Breathe Easy in the Sand: How To Secure a Beach Umbrella.

Best Beach Umbrella Sand Anchor

Beach umbrellas can make life quite pleasant in the summer. They provide portable shade on the beach, an area that is often completely exposed. They also give refuge from heat and sun, even if just for short time periods. You really need to ensure your beach umbrella is properly anchored, though! An improperly anchored beach umbrella can sail off in a strong gust, and beach umbrellas have even been known to kill in extremely unfortunate circumstances. Due to this, you need to be sure to anchor your umbrella properly into the sand in a way that is completely safe. After a thorough look at the variety of different methods of securing a beach umbrella, we have found that the best beach umbrella sand anchor is the Heavy Duty Beach Umbrella Stand [Amazon Link]. This umbrella stand is extremely sturdy, and quite long.

You may need a mallet to install it into hard ground, but once it is down all the way, your umbrella will not sail away. And it’s possible your umbrella shaft could break in a strong wind gust, but at least you can be confident that you won’t be risking harm to people from a cheap umbrella, improperly secured.

Last update on 2024-11-16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

For a complete review of this beach umbrella anchor, see below.

Runner Up Best Beach Umbrella Anchor

For those who don’t want to go through the effort of using a mallet, or using a screw design to force the umbrella support into the sand, the BeachBUB [Amazon Link] Umbrella Anchor is a clever idea. It is essentially a glorified weight bag, that is designed to be filled with beach sand and folded up into a pyramid shape.

This supplies a good deal of weight, and the weight can be easily provided on the beach with a shovel — it’s a great activity for the kids to work on, getting the umbrella secured.

When you’re all done and ready to head home, you can just disconnect the BeachBUB from the umbrella, pour out the sand back onto the beach, and fold the BeachBUB up to take it home.

For more information on the BeachBUB, see our Reviews section below.

Last update on 2024-11-14 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Beach Umbrella Anchor Buyer’s Tips

The Beach Vs. the Patio

The environment at the beach is obviously quite different than the patio. Anchoring an umbrella into sand is a bit more of a challenge than anchoring one into concrete or lawn area. Sand is much less secure, and it is necessary to get deep down into the sand with the base if you’re using an insert type design.

Umbrella Shaft Sizing

When shopping for a beach umbrella base, you need to be sure that the base you intend to use will be compatible with the umbrella shaft thickness. For each of the bases we look at in this article, we discuss how big the opening is, so you’ll want to check that against your umbrella.

Typically an umbrella shaft is under 2″ in diameter, both a beach umbrella and a patio umbrella.

Can You Use a Patio Umbrella at the Beach?

For the most part yes, though as we mentioned above you need to check your umbrella shaft dimensions. Also, some beaches have a regulation on the total size of the canopy diameter, so you should check that before you take your large patio umbrella to the beach.

Can You Use a Patio Umbrella Base at the Beach?

It’s not really a great idea to use a patio umbrella base or a cantilever umbrella base at the beach. These units are almost always designed for patio use, and while in some cases the would probably function, they aren’t anywhere near as practical as a beach umbrella anchor.

Patio umbrella and Cantilever umbrella bases are usually much larger and made of plastic. They don’t usually need to be portable, and they’re not designed with sand anchoring in mind So you likely don’t want to be using these umbrella base designs on the beach.

You’ll be much safer with a beach umbrella anchor.

How to Anchor a Beach Umbrella in the Sand

As we mentioned above, there are a few different designs anchoring, so it all depends!

However, for anchors that get inserted into the sand, the process is usually something like:

1. Find your spot in the sand.
2. Wet down the sand in the area with some water.
3. Either twist or use weight to get your stake started into the sand.
4. If a corkscrew design, continue to twist as far as you can without breaking the anchor.
5. If a stake design, push the stake in using your own body weight as far as it will go into the sand.
6. If necessary, use a mallet to tap it further into the sand.
7. The anchor should be as deep as possible, especially on windy or gusty days.

Weak plastic anchors can snap while getting installed, which is a huge negative. Who wants to go shopping for another anchor while you’re already at the beach, with all your stuff with you?

The anchors we are looking at today are all quite sturdy, and you should not have that issue.

