The illusion of "minus XX degrees." The truth behind the numbers.
Recently, we have seen more and more sensationalist claims in parasol advertisements, such as "It's minus X degrees under the umbrella!". With competition in the heat-blocking parasol market intensifying and a need for easy-to-understand appeal, such claims catch the attention of consumers.
However, the term "minus XX degrees" can be misleading. As a specialist umbrella manufacturer, we'd like to share the truth behind this number and provide some tips for choosing a truly cool parasol.
That number is not the temperature.
Let me start with the conclusion: simply using an umbrella does not lower the temperature.
The "minus ●● degrees" figure advertised is data measuring the difference in temperature rise when exposed to a heat source (artificial sunlight) with or without the fabric on under specific test conditions (for example, room temperature of 25°C, humidity of 50%).
This is merely an indicator of the "heat-blocking performance" of how much heat is cut, and does not guarantee that the temperature outside will actually drop.
The Consumer Affairs Agency also regulates such false or misleading representations under the Act against Unjustifiable Premiums and Misleading Representations (misleading representations of quality), and unfounded "negative representations" may violate the law.
The truth about how humidity takes away your "perceived temperature."
Why is there a discrepancy between test data and actual experience? The biggest factor is humidity.
The average humidity in Japan during the summer is extremely high at 60% to 70%, and it is not uncommon for it to exceed 75% on extremely hot days. On the other hand, general heat insulation tests are conducted in a comfortable environment with low humidity.
When humidity is low, sweat evaporates easily and you feel cooler, but in Japan's high humidity summers, sweat does not evaporate easily and heat builds up in the body.
Therefore, even if tests show a high heat-blocking effect, in the actual humid outdoors, it may not feel as cool as the numbers suggest.
Honest numbers tell the story of true coolness.
At Amber, we don't rely on these numerical tricks, but have established our own unique approach to heat protection and measurement methods in order to pursue the creation of truly cool parasols.
We publish two figures: the "heat-shielding rate (JIS standard)," which measures the performance of the fabric alone, and our own "heat-shielding effectiveness rate," which measures the coolness of the product in an environment similar to actual use.
By doing this, we hope to let consumers know not only the performance of the fabric, but also the true capabilities of the product.
Amvel's " HEATBLOCK " uses a special fabric that blocks 99.9% of near-infrared rays, the main source of heat in sunlight. This creates a comfortable space under the umbrella, just like being in the shade of a tree.
This summer, don't be fooled by "negative ratings" that have unclear justification, but choose a bottle that is truly worthwhile and based on reliable data.
