Well here's something new that we never knew we needed: an umbrella sharing service!
Rentbrella is a Brazilian company that has installed over 25 umbrella sharing stations in high traffic areas all over Manhattan. Each station is home to 80-100 umbrellas that New Yorkers can grab FOR FREE and use for 24 hours before returning them.
Goodbye to $10 kiosk umbrellas and plastic windbreakers.
look for the happy little Rentbrella kiosks
Here's how it works. Download the Rentbrella app, (Apple) or (Google) to find the station nearest to you on the map and tap the "I want an umbrella" icon, scan the QR code on the station screen, and use the token generated in the app to unlock the item. A blue light will start blinking around the umbrella that is unlocked for you and you can use it for up to 24 hours — with a complimentary period longer during weekends and holidays.
If you use the item for more than 24 hours, you will be charged a $2 fee until the end of the third day — after which you will be charged a one-time fee of $16. You can even opt to purchase the umbrella for $16 if you decide you just want to keep it.
Not only are the umbrellas free, but they were also specifically designed to withstand New York's climate. They are all rain and sun resistant, made with state-of-the-art hydrophobic material and fiberglass! It provides extra shielding from those strong winds that seem to always break everyone's umbrellas and boasts UV protection capabilities.
Not only are they umbrellas that work, but they’re also sustainable and eco-friendly as each umbrella is made from recycled PET bottles!
