This is the English edition of a review from my Japanese YouTube channel, iestaLife. I review gadgets from my home studio in Japan, so product links go to Amazon Japan.
Quick take
Accordion-style sunshades are bulky and fiddly to put up and pack away. I bought an umbrella-style car sunshade, listed as Amazon Japan’s best seller in its category, and tried it on my Toyota RAV4. It opens and closes in seconds, covers the windscreen without gaps, and at around ¥2,000 it takes nearly all the hassle out of using a sunshade.
What I tested
- Umbrella-style folding car sunshade with 10 reinforced ribs, about ¥2,000 on Amazon Japan at the time of recording
- One size, said to fit almost all cars, with a faux-leather storage case
- Installed on the windscreen of a Toyota RAV4, a mid-size SUV
- Compared with the traditional accordion-style sunshade
What I found
- Folded, it is as compact as a folding umbrella and weighed under 500 g on my scale, lighter than a 500 ml bottle of water. It sits in the passenger footwell without getting in the way.
- The rib tips are flexible rubber, so they are less likely to scratch the interior or the glass.
- Accordion shades often lose their suction cups or ripple and leave gaps when the size is not quite right. The tension of the umbrella ribs presses this one flat against the glass, so it left fewer gaps and blocked more light.
- Setup is just opening it and fixing the hook-and-loop strap in the middle around the rear-view mirror. It covered the RAV4’s windscreen from edge to edge.
- It is silver on the outside and black on the inside. I was worried it would clash with my dashcam, but on the RAV4 it fitted without any problem.
- Folding it is as quick as an umbrella. Fitting it neatly into the case takes a little care, but for everyday use I just bundled it with the included strap.
Who it’s for
It is best for anyone who stopped using a sunshade because putting it up and packing it away was a chore. For a cheap way to beat the summer heat in the car, I was very happy with it. If your dashcam or other gear sits near the mirror, check the fit, as it may get in the way on some cars.
The video is in Japanese.
Limitations
I only tried it on one car, a Toyota RAV4, so coverage and dashcam clearance may differ on yours. The price is in yen from Amazon Japan at the time of recording.
Products
Umbrella-style folding car sunshade (10 reinforced ribs): on Amazon Japan
The Amazon Japan links above are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Check the listing for the exact model, current price and shipping availability in your region.
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This review is also available in Japanese.