Tired of disposable umbrellas that turn over and break, only to end up in the trash? At François, you'll find wind-resistant umbrellas, even for the seaside, thanks to their carbon fiber or fiberglass ribs.

Which of our umbrellas are windproof?

Today, we are the only umbrella manufacturer in France to use carbon fiber ribs on all our products. straight umbrellas. Forerunners in this field, we realized some twenty years ago that carbon fiber had nothing but advantages over steel. This material gives umbrellas flexibility and lightness, and above all true wind resistance: it's a flexible material that can never be twisted! So you can face the extreme winds of the seaside without your umbrella flipping over. A durable and solid umbrella for many years to come! And to convince you of its flexibility, here's a video demonstration.
A durable and solid umbrella for many years to come !
And to show you just how flexible it is, here's a video demonstration.

Our straight umbrellas weigh between 430 and 540 grams, depending on the type of fabric.
Our large umbrellas weigh between 530 and 640 grams, depending on the type of textile.
Our customers are always surprised by the lightness and flexibility of their ribs.
This makes them sturdy and pleasant to carry on a rainy day.

So why do cheap folding umbrellas break in the wind?

Who hasn't bought a €10 or €20 umbrella to tide them over during a trip, only to have it last a day or two, only to throw it away? Sometimes, even buying an umbrella from a brand that's a little more expensive will produce the same result, but why?
95% of the umbrellas sold worldwide in supermarkets or by retailers are imported, and the materials used are mostly very low-end.
The ribs are made of aluminum, which is a poor, malleable metal with no strength.
It bends very quickly at the slightest flexion, so the slightest gust of wind will immediately twist or even break it.
The rod will also be of poor quality, not to mention the fabric and stitching, which are not made to last.

And if I buy a French folding umbrella, will it be more wind-resistant?

A French folding umbrella will be much more wind-resistant, even if its design means it will always be a little less sturdy than a straight umbrella.
We use steel and fiberglass ribs on all our folding umbrellas.
Because real steel is much stronger and more flexible than aluminum, this will make the umbrella much stronger, and to provide extra strength, we also add fiberglass to the ribs. But why not carbon fiber on folding umbrellas?

Because, by definition, a folding umbrella has to fold, the whale also folds into 3 parts.
Section 1 at the top of the umbrella is made entirely of very hard steel, section 2 in the middle is made of fiberglass, and section 3, which is the last section and is located towards the needle, is made of soft steel, because the wind load of a folding umbrella comes from the middle of the canopy to its needles. We've countered this weakness by adding high-quality, sturdy materials. You'll notice that, in a normal wind, your folding umbrella won't turn over. If the wind is really strong, it may turn over, but it won't break, and it won't damage the ribs! All you have to do is put it back in its original position.

Our folding umbrellas for women weigh between 420 and 490 grams, depending on the type of fabric.
Our folding umbrellas for men weigh between 500 and 570 grams, depending on the type of fabric.
Yes, but it's heavy compared to an umbrella I buy elsewhere?
Imported umbrellas are often small and light (around 200 grams), but that's no guarantee of quality - on the contrary!

So choose a quality, sturdy, repairable umbrella instead of a disposable one !