BeachBUB All-In-One Beach Umbrella System Review

If you’re a frequent beachgoer, you might notice all of the sub-par umbrellas and accessories stashed in the trash at the end of the day. Once summer officially kicks off, you can bet there’ll be plenty of umbrella options that claim to be the most budget-friendly, the most durable, or the most convenient to carry. With all of those factors in mind, we tested the BeachBUB All-In-One Beach Umbrella System during several all-day beach outings to see if it was worth the investment. Read on to see if it’s a must-have for your next seaside hangout.

The umbrella system includes a triangle-shaped tarp base, the hollow metal Sand Gopher for removing sand, and a plastic shovel. To set up the umbrella base, it’s best to first clear off the top layer of dry sand and work with damp sand (as stated in the included instructions). The process is fairly simple and easy for one person to do solo. It requires placing the tarp down and then using the Sand Gopher to remove sand from the center hole of the tarp. 

Once you place the umbrella’s bottom pole into the cleared-out center, you’ll hook two of the tarp wings onto the pole and shovel sand to create a weighted base. Then you’ll attach the third wing and fill the base the remainder of the way. We liked that the product included a shovel and Sand Gopher, which ensured that we had everything needed to assemble the umbrella straight out of the bag.

Securing the top half of the umbrella is a cinch, too. It involves fitting the upper pole onto the bottom one and attaching the chain and hitch pin. In addition to the included instructions, BeachBUB has a video and more helpful info on its website for setting up and taking down your umbrella.

The umbrella’s materials feel sturdy and high quality. The two-part pole is made of industrial-grade aluminum, while the frame is made of fiberglass and stainless steel. The 7.5-foot canopy can comfortably accommodate two seated adults and potentially four depending on the angle of the umbrella. The canopy is made of 220G polyester fabric and features a UV protection rating of 50+ UPF, which means about 98 percent of UVA and UVB rays are blocked. While we wouldn’t dare to venture out without sunscreen, the extra UV ray protection is an added bonus especially when SPF needs to be reapplied throughout the day.

The vinyl base sits on top of the sand in the same manner as a patio umbrella stand and features a universal anchor collar that will work with all brands of beach umbrellas including those with screw poles. This adds to this system’s versatility. The triangular pyramid base is designed to hold 120 pounds worth of sand. The hardware is made of rust-resistant stainless steel and heavy-duty plastic.

If you have strong color preferences, it’s worth noting that the umbrella only comes in blue.

The BeachBUB All-In-One Beach Umbrella System is endorsed by the American Lifeguard Association for its sturdiness against “unpredictable breezes.” According to BeachBUB, it’s been wind tested for up to 35 miles per hour. We tested the umbrella alongside two other products on a pretty breezy day and can confirm that it certainly lived up to its promise to stand up against the winds (although we can’t confirm an exact wind speed).

The pyramid-shaped, sand-filled base does its job to keep the umbrella securely in place, and despite the lack of a built-in tilting feature, it’s not difficult to adjust the angle of the shade by pulling or pushing the entire unit toward the sun. The umbrella and base were designed to tilt together at up to a 45-degree angle; while we didn’t need to move the umbrella that far, we did have to refill the tarp base as the sand fell out during adjustment.

Unlike other beach umbrellas we tested, this one has a storage bag featuring a fairly comfortable padded strap—a nice-to-have feature when you’re likely lugging (or dragging) a ton of other gear through the sand. The umbrella itself weighs 9 pounds.

The umbrella also includes a ring with two hooks (which needs to be attached when you’re setting up the umbrella) that can hold towels, hats, or light bags. This is another convenient feature that adds value to an already functional beach essential. We like that there’s also an option to buy an extra tray table if you’re looking to get more use out of the umbrella. On top of that, the carrying bag has extra space to hold any extra accessories, such as the tray.

Retailing for about $150, this umbrella system isn’t exactly cheap. As born-and-raised Los Angeles residents, my family has gone through our fair share of $20 umbrellas that flipped inside-out during regular breezy afternoons, snapped from prolonged sun damage, or just plain broke as a result of low-quality parts. That being said, we consider this umbrella a fairly good investment given its quality and special features. Plus, there’s a three-year warranty.

Tommy Bahama Stripe 7.5-Foot Beach Umbrella: At $70 MSRP, the Tommy Bahama beach umbrella that we tested offered easy setup (thanks to a threaded anchor and folding handles) and had a convenient tilting shade feature that came in handy as the sun moved. The only downside is that the shade didn’t feel as sturdy as the BeachBUB umbrella during moderately windy days.

Sport-Brella Portable All-Weather and Sun Umbrella: For those who prefer to be completely covered, the Sport-Brella shade is an ideal option. Setup can be a challenge, as the telescoping pole doesn’t have a built-in threaded anchor, but once it’s firmly in place the shade offers great back and side protection from the sun. 

The BeachBUB umbrella was by far the least worrisome canopy. Its set-it-up-and-forget-it base held its ground all day, while the other two we tested required more adjustment throughout the day. It was a breath of fresh ocean air to have at least one low-maintenance shade.

Want to take a look at some other options? Check out our roundup of the best beach umbrellas.