Have you ever tried to spend the day on a windy beach where your umbrella blew away with every gust? Even an otherwise perfectly serviceable beach umbrella can handle the wind badly if it’s not properly anchored into the ground.
Have you ever spent hours at the beach trying to keep a wayward umbrella from tipping over or blowing away? Investing in a metal umbrella anchor could save you the hassle of chasing a lightweight umbrella, even on the windiest days.
Beach umbrellas are designed for use in the sand, and it’s true that they generally do a fine job of staying where you put them. Umbrellas are often rated for certain wind speeds, and you can’t always trust the weather to cooperate.
Having an independent anchor makes it easier for you to be confident in your setup when you arrive at the coast.
Having an independent anchor makes it easier for you to be confident in your setup when you arrive at the coast – and given how they’re specifically intended to be implanted into the stand, you know you’ll be protected if the weather turns.
If you’re a beach-going family, a metal beach umbrella anchor will be a welcome addition to your beach bag, along with your beach chair, clamp-on umbrella for beach chair, cup holder for beach chair, and beach tent. Umbrella anchors are a long spike or corkscrew that drives deep into the sand. A sheath on top holds the pole of your umbrella.
Umbrella anchors come in both plastic and metal, but for the best hold and the best lifespan, you’re better off with a metal stake. Plastic anchors can snap in hard ground and high winds, making a metal stake the best value for money.
Best Beach Umbrella Anchor
Rio Brands White Sand Anchor
This umbrella anchor is designed to be a rust-proof, lightweight, and convenient solution to anchoring in the sand so that you’re protected from the weather… no matter what comes up. The nylon and fiberglass construction make it both durable and dependable.
The long shaft and wide base offer gripping power in the sand that will hold your umbrella steady in winds up to 30 miles per hour, and it even comes with a small turn screw to help better secure the pole.
It will hold an umbrella pole with a maximum diameter of 1.3 inches, which makes it perfect for a medium-sized umbrella.
It will hold an umbrella pole with a maximum diameter of 1.3 inches, which makes it perfect for a medium-sized umbrella. Some customers have noted it works better with solid rather than hollow poles so keep that in mind when you purchase.
Finally, while this anchor is perfect in very fine sand, customers have reported that it works equally well for anchoring into turf like a lawn or open field. This makes it ideal for taking with you anywhere you need the shade.
Seasonal Industries Plastic Beach Umbrella Anchor
This is an anchor designed to be a versatile summer recreational accessory. Not only will it work with sand or soft ground without trouble, but it’s designed to handle more than your standard beach umbrella without additional accessories or tools.
It’s long enough to get about 13 inches into the ground, whether it’s the beach or the lawn, so you know that you’re getting a good depth to anchor your umbrella – or even a volleyball net, tent or a pet’s leash.
Made from solid, heavy duty plastic, it will stand up to season after season of use.
It will accommodate poles up to 1.5 inches in diameter, which makes it a good accessory to use with a large umbrella to provide shade to your family or friends during vacation. Thumbscrews allow for a custom fit without tools.
Made from solid, heavy duty plastic, it will stand up to season after season of use. While it’s best with a pole, customers report it also makes a fabulous kite anchor for those extra windy days, so don’t hesitate to be creative.
Sand Grabber Beach Umbrella Anchor by Mainstays
Unlike many umbrella anchors out there, the Sand Grabber is made of a powder coated metal which resists rusting. The design includes the typical screw and turn key, but also a wide flare to indicate how deep it needs to go.
One drawback of the design is that it’s only made to accept poles at a maximum of 1.375 inches in diameter. While it includes screws to customize the fit to smaller poles, those usually found on larger umbrellas won’t work.
Used with turf, it’s best to screw it all the way in to the sand flare and make sure it’s as tight to the ground as possible.
The design of the Sand Grabber works best with coarser, wetter sand. Used with turf, it’s best to screw it all the way in to the sand flare and make sure it’s as tight to the ground as possible.
While it has somewhat more weight to it than a plastic counterpart, the Sand Grabber offers an advantage in durability and stability when used properly with the right sized umbrella or pole. Although it may not be the cheapest offering on the market, it’s top quality.
The Sand Grabber is the corkscrew model of beach umbrella anchor: a large metal screw that twists in to place, and then simply “unscrews” when you’re ready to go. This makes it one of the easiest anchors to set into the ground.
This model takes a 1.5 inch diameter pole, the standard size for most umbrellas and flag poles. Handgrips make it easy to screw in deep, and the screw holds especially well in loose sand and high winds, when spikes might slip out.
For a compact anchor with a powerful grip no matter how loose the sand, you can’t do much better than Sand Grabber.
The Sand Grabber weighs in at five pounds and is 14 inches long. Although the sand grabber anchor is one of the heavier options available, it’s worth it if you need an anchor that can hold up in wind. The screw keeps it a bit more compact for easy transport.
For a compact anchor with a powerful grip no matter how loose the sand, you can’t do much better than Sand Grabber. Take it over to your favorite breezy beach spot to check out what it’s like in action!
Outdoor Beach Umbrella Stand
If you’re looking for something lighter and sleeker than the Sand Grabber, this slim and sturdy umbrella stand might be for you. It swaps out the corkscrew for a 24 inch spike that drives into the ground with a foot-step.
This heavy-duty, coated steel rod is really made to last: you’ll probably replace several umbrellas before you need a new stand! The slim spike goes in easily with the foot step, which also becomes a handle to pull it back out.
