I used to hate umbrellas. Over the years, I’ve sent a small army of flimsy, bland, and poorly made ones to an early grave in a trash can. Living in a city like Vancouver, where rain is a constant companion, a failing umbrella feels like a personal insult.
An umbrella, like a good pair of shoes, is an extension of your style. It’s a functional accessory you rely on, so it should look good and perform flawlessly. That belief is what led me to the Senz° XL Storm Umbrella, a purchase I was genuinely excited to make.
This isn’t just another umbrella. The Senz° XL is brilliantly engineered, uniquely designed, and surprisingly affordable. It’s proof that you don’t need to spend a fortune to get a high-quality product that won’t let you down.
Why a Better Umbrella Is a Smarter Choice
Most umbrellas are designed to be disposable. It’s a frustrating reality that contributes to a massive amount of waste. According to reports, an estimated 1.1 billion umbrellas are thrown away every single year. This is because they are made with cheap components and simply aren’t built to handle a real storm.
Senz° was founded to solve this exact problem. It started in 2006 when three students at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands got tired of their umbrellas constantly breaking. One of the founders, Gerwin Hoogendoorn, used his engineering background to completely rethink the design, focusing on aerodynamics instead of resistance. The result was an umbrella designed to last, fighting back against the “throwaway culture” that plagues the industry.
The Senz° XL Storm Umbrella: What Makes It Different?
From the moment you open it, you can tell the Senz° is in a different league. It’s the small details and smart engineering that truly set it apart from every other umbrella I’ve owned.
A Revolutionary Aerodynamic Shape
The most striking feature is its asymmetrical shape. It has a shorter front and a longer, tapered back, which looks a bit like an airplane wing. This isn’t just for style, it’s the core of its performance. Instead of fighting the wind, the umbrella’s aerodynamic profile allows it to float and find the most stable position.
This patented design has been tested in wind tunnels and is proven to withstand winds of up to 100 km/hour (about 62 mph) without turning inside out. Even when I tried to force it by jumping from a small height, it held its shape perfectly. The unique canopy also improves your forward visibility, so you’re not blindly navigating sidewalks.
Built with Quality Materials
You won’t find any flimsy parts here. The Senz° XL is built with a combination of high-grade aluminum and reinforced fiberglass ribs. This makes the frame incredibly strong yet surprisingly lightweight. It feels durable enough to handle daily use and the occasional drop without issue.
- High-Density Canopy: The fabric is a premium, quick-dry pongee polyester that offers UPF50+ UV protection, blocking over 98% of UV radiation. This makes it just as useful on a sunny day as it is in a downpour.
- Patented “Eyesavers”: The tips of the umbrella ribs are designed to be safe and protect the eyes of fellow pedestrians, a thoughtful touch for crowded city streets.
Smooth and Simple Operation
Opening and closing the umbrella is effortless. To open it, you simply pull the mechanism down toward the handle where it clicks securely into place. A single press of a button on the handle is all it takes to close it. The entire process is smooth and reliable.
Whether I’m looking out at the fog or just enjoying the rain, the unique design of the Senz° XL Storm Umbrella did an excellent job of protecting me from the elements.
As you can see, the umbrella easily withstands the force of me jumping from a small ledge, a test that would destroy lesser umbrellas.
My Final Thoughts: A Truly Senz-ible Choice
Usually, this is where I would list a product’s flaws, but I honestly have no complaints. Senz° has achieved something remarkable. They created an umbrella that is strong, functional, and genuinely good-looking.
The company’s innovative approach has earned it numerous international design awards, including the prestigious Red Dot Design Award and an iF Design Award. This umbrella has moved me from someone who hated carrying one to someone who appreciates that at least one company cares about quality craftsmanship.
You can buy the Senz° XL Storm Umbrella on the official Senz website for about €59.95.
