The compact, 19-inch-diameter base is a solid, cast piece of fine-textured black concrete whose bullnose curves remind us of a Boston Cream doughnut. The black concrete disc looks clean and simple once assembled and is resistant to marks and scratches. Initial set-up was straightforward and took less than two minutes, and we barely needed the accompanying illustrated instruction sheet. It was easy to take out of the box and maneuver it around our outdoor space. The two umbrellas we tested on this base both felt snug and secure, thanks to the plastic washer and screw cap that hold the pole in place. We devoted another 10 hours to reading about umbrella bases and sifting through hundreds of offerings online.
(You can buy sand or bricks at the hardware store.) The Shademobile comes with detailed instructions, and you should be sure to follow them closely to avoid scuffing the stand before you set it up. More than 20 screws are required costway patio furniture to close up the filled base; if you use a power screwdriver (as we did), the job will be much faster. The base comes with a two-year warranty, and if a single part breaks after that, you can replace it individually.
The hex key gave an extra bit of leverage that made us feel confident in the sturdiness of the connection. And the double screw knobs were the nicest ones we encountered in testing, made of sturdy, smooth plastic and generous in size for good leverage, making it both faster and more pleasant to screw the umbrella pole snugly in place. The 9-foot Treasure Garden Market Aluminum Push Button Tilt Umbrella offers the Sunbrella fabric our experts recommended. The umbrella’s eight-spoke construction also makes it more durable than competitors that have only six spokes. Its crank lift and push-button tilt worked smoothly in our tests, and the Treasure Garden simply stood more elegantly than any other umbrella we used, both open and closed. The original author of this guide, Kalee Thompson, lived for more than a decade in Los Angeles, where the near-constant sun fuels an equally constant quest for more and better shade.
For a limited time, the retailer is offering huge discounts on more than 12,000 pieces of furniture, with markdowns up to 53 percent off. Our tester has been using this base for about a year in Los Angeles, where it’s lived outside in high heat and dry conditions (though with a notable week of torrential rain), and she hasn’t observed any wear. Because the base is a solid heavy-duty sheet of powder-coated costway furniture steel, we think there is little likelihood that parts will chip or snap off over time. The matte finish seems to easily pick up dusty footprints, but the powder coating is easily wiped clean with a cloth. The simple, unassuming 55-pound Article Paima Umbrella Base is our top umbrella stand pick. Costing about $80—on the lower end for this type of base—the Paima made us sweat the least when maneuvering.
This is a pretty significant disparity between what is advertised and a response to a question. My order has shipped but I no longer want it if the weight limit is below 300 lbs. Costway has a rating of 4.61 stars from 6,173 reviews, indicating that most customers are generally satisfied with their purchases.
Here’s hoping it’s a good one, and that it gets to my mother’s home in good time. (I also sincerely hope my email will not be used for marketing beyond Costway. In two separate order #s, I purchased four large items of patio furniture from Costway, plus one small item, a water bottle. The furniture was all shipped by Fedex and received quickly. As of today, May 22, the water bottle, shipped UPS/USPS has not been received.
Mileage may vary depending on what kind of climate you live in and whether you have any sappy trees in your backyard, but we think with some basic care, this canopy should last a while. In summer of 2021 we noticed this umbrella was constantly sold out at Home Depot, but we expect that they will keep restocking it. This modular, rattan patio set looks like it costs more than just $340. Choose from three colors and rearrange the sofa pieces to your liking.
It felt smooth under our hands and was relatively easy to move, thanks to the generous gaps tucked below its base. And after about a year of testing through some serious winds and baking heat, it remained in good condition and kept our umbrella upright. The base should work with an umbrella with a pole diameter of 1½ inches, a standard size. During our tests, we rubbed dirt into the fabric and then washed it off with some dish soap, water, and elbow grease. Though the dirt we applied was likely a more aggressive saturation than the layer of dirt that will coat most outdoor umbrellas over time, we didn’t find any stains after washing.
But for some people, the aesthetic upgrade and lower profile may be worth it. The Shademobile is made of high-density polyethylene, which will most likely have more longevity than the plastic of less expensive bases. (Our long-term tester has been using this base for six springs and soon-to-be six summers without issue.) The Shademobile arrives empty, weighing just 22 pounds.