Someone’s gadget-filled brainchild is getting festival-goers talking: a pop-up “car umbrella” designed to deploy over your vehicle to shield it from sun, hail and whatever else the elements decide to throw at you.
The idea is pure festival practicality — protect a parked car at campgrounds or long weekend lots — but the reaction has been mixed. Some see it as a clever tool for car campers and road-trippers who want to avoid cracked windshields and baking interiors. Others call it over-engineered and worry about long-term durability after a few uses.
As with a lot of festival gear, the trade-offs matter: weight, ease of deployment, how it holds up in wind, and whether it’s actually faster or easier than a good tarp and some bungee cords. There’s also the social factor — a flashy gizmo can draw attention (and maybe envy) in a crowded lot.
If you’re thinking about bringing one to your next festival: test it at home first, make sure it’s rated for the conditions you expect, and be realistic about setup time. For most people, a simple, rugged solution still wins — but for car-camp purists and folks in hail-prone regions, this could be a niche upgrade worth considering.
Festival hack or overcomplication? Either way, the conversation shows the community’s appetite for creative (and sometimes ridiculous) gear solutions — and we’ll keep an eye out for what actually survives the festival circuit.
Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/festivals/comments/1p9eyqu/its_time_to_use_the_car_umbrella/