Product and standard details on this page were read on the makers' and ASTM's sites on 20 October 2026. We recheck them at least every three months.
What the standard asks for
The CPSC's safety alert on airborne beach umbrellas sets out the test. Under ASTM F3681, a compliant umbrella and anchor must resist a pull of at least 75 pounds, or stay put in wind up to 30 mph, with the anchor installed in sand. In ASTM's announcement of the standard, the 75-pound figure comes from testing by CPSC engineers on a 7.5-foot umbrella.
What to look for on the box is a label reading "MEETS ASTM F3681 FOR WIND SPEEDS UP TO 30 MPH". The CPSC says the label also gives the largest canopy the anchor is meant for. Match your umbrella to that size.
The standard was first published in 2024 as F3681-24. ASTM lists F3681-25, updated in July 2025, as the current edition. Products from before the revision may still cite the 2024 edition, as beachBUB's pages do.
ASTM F3681 is voluntary. A maker can say its product complies without an outside lab confirming it, and none of the makers below publish a test report, so everything in the table is the maker's own statement.
What the makers state
| Product | How it holds | What the maker states about F3681 | Warranty | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| beachBUB Ultra base | Bag filled with sand around the pole | Compliant with F3681-24 when paired with a 7.5 ft umbrella | Lifetime on the base | beachbub.com |
| beachBUB All-In-One system | Umbrella with the same Ultra base | Includes the Ultra base, stated as F3681-24 compliant | Lifetime on the base | beachbub.com |
| Handy Beach Goods system | Hammer-in steel anchor, about 2 ft into the sand | Independently wind tunnel tested and compliant with F3681: rising to 30 mph, then 30 mph for 30 minutes | Not stated on the umbrella page | handybeachgoods.com |
| EasyGo Xbrella | Sand-fill base, over 125 lb filled | Not mentioned | - | easygoproducts.com |
The picks
Best for the umbrella you already own
beachBUB Ultra Beach Umbrella Base
A folding vinyl base you fill with sand at the beach. beachBUB's spec table gives 1 lb to carry and 120 lb filled, a collar for poles up to 1.5 inches and a limit of 8-foot canopies. beachBUB says it is compliant with ASTM F3681-24 when paired with a 7.5-foot umbrella, and covers the base with a lifetime warranty.
The box in the photo shows a 35 mph wind figure and an endorsement. Those come from beachBUB's packaging; we haven't checked either, and beachBUB's own page gives a 44 mph wind test instead.
Know before you buy
- You fill it on arrival and empty it before you leave, so plan a few minutes each way.
- The compliance statement cites the 2024 edition and is beachBUB's own; we haven't seen a test report.
Maker's specs
- Maker says it is compliant with ASTM F3681-24 when paired with a 7.5 ft umbrella
- Fill-with-sand base: 1 lb to carry, 120 lb filled (maker spec table)
- Universal collar for poles up to 1.5 in, for canopies up to 8 ft
- Lifetime warranty on the base
Source: beachbub.com, read Oct 20, 2026
Hammer-in anchor, no digging
Handy Beach Goods Beach Umbrella with Hammer-In Sand Anchor
A 7-foot umbrella whose bottom pole is the anchor: it goes about two feet into the sand and, by Handy's description, sets up in about ten seconds without digging. Handy Beach Goods says it was independently wind tunnel tested and is compliant with ASTM F3681, held at rising speeds up to 30 mph and then at 30 mph for 30 minutes.
Know before you buy
- The anchor comes with this umbrella. Handy sells the anchor on its own only on its own site, not on Amazon.
Maker's specs
- Maker says it was independently wind tunnel tested and is compliant with ASTM F3681
- Test described by the maker: rising to 30 mph, then 30 mph for 30 minutes
- Hammer-in anchor goes about 2 ft into the sand
- 7 ft canopy
Source: handybeachgoods.com, read Oct 20, 2026
Umbrella and Ultra base together
beachBUB All-In-One Beach Umbrella System
beachBUB's complete system: a 7.5-foot canopy on six fiberglass ribs and a two-piece aluminum pole, sold with the Ultra base above, a carry bag, a sand scoop and a tool for starting the pole hole. beachBUB sells several versions; the base and its lifetime warranty are the same in all of them.
Maker's specs
- Includes the Ultra base the maker states is ASTM F3681-24 compliant
- 7.5 ft canopy, 6 fiberglass ribs, 2-piece aluminum pole
- Carry bag, sand scoop and pole hole tool included
- Lifetime warranty on the base
Source: beachbub.com, read Oct 20, 2026
Heavy base, no F3681 claim
EasyGo Products Xbrella Beach Umbrella
EasyGo builds the Xbrella around a sand-fill base: the pole goes about a foot into the sand and the filled bag adds another foot, over 125 lb in all, according to EasyGo. EasyGo says it stays up in winds of 40+ mph, but its page doesn't mention ASTM F3681, so that figure comes from a test we can't compare.
Maker's specs
- 7.5 ft diameter
- Fiberglass ribs
- Sand-fill base: pole about 1 ft into the sand plus 1 ft of sand in the base
- Filled base weighs over 125 lb (maker)
- Maker says the sand-fill system keeps it up in winds of 40+ mph
- Shovel included
Source: easygoproducts.com, read Sep 14, 2026
Why we leave out spiral screw anchors
Most anchors sold on Amazon are spiral screws: a short auger you twist into the sand and drop the pole into. They're cheap and light. We looked for makers of these anchors that state ASTM F3681 compliance and found none, so we can't tell you which, if any, holds the 75 pounds the standard asks for. We left them out for that reason; we didn't test them ourselves.
If you use one, follow the maker's instructions, check it for bent flights before each trip, and close the umbrella as soon as it starts to rock. The CPSC gives the same advice for any anchor.
Setting up and taking down
Install the anchor exactly as its maker describes; the CPSC's advice is that an anchor holds as designed only when it's set up that way. Keep an eye on the wind, and close the canopy immediately if the umbrella starts to lift or twist. Close it before you head into the water on a breezy day. Our guide to securing a beach umbrella goes through each step.
Questions people ask
Does a beach umbrella need an anchor?
On a windy beach, yes. The CPSC's safety alert is built around anchors that meet ASTM F3681, and it warns that airborne beach umbrellas have killed people and caused serious injuries.
Are spiral sand anchors safe?
We can't say either way. None of the spiral anchor makers we found on Amazon states ASTM F3681 compliance, so there's no published result to go on.
What does "MEETS ASTM F3681" mean on the label?
That the maker says the anchor passed the standard's test: a 75-pound pull or 30 mph wind, with the anchor in sand. The label also gives the largest canopy the anchor is meant for.
Can I fly with a beach umbrella anchor?
A folding base like the beachBUB Ultra packs small. For the umbrella itself, see flying with a beach umbrella.
Sources
BestTravelUmbrella participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. Links marked "(paid link)" go to Amazon, and a purchase through them earns us a commission at no extra cost to you. Some pages also link to Amazon Prime or Audible trials, which pay a fixed fee per sign-up. Every product spec on this page links to the manufacturer page we read it on; we don't take specs from store listings.