The Only Umbrella You'll Ever Need

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I never used to have an umbrella on hand when I needed it most. Because of that, and my general poor planning, I've come home soaking wet more times than I'd like to admit. And the concept of a great umbrella had never really crossed my mind before. That all changed when I started using the Davek Mini.

Everything I had owned previously was too bulky, too fragile, or just something I picked up on a whim without much thought. We've all experienced that those emergency umbrella purchases all have an expiration date and never hold up. The Davek Mini is different. It's well constructed, despite being featherlight, and can hold up to a hearty windstorm without bending or breaking. Better yet, it fits in my bag and hardly adds any weight. If you can't already tell, this umbrella is shockingly so good, I decided to write an entire love letter on it.

The Davek Mini may be small, but it's mighty. It's equipped with an elastic wrist strap, and the frame is reinforced with fiberglass—it's super light and super comfortable to hold and carry. No bulky, awkward handle required, just a short end to grab onto, making the umbrella feel like an extension of your arm.

When opened, despite its lightweight frame, the mini umbrella has been able to withstand anything the weather and I have thrown at it. That includes heavy rain and wind from summer thunderstorms, as well as constant opening and closing on days that are just drizzly enough. No damage to the umbrella yet to report.

Here's a true story: The other day it was drizzling in the morning, but I was in a rush out the door. I walked through the light rain, believing I had forgotten my umbrella, and thinking it would be a problem for me after work. When I got to work I discovered that I hadn't forgotten my umbrella and my Davek Mini was at the bottom of my backpack after all. It's so compact I didn't even realize it was burried under my laptop, book, and e-reader. This was great news for the afternoon thunderstorm I encountered later in the day.

When you live in a climate with unexpected rain showers, having this on hand is key. Davek's flagship SOLO umbrella is a favorite in the Esquire office, but it's just heavy enough that I never want to take it with me for the day just in case it rains. The Mini doesn't have that problem. It's travel-friendly no matter how far or how light you are traveling.

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The last thing I love about my Davek Mini, which you might not, is that bright turquoise color. It's just one of many vibrant greens and blues you can get the umbrella in, or you can opt for a hi-vis red or yellow to really stand out.

Am I that much of a freak for self expression that I need the color of my umbrella to match my soul? No. I just want to be able to find the damn thing when I'm leaving a dark restaurant, digging through the umbrella holder at a coffee shop, or walking out of a house party. If I'm going to someone's home for a gathering on a rainy day, nine out of ten of those other umbrellas will be long, black, and identical. Not mine. If anyone else has the same Kelly Green or shade of Plum as you, it's most likely because they also have a Davek Mini. In that case you have a great conversation starter: We both have the world's best umbrella.

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Photographs by Florence Sullivan