Besroy Portable Sun Umbrella Review

Everyone needs protection from the sun’s harmful UVA and UVB rays—and, in addition to wearing sunscreen and staying out of direct sunlight at peak hours, a UV umbrella can help you do this. We tested Besroy’s Portable Sun Umbrella, carrying it with us through city streets and suburbs alike, evaluating everything from its design and build quality to its price and level of protection. Read on for our honest insights.

We liked that the product photos of this umbrella were more or less true to life. Its underside features a print of a starry night sky (similar to the ubiquitous and often reproduced Sky Umbrella from the MoMA), which is high-resolution, color-saturated, and very lovely. The outer side of the umbrella is black and has a rich, almost leather-like sheen. When open, the stitches along the panels of the canopy look stretched to their limit, but they’re well-sewn and seem secure.

This umbrella’s box, which features a foil-stamped logo, is also pretty nice—great for gifting, as long as it arrives in good shape. Also included is a tight, no-frills sleeve—unfortunately, ours ripped after one use.

This umbrella’s proportions were its main downfall. The octagonal handle is slightly more than 2 inches long and 1 inch in diameter, which we can attest feels very small in adult-sized hands. In other words, this umbrella feels more child-size than compact. Overall, we liked that its small size made it extremely portable, but because it’s awkward and uncomfortable to hold, we found ourselves less likely to use it.

Opening and closing the umbrella is done manually. There’s a button on the runner, but all it does is release the catch to close the canopy. That wouldn’t necessarily be a bad thing—manual operation means a lighter umbrella—but getting the umbrella to stay open took far more strength we expected, especially at first. However, collapsing the umbrella was easier, as the button release was responsive enough.

This umbrella is definitely portable. At 12.8 ounces and 11.8 inches long, we never felt like we were burdened while carrying it. The canopy diameter is 38.5 inches, which is just enough for one—and also, if you live in a city, the perfect size for navigating busy sidewalks.

This umbrella’s lightweight build makes it feel almost flimsy. Its aluminum frame doesn’t give the impression of sturdiness or resilience in the face of wind gusts, but if you’re buying for sunny skies more than storms, this may not matter as much. (We did get caught in the rain once with it and experienced neither leaks nor the dreaded inversion.)

Besroy doesn’t specify an exact UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) rating in its product description, but it does claim that the umbrella blocks 99 percent of ultraviolet radiation, which places it in the highest UPF protection category. People who are particularly vulnerable to UV exposure, like those with lupus or with a history of skin cancer, should feel confident while carrying this umbrella. 

We also tested the umbrella’s capabilities by holding a high-powered REI headlamp against the top of it and were pleasantly surprised that no light made it through to the starry sky beneath.

The umbrella costs approximately $25, which is on the higher end for comparable models. You’re clearly paying a premium for the packaging and the lovely print, rather than the frame materials. While $25 isn’t exactly a mint, we still question the umbrella’s longevity and whether it’s worth the price.

Since we loved the cosmos print but couldn’t get a grip on the handle of Besroy’s option, the C-shaped handle of Flexzion’s inverted UV umbrella in Sky Starry might a better choice for a nearly identical price. Its design is intriguing, too—the umbrella closes inside-out, which means you don’t have to fumble with a wet 40-inch mainsail every time you try to get into your car during a rainstorm.

Interested in reading more reviews? Check out our list of the best UV umbrellas.