Umbrella Reviews and Buying Guide:

Umbrellas have evolved from a simple rain shield to fancy patio and deck decorations, in a multitude of designs and colors. There are a few major types of umbrellas when you are shopping online - traditional rain umbrellas, patio or market umbrellas, offset umbrellas, and beach umbrellas. A market or patio umbrella is a traditional, large outdoor umbrella you use to shade a table and chair set or a portion of a patio or deck. They can either stand in an umbrella holder built into the table and anchored on the floor, or in a free standing umbrella stand, which is a heavy weight (usually wrought iron) anchor that can keep an umbrella upright in the wind. A beach umbrella usually comes with a sand screw or anchor to drive into the sand, and is designed to provide shade while at the beach, and is usually lightweight. Keep reading below and we will compare different umbrella sizes and what to look for when buying an umbrella.

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Golf Umbrellas Golf can be an agonizing game to learn and play, but if it's raining it can be downright brutal. I have played many rounds with a slight drizzle and even through a few downpours. Having an umbrella handy can make or break a round. I will say that if the wind is howling, a golf umbrella may not work that great. I recently played some rounds over in Scotland and a few times the golf umbrella was a godsend. Golf umbrellas are between $10 and $60, and some even boast that they are windproof. The main feature is to keep the rain off of you, but if they can withstand some wind that is even better. Nike golf umbrellas and Haas-Jordan are top sellers with excellent customer reviews. The Haas-Jordan 68-Inch Hurricane 345 Tour Plus Umbrella comes in over a dozen color choices and is a wind vented umbrella that holds up well in trying weather conditions. The most popular Nike is about the same price and gets high praise from golfers too. I will say that golf umbrellas are nice to have, but what are you supposed to do with them while you are hitting the ball. We see them on TV (usually held by a caddie) and they work well, but in real life have a plan if it rains since trying to carry your clubs and an umbrella is a tough act to juggle.

Rain Umbrellas

Buying a rain umbrella is a must if you live in a rainy climate. I live up in Portland Oregon and have about 4 umbrellas. I always keep one in my car, 1 in our garage, and a few extras lying around the house in case we venture outside. The kids have become accustomed to asking for the umbrella as we head outdoors. I have found that having a travel rain umbrella is essential too. Buy one that fits into your carry-on if possible. The smaller the better for roadtrips. All you need is something to block the rain when walking on city streets or to and from parking garages to buildings. On a recent trip to England, our rain umbrella was nice to have. Otherwise you are looking at spending $20 while traveling for the worst umbrella. Browse the top selling rain umbrellas online here.

Beach Umbrellas

For a good selection of beach umbrellas, check out ShadeUSA.com, where a nice Sandblaster deluxe goes for just $20, or BeachChairs.com where chair and beach umbrellas can be had for $15-$55. Many beach umbrellas also have UV protection, and they are also generally are lightweight and compact so they are easy (well, relatively easy) to lug from the car to the beach. We liked the Sunset Beach Umbrella with a 6 foot spread, made from 300D polyester, priced at $39. Find a beach umbrella with a good anchor (some are shaped like a drill bit or screw) so that you can get it deep into the sand and not worry about it blowing away with the first big seabreeze.

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