Question

Patio table umbrellas.  There are 5, 000 options ranging from $50-$250.Patio table umbrellas. There are 5, 000 options ranging from $50-$250. What should I be looking for? Certain material? Why is this minor purchase taking me days of shopping online?  

Answer 1

One thing I can share is that $50 or $250, they all blow away in a storm. Depending on your backyard and how windy it gets, invest in a good base. Sorry to add to the list  I would look at how easy it is to open and close the umbrella. crank vs push up manually. Also, how are the corners held in place? Does it look cheap and barely sewn in? Those two things have driven me bonkers. Best wishes and hold on to the umbrella  

Answer 2

We just got a new one this year. Agree with other feedback about a good base. We also opted to get one with “added” features that our older basic model did not have. For example, the one we just purchased has the tilt feature so the umbrella can be opened and tilted on an angle. Also, this one has solar powered LED lights that can be activated at night when it is dark. A nice feature for summer evenings after dark. (We got ours at Costco) Side note-our old umbrella was a light beige and got filthy in no time. A darker color might not show as much dirt.  

Comments

@filum very helpful, thank you! Was actually looking at lighter colors so good to know.  

Answer 3

Umbrellas are not meant to be kept up when not in use. I don’t care what kind of base you get. Whenever you are not using it, take in the top portion. The bottom pole should be left in your table, in the base. That will act as an anchor and help keep your table from flying. If you don’t take the top part off, make sure you get an umbrella cover and synch it at the bottom. You don’t want wind getting under the canopy and lifting it. I used to sell patio furniture. Treasure Garden has amazing umbrellas. They are great quality, aluminum that won’t rust, the canopy is removable so you can wash it. You can also order new canopies if you ever want to change your look and not buy a whole new one. Whatever umbrella you get though, don’t leave it up when not in use and it’ll last you for several years vs one Illinois storm.