An articulating patio umbrella can bring an unmatched sense of style to a patio or garden space that is simply not possible with typical patio umbrellas. The cantilever design of these umbrellas, coupled with tilt and rotation functionality, makes them incredibly versatile and useful. After a thorough review of the market for articulating patio umbrellas, we have determined that the best articulating patio umbrella is the Sorara TrueShade Plus 10′ rectangular offset umbrella.
It has outstanding control and configuration functionality and is built with only the highest quality materials.
Unfortunately, it comes at a very high price! Also, it is only available in a single color option, which many buyers will not be thrilled by.
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That said, this is an outstanding offset umbrella, with Sunbrella fabric, an aluminum frame, and all the tilt and rotation functions you could want.
For more information on this unit, as well as reviews of several other articulating cantilever umbrellas, please see below.
Articulating Patio Umbrella Reviews
Here we review several of the best Articulating Patio Umbrellas available.
Sorara USA 10′ x 10′ Cantilever Square Umbrella Black
The TrueShadePlus by Sorara is an excellent, high end articulating patio umbrella that looks incredible and offers wonderful functionality and the best material selection available. It is a high end articulating patio umbrella with several outstanding features, placed at a high price point.
This umbrella is huge, and will easily shade up to a 72″ oval or rectangular table and chairs with room to spare.
Dimensions and Specs
- Canvas Shape: Square
- Canvas Dimensions: 10′ x 10′
- Shade Area: 95 sf
- Umbrella Height: 8’4″
- Base Design: Cross Base and 4 Piece Base Included
- Weight: 191lbs
The Details
The Sorara 10′ x 10′ square cantilever umbrella has all the articulating functionality that most buyers seek: the cantilever control, as well as tilt, rotate, and locking functionality. You can position this umbrella in any way you wish, and it will provide shade in a myriad of ways.
The high quality, thick aluminum frame of the Sorara is finished in a Drylac Powder Coat of bronze. While we would prefer black, the bronze is a nice color, and the finish is well done.
This umbrella will be quite resistant to rust as is, though we still suggest covering it when not in use, as a cover will only increase the life of an articulating umbrella.
The TrueShade Plus Cantilever Umbrella comes with the highest quality fabric available: acrylic Sunbrella fabric. The color of the fabric is a bold, beautiful black, which is extremely striking.
The solution-dyed acrylic fabric comes with Sunbrella’s 5-year warranty, and is stain and fade resistant! Please see our outdoor fabric guide for more information on Sunbrella fabric.
The canopy structure features 8 aluminum ribs for support, which is a nice choice for strength and flexibility. The fabric is designed with a single air vent in the center of the umbrella to allow air to flow through the canopy and to help bring fresh air to those underneath.
The crank mechanism works well and is not difficult to operate. It controls two functions, extending the canopy, and configuring the tilt angle.
Accessories
The Sorara TrueShade Plus comes with everything you need! Along with the Sunbrella fabric, the TrueShade Plus comes with a protective cover that is easily installed. We strongly encourage people to put on the cantilever umbrella when it is not in use, as the cover will help keep the Sunbrella fabric looking its best for as long as possible.
For a weighted base, the Sorara TrueShade Plus comes with two base options. The first option is the standard cross base, common to virtually all offset umbrellas on the market.
The cross base is ideal for surface mounting the umbrella on a deck or on a concrete patio. The ends of the arms of the cross get bolted to the base material.
The second base is a cantilever four piece base, a common design for surface mounting offset umbrellas. The four-piece base has four pie pieces, each of which can be filled with sand or stone. The four-piece base can support up to 240 lbs of weight, which is what Sorara USA recommends for this umbrella.
There are no additional accessories needed for this umbrella, the included package has it all!
The Bottom Line
The Sorara TrueShade Plus USA is the best overall cantilever umbrella on the market. It is thoughtfully crafted with the highest quality materials available, and every detail has been considered. While it is certainly expensive, it will likely last significantly longer than cheaper umbrellas with poor fabrics, or less robust design characteristics.
It is only available in black, which is a negative, but the black canopy adds a good deal of style to most any patio. You don’t necessarily need to shell out the coin for the best, but this umbrella is a one and done purchase, which is very attractive!
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Abba Patio 11-Feet Offset Cantilever Umbrella Outdoor Patio Hanging Umbrella
The Abba Patio 11′ Articulating Umbrella is the largest umbrella on our list and is one of the most expensive. It is also an outstanding cantilever umbrella.
This unit comes in two colors, red and tan (more of a taupe), and it comes with an umbrella cover, so there’s no need for an additional protective cover with this one.
