The patio umbrella is a key component of outdoor convenience and comfort. Without the shade it provides, you’d often be hard pressed to enjoy sunny days outside. Yet deciding you want a patio umbrella isn’t enough. Many key decisions must be made before you can select one that’s best for you.

One of the biggest decisions you’ll need to make is about the shaft material of the umbrella. This is a critical component of the patio umbrella and decides to a large extent just how the unit will look and function. The two main categories for shaft materials are wood and aluminum.

Although they can be more expensive, wooden patio umbrellas are often chosen based on their look and feel. Wood is a great choice especially if you want to match other wooden furniture pieces. The choice of wood will factor in on the price of the umbrella heavily.

The strength and durability of a wooden patio umbrella, however, is significantly less than its aluminum counterpart. In order to fix this, engineers have figured out how to hollow out the wood and place steel on the inside to strengthen the shaft. This is more expensive, but definitely worth it.

If something light, flexible, and modern looking is your taste, then an aluminum patio umbrella is definitely the thing for you. This variety costs less and has greater mechanical properties. You also get a large degree of freedom in how the umbrella looks through the finish used on the metal.

The most commonly stated reason for choosing an aluminum patio umbrella is its great mechanical properties. This is especially important if you live in the mountains or down the shore where gusty winds are common. Aluminum tends to be a more modern selection for umbrellas.

The choice of which patio umbrella is best for your needs is not always an easy one to make. Practical needs should be considered first, but are by no means the only thing to keep in mind. If you hate the look of your patio umbrella then it doesn’t matter how sturdy it is.

The best way to ensure that you have a great patio umbrella is to ensure that you do your research first. Don’t make quick choices that you may regret later. With a little effort you can discover the perfect patio umbrella - one that looks amazing and works well all at the same time.