Beach Umbrella Anchor Reviews

In this section, we will look closely at three of our favorite beach umbrella anchors. Each has a different design and may be advantageous for different types of users. We look at the pros and cons of each and pick our favorite. If you don’t already have a beach umbrella, and are looking for a whole package, be sure to check out our article on Beach Umbrellas with Sand Anchors.

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1. Heavy Duty Outdoor Beach Umbrella Stand Anchor

The Heavy Duty Beach Umbrella Stand anchor is our favorite all-around beach umbrella base system. It is quite strong, very sturdy, and fairly easy to use.

Made of 1/4″ steel, it is extremely strong, yet surprisingly lightweight. As no one wants to walk around the beach carrying a bayonet, this umbrella anchor includes a helpful carrying case.

Key Features at a Glance

• Compatible with Umbrella Shafts less than 1 5/8″ in diameter
• Includes carrying case
• Easy to Install with a Mallet, and Easy to Remove
• Very strong wind protection
• Umbrella can be placed at an angle

Dimensions

• Overall Length: 24″
• Stake Length: 17″
• Shaft Collar Diameter: 1 5/8″
• Weight: 2.8lbs

The Details

The Heavy Duty Beach Umbrella Stand is compatible with most all beach umbrellas 1 1/2″ in diameter or less. You may be able to squeeze in one at 1 5/8″ but it will be really tight; if your shaft is wider than that, look for a different solution.

When you’re tightening the anchor screw to the umbrella, be careful not to tighten it too much, as you can dent the umbrella shaft pretty easily, especially if the shaft is nearly the same size as the opening diameter.

Installing the Anchor

To install the Heavy Duty Beach Umbrella Stand, you want to get the stake as far into the ground as possible. You can use your own weight, as shown here, to get it started.

However, you likely won’t be able to rely solely on your own weight to get the anchor down all the way. Once you’ve gone down as far as you can, use a small sledgehammer or mallet to hit the anchor down. Strike the angle iron portion of the base and not the shaft area. Also, you may want to put a towel or other protection over the anchor to protect the metal.

If the foot opening was a bit larger, it may be possible to push the umbrella anchor all the way down with just body weight. As it is, that’s pretty difficult, so plan on bringing a mallet or hammer to the beach.

Removing the Anchor

When you’re ready to go, you can just shake the umbrella anchor back and forth in the sand to loosen it, and then pull it up by the handle area. It’s surprisingly easy to remove from the sand, despite the holding power it supplies against the wind!

The Bottom Line: A Quality Metal Beach Umbrella Anchor

As long as you don’t mind bringing along some sort of mallet to the beach, this anchor is the best beach umbrella anchor around. It’s very sturdy, goes quite deep into the sand, and will hold an umbrella securely in virtually all circumstances where people would normally be at a beach.

We wish the foot opening was a little bigger to accommodate larger feet so that it wouldn’t be necessary to bring a mallet or hammer to the beach with you. But otherwise, this is an outstanding anchor and is a great choice.

Last update on 2024-11-16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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2. BeachBUB Umbrella Sand Anchor

The BeachBUB Umbrella Sand Anchor is a clever design that does not require pushing, pressing, or screwing anything into the sand. It is easier to use for those with disabilities, or who are aging and don’t want to be swinging hammers around.

The BeachBUB is essentially a bag that gets filled with beach sand. It is then folded up around the base of your umbrella shaft. The weight of the sand (or rocks, if you’re on a rocky beach!), combined with the area of the BeachBUB, gives balance and security to your umbrella.

It’s a clever design, and though you need to fill the base with sand, that isn’t as difficult as pounding a stake into the ground, and kids will certainly find it a fun activity!

Key Points at a Glance

• Easy to use sand weight for beach umbrellas
• Rated to 35mph winds
• Compatible with all brands of umbrella shafts up to 1 9/16″
• Packs down to the size of a small paperback book
• Recommended for canopies up to 8′ in diameter
• Umbrella can’t be placed at an angle

Dimensions and Specs

• Dimensions: 4″ x 3″ x 6″
• Umbrella Shaft Collar Diameter: 1 9/16″
• Weight: 1lb
• Holds 120lbs of sand

The Details

The BeachBUB is a great choice for those who don’t want to carry a sharp anchor around with them, and who don’t want to deal with mallets, hammers, screws, and the like. It is compatible with most all umbrellas, and it is quite easy to fill up. With 120lbs of weight capacity, the base becomes very heavy when full!

