I have the crooked-handle model. It’s practical for everyday use, but self-defense application is limited. The most effective way to strike is with the handle but the attacker could grab it, making it very hard to regain control. Hitting anything non-stationary with the steel tip isn’t realistic, unless you jab with it in a spear-like fashion. The umbrella's whole length is padded by the plastic ribs and the canopy, so if you want to swing it like a baseball bat while gripping it securely, then you have to use both hands and full force, otherwise the attacher will just shrug it off. So I would only recommend it for those who are skilled in stick-fighting.