The 8 Best Beach Umbrellas and Tents

Materials: Polyester, alloy steel | Canopy: 96-inch open height, 45-degree pole | Anchor: Ground stakes and sand pockets

The above umbrellas are traditional in both structure and function. If you’d like to invest in more futuristic beach technology, consider the Sport-Brella, which features a telescoping pole that stands at about a 45-degree angle, much like a telescope pointing toward the stars. It features two side flaps that anchor the umbrella’s UV-blocking fabric into the sand with ground stakes, creating a mini-cabana. Weighing six pounds, the Sport-Brella can comfortably fit three adults and comes with a side window, a flap for ventilation, and a pocket to hold your keys and phone. Peter Shaw, head instructor at Surfs Up NY surf school, likes that this “half-tent, half-umbrella” is “semi-private, since the back half is covered, and that’s pretty cool for hanging out with friends.” He says it stays put in 15 mph wind, the point at which many weaker umbrellas blow away. Most impressive, the Sport-Brella has over 7,000 Amazon reviews and still averages a 4.5 rating. It’s the ultimate crowd-pleaser.

Materials: Waterproof stretch nylon and lycra | Canopy: 66-inch height, tilted canopy (small), 84-inch height, tilted canopy (large) | Anchor: Sand pockets

A beach tent comes with two significant advantages compared with its beach umbrella cousins: lightness and increased shade. The sporty-looking Neso is recommended by avid beachgoer Bianca Buchanan, who’s been visiting local beaches from Staten Island to the Bronx weekly for the past 17 years. “It’s great in the wind, and keeps you cool underneath,” she says. Unlike an umbrella, the tent doesn’t have to be dug into the ground — simply fill the bags in each corner with sand to weigh them down. And compared to our bulky top pick, it’s much easier to tote around. Buchanan says, “When the sandbags are empty, each tent weighs just four pounds.” The Nemo also comes in a larger option that’s recommended by Jeff Moore, who lives full-time in the Caribbean and runs his own beach-themed YouTube channel. It has the same sand-anchored design as Nemo’s original tent above and weighs just a few pounds more. Couples and small families will be able to stretch out more under its 110-by-110-inch canopy.

Materials: Polyester and fiberglass | Canopy: 47-inch height, three-wall canopy and floor | Anchor: Sand pockets and stakes

And if you’re really camping out all day and wish to avoid even the slightest tan, here’s a three-walled tent with a built-in floor. A Strategist Summer 100 standout, it comes recommended by New York’s extremely sun-averse deputy editor Alexis Swerdloff, who was especially struck by how easy it is to pack. Weighing four pounds, the tent “can be packed up and toted around in a very manageable carry case with a shoulder strap.” As for setup, its name does not lie: “All you have to do is pull its little lever on top and it snaps into shape. Then push four yellow stakes into the ground, and for extra weight, there are several pockets into which you can deposit a few handfuls of sand.” And while the three walls (constructed from UV-blocking polyester) will protect you from the sun, you can still experience some beach ambiance courtesy of two mesh windows that’ll let in a sea breeze and whatever the group next to you is playing on their Bluetooth speaker.

Materials: UPF 50+ recycled plastic | Canopy: 150 square feet of shade | Anchor: Sand pockets and pole

The Shibumi Shade shelters several Strategist staffers on their beach days, including former senior editor Kayleen Schaefer, who calls it her “biggest, boldest, baddest piece of beach gear.” Its 16-by-8-foot rectangle of parachute fabric flaps overhead and “immediately announces you to the rest of the shore as someone to stare at,” she explains. It has enough of a footprint to keep three to six people out of the sun while still allowing airflow and maximum ocean views. Our newsletter editor Ashley Wolfgang says it’s great for a bunch of friends who don’t own individual beach umbrellas: “I’m usually the one bringing the beach stuff in my friend group, so I like the Shibumi because everyone can stay under there.”

While it may look a little gravity defying, the best thing about the Shibumi might be its ease of transport and setup. It folds down to be more compact and lightweight than a traditional pop-up beach tent, and while there’s a slight learning curve, two people can fill the sandbag and plant the curved pole in a couple of minutes after a few rounds of practice. Just note that you will have to keep repositioning the shade so that it catches the wind (a slight breeze will do), which could be an annoyance for some.