I've tested over 25 beach umbrellas and the CoolCabana is the only one I love

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Twenty years ago, my husband and I purchased a small beach cottage on the Jersey Shore. At the time, I was the beauty editor at Health Magazine writing story after story about skin cancer, so keeping my three young children safe from the sun was always top of mind. (Scary stat: more Americans are diagnosed with skin cancer each year than all other cancers combined.) Yet, it's taken me almost two decades to find the perfect beach umbrella to protect my family — after having tested more monopoles, tents, and cabanas than I care to remember.

Today, as a home writer, I'm sent hundreds of products a year to sample. Let's just say that when a PR rep reached out with a new beach cabana to test, one that promised to make the traditional beach umbrella a thing of the past, I didn't get too excited. Little did I know that after years of searching for the perfect beach cover, I'd finally found THE ONE. Ahead, I'll explain why anyone who spends time under the sun should consider investing in a CoolCabana.

How it works  

The cabana, known as CoolCabana 5, comes in a canvas bag. Inside, you'll find three pieces: the canopy, a center pole, and a bottom stake along with instructions sewn onto the bag. The creator of CoolCabana, an architect-turned inventor named Mark Fraser, boasts it takes only one person to assemble and that the cabana can be put together in two minutes. All true, but it takes practice — you'll need to put together the cabana a few times before hitting those numbers.

That said, assembly couldn't be easier: you attach the stake to the center pole, tap the combined poles into the sand until you reach the pole's red line (if you go past the line, the corner columns could slack), place the canopy onto the center pole (it helps to have someone assist when it's windy out), extend the four metal arms (begin with the arm on the windiest side, then move to the opposite arm, repeating with the two remaining arms), all the while filling each fabric pocket with sand after each arm extension. And that's it.

What makes it stand out

The safety factor is the main reason I love this cabana. A few years ago, I wrote a story for HGTV Magazine about the dangers of not properly securing a beach umbrella in the sand, which can act like a missile in the wind, resulting in serious injuries and even death. For all the summers I've spent at the shore, I've never felt completely comfortable with a unipole umbrella, no matter how well I'd secure it in the sand. Whenever the wind would pick up, I'd close the umbrella down, leaving my family without sun protection. Thanks to its unique pole design and four sandbagged corners (which hold up to 40 pounds of sand), there's little risk of the CoolCabana releasing into the air. Some other reasons I'm passionate about this cabana:

You can fit multiple beach chairs under the canopy.

The typical beach umbrella provides a canopy of about 6' in diameter (28 square feet of shade) and is suitable for two chairs. The CoolCabana comes in two sizes: the medium opens up to 6'7" x 6'7" (43 square feet of shade) to comfortably fit three chairs, and the large opens up to 8' by 8' (64 square feet), making it ideal for four chairs. It would take more than two typical-sized beach umbrellas to shade the same number of people under one large CoolCabana.

The canvas fabric is rated a UPF 50+.

UPF (ultraviolet protection factor) is the standard assessment used to measure the effectiveness of sun-protective fabrics. The CoolCabana is rated 50+, the highest number possible, meaning its reinforced fiberglass polyester fabric blocks 98% of the sun's UVA and UVB rays. I love that the water-resistant fabric comes in multiple color options (from tan to yellow to blue) and prints (stripes, florals, and graphic patterns). I opted for the bestselling tan stripe, which I believe looks the most stylish, like something you'd see at a posh hotel.

It doesn't obstruct water views, nor is it noisy.

In some coastal towns, officials are banning the use of cabanas on the beach because they block the view of the ocean and make a flapping noise when the wind blows. Like a traditional umbrella, the CoolCabana has a single pole, allowing for clear sight lines. And unlike the cabanas that feature paraglider fabric, the CoolCabana doesn't snap and thrash in the wind — it barely makes a peep. 

It comes with a sturdy carrying case.

Dermatologists note if sunscreen isn't user-friendly, people won't use it. The same could be said for a beach umbrella — if it's cumbersome to transport, you may just leave it at home. Unlike clunky beach umbrellas that often come with plastic storage sleeves that rip after a few unpackings, the CoolCabana features a sturdy canvas bag equipped with two handles — the shoulder strap frees up your hands so you can carry towels and other beach accessories. The medium and large sizes are both reasonable weights, at 13 and 14 pounds respectively.

It works on grass, too.  

