This has to be the best beach umbrella I have owned so far! I was tired of our old umbrella always folding in the wind and dislodging from the sand. I got this umbrella because I wanted something more industrial, similar to the hotel quality that can withstand strong winds and is easier to bury in the sand. This umbrella is awesome! I did not use any extra anchoring devices, just threw the handle into the sand like a spear, and it held the entire time perfectly. We were also at the beach right after the hurricane has passed, so the winds were quite strong and you may be able to see two red warning flags on the second picture in the background if you zoom in. This umbrella was able to withstand strong winds and did not even budge, while I saw some other people playing catch with their umbrellas. I also love how sturdy the material is and how large the umbrella top is (produces plenty of shade).
A few negatives that I have to discuss. The spokes on the umbrella are plastic and the ones on the commercial umbrellas are made from metal. I am hoping the plastic will hold for a long time, but I wish the manufacturer would have gone an extra step with this and made them out of metal. Another negative is that the handle is so long that it sticks out of the bag as can be seen in the pictures, even when the umbrella is taken apart. Finally, the umbrella top does not have as much of a deep curve as the commercial umbrellas. The last picture has commercial umbrellas in the background and they have more of a bell shape versus a flatter shape as in this umbrella.
Overall, however, this is a great umbrella and I highly recommend it!