Sport-Brella Umbrella - Portable Sun and Weather Shelter

We've had three beach umbrellas in the last year, and this is by far the best. We use it for the beach only (no sports events).Pros:Stake: The lower half is a stake which is thin that makes driving it into the ground/sand comparatively easy. Still for actual soil you may want a rubber mallet or hammer. Also the stake is solid steel which makes it a little heavy, but means you won't bend it driving it into the ground. Also you can drive it in far enough that, as long at it's staked vertically, it won't blow away (unlike your friends' umbrellas when that big gust of wind comes). Lastly, the lower half stake has a "neck" to it which creates a great spot to fix the locking knob just above. That way if you use the upper half to drive the lower half further into the ground, the upper half won't just slide down the lower stake (as happens on other umbrellas).Size: it's a large diameter umbrella which two folks can sit under it with ease. We often end up with three or four chairs squeezed under it on hot/sunny days.Case/Storage: it folds up quickly and compactly if you twist it as you pack it up. Love that the stake goes inside the upper tube of the umbrella and it held in place by the knob/bolt that connects the two halves.Quality: the fabric is a good quality material and the stitching is well done. This should last a number of years if you take care of it.Setup: Takes less than a minute: unscrew locking knob, bury lower half stake, install upper half and lock in place, open top - done!Cons:Size: It's long in it's carrying case so long it just barely fits into our hatchback car. I've got to make sure I don't put it in last or there won't be enough room to maneuver it.Stake kit: The stake kit may work in actual soil, but in sand they don't bite in enough. This is only really a problem if you want to set the umbrella at an angle as opposed to vertical. Still, the sewn in flaps help.Carrying case: as I said it's a little heavy with the solid steel lower half. The carrying strap is a little flimsy and too thin so it tends to bite into your shoulder. Should have used a wider piece of material to spread the weight out more.Overall: we love it so much so that when a friend lost the stake to our first one, we went out and bought another one after trying a different Tommy Bahama umbrella. Nothing beats a Sport Brella!

I purchased this umbrella a year or so ago, and having lived in Tampa we use it everytime we go to the beach. It offers a easily accessible piece of shade in a place where none typically exists.The set up it easy, and it takes literally 5 mins to pitch this umbrella. We have a 6 year old and she enjoys making sand castles under this shade umbrella and is big enough for two adult sized beach chairs to sit under.The last time we used we had a gentleman come up asking where we got this, as he must have seen the benefit of it as well.The only grip I have so far is that the case that the umbrella is transported in is starting to see the stitching coming out of the shoulder strap, but I guess I'm looking for something to gripe about.For $40, this umbrella that transforms into a shade tree is a really nicely made, practical, and in my opinion a necessity for those that frequent the beach...get it!

I bought this umbrella thinking we could use it to sheild our baby daughter from the sun. The very first time we went to use it, the wind caught it and the umbrella inverted and started to come apart. It was not unusually windy at the beach that day either. This is unacceptable. Unfortunately my window to return the umbrella had just expired.I don't recommend you buy this product if you want something that can hold up. It literally started to come apart right there on the beach making it unsalvageable. It was brand new being used for the first time. The design was exactly what we were looking for, but the quality and durability wasn't there.

We bought the sportbrella in June and used it for the first time last weekend for a beach camping trip. Hard to get the telescoping pole out and after collapsing it couldn't get the pole back out. Brought it home and managed to pull pole out with pliers but pole does not slide in and out. Otherwise really like design and function but pole dysfunction is a problem.

Just took our new umbrella to beach for the first time...extension pole missing. Shook umbrella, looked inside pole, had loosened screw...nOthing. Amazon offered to send a new umbrella but this should not happen. Also called company customer service and got answering machine. Umbrella is nice but missing part is unacceptable.

We have always had a SportBrella for the beach. The darn things are great and there is always something they could have easily fixed.Be very careful pounding the lower part of the stake into the ground. They bow very easily.When you get your new umbrella the lower stake part of the umbrella is inside the upper part. That is the last time you ever want it in there.To get a good anchor you must pound the lower part into the ground. It will always bend. You may get it back into the upper part but you'll not get it out again. The bow in it and sand will cause it to stick in the upper part. When packing up, just fold it into the umbrella.The most recent umbrella was just replaced with a new one. On the first trip to the beach, when I went to break down, the plastic knob came right off the bolt that secures the umbrella to the stake. It was glued on. I carried it back to the beach house. After I got the bolt out. I found a McGuyver at Ace Hardware I am very proud of.Purchase a 5/16" eye bolt and used it to replace the plastic know bolt that came with the umbrella. I got a short one, 2 3/4" and it works perfect. The eye gives you a good handle to tighten the bolt. You can also clip the dogs leash to it with a carbiner.I won't hesitate to get another when this one wears out. Just be ready for the shortcomings and you'll love it.