 Awesome Umbrella! Can't Wait to Buy Solar Powered Version! |
| Review Date: August 22, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Elan, USA |
Our large back patio can be seen from almost every part of the house, and we use it every day like an extra room. But only a small portion is covered to provide shade, and we like having the table out by the pond so we can see the water birds and ducks. After having to avoid the patio due to the intense heat for almost a month last summer, we decided we needed a patio umbrella. But everything we found around town was over $125. I bought this umbrella for my husband last Christmas when it was on sale. But now that we've had it a while, I would definitely say that even at it's regular price it's a great bargain!
The umbrella has three components: the top pole section with canopy, lights (located on the ribs), thermometer, and power button for the lights; the bottom pole section with a small socket for the A/C cord located about two-thirds of the way up the pole; and the electrical A/C adapter. We set the bottom part of the umbrella pole through the center of our patio table and secured it in an inexpensive, basic, cast-iron umbrella stand from a local hardware store (not one of the burly ones). With this set up, we haven't had a single issue with stability, despite the swirling winds we get on our walled back patio. While we have run out to take down the top section in a few of our windiest summer storms here in Florida, it has also withstood without injury a handful of summer storms that sprung up when we weren't home. The vent at the top seems to do an excellent job reducing the "lift" forces that take our neighbors' umbrellas and toss them across the back yard. We only take it down in storms to err on the side of caution.
One small issue to be aware of: Using a base added an extra inch or two to the height of the pole. This affected the position of the socket where the electrical cord plugs into the pole. With our set up, the socket is just barely below the table surface, making it a little harder to plug in the power cord (we don't leave ours plugged in all the time). If you use a base AND your table is lower than 28 inches, then you might have issues with the hole in the table covering the plug opening, or the plug being located above the table surface. However, the plug itself only protrudes a little bit (less than half cm) when plugged in, so the hole in most tables should be able to accommodate the pole and the plug and/or cord if your table is lower than 28 inches.
Since we usually only use the patio in the evenings in the winter, we stored the top section in an umbrella cover (Veranda Patio Umbrella Cover 78902, Pebble, Fits Umbrellas up to 125" Diameter) and kept it under the small covered part of our back patio for most of the winter and spring. We left the lower section right where it was in the middle of the table. After it had sat out in the elements for a few months, I noticed some slight rust on the electrical connection "snap" on the lower section of the pole where the two poles fit together, but not where you can see it once it is assembled.
In May, we pulled the top part out if it's storage bag and clicked it into place--it is super easy to put the top on and take it off, and one person can do it with ease in a matter of seconds. Next you just have to plug in the A/C cord, connect the other end to an outdoor extension cord, press the on button on the pole, and voila: instant ambiance! And despite the exposure to elements and slight rust on the electrical connection, the lights came on just fine and have worked like a charm whenever we've needed them all summer.
There are three settings for the lights, but the two blinking settings we have affectionately nicknamed "casino lights" and "carnival midway"; neither create the atmosphere I was want for my patio. On the "constant on" setting however, the lights provide excellent lighting and ambiance for a romantic dinner, and also helps my husband see where everything is located on the table when he's cooking on the grill nearby. Everyone who eats at our house loves the lights on the umbrella.
As for the canopy itself, it has endured the intense Florida sun on our hot, brick patio for the entire summer, and it still looks as good as new. And it does exactly what it's supposed to: provide shade! We have two remote, digital thermometer sensors on our patio, one in full sun and the other that sits on the table under the patio umbrella. There is almost always a 15-20 degree difference between the two! When it's 105 in the sun, we can still enjoy 88 degrees in the shade under the patio umbrella.
I have neighbors that throw out their patio umbrella every year due to discoloration, rips, bent pole, etc., so I wasn't expecting ours to last at this great price. But our umbrella looks as good as the day my husband opened it last December (2009), and it really completes the look of our patio. We are even considering investing in another one to shade additional corner of our large patio! |
Good value for the money
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| Review Date: August 15, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Candace C. Corbani, Santa Barbara, CA |
I own a small clubhouse and I bought this model for our tables. We have had wind and sun as well as fog and they have performed very well. One of them is bent a bit from a flight over the pool deck, but all in all, I would buy this product again.
Was surprised to get the chargers and find out that the lights don't just self charge. It has to be very dark to get some light out of these - but something is better than nothing! |
No lights- Updated
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| Review Date: August 11, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Major_BabyArm, Texas |
Just got mine. Quick shipping. The construction and materials are what you would expect for [...] bucks. Setup easy. Plugged it in and the red light does light up, but not the LEDS.
Great.
Now I get to call a 1 800 number and mess with that. Their website is a joke.
MADE IN CHINA.
Updated 8/30
Made phone call to manufacturer customer service. A one man operation. Nice guy,but wanted to send me a new adapter to try. Called back left message no return call. I initiated an exchange via Amazon. Smooth process -recieved next day. it worked as described. I should have worked with Amazon to begin with. Updated rating to 4 from 2. Tilts and has lights. Fabric a bit lightweight. Need Scotchguarding. |
Great Umbrella - Great Bang for the Buck
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| Review Date: August 9, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Mint Julep, Ft Wright, KY United States |
| This is a solar powered umbrella - something I think should be included in the main description. I purchased this umbrella to replace a similar umbrella that broke due to strong winds. The broken umbrella was a Hampton Bay brand I had purchased at Home Depot. This umbrella is comparable in quality to the Hampton Bay brand. |
I love this umbrella
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| Review Date: July 31, 2010 |
| Reviewer: K. Johnson, |
I love this umbrella. For our small corner patio with protection from house and garage walls on the west and south side, I bought a round table so we could have an umbrella to shade it in the heat of the day, and until the walls blocked the sun in late afternoon. I saw how expensive umbrellas were in the stores - more than I paid for the table - and looked them up online. This umbrella offered by Amazon, a company I order from frequently, was less than $100 - with lights - so I ordered it. Before it arrived, I warned my husband that it was probably made of tissue paper. Well, it's perfect for this situation. It's a light color which doesn't conflict with any color I already have, it blocks the hot mid-day sun enough so we can sit outside to eat lunch, and I love the lights. I agree with previous reviews about the blinking lights, I don't use them, but the steady lights make a lovely warm light to sit outside long after dark on warm Santa Fe nights. Plus, it's light enough that I can put it in and take it out without help.
I recommend this umbrella for anyone looking for a light umbrella with lights not in a high wind location,at a reasonable price. Both my husband and I like it a lot. I'm happy I ordered it, would do it again. It's perfect. |
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