Umbrella: do you carry one?

Nope. I lived in Oregon for 15 years so a little bit of rain doesn't bother me. That, and I mostly bp in the desert.

So, your wife's the Marine? 

Yes, SC, where for at least 1/4 of the year a rain shell is useless. Was thinking an umbrella might be helpful in those situations. Headed out west to the High Sierras this summer and might use it as a sun/rain umbrella. 

Thanks for input. 

That's one I'm looking at. Let me know how it goes if gets use. 

Stay safe: some wicked weather been coming through in the southeast. 

I've been checking the forecast every day for a week. Some rain, but no high winds where I'm going.

I do and love it. The Swing Liteflex that Trinity mentioned, silver outer, weighs less than half a pound.

My primary use is for shade in exposed conditions in warmer months. I rigged up a way to clip it to my shoulder strap so I can hike with it hands-free. Benefits:

- It is noticeably cooler under this umbrella, and with the hands-free rig this cooling effect just follows me wherever I go. The silver coating reflects the sun and maximizes this cooling effect.
- I sweat a lot through my head and any hat makes my head hot and sweaty, so with the umbrella I don't wear a had and get every breeze across my scalp and it is just so much better.
- It provides a bigger sun protection area than a hat so can cover my entire face and neck and ears. But, that can change as you change directions on switchbacks or when the sun is at a lower angle.
- I end up using less sunscreen.
- As long as you have it for sun protection than yes, it can be great for rain protection as well.
- I sometimes can save weight in rain gear if I'm bringing the umbrella along -- depending on the forecast I may be able to bring just a wind shirt with the umbrella instead of a rain shell.
- The umbrella provides a bigger rain coverage area for you to rummage around in your hip belt pockets, pull out a camera, etc. And, your eyeglasses can stay raindrop-free.
- It also serves as a mini shelter to nap under during a break and to fill the rain protection of a UL tarp like my Gatewood Cape that is only semi-closed in the front.
- It's an impromptu privacy shield while you are, ahem, filling a cathole.
- I can use it as a pole to stake out a mid-panel tie-out on my shelter.

Disadvantages of the hands-free rig are that you may have to unclip the umbrella if you get near low tree limbs or you need to scoot under the gap of a felled tree, and you can get weird looks on the trail from less experienced hikers (I have found that the more experienced hikers see the benefits and start asking a lot of curious questions).

For trips under tree canopy or in colder months I may not take it, I don't find it's worth the weight for primarily rain protection. For me it's a sun/heat protection that has rain protection and other uses as an added bonus.