The BeachBUB can be used with umbrellas with either a point or a flat base but is not compatible with umbrellas that already have corkscrew shafts on them. If your umbrella has a corkscrew, you’ll need to remove it in order to get the collar around the shaft.

This system is essentially a tarp with brass grommets attached to it, which get secured to hooks on a sturdy clamp, attached to your umbrella shaft.

Installing the Anchor

To install the anchor, lay the tarp down, and place the shaft in the middle. Fill it with sand, folding up the sides as you go, and attaching them to the hooks on the umbrella shaft clamp. Once you have all three hooks attached, and the tarp filled with sand, you should have about 120lbs of weight!

Removing the Anchor

To take the BeachBUB apart, just lift the tarp corners off of the hooks, and push the sand off the tarp. You can then fold it up and pack it away for the next beach day!

The Bottom Line: The Best Beach Umbrella Stand

The BeachBUB is a great solution for many who don’t want to deal with hammers and screw anchors. It supplies a good deal of weight and is quite safe. It’s also very easy to use.

Unfortunately, you can’t tilt the umbrella on the beach bub, so if your umbrella doesn’t have a tilt option on the upper shaft, you won’t be able to angle the umbrella in the BeachBUB. Overall, we consider this a minor issue, and not a big deal for most users.

Last update on 2024-11-14 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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3. Beachr Beach Umbrella Sand Holder

The Beachr Umbrella Sand Anchor uses a corkscrew design that gets screwed into the sand as deeply as possible, and then the umbrella shaft is secured to the anchor.

We aren’t in love with corkscrew anchors in general, but the Beachr is among the best of this style anchor and is quite sturdy. It has a nice balance of convenience, power, and price.

Key Points at a Glance

• Designed with a triple-spiral screw for added strength
• Made of ABS plastic
• Reinforced handles will not break while installing
• Capable of holding an umbrella in 50mph wind gusts
• Includes a One Year Warranty
• Umbrella can be placed at an angle

Dimensions and Specs

• Dimensions: 15″ x 3.5″ x 9.5″
• Weight: 10.2oz
• Umbrella Shaft Collar Diameter: 1 1/2″

The Details: A Beach Umbrella Screw

The Beachr Umbrella anchor is just about the best of the screw-in beach umbrella anchors on the market. It is attractively priced, works well, and is quite strong.

The tip of this screw is quite narrow, making it easy to get started into the sand. The wide screw threads give it a good deal of strength, and the reinforced handles provide good resistance, allowing users to get the anchor deeply into the sand for security.

You can tilt your umbrella a bit with this anchor, but don’t go too far! To get your umbrella on a tilt, you can just screw into the sand at an angle.

You can travel by air with the Beachr, it is not considered a weapon.

Anchoring Your Umbrella

To secure your umbrella in the sand, wet down the area first. Once wet, simply use the handles to screw this umbrella shaft as deeply as possible into the sand. The harder the sand is packed, the harder this task will be.

The handles are reinforced, and should not break, even with a good deal of weight behind them.

Removing the Anchor

To remove the anchor, just unscrew it from the sand. It is quite easy to remove and will come out pretty quickly.

The Bottom Line: An Inexpensive Beach Umbrella Holder

Overall the Beachr umbrella screw anchor is a good choice for those who can’t abide spending a bunch of money on something as seemingly minor as a beach umbrella anchor. It works well, though perhaps not as well as the other units on our list. It’s pretty small, and no extra tools are needed to use it.

You will need some extra oomph to get it into the sand, but it is fairly sturdy in most cases.

Last update on 2024-11-14 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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Conclusion: The Best Beach Umbrella Anchor

Our favorite beach umbrella anchor is the Heavy Duty Metal Beach Umbrella Anchor [Amazon Link], as it balances strength, compactness, and cost. However, it is a bit of a pain to install, and you need to bring along a mallet, which many people don’t really want to do. As a backup, the BeachBUB [Amazon Link] is a good choice, and if that is too expensive for you, go with the Beachr [Amazon Link] budget choice.

Securing your beach umbrella is important, and should be done properly so that no one gets hurt by flying umbrellas. Pick one up before your next trip to the beach, and you’ll feel much better about the experience.

And if you don’t want to go through all that hassle, you could always just choose to go with a Beach Sun Shelter instead!

Last update on 2024-11-16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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