A patio umbrella serves as stylish patio furniture and provides ample shade for work, entertainment, and socialization. It is an essential piece of outdoor furniture to enhance the outdoor living experience. To meet the growing demand for versatile outdoor spaces, patio umbrellas have evolved from simple shades to multi-functional products.
Today, people are looking for an all-season patio umbrella to withstand the strong wind for long-term use. This leads to a question: how do you find the best patio umbrella for wind resistance? In this article, we’ll dive into factors that affect the windproof patio umbrella. And help you find the best outdoor umbrella for wind to enhance your outdoor living.
The best heavy duty wind resistant patio umbrella in Westshade
- Tilting patio umbrella| Affordable outdoor patio umbrella
- Heavy-duty vented windproof patio umbrella with pulley system
How to select the best wind resistant patio umbrella?
Consider factors like umbrella fabric, poles, and structure design that will affect the wind resistant umbrella.
1. Patio umbrella canopy
The umbrella canopy is your first line to defend against strong winds. With tighter structures, high-quality fabric can help “capture” and manage wind flow. It will reduce the stress on the umbrella frame, ensuring a stable patio umbrella in windy conditions. Here we introduce two common professional-grade umbrella canopies:
SDP(Solution-dyed polyester): The fabric has a thick density for optimal use. When heavy winds hit the umbrella with SDP fabric, its specialized wind-guide design, and 2-tier reinforcement will wrap with the wind rather than fight against it. It will minimize the risk of fabric tearing under varying wind conditions.
Acrylic: This is a lightweight and durable umbrella canopy material with natural 98% UV protection.
After testing, we found that patio umbrellas made of Acrylic can hold up well after repeated use and won’t fade away within 3 years from exposure to the sunlight.
In addition, this canopy fabric resists stretching and can recover quickly after strong winds. With enhanced control to separate the wind force on the surface area, acrylic reduces the wind force on the umbrella frames, resisting wind of 25mph. This figure will be increased to 45mph if combined with a heavy-duty umbrella frame. Except for residential outdoor umbrellas, It is widely used for market umbrellas in commercial settings.
These two fabrics can be found in Westshade patio umbrellas. We partner with Agora, a leading acrylic manufacturer, to ensure our products meet the highest standards of durability, weather resistance, and stability.
2. Umbrella pole
Consider a thick, bottom-heavy umbrella pole to balance the weight of the umbrella canopy. A well-weighted umbrella pole ensures stability and prevents the umbrella from becoming top-heavy. If the pole is too light and the canopy is too heavy, this outdoor umbrella is more likely to tip over in the strong wind. There are two materials that can be used to make umbrella poles: steel and aluminum.
Steel provides a strong support to withstand the wind due to its heavy weight. However, it is easy to robust and corrode especially in a salty and wet environment. Aluminum will be a better option due to its durability and ability to withstand various weather conditions. Marine grade, in particular, stands out compared to commercial aluminum. It is tougher and has a higher level of silicon to enhance its resistance to rust and corrosion. This is why we use it to make more durable and sturdy poles for a heavy duty outdoor umbrella.
If you plan to use an umbrella base or an outdoor dining table to place a table umbrella, make sure the thickness of the pole is compatible with the base and or the table hole. With a diameter of 1.5’’ to 2’’, most dining tables with umbrella holes can accommodate this size. A thicker pole, such as one with a 0.1’’ thickness, helps with weight distribution, ensuring the patio umbrella remains securely anchored. This helps withstand winds of up to 45 mph, providing long-lasting stability and reducing the risk of tipping or blowing over in windy areas.
3. Umbrella structure
The umbrella structure design plays an essential role in wind-resistant umbrellas. Let’s delve into umbrella ribs, the hinge connection, and the supporting system.
Ribs: When wind acts on the umbrella canopy, both ribs and the umbrella canopy share the force. More ribs, like 8 ribs (the most recommended), can separate the force more evenly across the canopy. Consider using frame materials like fiberglass, aluminum, or steel. Fiberglass ribs are popular for their flexibility and strength, allowing them to bend without breaking in high winds. Aluminum creates a durable frame, while steel provides more stability for a larger patio umbrella. Avoid using wooden frames for all-weather umbrellas. Though they create a stylish look to patio decoration, wood will rust easily by a sudden rain or wind.