This 11 ft offset umbrella is ideal for large tables and patio sets, when open, is an extremely striking piece of patio furniture. It is capable of shading a 72″ rectangular table with 6-8 chairs. It’s big!
Dimensions
- Height: The pole is approx 8’6″ long.
- Clearance below canopy: approx 6’7″ when opened.
- Width: 11′ when fully opened.
- Pole Diameter: 2.09″
- Cross Base Dimension: 3.4′ across
- Weight: 73 lbs.
Materials and Build Quality
The materials and build quality of the Abba Patio 11′ Offset Umbrella are extremely high quality, though a few items are a small step down from the Sorara TrueShade Plus.
The canvas is made of high-grade spun polyester fabric, which is easy to clean and fade resistant (see here for more information about outdoor fabrics.) It is UV-protecting and water-resistant. The canopy features an air vent to allow air to flow through, preventing topples in gusty winds.
That said, spun polyester is not as good as solution dyed acrylic (Sunbrella), which is what is found on the Sorara. Sunbrella fabric is covered under a better warranty and will withstand the outdoors a little better, but the almost $1,000 price difference between the Sorara and the Abba Patio is difficult to stomach!
The pole is made of aluminum, and powder coated with a beautiful bronze finish. The pole and overall frame mechanism are pretty similar in quality to the Sorara unit above. Note: we suggest you close this umbrella up in any significant wind, just as a precaution.
The base is made of steel, and the 8 ribs suspending the canopy are made of steel as well, and powder coated to a similar finish as the pole. We prefer aluminum or fiberglass for the ribs, but steel is fine as well. Close the umbrella up if you feel wind gusts coming on, regardless of the type of rib material!
The Details
The Abba Patio cantilever umbrella features a highly detailed tilt functionality: a 5 position vertical tilt system! This system supplies a great deal of flexibility in shade setup. Additionally, this umbrella will not only tilt forward and back but also from side to side as well.
The crank is of high quality and allows users to easily open and close the umbrella as needed. Unfortunately, the umbrella does not rotate unless you move the base, which is a negative to those who plan on using the cross base.
Abba Patio suggests weighing down this umbrella with at least 120lbs of weight be placed on the cross base. We would suggest more than that if possible, as this is a large, wide umbrella.
Check out our weighting guides for more information. Also, the pole diameter is 2.09″, so if you are looking to get a base weight that straddles the pole, be sure the weight can accommodate a pole of that diameter.
The included cover is a great addition, as it is designed to fit this sized umbrella. The cover is pretty easy to put on and take off, due to the included installation rod.
Assembly is fairly simple, and it takes about 30 min to get it out of the box and upon its cross base.
Some users have found that there is some color variation inside the two color options (e.g. two tan umbrellas may be a slightly different shade of tan). So if you’re looking to get multiple matching umbrellas, beware of the potential color issue.
The Bottom Line
The Abba Patio 11′ Cantilever Umbrella is an outstanding articulating patio umbrella and is well made for its price point. While it is still a very expensive umbrella, the quality of components is nearly as good as the Sorara TrueShade, for a much lower price.
With diligent use of the included cover, the umbrella will perform at the same level as the Sorara, and last for nearly as long.
Keep in mind that, should you want to surface mount this umbrella, you’ll still need to get a weighted base, but even with the extra expense, this umbrella is an outstanding deal for a great cantilever umbrella.
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COBANA 10 Feet Cantilever Freestanding Patio Umbrella
The Cobana 10′ Freestanding Cantilever Umbrella is a nice articulating patio umbrella at a pretty comfortable price point, and is downright cheap compared to a few of the other umbrellas on this list!
This unit is a wonderful addition to any patio or backyard area, and with care will last a while. The Cobana is available in three colors: beige, coffee, and red. The umbrella has a bold, simple look, and a durable build that will last a while, though is obviously a significant step down from the higher end umbrellas.
Dimensions
- Height: The pole is about 7’10”
- Width: 10′ when fully opened
- Pole Diameter: 1.89″, be sure to confirm your weight system will function with this diameter pole.
- Weight: 29.9 lbs
Materials and Build Quality
The Cobana Offset Patio Umbrella canopy is made of awning-grade polyester fabric. The fabric is UV-resistant, waterproof, fade-resistant, and advertised to last 1,000 hours! It is rated at fade resistant Grade 4min at 200 hours, and includes an air vent to allow wind to pass through.
While the fabric is rated reasonably well, in practice the canvas simply won’t last a long time in the sun. An easy solution is to be diligent and always cover the umbrella when it’s not in use. A protective cover will keep the umbrella in great shape for a while, so use it whenever possible.