This model is also one of the most versatile: the long spike is great for hard or rocky soils that might fight a corkscrew.
This model is also one of the most versatile: the long spike is great for hard or rocky soils that might fight a corkscrew, and the stand offers a tightening screw to hold smaller poles like torches or birdfeeders in place.
Try the outdoor beach umbrella stand for plenty of uses besides beaches or umbrellas: it’s very versatile, and one of the easiest to transport at just 2.5lbs. For a heavy duty stand that’s still easy to transport, this is the way to go.
Heavy Duty Pole Holder Anchor Stake
For a middle number between the sand grabber and the outdoor beach umbrella stand, this anchoring stake can split the difference. It pushes in with a foot step, but is shorter and heavier than the outdoor stand, providing the best of both worlds.
Stability is where this heavy duty stake really shines. It has a V-shaft constructed from 12-gauge plate steel, which means stability in all four directions, along with a shorter, thicker stake. The steel is coated in a galvanized finish to prevent rusting.
This anchor is great for soft sand, but its short, sharp stake also does well in very hard or rocky soil.
This anchor is great for soft sand, but its short, sharp stake also does well in very hard or rocky soil. If a long stake or a screw would catch on the rocks in a yard or campsite, this anchor will avoid them!
Finally, it’s one of the most portable options: shorter than either the screw or the umbrella stand, and just as light, despite its long lasting construction. At just 1.4lbs, this anchor stake is ideal for tossing in a beach bag.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need an umbrella anchor if your umbrella has a long pole?
Choosing a versatile anchor comes with the added benefit of not needing brute strength to get a solid foundation.
Beach umbrellas generally come with long poles with a pointed end, useful for spearing into sand to anchor it and give you shade. But not all beaches boast soft, white sand. Instead, some can consist of rocky layers underneath – and tightly packed dirt or clay can make it difficult to use your sand anchor.
Choosing a versatile anchor affords you much more flexibility and comes with the added benefit of not needing brute strength to get a solid foundation, meaning your umbrella stays put. The only question should be whether or not it can weigh down an umbrella without being impossibly heavy itself.
Can you use a sand anchor in turf?
Most of them will work in a yard or field just as easily as they work in the sand, possibly achieving a better grip.
Most umbrella anchors are still made for sand, with few and far between specifically offering bite in other sorts of substrates. However, because of their design, most of them will work in a yard or field just as easily as they work in the sand, possibly achieving a better grip.
Because most anchors use a screw in design to help you get the right depth and enough bite in the sand for your umbrella not to tip over because of its top heavy design, they’ll work quite well when implanted into soil the same way. This means your umbrella can be used beyond the confines of the beach, and that’s a bonus.
How do you use a beach umbrella anchor?
Sometimes, small metal screws are provided to help the anchor stay put, along with handles to help you turn the anchor into the sand or turf.
Beach umbrella anchors are usually designed with a screw base at one end, and a hollow shaft that you insert the umbrella pole into. Sometimes, small metal screws are provided to help the anchor stay put, along with handles to help you turn the anchor into the sand or turf.
Don’t insert the umbrella first. Instead, place the pointed, screw end of the anchor against the ground and begin turning it in while pushing down. This helps it embed into the ground more deeply. With sand, turn it several inches below the surface before you insert the umbrella pole and tighten it into place.
Why do I need an umbrella anchor?
The best metal beach umbrella anchor will sink deep into the sand and really grip in to keep your umbrella in place.
At first glance, a metal umbrella anchor may seem like a bit of a frivolous purchase. Why buy something else when you can just stick the pole into the sand? That said, if you’ve ever had a big umbrella take off like a kite on a windy day, you might have an idea why they are such wise investments.
The best metal beach umbrella anchor will sink deep into the sand and really grip in to keep your umbrella in place, no matter how high the winds. The spiked end also goes in to harder ground easily – enabling you to set up your umbrella in the back yard or at a camp site for some extra shade.
Is it only for beach umbrellas?
Metal anchors are durable enough to be a permanent mount for a bird feeder or flag pole in your yard.
Don’t have much time to spend at the beach? Umbrella anchors are great multi-taskers, and can act as supports for anything that fits in the sheath. If you need a way to mount flag poles, tiki torches or bird feeders, umbrella anchors are a much easier solution than a post-hole digger.
Metal anchors are durable enough to be a permanent mount for a bird feeder or flag pole in your yard – and they’re especially solid in sandy soil. If you need a temporary setting for something like a patio umbrella or a campsite torch, they can also be pulled up and moved easily.
Are they difficult to use or to transport?
An umbrella anchor will fit easily in a beach bag or backpack. The best are metal, so you can expect them to have a bit of heft.
Metal umbrella anchors are extremely easy to use: it’s one of the things that make them so popular! They’re designed to go into the ground easily and come out effortlessly, and stay embedded in the ground in between. Most have a foot-step to push the spike in, or a corkscrew that twists in.
An umbrella anchor will fit easily in a beach bag or backpack. The best are metal, so you can expect them to have a bit of heft, but not more than one to two pounds. Not ideal for backpacking trips, but no problem for a weekend campout or a day at the beach.
In Summary
No matter where you choose to take an umbrella, having an anchor helps keeps it stable and ready for use. Be prepared for whatever the weather throws at you and always have your umbrella right where you left it.
If you’ve spent too many hours re-setting an umbrella that just dropped on your face, consider one of these metal anchors. They’re transportable, easy to use, and these anchors – and your umbrella – stand up to anything your favorite beach can throw at them!
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