Best Beach Umbrella – As spring approaches, the days are sunnier and we can’t help but think about summer to come. However, although the sun and the sea always bring us good memories, it is important that we be responsible and take care of our skin. Hence the importance of beach umbrellas.
Although we do not usually pay the necessary attention to this article that is so familiar to us in summer, the truth is that it is a fundamental factor to be able to enjoy the summer season to the fullest. Therefore, this guide will help you to be completely prepared. You sign up?
Best Beach Umbrella
The most important
- Although it may seem silly, the beach umbrella plays a fundamental role in our days on the seashore. UV rays can have a harmful effect on our skin and the umbrella will protect us.
- There are many models of beach umbrellas, but only some will be able to satisfy our needs and be completely useful to us. After all, we’re going to enjoy the beach, right?
- Therefore, to always choose the one that best suits us, it is important that we take into account purchasing factors such as materials, dimensions, portability and other functional characteristics.
The best beach umbrellas on the market: our favorites
Are you one of those who buy the first beach umbrella you find in the corner store, right next to the beach bar? If so, you don’t know how many possibilities you are leaving out. We have been researching and then we show you the best ones on the market.
- The most basic and functional beach umbrella
- The beach umbrella with the most classic design
- The best 2-in-1 beach umbrella
- Best Square Beach Umbrella
Shopping Guide: Everything You Should Know About Beach Umbrellas
Now that you have realized that perhaps buying the first beach umbrella we find is not the best option, surely you have had some questions. Well, we have just created this second section to answer all of them. Grab paper and pen, let’s get started!
What are the advantages and disadvantages of using a beach umbrella?
When we start to go to the beach, there are times when the belongings accumulate at the door and, when we leave, we think that maybe it is too much. By this thought, we can get to do without carrying the umbrella with us. However, its use has many benefits.
As you can see, although there are some disadvantages, the advantages are much better. It is important that we are aware of the importance of protecting our skin from ultraviolet rays to avoid uncomfortable burns, headaches or even greater ailments.
What types of beach umbrellas are there?
Although we can find a multitude of different beach umbrella models, with very varied designs and shapes, all of them could be grouped into three large groups. Thus, we can talk about:
| Hand held beach umbrellas | Standard beach umbrellas | Tent-type beach umbrellas |
|---|---|---|
| Despite not being the most common, they are also very practical. It is a very compact type of umbrella, which we can carry with us without being a heavy load and which, after all, does its job. Of course, you will have to be holding them all the time. | Those of a lifetime, with its upper fabric and anchored to the sand through a tube that is usually made of steel or aluminum. Normally, they can be oriented according to the position of the sun and have a bag for easier transport. | The latest revolution in beach umbrellas. In this case, a kind of side wings are added to the standard umbrellas that will form something like a small tent. They are very useful especially to protect from the wind. However, we must pay more attention to its anchoring. |
How should a beach umbrella be placed?
Beach umbrellas are very practical, but it is important to place them well to ensure that they fulfill their function and avoid being dangerous. Otherwise, a gust of wind could carry it away and hurt someone when it falls. Therefore, it is essential to pay special attention to their placement.
- The first thing is to prepare the hole in the sand. This must be narrow and deep enough so that the umbrella is anchored and stable. You can do it both with the umbrella pole itself and with an accessory designed for it.
- Make sure the sand is somewhat damp to make it more compact . If you see it too dry, moisten it yourself.
- Once you’ve inserted the stick into the hole, step on the surrounding sand to set it a bit more. You can also put a mound of sand or some stones.
- To place the upper part, it is essential that you take into account the position of the sun to orient it in the correct way.
- The height at which you can place the umbrella will also depend on the strength of the wind. If it is very windy, it is best to put it as low as possible to prevent it from offering resistance and blowing up.
What mechanisms can I use so that the beach umbrella does not fly off?
Who has not seen on more than one occasion how a beach umbrella would fly away without its owners being able to prevent it? Although at first it may seem like a funny situation, nothing could be further from the truth. A flying umbrella can be a real danger. Luckily, avoiding this is pretty straightforward:
- Pole Safe: Yes, those little screw-shaped “cones” that you attach to the bottom of the umbrella tube. In addition to helping us make the hole in the sand, these locks will also keep the umbrella firmer on the ground.
- Stakes: like those of a tent. Many models that have side wings already include these stakes, as this is the safest way to anchor the wings in the sand.
