More On Summer Essentials

We took our umbrellas to Long Beach, N.Y., on two days. On the first day, the average wind speed was 16 mph with moderately strong 24 mph gusts.

We then took our favorite and least favorite umbrellas to the same beach on a different day, when the average wind speed registered 21 mph with strong 34 mph gusts. For both days, we evaluated how easy the umbrellas were to set up and take down, any great features they boasted or lacked, and how well they stayed steady as the wind blew and sometimes roared. We also weighed each umbrella in its carrying bag and measured the canopies to estimate how much shade coverage each provides (our numbers may differ slightly from the manufacturer’s numbers).

One of our prettiest umbrellas emerged as the clear-cut winner, while a very popular brand flew right out of the sand within seconds on two occasions. Here’s how each fared.