How to set up your Handy Beach Umbrella & Anchor System
The hammer-in anchor goes up in seconds. Video, six steps, and how to keep it going season after season.
Watch the setup video
How the slide-hammer works, and what the blue collar looks like at the right depth in real sand.
The six steps
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1
Remove the vinyl cap
Pick your spot, then pull the protective vinyl cap off the steel tip at the bottom of the anchor.
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2
Unlock the hammer
Turn the bottom knob counterclockwise to release the slide-hammer mechanism.
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3
Hold the shaft and hammer
Set the steel tip on the sand where you want your shade, holding the anchor upright. Grip the shaft, lift the sleeve, and drop it in firm downward strokes.
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4
Hammer down to the blue collar
Keep going until the stake is fully submerged up to the blue collar. Nothing to measure or judge — the collar is the mark.
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5
Lock it
Turn the bottom knob clockwise to lock the hammering mechanism in place.
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6
Insert the umbrella and open
Slide your umbrella pole at least 6 inches down into the anchor shaft — all the way down on windy days. Turn the top knob clockwise to secure it, then open your canopy.
Packing up
Breakdown takes about five seconds.
- Close the canopy.
- Loosen the top knob and lift the umbrella pole straight up and out.
- Grip the anchor shaft near the top, give it a gentle stirring motion, and pull straight up.
- Slip the vinyl cap back over the steel tip.
- Anchor into the zip compartment, umbrella into the main drawstring section.
Looking after it
A wipe is usually plenty. If you’ve been in wet sand, give the anchor a rinse — the beach shower is fine — and let it dry before packing it away.
Using it safely
Your anchor is ASTM F3681 compliant, but no umbrella is safe in every condition. Three habits matter:
- Install the anchor vertically. An angled anchor holds far less.
- Close the canopy when the wind picks up. Winds over 20 mph start to feel uncomfortable for most beachgoers — a good signal to lower or close it.
- Never leave your umbrella unattended.
Frequently asked questions
Is it easy to install?
Yes. There’s a small learning curve on your first setup because the slide-hammer is unfamiliar, but it needs no digging, no sand-shoveling, and no real strength. Most people are at a comfortable 10-second setup by their second or third beach trip.
Will it work in hard-packed sand?
Yes. The steel tip is built to punch through hard-packed sand and the dense wet sand near the waterline.
How far do I hammer the stake in?
Down to the blue collar. That mark is the depth the anchor was engineered and tested at.
What wind speed is it rated for?
The system has been independently tested to ASTM F3681, which requires that an umbrella and anchor remain intact in wind tunnel testing up to 30 mph.
Real beaches aren’t wind tunnels. Conditions vary, and gusts can reach three to four times the prevailing wind. If the wind looks too strong for your umbrella, close it. As winds increase, lowering the canopy improves stability.
What is ASTM F3681?
A voluntary consumer safety standard for beach umbrellas and anchor devices, published by ASTM International. Our system was tested against it by an independent laboratory — held in a wind tunnel at increasing speeds up to 30 mph, then at 30 mph for a further 30 minutes, without failing.