Hinge connection: It links ribs to the central pole. A strong hinge connection is crucial for allowing smooth opening and closing of the umbrella. With a durable hinge with fiberglass or aluminum, the wind-resistant umbrella can help the ribs move with the wind without causing damage to the umbrella.
Supporting system: The supporting system, including the crank system and tilting mechanism, makes the umbrella easier to use while also contributing to its stability. The crank opening system ensures that the wind umbrella can be adjusted without putting undue stress on the structure. This can keep the canopy stable when you want to close it for security from the gusty. While the tilting system itself doesn’t directly impact wind resistance, it allows the user to adjust the canopy to reduce wind exposure during windy conditions.
The umbrella base is also an important part of the supporting system. To secure the patio umbrella from being blown over, choose a heavy base or add sand and water to increase its stability.
Type of best patio umbrella for wind
Here we conclude three types of patio umbrellas ranked by degree of wind resistance.
| Three types of wind resistant patio umbrella | Features |
| Cantilever Umbrella | Large heavy duty wind resistant patio umbrella; most wind-resistant type due to their poles on the side and size; ideal for larger areas like a pool patio; limited in use due to high price and size. |
| Tilting Umbrella | Offers moderate to high wind resistance; can be tilted to reduce exposure to wind, providing flexibility; suitable for a variety of outdoor spaces. |
| Straight Umbrella/Market Umbrella | Traditional umbrella with a central pole in a patio table or base. Offers moderate wind resistance, but choosing a large patio umbrella can catch more wind; ideal for mild and small patios. |
However, even the best patio umbrella for wind resistance can’t withstand extremely strong winds. No matter how durable the umbrella is, it can still be damaged once the wind speed exceeds its limit. If a strong wind is approaching, be sure to close your patio umbrella in time.
The best patio umbrella for wind in Westshade
After knowing the factors that will affect the best wind resistant patio umbrella, the next step is to choose the best umbrella for your needs. If you’re unsure, here are two excellent options from Westshade.
Kapri
Size: 6ft 7.5ft 9ft 10ft
Color: Black Grey Aqua Red Sand Yellow
This tilting umbrella can help defend against the wind. You can adjust the canopy angle with an attachable crank on the pole. When winds hit the umbrella, you won’t be affected at all. The hinge point is connected with durable nylon for extra stability, ensuring the umbrella can withstand moderate to strong winds. With marine-grade aluminum and durable acrylic fabric for its canopy, this umbrella can be used for at least 5 years with exceptional color fastness.
Santorini
Size: 6.5ft 7.5ft 9ft 10ft 11.5ft
Color: Black Grey Khaki Red Yellow
The heavy duty wind resistant umbrella can be opened up by a pulley rope. It has a vent on its roof of the canopy to control the wind flow. There are two frame materials available: fiberglass and marine-grade aluminum. You can select one of them as its umbrella structure. It also offers SDP and Acrylic fabrics for selection. Combine different fabrics and frame materials freely to make a sturdy and durable patio umbrella depending on your needs!
On Black Friday, our Santorini can be discounted by 50%. Don’t miss the chance!
If you don’t know which size you should choose, we provide a detailed introduction of what size umbrella do I need. Except for the solid colors, we also provide a professional custom service with a one-to-one design. You can choose the best printing method from UV printing, Digital printing, and Sub-dye sublimation. And if you make a custom order, we will upgrade the quality of the fabric to create a perfect solution.
Conclusion
Choosing the best patio umbrella for wind involves considering factors like the umbrella canopy, poles, and structure. Key elements such as the number of ribs, the quality of the pole, and the canopy material all contribute to how well an umbrella can withstand strong winds. In addition, a heavy umbrella base also enhances the windproof patio umbrella. To help choose your favorite, we recommend the Kapri and Santorini with high-quality materials and modern design. Consider our custom service to create a piece of stylish patio furniture for your area!
