The best beach umbrellas

Tommy Bahama makes a wide range of products designed to help you celebrate your leisure time in style. This colorful 7-foot umbrella is no exception.

The Tommy Bahama 7-Foot Beach Umbrella is easy to set up. It comes with an integrated corkscrew sand anchor that will have your umbrella standing at attention in less than a minute. A special aluminum undercoating on the heavy polyester fabric offers a 50+ UPF rating — that's over 98 percent protection from the sun's UVA and UVB rays.

The aluminum umbrella pole can be easily adjusted and a special tilt mechanism adds to the umbrella's versatility. A wind vent, located on the top of the canopy, increases the umbrella's stability.

The umbrella come with a convenient polyester carrying case which helps ensure you won't drag sand into your car or house after a long beach day.

Pros: Lightweight, special tilt function, nearly 100% UVA and UVB ray coverage

Cons: Extreme wind can damage this umbrella

Is it a beach umbrella or is it a tent? The one-of-a-kind Sport-Brella is both. It offers portable protection from the elements regardless of whether you are at the beach, a sporting event, or even in the backyard.

Weighing in at 11 pounds, the XL Sport-Brella is lightweight and easy to transport. All parts, including the eight steel ground stakes and three tie-down cords, can be toted in the convenient carry bag. The XL Sport-Brella has a 9-foot canopy that is made of 210 D Polyester for all-weather protection. It is supported by thick steel ribs and a thick steel stretcher.

The water-repellant XL Sport-Brella has a UPF coating of 50+ that protects users from more than 99.5 percent of UVA and UVB rays. For extra comfort and cross-ventilation, the Sport-Brella also offers top wind vents and side zippered windows.

The Sport-Brella is easy to set up, too. The telescoping pole has a plastic tip that is held in place by a lever. Once open, internal side pockets help you stay organized.

Pros: Unique design offers combined benefits of a tent and an umbrella, lightweight, easy to set up, roomy

Cons: Small vents mean it doesn't stand up well to wind

Do you consider yourself a professional beach bum? Or do you sit on the beach looking longingly at the sturdy umbrellas that water-front hotels and restaurants proudly display? Then you may want to invest in an umbrella that the pros love. Frankford Steel's super 7.5-foot commercial grade umbrella is designed to last for years.

It's durably constructed with zinc-plated steel ribs, stainless steel springs, and an attractive, 8-foot ash wood pole. In addition, the extra heavy, marine-grade acrylic fabric — with a 50+ UPF rating — is specially engineered to provide optimal shade.

The Frankford Steel Commercial Grade Beach Umbrella comes with a three-year warranty, and the fabric is guaranteed against fading for five years. A nylon carry bag is included. The umbrella is available in 19 different color combinations, including single colors, stripes, and other designs like the American flag.

New York Magazine provided a fascinating history of the umbrellas, which was first made for beach concessionaires after World War II before being redesigned for public use a few years ago.

According to that article, the Frankford is the official umbrella for the cities of North Myrtle Beach, Virginia Beach, and Chicago. Keep in mind that Chicago is dubbed the windy city — enough said.

It's a bit of an investment, but if you're spending much of your summer with your toes in the sand, it will be worth it in the long run.

Pros: Incredibly durable, easy to set up, fade resistant

Cons: Expensive, heavy at 15 pounds

The sturdy beachBub umbrella was endorsed by the American Life Guard Association. The group is concerned about the dangers of fly-away umbrellas and found that "beachBUB offers a unique and easy solution that will prevent many injuries and even save lives in the long run."

The secret? Perhaps it's the patented, pyramid-shaped base. The company claims that it is the only base that attaches itself to the bottom pole using an anchor collar. You fill the base with sand to keep the umbrella firmly anchored. While the base folds up neatly to the size of a paperback book, when filled with sand, it weighs 120 pounds. The umbrella has been tested and found to stand up to winds up to 35 mph. Thick fiberglass ribs mean that the umbrella does not easily break or lose its structure.

The umbrella comes with a carry bag, the umbrella, the base, two rings (one is for the base, the other to hang things on), a shovel, and a wrench. The beachBUB comes with a unique three-year replacement protection plan. For the first year, you may return the umbrella for any reason for a full refund. After one year, you can replace a damaged umbrella for $40. After two years, the replacement cost rises to $60, and after three years, the cost is $80.

Pros: Stands up to 35 mph winds, easy to set up, lightweight, 3-year replacement plan

Cons: The wind won't pull it out of the sand, but it may break the umbrella canopy itself

The Minneapolis-based company Coolibar has a fun tagline: Sun Protection You Wear. The company sells a wide range of clothes and accessories, including this metallic beach umbrella.

The water repellent nylon umbrella has a 50+ UPF rating and a patented double-canopy design with a mesh insert. This umbrella stands 7 feet tall, with a 6-foot arc. It is lightweight— it collapses to 45 inches and weighs just 4 pounds — but with a coated, non-corroding aluminum frame, it is also sturdy.

The purpose of the silver color goes beyond being stylish. It reflects UV rays. The green on the underside of the umbrella absorbs UV rays. The company says this results in keeping you 15 degrees cooler — even in bright sunshine.

At 6 feet in diameter, his is a smaller umbrella than some of our other picks so it's best used for an individual or a couple.

Pros: Creates a cool respite from the sun, lightweight

Cons: Won't stand up to the wind as well as our other picks, no tilt feature

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