Sport-Brella chair gives seating comfort, UV protection

As RVers, most of us tend to be outdoorsy folks. Getting out in the open air brings such a refreshment--but at the same time, it can be a worry. In the US, the rate of non-melanoma skin cancer has reached what one expert describes as "an epidemic." Howard Rogers, MD, PhD, who practices dermatology in the Advanced Dermatology Center in Norwich, Connecticut. Dr. Rogers told the journal Medscape Oncology, "We define an epidemic as a disease process that affects a large proportion of the population and that keeps on increasing and this shows no signs of leveling off."

Before you run screaming into the shelter of your basement storage compartment, better you should simply open it and remove a Sport-Brella chair. Calmly set up the Sport-Brella in a location with a view of a calming, scenic view such as a river, canyon, or forest, and settle yourself in. Adjust the UV-resistant umbrella, take a few deep breaths, and try not to doze off.

The folks at Sport-Brella.com have built what may be another essential part of your RV gear. Imagine a tidy, sturdy carrying case, out of which you slide an easy opening sporting chair. Pop open the chair, lift a slide, and what opens up is a 50 UPF rated umbrella that shields you from harmful UV radiation, and cuts wind (or gasp!) even unexpected precipitation. The umbrella can be set on either side of the chair and swivels a full 360 degrees.

Concerned about your girth? Not to fear, the chair beats "first class" seating on airlines, giving to a 46" width, supporting up to 280 pounds. The umbrella is a wide, 46" protective dome over the seat's occupant. Built out of nylon and canvas, the foundation is a lightweight steel frame, suitable for use just about anywhere.

In addition to the great sunshade, Sport-Brella chair also has a couple of other useful "accessories" if you will. We found the build-in zippered pouch an excellent place to stow the carrying case and paperback book. And for those who need one, what we used to call a "Church Key" makes opening bottled beverages quick and easy. A cup (or bottle) holder completes the setup.

The Sport-Brella folks were kind enough to send us an evaluation copy, which we lugged with us over a 3,500 mile road trip across the west. Whether in the Rockies of Wyoming, or along the benches overlooking Arizona's Colorado River, the chair gave our tired tushes a welcome relief. The 50+ UPF rating meets the standard for "ultimate in UV sun protection." A 40 - 49 rating ("Excellent" on the scale) indicates that 97.5% of UV radiation is blocked.

With an SRP of $39.99 and available in blue, green, or red, you may find the Sport-Brella chair a welcome addition to your RV equipment inventory. You can order them on-line, or get information on nearby dealers by checking out the sport-brella.com web site.