I can't count the number of hours my husband and I sat on the sidelines at our kids' soccer, baseball, and lacrosse summer tournaments only to end up with sunburns after spending multiple hours under the blistering July and August sun. The CoolCabana can be used on grass — the company offers a kit that includes a hammer and spikes to hold the canopy in place. You can also use the cabana on a hard surface by placing the pole in an umbrella stand and water bottles in each of the four sand pockets.

It's easy to clean.

The CoolCabana is low maintenance. After a day at the beach, simply bang the sand off the poles and give the canopy a good shake before putting everything back in the bag. If the fabric gets dirty, you can wipe it down with a rag dipped in dish soap and warm water. To prevent mold, be sure the canvas is dry before storing. 

Optional upgrades

The company offers a limited-run large-sized cabana called the Red Label, made of a thicker fabric with stronger stitching and a scalloped edge on the covering, and comes with a higher quality carrying bag. At an additional charge, you can purchase a beach mat designed with a center hole for the cabana's pole — but at $149, I prefer another company's less expensive beach towel that comes with four corner holes and stakes to keep it in place. The company also sells a two-position beach chair that can be set up as a chair or lounger and comes with a head and footrest. 

Cons to consider

I wish this cabana came with side walls — ones that can be rolled up or snapped on with Velcro. Although the cabana protects from above, UV rays can still make their way in through the sides. One weekend while I was doing research for this story, I interviewed multiple beachgoers sitting under CoolCabanas. When I probed for product shortcomings, the need for side walls on windy days or when the sun dips later in the day often came up. Moms with small kids told me they found themselves draping the sides of the cabana with beach towels when their children were napping.

When asked about walls, founder Mark Fraser said, "The problem with side walls is they obstruct the views for lifeguards and beachgoers, they block the breeze for those sitting under the cabana, and they can significantly increase wind load."

Some of the CoolCabana owners I talked to also wished the product was less expensive, but all said it was worth the price tag. I noticed there were big savings during Amazon Prime Days. For example, the price of the Red Label cabana was reduced from $399 to $249. I recommend signing up for the company's email list so you're notified of any current or future sales along with new product launches.

Finally, if you're over 5'6", you'll find yourself hunching under the canopy (my 6'1" son complains he can't stand up in the cabana without hitting his head), but I appreciate the top being closer to the ground to prevent fewer UV rays from entering the sides. If there's any slacking in the columns, you may also need to raise or lower the sand underneath the pockets or pull them further or closer to the center pole. 

What are your alternatives?

CoolCabana ranks at the top of my list but here are a few good contenders from our guide to the best beach umbrella to keep you comfortable, safe and protected from the sun.

• BeachBub All-In-One Beach Umbrella System — This classic monopole-style beach umbrella is weighed down by a sandbag to keep it from blowing away — in fact, it's been wind-tested up to 44 miles per hour, exceeding the ASTM beach safety standard of 30 mph. That said, it takes time to set up and once assembled, the umbrella can't be moved unless fully disassembled.
• Tommy Bahama Easy-Set Up Umbrella with Anchorx — This oversized (80" x 42" x 80") monopole-style umbrella comes with a patent-pending anchor system that includes an auger that gets screwed into the sand for better wind stability. Its canopy fabric has a UPF 50+ along with built-in vents for better airflow and maximum stability; a special tilt mechanism adds to the umbrella's usefulness. However, its drop-down handles are made of plastic and can break if too much torque is applied. They're also located lower on the pole — users will need to squat to access them.
• Sun Ninja Beach Tent — This pop-up tent is assembled by spreading the canopy on the sand in an X-shape, filling up the four anchor bags with sand (it comes with a small shovel), and raising the corners with the four enclosed poles. Keep in mind that it takes up a lot of space on the beach with its 23' x 23' footprint.
• Shibumi Shade Classic Canopy — This lightweight, four-pound umbrella is constructed of paraglider fabric and a single high arch aluminum rod. The fabric has added stretch to reduce loud flapping in high winds, provides coverage for six people, is lightweight at four pounds, and has a UPF 50+ rating. Unfortunately, it relies on a light wind to lift its sail and create a cavern of shade, so is not a great option for windless days or crowded beaches (it'll block ocean views). 

The bottom line

I love my CoolCabana. It's stylish (like something you'd see at a European beach club), easy to transport and assemble, doesn't block ocean views, isn't noisy, and won't blow away with a large gust of wind. And then there's this: it's never too early to introduce kids to sun protection. Having them fill the pockets with sand is a great (and fun!) way to start.