Beach days are magic — but let’s be honest, setting up isn’t.
I’ve been there, juggling all the things: anchoring an umbrella in shifting sand while dodging sunscreen spills and bracing for surprise gusts of wind. Whether you’re managing kids, catching up with friends, or just trying to enjoy a moment of peace, the last thing you want is gear that makes beach time harder.
That’s why we built the Handy Beach Umbrella & Anchor System. Not just another umbrella — a smarter way to beach.
Wind-resistant. Truly sun-protective. And up in 10 seconds.
10-second setup — no digging, no twisting, no loose parts
A lot of umbrellas say they’re “easy to set up.” But when you're out there sweating under the sun, wrestling with plastic screws, twisting poles into scorching sand, or fumbling with floppy anchor bags… it's a different story.
With Handy, setup actually is simple. Just step the anchor into the sand, hammer it down, and you’re done. No tools. No digging. No bits and pieces to connect. My husband literally sets ours up one-handed — drink in the other.
Let’s compare:
- Traditional umbrellas with plastic augers that still blow over in the wind
- Anchor bags you have to fill, tie, and hope don’t tip
- “Wind-powered” shades that need constant tweaking as the breeze shifts
Handy skips the nonsense. Just fast, sturdy, real-world design.
Unmatched wind performance — no matter the conditions
Most umbrellas won’t even survive a light breeze unless you babysit them — creating hassle, worry, and even a hazard where you should just relax. They lean, twist, flap, or lift off entirely once the wind picks up or shifts direction.
Handy’s anchor drives nearly two feet deep into the sand, locking in with a reinforced pole and a vented canopy designed to stay steady in serious gusts. It holds strong whether you’re on the breezy Pacific coast, the stormy Northeast, or the Florida shorelines where we live.
And because we built this product to deliver, not just promise, we had it tested to ASTM F3681 - the new voluntary safety standard for beach umbrellas, created to prevent flyaway umbrellas and injuries. It requires performance under up to 75 pounds of pull force or 30 mph wind tunnel tests. Fewer than 1% of umbrellas on the market meet it. Handy does.
By contrast:
- “Heavy-duty” beach umbrellas with plastic auger anchors may slip or snap in medium-to-strong winds
- Sandbag-based umbrellas hold up okay in mild breezes, but can tip or shift in gusty conditions — and let’s be honest, they’re a pain to set up
- Wind-powered shades rely entirely on airflow — they’re noisy and unstable in strong winds and practically useless when it’s calm
At the beach, weather is unpredictable. Your shade shouldn’t be.
Real sun protection — because cute doesn’t cut it
One of the biggest surprises? How little protection most umbrellas actually give. Just because it's colorful doesn't mean it's blocking UV rays.
The Handy canopy is made from UPF 55-rated RPET fabric with a reflective silver lining that blocks 99% of UVA and UVB rays. Most umbrellas max out at UPF 50 — good, but UPF 55 blocks even more, especially during a full day in the sun.
And here’s the game changer: our fabric is 160g thick. That’s over 33% thicker than the 120g material found in most budget options. What that means for you: cooler shade, longer lifespan, and a noticeably more comfortable spot underneath — up to 10°F cooler.
Compare that with:
- Flimsy umbrellas that let UV rays right through
- Wind-based shades that lose their protection when the wind changes
- Designs that block light but trap heat underneath
I’ve got pale, sensitive-skinned kids. I need shade that doesn’t cut corners — and you probably do too.
Built to last — because I'm done with throwaway umbrellas
Handy isn’t one of those "buy it now, toss it in August" products. This is made for the long haul — trip after trip, season after season.
The thick RPET canopy resists tearing, fading, and stretching. A reinforced steel pole and fiberglass ribs keep things strong but lightweight, and the safety-certified anchor buries deep to keep everything grounded — even on gusty days.
It’s not just durable. It’s dependable.
We're done buying umbrellas that bend, snap, or fly away after two uses. Handy is built to last, and it’s built to work.
A better kind of beach gear — for you and the planet
Even better? It’s sustainable.
The Handy canopy is made from recycled RPET — a fabric created from plastic bottles that would otherwise end up in landfills or oceans. Each umbrella keeps about 80 bottles out of the water. And it still performs beautifully under sun, wind, and heat.
Most umbrellas are made from virgin plastics that aren’t built to last — or be recycled. Ours is different. Better shade, lower waste, and a future we can feel good about.
Fast, clean tear-down — because the beach shouldn’t end with a fight
When it’s time to pack up, the last thing anyone wants is a sandy, tangled mess and a carry bag that’s somehow shrunk since the morning.
Handy packs up just as fast as it sets up. Pull the anchor out, shake off the sand, zip it into its roomy bag — and you’re done. No disassembly. No wrestling. No mess.
What you don’t miss:
- Plastic anchors that jam with sand and need to be unscrewed
- Multi-part shade systems with poles, cords, and stakes to sort through
- Carry bags that feel like they were designed by someone who’s never been to the beach
With Handy, tear-down is quick, easy, and chill — just like it should be.
It’s the shade I always wished I had — so we made it
I didn’t set out to create beach gear. I just wanted something I could set up by myself. Something I could pop up without losing track of my kids or waiting around for help.
It had to be fast. Windproof. Sun-safe. Simple enough to handle on the kind of beach morning that feels like a sprint. Most of all, I just wanted to make memories — not messes.
Handy is everything I needed. Nothing I didn’t.
Not just easier — just plain better.
If you're tired of:
- Twisting plastic poles into hot sand
- Watching your umbrella take flight
- Hoping it holds “just one more trip”
- Spending more time setting up than relaxing
- Leaving more stressed than when you arrived
Then you’ll get why the Handy Beach Umbrella & Anchor System isn’t just another beach umbrella.
It’s the only one built to keep up with real life at the beach.
Warmly,
Agnes — beach lover, mom, and co-founder of Handy Beach Goods
Disclaimer
While the Handy Beach Umbrella provides superior UV protection, no shade system offers 100% protection. Always use sunscreen, wear protective clothing, and follow the American Cancer Society’s sun safety guidelines.
Also, proper setup is key. Please follow the provided instructions to ensure maximum wind resistance and safety
