It can also hold up with very weak winds, functioning in wind speeds between 4 and 20 mph. Moreover, it is easy to transport and store, as it comes in a compact canvas bag. It seems that umbrellas are running out of time.