- Sandbags: this has been one of the most used resources since forever. The weight of the sandbag attached to the umbrella will prevent it from flying off. Now you no longer need to use a plastic bag because they have created bags specifically designed for this.
In spite of everything, if the wind on the beach is too strong, it is best not to place the umbrella. Remember that it is not only about comfort, but it is also a matter of safety for you and for the rest of the bathers who enjoy a day at sea.
What maintenance does a beach umbrella need?
Beach umbrellas, as long as we take proper care of them, can become one of the summer items that last the longest without deteriorating. As with beach chairs, one of the fundamental keys to maintaining umbrellas is proper storage.
Remember that the umbrella will spend many months a year in storage, so it is essential that you always do it in the best possible conditions. To do this, it is best to cover it with a bag to prevent dust from accumulating. And, of course, keep it away from moisture.
Purchase criteria
Once we have reached this point, we see in a different way the fact of choosing the beach umbrella that will accompany us during the next summer. For this reason, we propose a most effective method to find the best one. Pay attention to the purchase criteria we show below.
- Materials and UV protection
- Fabric color
- Practicality
- Dimensions
- Portability
Materials and UV protection
The main purpose of a beach umbrella is to protect us from the sun’s rays. And in this sense, the materials that make up its upper part are the most important. Normally, we find umbrellas made of polyester or fabric. Let’s see the differences between both materials:
| characteristics | Cloth | Polyester |
|---|---|---|
| UV protection | Not | Yes, up to UV50 |
| Warmth sensation | The fabric is a cooler material than polyester, however it is not capable of reflecting the sun’s rays | Polyester reflects sunlight and prevents the concentration of heat under the umbrella |
| Esthetic | Higher | Less |
Of course, even though polyester beach umbrellas have greater protection against UV rays, the use of sunscreen is essential ( 3 ) to keep our skin protected.
Fabric color
On many occasions we choose the beach umbrella based on the design that we like the most aesthetically. However, in this case, the colors can become much more important than a simple aesthetic question. Depending on the color, being under our umbrella can become a difficult task.
Have you ever stopped to think why there are no black umbrellas? Bingo! Because the black color absorbs the heat of sunlight and creates an area of excessive heat under the umbrella. With this in mind, try to always choose light colors with a low degree of saturation. These reflect sunlight and will not create that oven effect.
Practicality
It seems that practicality is an intrinsic quality of beach umbrellas. Therefore, it is important that we look at some aspects that will make using the umbrella a real rest, and not a concern:
- Make sure that the umbrella pole can be adjusted in height. Depending on the wind, the position of the sun or if we want to place ourselves below, we will need it to be more or less high.
- It is also essential that you have the option to change your orientation based on the position of the sun. So we can have the shade we want at any time of the day.
- If the material of the upper part is waterproof, all the better. It won’t necessarily get wet, but as long as it does, it will dry much faster and won’t soak.
- There are some models that have small hooks at the bottom to hang sunglasses, a T-shirt and other personal belongings. It is very practical if we do not want them to fill with sand.
Dimensions
As you have seen, the wide variety of beach umbrella models on the current market allows us to always choose the one that is most practical for us. And, if we continue with the questions of practicality, we must take into account the size of the umbrella depending on the people who are going to use it.
| Size | For how many people is it suitable? |
|---|---|
| Small (less than a meter in diameter) | For one person. There are also models that can be hooked onto beach chairs |
| Medium (between one and a half meters and two meters in diameter) | For two or three people |
| Large (up to three meters in diameter) | It will fit four people, including chairs and belongings |
Portability
Last but not least, we must address the issue of portability. Think that the beach umbrella will be an item that you carry with you every time you go down to the seashore. Therefore, it is more than essential that it be as comfortable to transport as possible.
Most models include a transport bag in which we can put both the umbrella and the pole. These bags have a large handle that we will hang from the shoulder. Also, make sure it’s light. You will wear it every day on your shoulder and it should not weigh too much.
Summary
If we think of summer, surely in the picture that we create on a head there is a beach umbrella. And it is that these articles that have been accompanying us for so long in our days of recreation play a fundamental role in our protection against the sun’s rays.
Overexposure to the sun, in addition to burning our skin, can also cause annoying headaches or heat stroke. If we have a good beach umbrella, we will avoid these problems. In addition, those made of polyester have a coating with sunscreen. What more could you want?
If our guide on beach umbrellas has made waiting for the summer more bearable, share it on social networks and leave us a comment.
