By: Torben Lonne
We gave our Review Team one job:
Find the best and most popular products and review them. Our review team always considers durability, price, quality, and value in their reviews.
Offering one of the best coverage of all umbrellas, the Brace Master 6.5ft beach umbrella has a tilt function and a sand anchor system.
This is a beach umbrella for strand squatters looking to stay the whole day at the beach without needing to run for cover. Like so many other products in this segment, that means the Brace Master 6.5 needs to be robust enough to be tilted, cranked and twisted several times throughout the sunny day.
Our review will detail whether or not this beach umbrella does what it says, outlining the best parts and the areas where it falls short. Check it out.
Our Overall Review
Things we like:
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The UPF 50+ protection is sufficient for keeping you safe and sunburn-free when the harsh sun rays are out -
The built-in tilt mechanism is operated with a single easy-push button for convenience
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The sturdy fiberglass ribs make this beach umbrella a durable piece of equipment
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It features vents that allow for an optimal airflow
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The screw knobs that attach to the anchor are designed with practicality in mind (i.e. for windy weather)
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It comes with a carry bag for easy transportation
Things we don't like:
It can’t withstand strong winds- The sand anchor that comes with the beach umbrella isn’t the strongest
- It can be tricky to disassemble
It can’t withstand strong windsWhere to buy:
Evaluation
- DiveIn Score: 4.8/5
- Quality: 4.9/5
- Ease of Use: 4.7/5
- Performance: 4.7/5
- Price/Quality: 4.9/5
It’s safe to say that Brace Master is one of the sturdiest beach umbrellas on the market. Not only is it made from premium, high-quality materials but it’s also lightweight and portable. No wonder it’s received the ‘best value’ badge from DiveIn.
That said, we do need to point out that after testing it in strong winds, it fell short of our expectations to stay in place without leaning to the side. This isn’t the case with milder winds but it’s definitely something to keep in mind if you live in a particularly stormy area where strong winds are a common occurrence.
Other than that, the Brace Master 6.5ft beach umbrella is well worth its price tag. It protects you from the sun with its UPF 50+ rating, allows you to adjust the angle as the sun moves its position in the sky, and keeps you cool thanks to the air vents that are integrated into the canopy.
Specs & Features
- Material: 160G Recycled Polyester canopy with PA coating, steel alloy pole, fiberglass ribs
- UPF: 50+
- Wind resistance: Unspecified
- Height: 6.5 feet
- Weight: 6.09 lbs.
- Warranty: Unspecified
Quality
There’s virtually nothing negative we can say about the quality of this beach umbrella. And how can we — its canopy is made from 160 grams of recycled polyester with PA coating that blocks harmful radiation and its body features a durable 1.26-inch aluminum pole along with 8 strong fiber ribs.
This mix of heavy-duty materials speaks volumes about the robustness of this beach accessory.
But this isn’t where it ends. The pole of the umbrella is built with a steel alloy that adds to the longevity of the umbrella. You can rest assured, Brace Master will last you for a long time without starting to break down after a couple of uses.
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Ease of use
No one wants to be fumbling around with a beach umbrella that’s hard to set up or operate when at the beach. Luckily, Brace Master is nothing like that. It comes with sand anchors that make it easy to “hold down your umbrella with a simple twist using the built-in handle”.
Granted, these anchors aren’t the strongest, but they do the job of keeping your umbrella in place just fine.
Once you decide to pack up your bags and leave, the installation parts can be (not so easily) removed and stored in the carry-on bag that the manufacturer includes with your purchase. This makes it convenient to transport the beach umbrella from A to B without having to think about how to pack it for the road.
Performance
If you’re worried about your beach umbrella being too dense to allow for good airflow, Brace Master is your best bet. It has an air-vent design that facilitates an optimal flow of air that helps keep the umbrella stable and prevents you from overheating too.
The tilted functionality is also a feature that comes in handy during sunny days. It enables you to adjust the angle of your umbrella to block the rays every time the sun changes its position in the sky. Add the blue color of the canopy that intercepts the majority of the sun rays, and you’ve got yourself a well-performing beach umbrella.
Price/Quality
This one wins our Best Value badge. The ergonomic design combined with the premium-quality materials makes the Brace Master a beach umbrella the one to add to your cart right away. You’ll get a lot of bang for your buck — the umbrella comes with sand anchors and a carry-on bag. No need to make any additional purchases since everything is already included.
For a frequent beachgoer who appreciates having long-lasting beach gear that does what it promises to do, Brace Master beach umbrella is just what the doctor ordered. It offers good sun protection and is portable enough to bring with you for every weekend getaway. Summer picnics and camping trips are also the target events for making the most out of this umbrella.
Our Overall Review
Things we like:
-
The UPF 50+ protection is sufficient for keeping you safe and sunburn-free when the harsh sun rays are out
-
The built-in tilt mechanism is operated with a single easy-push button for convenience
-
The sturdy fiberglass ribs make this beach umbrella a durable piece of equipment
-
It features vents that allow for an optimal airflow
-
The screw knobs that attach to the anchor are designed with practicality in mind (i.e. for windy weather)
-
It comes with a carry bag for easy transportation
Things we don't like:
- It can’t withstand strong winds
- The sand anchor that comes with the beach umbrella isn’t the strongest
- It can be tricky to disassemble
Frequently asked questions
The market is filled with beach umbrellas of all kinds. You’ll find umbrellas with canopies large enough to cover families of 5 and portable enough to be transported without the carry-on bag.
That said, the best beach umbrella manufacturers that regularly receive positive feedback are SportBrella, Ammsun, Coleman, and Brace Master. They are known for producing high-quality umbrellas that stand the test of time.
Read this guide to find the best beach umbrella and to compare the different brands.
While there isn’t a deficit of beach umbrellas of all sizes, in practice, those that are 6 to 8 feet in diameter seem to perform the best. The smaller ones are most suitable for one to two people while the larger ones can accommodate a couple of more people.
There are also beach umbrellas with a diameter of over 9 feet that act as sun shelters. They typically feature a higher UPF rating than their smaller counterparts and are a little bulkier and heavier too.
No matter what beach umbrella you decide to purchase, you need to make sure that you know how to keep it from flying away. This is particularly important for stormy days when the wind is stronger than usual.
To stabilize a beach umbrella, you can either fill sandbags and anchor your umbrella with them or dig the hole in the sand for the screw poles to go in and attach it to them. Pro tip: test out these options when it’s not too windy so that you can get a hang of the setup process faster.
Speaking about beach umbrella setup, there’s a reason why some beachgoers have issues with their umbrellas flying away while others never encounter them. And it’s not the quality of the umbrella but rather the anchor not going deep enough into the sand.
Ideally, the pole of a beach umbrella should go at the very least ⅓ of the way into the sand. Then and only then when it’s buried deep into the sand, you can start tilting and adjusting the umbrella so that it gives you good shade.
To find the right beach umbrella for you, there are a couple of things you should note. One of them is the size of the said umbrella and the other one is the value you get for your money by choosing this particular beach umbrella.
Beach umbrellas that are easy to secure in the sand and are made from high-quality materials are clear winners too. It helps when they have the highest possible UPF rating (50+) and come with a carry-on bag.
This beach umbrella is versatile enough to be used beyond the beach. Having a picnic in the backyard? Pull out your Brace Master beach umbrella and you’re covered from the sun. The same applies to camping and outdoor parties that require some form of sun protection.
