Low cost, fairly easy to install, great value, recommended for 9.5 umbrellas
One thing, DO follow the directions for measuring your umbrella spars, because there are 9, 9.5 and 10 umbrellas out there of extremely similar design. I almost got the wrong one because I pretty much thought I could estimate it by eyeball. I was wrong, and very glad I finally got out the old tape measure and followed the measuring instructions. I thought I had a 10, turns out it is 9.5. So, measure it.
This replacement cover is very sturdy, and frankly is better than the original in terms of construction, pockets for the struts, etc. The hole in the middle is the only ?? part, since umbrellas vary in how this is clipped or screwed or nothing into place in the center/top area. So you kind of have to make it up as you go, although they do offer some guidance.
We did end up cutting a slightly larger hole, one that just barely fit over the ball at the top of our umbrella, so that it was a very tight fit to get it over. And then it stays there just fine, so that all worked out. The pockets for the struts are nice and deep - deeper than the original.
Whenever we would go to open the umbrella before, we would always have to stick 3 or 4 of the struts back into the shallow pockets around the edge, since they would come out when it was loose in the down position. Now, they all stay in, and it is much easier to open than when it was new. A net plus, really.
PROS:
Value - low cost but very functional.
Deeper pockets - easier to use and all around better than the original
BRIGHT red color. Im sure that will fade, time will tell how long till that happens, but this thing is RED, for now. (Other colors are no doubt vivid as well, I can only speak to the red one we ordered)
It has a string sewn into a seam midway up it, to let us tie it closed when down. Nice. Many have this, but our original did not, so, bungee cord to the rescue and that was always a bit of a hassle.
CONS:
Nothing, really, outside of the center hole installation uncertainty. But thats not really the cover, since it is intended to work with many umbrella styles and center fastener/ball types. I suppose that they could actually create a cinch cord or clip or something to make this issue vanish for the great majority of umbrella structures and top pieces, but really, I didnt have difficulty with how it went onto MY umbrella frame. Hope you have as good of luck as we had.
Net-net - 5 stars, great replacement canopy, highly recommended.
Low cost, fairly easy to install, great value, recommended for 9.5 umbrellas
One thing, DO follow the directions for measuring your umbrella spars, because there are 9, 9.5 and 10 umbrellas out there of extremely similar design. I almost got the wrong one because I pretty much thought I could estimate it by eyeball. I was wrong, and very glad I finally got out the old tape measure and followed the measuring instructions. I thought I had a 10, turns out it is 9.5. So, measure it. This replacement cover is very sturdy, and frankly is better than the original in terms of construction, pockets for the struts, etc. The hole in the middle is the only ?? part, since umbrellas vary in how this is clipped or screwed or nothing into place in the center/top area. So you kind of have to make it up as you go, although they do offer some guidance. We did end up cutting a slightly larger hole, one that just barely fit over the ball at the top of our umbrella, so that it was a very tight fit to get it over. And then it stays there just fine, so that all worked out. The pockets for the struts are nice and deep - deeper than the original. Whenever we would go to open the umbrella before, we would always have to stick 3 or 4 of the struts back into the shallow pockets around the edge, since they would come out when it was loose in the down position. Now, they all stay in, and it is much easier to open than when it was new. A net plus, really. PROS: Value - low cost but very functional. Deeper pockets - easier to use and all around better than the original BRIGHT red color. Im sure that will fade, time will tell how long till that happens, but this thing is RED, for now. (Other colors are no doubt vivid as well, I can only speak to the red one we ordered) It has a string sewn into a seam midway up it, to let us tie it closed when down. Nice. Many have this, but our original did not, so, bungee cord to the rescue and that was always a bit of a hassle. CONS: Nothing, really, outside of the center hole installation uncertainty. But thats not really the cover, since it is intended to work with many umbrella styles and center fastener/ball types. I suppose that they could actually create a cinch cord or clip or something to make this issue vanish for the great majority of umbrella structures and top pieces, but really, I didnt have difficulty with how it went onto MY umbrella frame. Hope you have as good of luck as we had. Net-net - 5 stars, great replacement canopy, highly recommended.