GustBuster Classic 48-Inch Automatic Golf Umbrella

The media could not be loaded. <---Short Test Video of Metro 43 Inch, not the larger 48 Inch Classic.The GustBuster 48 Inch classic stick style umbrella is probably the last umbrella you may need to buy. Granted you take good care of it and do not leave it on a bus or train.The umbrella (automatic version) is easy to open, is light weight, and above all lives up to its "gust-busting" claims of very high winds.Although I do wish it was just a wee bit larger, perhaps 52 inches, it is still large enough to shield most of your upper body in moderate downpours with light winds without having to play umbrella chicken with other folks passing by.It is a nice one person umbrella...but not for two.However, for a taller man, the lower legs may still catch some of the rain run off. But not too bad.While I found the quality of the fabric just average, the handle, stick, and ribs of the product feel strong and stable; ready to tackle high winds. Each outer spoke attaches the upper canopy using elastic bands. The lower canopy seems to be more rigid and attached to the main frame.When the wind does get under it, both canopies separate allowing the wind to just flow through the large holes, all while keeping you dry. The elastics let the upper canopy stretch upwards which seems to work the magic preventing the umbrella to invert.The reason I am writing this review is because it passed its real test just yesterday when here on Staten Island, New York, we had heavy rain with wind gusts of up to 50 MPH. (the GustBuster claims it handles 55+ winds).I figured this was a good opportunity to give it a try.In between the Supreme Court building and 130 Stuyvesant Pl is like a wind tunnel on days like this. There are always destroyed umbrellas in the garbage bins on either side of the street.My Gustbuster did its job impressively while everyone else around me had their umbrellas blown inside out.Before the Gustbuster, I had a Hammacher Schlemmer "wind defying" umbrella which was sort of ok in light to medium winds (25 MPH or so), but did blow inside out on me twice, the second tearing part of the fabric off the ribs.So, for folks who want a true wind resistant umbrella. Go with the Gustbuster. And also keep in mind that the classic stick style has the best overall quality build.Just don't lean the umbrella into the wind (as if shielding yourself) since this does put pressure on the ribs, and try and keep it half-open to relief pressure and extend the life.Don't walk into an EF 1 or higher tornado with it either, ha ha!Also, the Metro 43 Inch version that I bought as a spare seems a bit flimsy and not as strong as the classic stick version...the parts on the metro feel somewhat cheaper. Didn't give that one the test yet though...I'm not sure about the larger 62 inch umbrellas.Hope my review was helpful for those considering this product.=======UPDATE! SEE SHORT VIDEO TEST Above ("METRO" MODEL)=======Just yesterday (3/13/10) we had extremely strong winds here on Staten Island, New York with reported gusts over 65 MPH.I figured that this was yet another great opportunity to give my 2 Gustbusters another wind test.My Classic 48 Inch umbrella performed the same as usual...but it was the smaller 43 Inch Metro that I wanted to test.Although having somewhat of a lesser construction quality, it held up pretty good. The winds on Fox 5 news were reported around 30 to 35 MPH sustained with gusts of up to 60+ MPH.The Metro did a very good job at holding together for the most part, but...a very strong gust, probably 55 to 60 MPH I'm guessing, did manage to cause it to finally invert, (not shown in video).However, no major damage occurred and I just faced it back in to the wind to correct it again.So, these umbrellas WILL invert, but only in gusts that are extremely high! I live right near the coastline so our winds were some of the stronger gusts. In these cases don't even bother using an umbrella since you're going to be wind-soaked anyway.Overall, I still rate the Classic stick style at 5 stars (the Metro at 3 1/2 stars due to lesser quality) and trust me that they do perform as advertised. But do expect them to blow inside out in those rare 55+ gusts as it did in my test run.After all they are labeled and wind tunnel tested at 55+ MPH, so that is pretty accurate and honest advertising.Hope this update was helpful!

I bought this GustBuster umbrella March 30, 2011, but I didn't have an occasion to use it until earlier this week (April 19, 2011). Normally, I ride my bike to work, but I knew that there would be torrential rain, wind gusts, sleet, and snow on the 19th. So, I retired my bike, donned my rain boots and took my GustBuster out for a spin. I have to say, I was skeptical. I read all of the reviews before purchasing the umbrella--especially, the reviews that mentioned how fickle it is in construction (i.e. breaking easily). I didn't have that experience with this umbrella. It held up under the absolute worst weather conditions. It got sleeted on, hailed on, and rained on. All the while it kept me super dry. Not only that, but it held up in the face of serious gusts of wind. I had to hold the umbrella with both hands because I was afraid it was going to rip right out and float away. It was that bad. The umbrella jostled a bit, but I was able to keep it over my head and it never flipped. I thought it would, too! The cool thing about the umbrella is that it has a second layer of flaps that thread the wind. When the wind gusts hit, the flaps opened up and let the air through. It was pretty cool to watch, actually. So, needless to say, I made it to work (about a one and a half mile walk) totally dry and smiling confidently. I walked by a lot of people that were fighting with their umbrellas and I saw a lot of flipped umbrellas as well.By the way, the umbrella is very nice aesthetically. I don't particularly care for the color pink, but it's not really a bright pink. It's much more understated--like a carnation pink, so it's attention-grabbing, but not in a bad way. The curved wooden handle looks so elegant (and it really comes in handy when the wind starts to act up). Also, I really like the little button on the stem that allows me to open the umbrella quickly and effortlessly.I'm happy to give this item five stars. All I could think about on my way home from work on the 19th was the awesome review I needed to write about this umbrella, because it really does get the job done.