This plastic umbrella stand is great. It is very light when you first get it delivered, so you absolutely have to fill it with water or sand. We chose sand because we live close to the beach where we have some windy weather, and we thought sand would make it heavier and sturdier than water.  I read some reviews that said filling the base with sand can be a challenge, and to be honest, it did take some time to fill it up.  But since we were expecting that already, it was no surprise and we filled it with patience. ￼I do believe, however, that a larger filling hole would make the task much easier and quicker￼.  Living at the beach, metal is our last choice due to a significant problem with rusting. But because this plastic umbrella stand is good quality, we expect it to last a very long time. We are very happy with our purchase.