Australian_Geographic_Outdoor_2016_07_08_

TESTED//EUROSCHIRM BIRDIEPAL OUTDOOR

RRP $85.95www.zenimports.com.auTe s te d byJUSTIN WALKER

Y

ES, YOU’RE LOOKING at an umbrella –
probably something our readers (or me, if I
am perfectly honest) never thought they’d
see in the pages of AG Outdoor, much less as a
gear test. But there’s actually a very good reason
the EuroSchirm Birdiepal Outdoor is here – it is far
more than just an umbrella. And yeah, I never
thought I would say that either.
The Birdiepal Outdoor is specifi cally designed
for outdoor/adventure use and all the rough-and-
tumble, bad weather and rugged treatment any
other part of an adventurer’s kit will cop during
use. The umbrella is lightweight yet robust, and is
designed to cope with extreme conditions such
as heavy rain and strong winds (the bane of an
umbrella’s existence). It is also great for shelter

from the summer sun when out hiking.

This umbrella has been seriously over-engi-

neered: the material is a high-end polyamide

fabric that resists tearing and deformation; this

strength is further enhanced via the double

stitching employed throughout the umbrella

canopy. The canopy is attached to a high-density

fi breglass frame that is designed to fl ex and bow;

it can even be turned inside out in winds and will

then return to its original sheltering shape. The

Birdiepal Outdoor was bent, twisted and put

through the proverbial wringer during testing

and bounced back each time.

Thanks to its lightweight construction it’s an

easy umbrella to carry around and the EVA

hard-foam handle feels comfortable in your hand.

Anot er neat feature is the um re fi reg ss

shaft that has been designed to ensure the

opening mechanism cannot twist around; as it’s

always in the same place it eliminates any

fumbling around in the dark when you’re trying

to get the umbrella opened quickly in a down-

pour.

For all my initial “Singing in the rain” thoughts,

the Birdiepal Outdoor has surprised me with its

performance in extreme conditions and it has

proven a great addition when on short hikes and

for just throwing in the car if/when bad weather is

incoming. It’s robust construction should see it

outlive just about any other umbrella; having a

portable shelter like this that is not going to fall

apart in trying conditions is something I would

never before have considered adding to my

hiking kit, but after only a few weeks of testing

this umbrella, I reckon it wouldn’t look out of

place on anyone’s trek packing list. I will never

look at the humble umbrella quite the same way

again...

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