REASONS TO BUY
Easy to transport
Compact
REASONS TO AVOID
Doesn't perform as expected in wind
EEZ-Y Compact Travel Review
The EEZ-Y is a decent umbrella but doesn't live up to claims about wind performance
EEZ-Y Compact Travel
Credit: www.eez-y.com
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Our Verdict
The EEZ-Y Compact Travel is a simple umbrella with a convenient button that both opens and closes the canopy. It was easy to tote around, but didn't edge ahead in some of the other categories such as durability and ease of use. It features a double canopy design which is supposed to help in high winds, but this design did not do much for us in the wind.
Our Analysis and Test Results
The EEZ-Y umbrella is certainly easy to use, as advertised. But it did not live up to some of the marketing claims in our rigorous testing.
Performance Comparison
Measuring the Compact Travel.
Credit: Lyra Pierotti
Rain Protection
The EEZ-Y performed relatively well in the most important category: rain protection. In our OGL Rain Test, raindrops struck at mid-thigh and at the forearm, decent to above-average performance. The canopy is relatively shallow, but it has a larger diameter which ensures decent but not excellent coverage, relative to other contenders in this review.
The Compact Travel umbrella has a decent canopy for its compact size.
Credit: Lyra Pierotti
Ease of Transport
The EEZ-Y is a small, compact umbrella that is easy to toss into a handbag or backpack. It has a very simple, no-frills storage sleeve that keeps it neat and tidy when not using it in the rain (or as a sunshade).
Comparing the EEZ-Y (top left, middle) to all the other umbrellas tested for this review.
Credit: Lyra Pierotti
Durability
This umbrella has a similar double canopy as the GustBuster, but did not perform nearly as well in our Wind Test.
Credit: Lyra Pierotti
In our OGL Wind Test, the EEZ-Y started shaking, rattling, and whipping around at 25mph and the telescoping shaft started collapsing as if it had not been deployed, but we couldn't get it to click anymore to stay put. The product then inverted easily at 15mph and appeared to nearly damage the spokes. EEZ-Y claims its double canopy design will "ensure incredible resistance to wind gusts up to 55 mph." We question what exactly "incredible resistance" means, in their eyes.
The Travel is compact and ready for your next adventure.
Credit: Lyra Pierotti
EEZ-Y claims that the tempered Black Metal Shaft and the 9 Reinforced Fiberglass Ribs (compared to the usual 6 or 8) make it stronger than "most competition." In our tests, this umbrella still inverted like nearly all the others, and it did not perform above average. Having 9 ribs meant the spokes didn't line up with one on the other side. Usually, the rib on one side essentially continues on the other side. This standard design seems like it would be stronger, from a simple structural perspective. Perhaps EEZ-Y is onto something, reinventing the wheel, so to speak, but we didn't notice any advantages in our field tests.
The Compact Travel is well put together, but the odd number of ribs don't line up and may have contributed to its weaker performance in high winds.
Credit: Lyra Pierotti
For a similar product that is much more durable, we'd recommend the Lewis N Clark Umbrella.
Ease of Use
The EEZ-Y has a very nice ergonomic handle that features an auto-open AND close button, which we really like for the ease of closing in crowded areas.
The Compact Travel umbrella's canopy open and closes with the same button--when closing, you do have to retract the shaft, however.
Credit: Lyra Pierotti
The canopy is noticeably heavier than others due to the overlapping, wind-resistant canopy design. The canopy was also very hard to close. Even though the button collapses the canopy, you must then retract the shaft manually, and that took some muscle and technique! The runner nests too close to the handle, making it hard to lock back into place when closing.
Style
The EEZ-Y umbrella is subtle and ordinary. Nothing exciting nor offensive.
Value
There are several other compact models we would recommend ahead of this canopy, all within the same price range.
The EEZY Compact umbrella has a comfortable grip.
Credit: Lyra Pierotti
Conclusion
If found on sale, the EEZ-Y won't disappoint. Otherwise, we found many of their claims to be a bit lofty, and if you buy this with high expectations of wind performance, or expect it to be an upgrade from you last bargain drug store umbrella, we imagine you'll be disappointed.
—
Lyra Pierotti
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