Who are the "great supporting actors" of umbrellas?
If we consider the "people = umbrella ribs theory" (see The surprising relationship between the kanji for umbrella and bones (Part 1)) to be correct, then the ribs must have been considered such an important part of an umbrella that they are even represented by hieroglyphic kanji. When it comes to an umbrella, the main part is undoubtedly the "fabric" that takes up most of the appearance and actually keeps out rain and sunlight. However, people in the past probably thought that the ribs also played an indispensable role as "great supporting actors."
However, it goes without saying that modern umbrella ribs have evolved significantly since those days. To put it simply, the number of actors has increased and their skills have improved.
What is "fiber reinforced plastic"?
Looking at the broad category, the new ribs that have been attracting the most attention in recent years are "fiber reinforced plastics." This is the name of a rib material that has the best of both worlds: it is very strong, yet flexible like a fishing rod, and is also light and rust-resistant. High-end umbrellas use carbon fiber reinforced plastic (carbon fiber ribs), which is also used in aircraft bodies, while more affordable umbrellas use glass fiber reinforced plastic (glass fiber ribs).
There are also many other materials for umbrella ribs, such as lightweight aluminum alloys and traditional, strong steel. The number of ribs also varies. The basic type has eight ribs, but there are also umbrellas with 12, 16, or 24 ribs, known as "multi-rib umbrellas."
There are a wide variety of umbrella options, what should you look for when buying one?
So, what I want you to know is that when you buy an umbrella, you can choose it by considering the "material and number of ribs" depending on your purpose. For example, if you want an umbrella that is not easily broken in the wind or rain and is also lightweight, choosing an umbrella with carbon ribs is one way to go. The more ribs there are, the stronger the umbrella will be, so multi-rib umbrellas are also a good choice. A multi-rib umbrella with carbon ribs could be called the "strongest umbrella."
In addition to carbon ribs, if you want a strong and lightweight umbrella, you can also choose the popular umbrella with fiberglass ribs. If you don't mind it being a little heavy, but just want a sturdy umbrella, a steel rib umbrella is also an option. Recently, wind-resistant ribs that can return to their original shape even if they become bent have also appeared, and the variety of ribs is becoming more abundant. For those who used to choose umbrellas based on the pattern and design of the fabric, why not try looking at the material and number of ribs to buy an umbrella that suits your purpose?
