Kemp USA Lifeguard Solar Umbrella - Patio, Beach & Outdoor Umbrella with 45° Tilt & Carry Case - Portable for Lifeguard Chair - Silver

The lifeguards at our community pool were taking an umbrella from one of the tables in order to have shade during the day. By providing them with their own umbrella, we have been able to leave the larger umbrellas at the tables for the pool guests. This was a reasonably priced alternative solution to our problem.

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.

This is a very nice, super large outdoor umbrella that worked great during our half-day yard sale. The 45-degree tilt feature was especially helpful since we were facing directly east and needed shade as the sun moved. It provided consistent coverage and kept us comfortable throughout the morning and early afternoon.One thing I really liked is that we didn’t have to dig a hole to set it up. We used a 5-gallon bucket filled with dirt to hold it in place, and it worked perfectly. Just keep in mind that since this is a larger umbrella, it will catch the wind more. Near the end of the yard sale, a strong gust tipped it over, but that was expected given it wasn’t permanently anchored. That’s normal for something this size.It also looks good and feels durable. Overall, a solid umbrella for outdoor events, yard sales, or use around the patio or beach. I’d recommend it if you need something with good coverage and portability.

This is a really nice umbrella. It’s fairly small, at about 67 inches, and probably really made for the beach, but can be used just about anywhere. I’ll probably be using it on my small back porch in order to shade the window and door from the sun somewhat. The bottom of the pole is a bit pointed, but it will go in an umbrella stand just fine. I really like the shiny, silver, reflective material on the top. In theory, that should keep the sun bounced in the other direction. The underside of the umbrella is a bright red, and I don’t think it will fade very badly. I like the scallops around the base of the umbrella. The umbrella tilts 45° in either direction very easily and is easy to open and close. It has two closures with Velcro attached. The umbrella comes with a really nice carrying case so that you can easily transport it from the car to the beach, if needed. I think the umbrella is good looking and I would recommend it, especially if at a bit lower price point.

Not too shabby. Easy to set up, functionality and durability is there. Not too heavy so even with my medical issues I am able to set this up. When you need it to angle, not a problem that is also easy to do. So far, this has withstood winds up to 15+ mph in Florida. Found this out by accident, forgetting to lower the umbrella a few times. We do have this umbrella set-up in the middle of a metal outdoor mesh restaurant style old table without a bottom weighted base. Does cool the sitting area off and the birds and squirrels like it well since this umbrella seems to attract them and they are probably trying to get some heat relief like the rest of us.

These Kemp Lifeguard umbrellas fell apart after 1 month of regular use. The company that sold these are of horrible customer service and would do nothing to rectify the problem!!!