Kemp USA Lifeguard Solar Umbrella | Outdoor Umbrella with Push Tilt Mechanism | Portable Umbrella for Lifeguard Chair Silver

The umbrellas are great. Unfortunately, the pool had already received two as a donation before my order shipped. Tried to cancel but was too late for that. Note: return shipping cost $50 will be deducted from refund 😞

Seems to be holding up well so far. Love the tilt feature.

Purchased for my job and they held up all season. The pool facility gets a lot of high winds which rip into the umbrellas. These did great and will be getting a few more as back up.

The first thing to understand about Kemp USA is that they're a company that makes products for medical professionals and first responders (including lifeguards), which is why this beach umbrella has the words "LIFE GUARD" in red across four of the eight panels when the umbrella is wide open. It's an very good purchase for anyone acquiring equipment for a public or private beach or pool that employs life guards. The red lettering is clear and visible enough against the metallic-like surface that it's visible from far away. It'd be nice if Kemp USA made products for civilians, because this is one of the finest beach umbrellas I've seen. It has a unique venting layer on top designed to allow light to moderate wind to pass through the umbrella without launching it as happens with most beach umbrellas. The umbrella is easy to open and lock in place; you can use a plastic button to close the umbrella. Knowing how fragile plastic can be after hundreds of uses, I do wish they'd have used metal or at least a stronger and more dense plastic than what they used not just for the button but for the skeleton of the umbrella. Still, it does the job. There is a metal button to control the tilt mechanism that allows you to pivot the umbrella to a 45 degree angle. This sure beats stabbing the sand over and over to find the right angle. The silver reflective material is perfect for not just shielding you from sun, but from reflecting the light rays completely off, another great innovation for those who need to sit in the sun all day. Size-wise, wth more than a 5 foot diameter and up to more than a 7 foot height (when you attach it to the telescoping rod, also included), it's got generous coverage. It doesn't come with any kind of base, so you'll need to purchase that separately or use an existing one. The material itself is nylon. It's a little bit thinner and flimsier than I would have liked, but I assume they did this to keep the weight down. I'd say it's about the thickness of a rain poncho or a reusable shopping bag. As long as you keep it away from sharp objects you should be fine. It all packs up nicely in a carrying case that's made from the same material with a strap you can conveniently use to carry it on your shoulders. Overall it's a very good umbrella that should definitely be on the consideration list of anyone buying official lifeguard umbrellas. Of course anyone can buy it for personal use as well, but be sure to cover up the words "Life Guard" when you're in a public area to avoid misrepresentation. Of course you can use it as much as you like in private settings.

Haven’t even had the umbrella up a whole month and it’s completely fallen apart.