When temperatures rise, awnings are an essential weapon in the cooling arsenal—blocking direct sun and creating zones of shade. The best development we’ve seen in a while is the tensioned shade sail, a triangle or rectangular of UV-blocking fabric. Here are our favorites.
Above: The ShelterLogic 12-by-12-feet Square Sun Shade Sail Canopy, shown in Sea Blue, is a breathable polyethylene fabric for $59.99 at Stacks and Stacks. Above: The Unopiu Rhomboidal Shade Sail includes 2 wood posts, tension pegs, and ropes and is made of 39-percent coated polyester with 61-percent PVC; €646 ($767 USD) at Unopiu. Above: The Cool Area Right Triangle Sun Shade Sail comes in bright colored HDPE (high-density polyethylene), blocking 90 percent of harmful UV rays. Shown here, Sand is the most subdued of the available hues; $45.23 at Amazon. Above: Ready Made Shade Sails—shown is the Skyclipse 320—are available at Shade Sails LLC, a company based in Whittier, California, starting at $159.95. Above: The Derstadt UV Block Sun Shade Sail in classic white is $66.99 at Amazon. It’s made of HDPE 185 GSM (high-density polyethylene) that is breathable and 98 percent UV-resistant. Above: The Cartman Waterproof Sun Shade Sail Canopy (10 by 10 feet) in white polyester that blocks up to 95 percent of harmful UV rays and 99 percent of rainwater. It’s one of the more budget-friendly options we’ve found at $13.99 on Amazon. Above: From Tiny Tipis on Etsy, the Outdoor Canvas Shade Sail has the appeal of a simple painter’s drop cloth and the durability for outdoor use. It’s small, just 35 by 21 inches long, and is made of thick canvas with grommets; $12.89. Above: The Outsunny Rectangle Outdoor Patio Sun/Shade Sail Canopy measures 13 by 10 feet and comes in Gray (as shown), Green, and Sand; from $39.42 to $89.99 on Amazon. Above: The eShare Prosource Gray Color Sun Shade Sail is $78 for the 10-by-10-foot size and $118 for the 16-by-16-foot size at Amazon. Above: The 16-foot Coolaroo Shade Sail is made from a commercial-grade fabric that resists mold and mildew and blocks up to 90 percent of UV rays. Available in Desert Sand (shown), Brunswick Green, and Ocean Blue, it’s $105.49 from Amazon. Seeking shade? See our posts:
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