arata ASU-08 All-weather Lightweight Umbrella

Light-blocking, weight and strength - a perfect balance

ASU-08 Sunny and Rainy Day Travel Umbrella <br>Diameter: 86.5cm
8-rib design, full carbon fiber frame, UPF50+

This is Arata's first travel umbrella "AU-08", launched in 2024. It uses 8 foldable frames. It not only excels in light blocking, but also achieves ultra-lightweight, making it the lightest travel umbrella. Whether it is used in mountain climbing scenes or daily use in the city, this umbrella can perfectly meet various needs.

In order to achieve the ultimate lightweight, ASU-08 abandons the folding mechanism and is designed specifically for the pursuit of extreme lightweight. It is designed using high-end dry carbon fiber and a complete re-evaluation of frame strength. Finally, ASU-08/Silver achieved an ultra-light weight of 125 grams, and ASU-08/White reached 147 grams. Both are unparalleled lightweight options among 8-frame umbrellas, and provide excellent sun protection performance of UPF50+.

Allowing you to easily enjoy outdoor activities in any weather conditions.

The ASU-08 was also developed for Japan's mountainous environment. The size 50 is easier to control when facing the occasional strong winds on the ridges, and it can effectively cover men's shoulders, and the size is just right. Similar to the foldable AU-08, the ASU-08 provides a comfortable use experience in a variety of scenarios. (Due to the shape of the frame, the unfolded radius is 86.5cm, slightly smaller than the AU-08.)

Extremely lightweight carbon fiber shaft and frame

The ASU-08 uses carbon fiber for the shaft and frame to achieve exceptional lightness. Although its lightweight design may make you wonder about its wind resistance, in actual use you will find that this umbrella performs very reliably. Like the foldable AU-08, the ASU-08 also uses a carbon fiber frame, but the structure is further improved, using a more efficient round section design and optimizing the diameter according to the umbrella area, ensuring its sturdiness and stability. You can use it with confidence no matter what the weather conditions.

In actual use, even within the wind speed range you want to use the umbrella, blowing from the inside will not cause the umbrella to reverse, and when blowing from the outside, the deformation of the umbrella is also minimal, which can effectively prevent sunlight and rain. The design of ASU-08 does not only pursue lightweight, but also fully considers the wind resistance and ease of use in actual usage scenarios, ensuring that you can use it comfortably in various environments.

Balance between weight and light blocking

The most challenging aspect in developing the silver coating is the balance between weight and light-shielding properties. Increasing the coating thickness will improve light blocking properties, but will also increase weight. In fact, the situation is not that simple.

Factors such as coating amount, coating times, equipment quality, and base fabric influence each other, making it impossible to measure the final effect of the fabric with only simple indicators. After adjustments and multiple tests, we finally adopted a uniform and delicate silver coating with a light blocking rate of more than 99.7% and meets the UPF50+ standard.

Although this fabric meets our needs, there may be "visible light leakage" under sunlight. This makes us worried when it comes to commoditization. The supplier also suggested that we choose other fabrics, but since its UPF50+ performance was sufficient for UV protection, we finally decided to use this fabric because it can achieve a lightweight of about 22 grams.

Selection suggestions

When choosing the ASU-08, if you prioritize lightness, choose the silver color; if you value sun-blocking performance and want complete protection from the sun, choose the white color (the white color weighs 147 grams, making it the lightest option among the eight frame sun-blocking travel umbrellas we have investigated so far).

Handle design for comfortable grip

We are also very particular about the shape of the handle. During the launch of the folding umbrella, we delayed the launch because we insisted on this handle design. But this effort ultimately allowed us to continue using this design in the ASU-08. The shape of the handle is suitable for all hand sizes, so you won’t feel tired even if you hold it for a long time. It is also equipped with a special rope to prevent it from being blown away in gusts of wind.

ASU-08 / White
Diameter : 86.5cm
Weight: 147g
Material: 20D Polyester Ripstop 100% Light-Shielding Coating
Frame: Carbon Fiber
Shaft: Carbon Fiber
Storage Length: 61cm

ASU-08 / Silver
Diameter : 86.5cm
Weight: 125g
Material: 30D Polyester Pongee Silver Coating
Frame: Carbon Fiber
Shaft: Carbon Fiber
Storage Length: 61cm