I use the case as a pencil box - it's really nice for that. The umbrella is good enough, if you can get it open. the mechanism is fine but the cloth is too tight such that it is nearly impossible to get it to stay opened. Once it is opened and lock it seems firm enough. I opened it up and left it open for a few hours hoping that would stretch out the fabric, and maybe it has. I wanted a few 'brellas that were cheap enough that I could put several in places for when a pop-up shower came from nowhere, which in Florida is pretty common.