The Inny-Outy Brollie product reviews

OK, so this umbrella is not unique, as it turns out. With parallel importing rife, there are a number of "brands" out there with this in their stable, but as it turns out this was the first company to bring them into NZ in significant numbers for retail sale... so at last I have found the trailblazer!

Available in a wide range of 12 (at this stage) colours, this is a far more colourful offering than many others, though all the colours for this range are on the underside, so only visible to others when the umbrella is in the closed position. While this is in no way going to hamper the effectiveness, it does somewhat reduce its status as an "expression of personality".

As with some others I have tried, I found the C-shaped handle a little too small for my big hands, leading to some discomfort during use and a complete inability to use it 'hands-free' by looping it over my wrist. That said, since I don't use any other umbrella in such a manner this was not in any way a detrimental aspect for me. I was pleased to discover that the construction of this model is sturdier than the previous version I trialled - putting this one down on the ground in the closed position did not cause any of the attachment stubs to break. Even when I was 'less than gentle' they remained intact and thus the umbrella retained full functionality and didn't need any sudden repairs. For me, this greatly increases it's value for money, as something that requires repairs within a few weeks of purchase is not something I really want to rave about.

Coming in at around half the price of its peers, buying this brand is a better move, as far as I am concerned. Being able to choose from a veritable rainbow of colours also means it carries extra appeal to a wider audience. My only regret is that by the time this unit arrived and was undergoing testing, the weather had settled and there were none of the massive downpours I was hoping to run this through. Still plenty of wind though, some of which did test the limits of structural integrity, but this unit passed with flying colours.

Overall, of all the options out there, for 'inside out umbrellas', I think I would be happier paying a little extra and going for the brand leader, with a proven track-record, than paying a bargain price for a budget knock-off.