I used it during the rainy season in Mexico. It is easy to open and compact enough to fit in my backpack. It is also large enough that two people can easily fit under it. In fact it is so great that someone stole mine! So I bought another one in a brighter color, figuring I could see it from afar in case the second one also gets stolen. The first one I bought was a staid, neutral burgundy. The second one is red and can clearly be spotted from a distance and I absolutely love the color!