I love this umbrella.  It's VERY sturdy, compared to some other umbrellas I've had. The umbrella came packaged very nicely, and was super easy to put up.  Having some assistance is strongly recommended, since it's quite heavy.  Since I've purchased the umbrella, I've learned that I need a much larger stand, which I've already taken care of.  Also, since I expect that this umbrella will be around for a while, I've ordered a cover for it, to keep it from fading and to protect it better while it's down. I recommend this item.