Umbrella tested: The X4U Ultra Light from Knirps makes the bend
3/11/2025
Translation: machine translated
Pictures: Anika Schulz
Can the lightweight umbrella from umbrella expert Knirps really withstand wind and weather? I have tried it out.
«It's only a storm when the sheep have no more curls», according to a northern German weather saying, and not without reason. Because in Hamburg, autumn is windy and wet. The rain crosses the window horizontally and leaves swirl through the streets. The best conditions for testing an umbrella, right?
Stormproof or windproof?
The X4U Ultra Light from Knirps promises to be particularly stable. According to the label, it can withstand 100 km/h in the wind tunnel. I find that hard to believe and take the umbrella up to the roof terrace (6th floor) of our office. According to the weather app, wind gusts of up to 50 km/h are forecast for today. That should be child's play for the Knirps model.
Well... As soon as I stand outside and open the umbrella, it folds over. So no more rain protection. I feel more like I'm flying a kite and have to hold the thing tightly so it doesn't fly out of my hand.
A look at the detailed product description on the company website reveals that I must have fallen for Knirps' windy, uhh... skilful marketing. It says that the 100 km/h in the wind tunnel does NOT refer to the fact that the umbrella does not fold down in a storm, but that it does not break when folded down. «The umbrella can withstand wind speeds of up to 100 km/h. This is achieved thanks to the six extremely flexible struts, which even allow the canopy to fold down without being damaged.»
Aha. And what's the point now? I'll still get wet. It seems to me that the wind tunnel test is mainly for the survival of the glider. As a kind of self-rescue - like bridges. They also swing, because otherwise they would collapse under too much load. But maybe that's not such a bad thing. After all, the Knirps costs 50 francs or 60 euros - so it would be a shame if it were to break off quickly.
Wet on the inside, dry on the outside
Let's move on to Knirps' second advertised feature: the dry case. The X4U comes with a kind of cosmetic bag. This is designed to prevent you from dripping all over everything. I think this is a really sensible idea! How many times have I left a puddle in the underground or (even worse) in my handbag with a dripping wet umbrella?
And indeed: the dry case works. Microfibre absorbs most of the water and the outside of the bag stays relatively dry. I just have to remember to take the umbrella out afterwards and put it up to dry, otherwise it will eventually go mouldy. The manufacturer has kindly labelled the bag accordingly.
Colourful, small and light: is that good or bad?
At just 130 grammes, the umbrella is lightweight, so I hardly notice it in my office rucksack. It also takes up very little space: the case measures just 23 × 6.5 × 3 centimetres. The disadvantage of this design, however, is that the X4U Ultra Light lacks the automatic clamping mechanism. It has probably fallen victim to the weight, so I have to open and close the umbrella by hand instead of simply pressing a button.
Another disadvantage: the umbrella only has a diameter of 90 centimetres, which means that I get quite wet at the sides and from behind. Because in Hamburg, the rain comes from all sides due to the wind - and the small umbrella just can't cope with that.
The product has even won a prize for its design, namely the Red Dot Award. Jury statement: «The compactness and light weight of the Knirps X4U are impressive. But what I like best is the palette of bright neon colours and the waterproof cover.» I can't say that I like the colourful leo pattern one hundred percent. But at least the bright look ensures that I won't be overlooked in the busy streets of Hamburg, even in cloudy weather. And that's a good thing too.
In a nutshell
Practical for the handbag, but only partially weatherproof
The X4U is useful, but only in drizzle and light wind. For everything else, you'd be better off wearing a Frisian mink. The Knirps gets three stars from me for its roadworthy look and the really useful dry case. Points are deducted for the small size and the creative but misleading marketing with the wind tunnel.
Pro
- Dry case saves the inside of handbags.
- Leo pattern is unmissable in traffic.
- super light
Contra
- Screen folds down very quickly. (Could also be a safety feature, but it's still annoying).
- No automatic clamping
- Quite small with a diameter of 90 centimetres
Header image: Stephan Lamprecht
Anika Schulz
Teamleader Editorial
Anika.Schulz@galaxus.deAs a child, I was socialised with Mario Kart on SNES before ending up in journalism after graduating from high school. As a team leader at Galaxus, I'm responsible for news. I'm also a trekkie and an engineer.
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