Gizmos & Gadgets: A Stormproof Umbrella Designed by a Dutch Windsurfer

March 31, 2018 – Gerwin Hoogendoorn back in 2006 decided he was fed up with umbrellas broken by windy weather. His research showed that 1.1 billion of these rain-repelling tools got thrown away every year ending up in trash bins after a bad storm. At age eight Hoogendoorn had taken up windsurfing as a hobby. But it wasn’t until he was in a master’s program in industrial design and engineering at Delft University that he decided to combine his avocation and hobby to solve a practical problem: creating an umbrella that could take on winds of up to 110 kilometers (70 miles) per hour and survive intact.

He built the first prototype with a sewing machine and glue and in October 2006 along with two partners launched his stormproof design. Within a few weeks, all 10,000 umbrellas in the first production run were sold. Soon the umbrella could be seen on Dutch streets, capable of surviving the worst that weather could throw at it.

Called Senz, the secret to Hoogendoorn’s design is its ability to redirect wind and always align itself in its direction. The umbrella floats rather than fights gusts. The elongated, kite-like shape makes it asymmetric rather than circular. The design is supported by sturdy ribs. As wind rushes under the umbrella instead of flipping or turning inside out, the design retains its stability.

Check out the picture below. Senz doesn’t look like any umbrella you have ever owned. Its front is angled upward to give the carrier an unobstructed view. The handle freely turns as wind strikes the umbrella allowing the shell to always face the direction of the wind. That means rain accompanying the wind gets deflected keeping the carrier nice and dry.

Senz has been the recipient of numerous design awards including the Dutch Design Award, Design Management Europe Award, the IDEA Gold award in the United States, and Time Magazine mention as one of the best inventions of the year.

It comes in a variety of models from stick to foldable to pocket automatics that open and close at the push of a button. It also comes in a wide variety of patterns and colours to suit your palette.

Senz can be ordered online on the company website, or through Amazon or at stores near you where you get to try it out in person. Depending on model and size, the umbrella is a little pricier than most. I’ve seen $60.00 US ($79.95 Canadian) in my brief online search.