Hyperlite Mountain Gear Essential Backpacking Umbrella Review

Overview

The Essential Backpacking Umbrella is Hyperlite Mountain Gear’s answer to the desert sun, the Pacific Northwest drizzle, and the hiker who would rather not sweat inside a rain jacket. Its calling card is a dual canopy: a vented upper layer that lets gusts pass through instead of turning the umbrella inside out. The price of that wind tolerance is a few grams and a rigid 24-inch shaft that doesn’t fold down.

Key Specs

Spec	Detail
Weight	193 g (6.8 oz)
Canopy diameter	97 cm (38 in)
Length	61 cm (24 in), non-collapsible
Canopy fabric	75D 190T pongee with silver coating
UPF rating	50+
Shaft	Carbon fiber
Canopy design	Dual canopy with wind vents
Water resistance	Water resistant
Extras	Soft grip handle, integrated reflective bungee carry loop
Approximate price	About $75

Performance

Wind. This is the reason to buy the Essential, and it is how most roundups rank it. Reviewers consistently single it out as the most wind-tolerant umbrella in the cottage-gear category. The vented gap between the two canopy layers bleeds off pressure, so a sudden gust is less likely to collapse the frame or yank it out of a hand. Buyers on Hyperlite’s own site report that it passed their wind tests. Some retailers add a caveat: it copes with moderate wind but is not a storm shelter. Above treeline in a real blow, any umbrella turns into a kite, and this one is the least kite-like of the bunch.

Sun. The silver-coated black pongee is rated UPF 50+, and the effect on a hot walk is noticeable. One owner who is sensitive to heat illness described feeling cooler within minutes at about 85°F after taking his hat off and putting the umbrella up. Desert and exposed-ridge hikers use umbrellas for exactly this reason, and the Essential’s 38-inch spread gives full shade to head and shoulders. One review notes that its UPF figure sits below that of Six Moon Designs’ Silver Shadow Carbon, though 50+ is the benchmark most sun-protective clothing aims for.

Rain. The canopy sheds rain well enough for showers and steady drizzle, and it lets hikers skip a rain jacket and its sweat penalty on warmer days. The vents have a cost. One review notes that water can seep through them in fierce storms, which is the point where most hikers would be reaching for a shell anyway.

Handling. A push button opens and closes the canopy, which testers highlight as easy to use in the rain or beneath low branches. The shaft is carbon fiber with fiberglass ribs. The grip is soft, and a reflective bungee loop makes the handle easier to find in low light. Reviewers have noted that this loop was unique to the Essential until Gossamer Gear added one to its Lightrek. Owners report the umbrella is light enough to forget in hand, and one noted it weighs less than her trekking poles. It also rides on the outside of a pack. Hands-free use is possible with third-party cords, but the loop is meant for carrying, not for strapping the umbrella to a shoulder strap.

Weight and bulk. At 193 g, the Essential is the heaviest umbrella in the cottage-brand lineup. Long-running comparisons put it about half an ounce above the Gossamer Gear Lightrek, but still more than an ounce under the GoLite Chrome Dome it descends from. The fixed 24-inch length means it won’t fit inside a small pack. Reviewers call it bulky next to compact folding models.

Owner satisfaction. Hyperlite’s product page shows a 4.8 out of 5 average across 54 reviews, with 96 percent of buyers saying they would recommend it. Not everyone is sold. One Australian buyer preferred the Zpacks umbrella.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Vented dual canopy handles gusts better than any single-layer ultralight umbrella
• 97 cm canopy with UPF 50+ gives full-body shade
• Button open/close works one-handed in rain
• Carbon fiber shaft and fiberglass ribs; reported durable
• Reflective bungee loop helps find the handle in the dark

Cons

• Heaviest of the ultralight umbrella pack, about half an ounce over the Lightrek
• Shaft doesn’t collapse, so 61 cm of length has to ride outside the pack
• Water can seep through the vents in a heavy storm
• Priced at a premium, around $75

Who Should Buy This

Desert thru-hikers, exposed-ridge walkers, and anyone hiking in places where wind and sun arrive together should buy the Essential. The same goes for hikers in warm, wet climates who want cover from showers without wearing a shell. Gram-counters who want the lightest possible umbrella, or who need one that stows inside a small pack, should look at the Lightrek or a folding model such as the Six Moon Designs Silver Shadow Mini. Hikers who expect it to replace rain gear in sustained cold storms should keep the jacket.

Verdict

The Essential trades a few grams and some packability for the best wind performance in a hiking umbrella. For hikers who plan to use an umbrella in open, breezy terrain, that trade is worth making. The weight and fixed length keep it from being the default pick for everyone.