Umbrellas?

[Magic City Matt]

Any body use em? What brand?

[PastorLarryT]

Only from the parking lot to the office (or vice-versa) or around the mill.  I use a rain suit or poncho while hiking or outdoors.

[Graceless]

seriously you guys, how else are you suppose to shower?

[Mountain Dog]

I've used them and, in certain weather and on open trails, they are the best thing going.  They are best when the wind is not high, the pull is not so severe that you really need the sticks, and the trail is wide enough that you must not constantly drop the umbrella to get through.  Unlike all other rain options, umbrella allow you to hike and not get soaked from your own sweat.  I started out with a dollar general brand and now have a sea to summit or some such upper line.  The weight were about the same but the price was not.  The dollar general did not last too long but it would have lasted longer than most outings of most people.  There are a lot of tricks to using umbrella and making it more fun, mostly in how you attach the umbrella to your pack or having a strap helping you support the umbrella.  Some people use them like you would in town.  I found the umprella became too heavy over time so I use a method of holding on to a shoulder strap while also holding the umbrella.  I've seen umbrellas attached to trekking poles, sliped into pouches on shoulder straps and then velcroed higher up to allow the hands to be completely free, an the story goes on.  They are really worth a lot of aggrivation, and there is really not much, in warm weather hiking when no cover is probably better than normal rain gear.

[Skippy]

I have used them occaisonally,they do work well but not really worth the extra weight on a long hike.I really like the Sea to Summit poncho used with my rain pants the best. the pocho has snaps on the bottom if it is windy and I seem to stay cooler because it ventilates good. the poncho covers your backpack so you don't need a pack cover.
If it is really raining hard and I am able to find shelter I will try to get out of it and wait it out,but sometimes thats not even a option :'(

[Cuffs]

Golite and Eagle Creek make some very small umbrellas.  I wont use one for the simple fact that I dont want 'one more thing' to carry around, and then have my has tied up when I have to use it.  Besides, they will only be good if its a wide open trail, trees will be grabbing at it otherwise.

[ednotmilkman]

I like a poncho too. Mine is hard to get all the way over a full pack, especially if I'm hiking alone, but still that keeps your front AND back vented even if you still have to put the pack cover on, vs having a rain jacket tightly zipped and between your back and the pack.

I have not found a way to keep rain out of my boots though - just stuff a towel in to soak up what you can after you take your boots off.  Maybe neoprene gaiters??  but thats too fancy for Alabama !