Tommy Bahama Beach Umbrella 2023 Review | 98% Sunblock

Evaluation

• DIVEIN.com Score: 4.9/5
• Quality: 4.9/5
• Ease of use: 5/5
• Performance: 4.8/5
• Price/Quality: 4.9/5

This 7 ½-foot beast is a force to be reckoned with. Its soft exterior might give you an impression that it’s not as practical and durable as other beach umbrellas but it’s, in fact, the opposite. You can rely on the Tommy Bahama beach umbrella to last you a long time if you take proper care of it.

From the optimal height to the high UPF rating, there’s not much this beach umbrella is short of. You won’t struggle to install it and nor will you find it hard to carry it to and from the beach. The polyester carrying bag it comes with might not be the most comfortable, but it does the job.

The biggest downside to this umbrella is that it’s not hearty enough to withstand stronger winds. The aluminum shaft and plastic anchor are more than capable of being used season in and season out, but in strong winds it’s just not in the same price class and construction as others.

For more wind resistance and if more than 2 people are planning on using it, you’ll be better off with Sport-Brella’s Portable Rain&Shine beach umbrella.

Quality 

Think about this beach umbrella as an affordable balance between quality and functionality. And as for the quality, it stands out with its 50+ UPF Polyester fabric that blocks 98% of sun rays and aluminum pole with fiberglass ribs that act as a supportive foundation.

The fiberglass material also happens to be water-resistant. This helps keep the umbrella’s frame abrasion-free even when the salty ocean water makes its way to your Tommy Bahama.

Features of Tommy Bahama Beach Umbrella

The manufacturer–in this case Rio Brands–equipped this beach umbrella with what it needs to serve its owner well for many consecutive seasons. Take the vents at the top of the umbrella that helps with maintaining the wind pressure and keeps the umbrella stable in mild to moderate winds. Without it, your umbrella would fly away as soon as the breeze from the ocean hits it.

Then there are the hold-down plastic handles that can be used as hooks. They might not be strong enough to hold heavy stuff but they can easily help you store your lightweight dry bags and beach towels.

Ease of use

For rookies who have minimal to zero experience installing beach umbrellas, this one from Tommy Bahama is nice. There’s no rocket science.

You don’t need to fumble with attaching anchors or filling sandbags — the umbrella already comes with a built-in thread sand anchor that you can screw into the sand without much effort. The fold-down handles will help you with that too.

Though the plastic is strong enough for the task, it can’t be rough-handled or it’ll soon malfunction.

The tilting mechanism of the shaft, on the other hand, works with a simple push of the button. It’s straightforward to use and handy to have when hanging out at the beach during the peak sun hours.

Oh, and a carrying case is included too. Bring your very own Tommy Bahama with you to your next holiday and save on renting a beach umbrella at the spot.

Performance

Aside from being famous for its tilted mechanism, this beach umbrella has scored high on the performance scale due to its robust frame composed of an aluminum pole and fiberglass ribs. It allows the umbrella to stay put in moderately windy conditions and not be a burden on you to keep a close eye on it.

When it comes to stormier days, however, you might want to leave your Tommy Bahama beach umbrella at home. Alternatively, just close it if the weather starts to beat up a bit.

Tommy Bahama Beach Umbrella Price/Quality

If we had to, we’d describe this beach umbrella as ‘you get what you pay for’ with a good connotation to it. The Easy-To-Use badge from DiveIn implies that Tommy Bahama is one of the most undemanding beach umbrellas on the market as it doesn’t take you a long time to install while also being low-maintenance.

All of the above signals to the umbrella having an optimal price/quality ratio that makes it a worthwhile purchase for every frequent beachgoer.

Do we recommend the Tommy Bahama Beach Umbrella?

For those considering investing in a high-quality beach umbrella that stands the test of time, the Tommy Bahama beach umbrella is the one worth adding to the summer to-buy list. It’s built well and it’s a strong competitor among beach umbrellas of a similar budget range. The ease of installing the umbrella can easily be its best selling point

See the complete list of the best Beach Umbrella here!