When spending time outdoors during the summer, sun protection is a major concern. This is both because the sun's rays can be dangerous to our health and to our appearance, and because it's just plain hot and sometimes too bright. While sunscreen works well for protecting your body from the sun, it doesn't do anything to keep you cool and in the shade. For that purpose, a patio umbrella is the most commonly used tool. It's somewhat ironic that a device designed to protect us from the rain also works to protect us from the bright sun.

There are a few basic types of patio umbrellas, including standalone umbrellas, table-mounted umbrellas (often called market umbrellas), offset patio umbrellas, and more. These all come in different price ranges and have different features and capabilities. Of course, the primary purpose of a patio umbrella is to keep the sun from beating down on people heads. To do that, every patio umbrella has a few common features – they must be big, and made of thick enough material so that the sun doesn't just pulse right through. The thickness and type of material is also important for durability reasons, because if you're going to be using the umbrella a lot, you want it to last.

Portability and ease of use of a patio umbrella are also important factors. The problem with some of the bigger umbrellas is that they are difficult to move around set up. When an umbrella has a 9-foot diameter and it is standing taller than you are, it's not going to be easy to work with. Many umbrellas of this size have pulley systems or other methods that make it easy for anyone to operate them.

The portability factor and patio umbrella stands

As far as portability is concerned, this really depends on the size of the umbrella. Some larger models just aren't going to be easy to move around in a convenient manner. If you want an umbrella to use while you spend your day at the beach or out for a picnic, then you'll want to get a smaller one that is built to be portable. Portability is also a factor in umbrella stands. While you want a stand that is going to be heavy enough that it doesn't get easily blown away, getting one that is too heavy can limit mobility. Umbrella stands also have their own look, so it's important to match the right stand with the right umbrella.

Another factor when it comes to choosing an umbrella is its color. Certain umbrellas can actually influence the color of the shade that they create. This can be an important distinction for some people, and can make a real difference in their ability to relax in the shade.

The offset patio umbrella – an optimal solution

Finally, many umbrellas are designed to simply stand straight up. The problem with this is that the sun is always coming down at an angle, not from directly above people's heads. Offset patio umbrellas solve this problem. These umbrellas can be tilted in whatever direction the sun is coming from, completely blocking it no matter where it's coming from. These umbrellas are the ultimate outdoor shade solution.

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