The pole of this umbrella is made of rust-free powder coated aluminum in an antique bronze finish, and the cross base is constructed of sturdy steel. The 8 ribs on the canopy are made of steel for extra strength. Steel is an acceptable material, but fiberglass or aluminum is preferable.
All that said, when the wind starts to gust, it’s time to close this umbrella. It simply cannot handle significant wind gusts, so don’t risk it. Virtually no umbrella can handle a lot of wind, and while the more expensive ones are stronger, it’s best to be gentle with a cantilever umbrella.
Cobana used some plastic components in this umbrella, mainly in the moving parts. We are sure these plastic parts helped to get the price down. The plastic parts seem to be well made but are an obvious potential point of failure. Be gentle when operating the umbrella.
The Details
The Cobana Cantilever Umbrella does have a tilt functionality and a rotation function, though only when using its cross base. It is easy to operate with its crank mechanism and is relatively easy to assemble out of the box.
The articulating functionality is not as impressive as what is found on the higher end umbrellas but is impressive for its price point.
Note: the images of this product show it supported by additional base weights. These weights are not included, and only the usual cross base is included with this package. Be sure to properly weigh down this umbrella should you need a different base than a cross base. Peruse our guide for more information.
The Bottom Line
The Cobana 10′ Offset Outdoor Umbrella is a beautiful umbrella, is available in three colors, and hits a great price point for its build quality. For those who don’t want to spend a fortune on an articulating offset umbrella, this is an excellent choice. It has some nice features, an attractive finish, and with care will last a while.
Last update on 2024-11-08 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Sundale Outdoor 10 Feet Aluminum Offset Patio Umbrella
The Sundale Outdoor 10′ Cantilever Umbrella is immediately striking due to the wide variety of color options available in this offset umbrella. This articulating patio umbrella comes in 10 different canopy colors: Black, Burgundy, Chocolate, Gray, Navy Blue, Red, Sky Blue, Tan, Yellow, Dark Green, and Light Yellow. The color options certainly open up the potential for interesting designs in the patio and garden!
Dimensions
- Height: 8′ to top of the pole
- Canopy clearance: Approx. 7′ when opened
- Width: 10′ when fully opened
- Pole Diameter: 1.9″ diameter
- Weight: 31.7 lbs
Materials and Build Quality
The canopy of the Sundale Outdoor 10′ Cantilever Umbrella is made of high strength 180G polyester and is both UV-resistant and water resistant. It is Grade 4min. at 1,000 hours. 180G polyester acceptable at this price point, but it is on the thin side, and will ultimately fade in the sun. We strongly suggest getting cover for this umbrella and using it regularly when the umbrella is closed.
The canopy also includes an air vent to keep it from toppling in a wind gust.
The pole is made of powder-coated aluminum, which is rust free. The pole is painted an antique bronze color (we wish they went with black, but we can only ask for so much!).
The 8 ribs are made of steel, which is an appropriate material for this price point. Steel ribs are not as good as fiberglass or aluminum but are fine in this umbrella. Again, be gentle with it!
The cross base is made of steel, and could rust over time, but is quite strong. If you find the powder coat starting to fail, and are able to see the raw metal underneath, spray with some Rustoleum paint to help protect the steel from rust.
Like the Cobana umbrella in this price range, there are some stress points on the Sundale cantilever umbrella made out of plastic. These are mostly the joints that flex and move. These plastics pieces can easily break, so it is recommended to not use this umbrella if it’s windy out. When the wind gusts come, shut this umbrella.
The Details
The Sundale Cantilever Umbrella works well and will serve your patio shade needs for years if properly kept up.
This articulating umbrella will tilt, which is a key function. It will also rotate, but only in its cross base. Of course, if you are using a surface mounted base, you can rotate the entire umbrella and the base in order to get the shade where you desire. The crank mechanism works well and is relatively easy to operate.
Be sure to properly weight this offset umbrella or it will fall over and get destroyed. Also, be sure that the weight solution you choose can accommodate a 1.9″ diameter pole, as some units will only work with smaller sized posts.
The Sundale 10′ offset patio umbrella is a nice package and is relatively easy to assemble. All hardware is included.
The Bottom Line
The Sundale 10′ Cantilever umbrella is big and attractive, with many colors, and nice articulation functionality. It will fit into virtually any patio or garden space, given the array of design choices.
Don’t abuse this umbrella — weight it down properly, use it gently, and cover it when not in use, and it will last a while. Given the price point these cantilever umbrellas hit, they are an excellent value for many consumers.
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I am looking for a 10-11′ umbrella with a base I can anchor to a concrete footing so the base is not a tripping point in our patio area.
One that allows rotation is a nice feature too.
Do you know of any that will accommodate anchoring to a base this way?