You’ll want to look for a model with UV protection, with a rating of at least UPF 30+. Consider a parasol that offers UPF 50+ if you want increased protection for your family . Most parasol canopies are made from heavyweight polyester, and you should aim for a polyester that is minimum 180 g/m ² . The parasol features two pole sections which screw together to easily assemble and store away. Clear instructions are included with information on how to assemble and care for the parasol. If you only want a parasol to shade a lounger then it won’t need huge dimensions, but if it’s to shade a dining set, think about opting for a design with a diameter of 2 metres for two seats; 2.4 metres for four to six seats; 2.7 to 3 metres for six to eight; and 4 metres for 10 seats. In terms of the parasol itself, offering 360 ° rotation and various ‘tilt’ angles, it can be positioned as required – this offers you the flexibility to sit where you want, without the necessity of constantly moving to stay in the shade.

Both of these things happen because the supporting pole of a standard parasol is located in the middle of it, and as most of these products are meant to be popped through the middle of your table, it’s the table itself that gets most of the protection from the sun. This often leaves the people sitting around said table half shaded and half exposed, often leading to some very funny looking tan lines! Well, funny for other people, anyway. Not so much the victim. Ensure the frame is made from rust-resistant steel, and ideally look for a model with a water-resistant canopy . Although these parasols will predominantly be used during fair weather, sudden downpours are never off the cards! Made from hardwearing steel, the frame can stand up well to the varying challenges of the UK summer. Plus, the 3 x 3 m canopy is 180 g polyester, so even if there’s a passing shower you don’t have to go scrambling inside. Of course, if there’s any more extreme weather, the parasol should be taken down to protect both itself and anyone nearby.An air vent helps to reduce wind pressure to prevent it pulling the parasol upwards. It also allows heat to circulate, so the canopy is cooler to sit beneath. The problem is, that just because you’re in the shade, doesn’t necessarily mean you’re protected from the sun’s harmful UV rays. The benefit of buying a set is that these items can be quite expensive when bought separately. Therefore, a set can help keep costs low. Furthermore, if you buy these items separately, you have to go to the extra effort of making sure they all fit your parasol correctly. In a set, compatibility is ensured. We personally find a push-fit pole assembly slightly easier to operate than this screw-fit design, but considering the features this parasol delivers at a great value price point, it's a preference we're more than happy to overlook.

With an overhanging 3 m canopy, this CHRISTOW cantilever umbrella is large enough to cover larger dining areas, as well as sun loungers and paddling pools outside.

Home

The base sections, I wasn’t quite as happy with though, and they certainly aren’t as durable as the ones you get with the Jarder parasol. In fact, when filled with water, they actually leaked a little, but there weren’t any problems once filled with sand, which is always my choice for these bases anyway as it gives more weight and stability. One other thing to be aware of is how much space the base with weights attached will take up – it measures over 1 m across, so it’s worth being sure that you have the room to accommodate this. The UV protection rating is lower than the top choice on our list, offering a UV30+ rating rather than Kettler's 50+, and unlike the Kettler patio umbrella this option doesn't claim to be showerproof.

Everything about this cantilever parasol shouts quality, right down to the crank handle you use to open and close the canopy. This is an area where a lot of companies cut corners to keep the price low, but it ends up being one of the things that breaks easily. From the time we spent with this model, I can’t see there being any issue in that department for years to come, nor with the height adjustment, which is just as well done. The canopy is made from tough polyester with an air vent to prevent the parasol being pulled upwards by the wind. It also keeps you nice and cool by allowing heat to circulate more freely.Although there’s no ‘tilt’ feature on this Greenbay Cantilever Parasol, it can rotate through 360° and adequately intercepts the sun from most positions – when the sun is low in the sky it may not be quite as effective. At 15 kg (without weights added, which will be necessary for stability), it’s not too heavy to move around if needed, either. It’s one of the best cantilever parasols for those on a budget, coming up a lot cheaper than the majority of garden parasols out there. It may not be quite as sturdy as some, but it’s good value for the price. Best large cantilever parasol: Jarder Libre Garden parasol– sporting a heavy base when compared to the lightweight frame, keeping it very stable. The best cantilever parasol for you is, of course, the one which will fit in the space you have available.

If you’re interested in making your own base out of cement, this video shows you how to do it. Please excuse the choice in music for the video and the picture quality, it was just something I came across on youtube. They have a multitude of uses: providing shade over picnic tables, sun loungers or even paddling pools for the little ones. The canopy itself is water-resistant but offers a little less sun protection than the first choice on our list with a UV30+ rating. You also don't get the LED lights with this option, although with a significant cost saving we'd be happy to sacrifice the built-in option and consider some different outdoor lighting ideas instead.

The biggest danger to the metal frames /poles of cantilever parasols is rust and corrosion. Often, aluminium is used for a lot of outdoor furniture, such as zero-gravity chairs and sun loungers, due to its ability to fight off rust, but the quality of the aluminium used can vary a lot and some of it is very lightweight, weak, and may not be the best material for a parasol if it doesn’t have a solid base to support it. Stainless steel can help to slow down the effects of rust too, as can a good quality powder coat like the one found on the GardenCo parasol frame, or galvanised metals. To keep the large canopy over your head, and not crashing down onto it, there is an alloy steel frame that is actually a lot stronger than it looks. This frame is made even more stable with the included four-piece fillable base, which is very large, and good quality, considering the price and can weigh up to 80kg when filled with sand. This makes it a very good deal in my book, especially when you consider that a decent base bought separately can cost 100-200 quid. However, in our tests, the crank handle was easy to operate and did a smooth job of raising and lowering the canopy, and the tilt button was easy to depress to achieve optimum shade coverage. We also liked the push-button design that made for super easy assembly of the two poles.