The first thing I noticed was the pretty blue color. The material of the umbrella was of a good thick quality and was able to shade from the sun. The metal rods were made of a heavy metal that will withstand the wind. The crank to raise and lower the umbrella operated very smoothly. I like the solar system that fits on top of the umbrella. It keeps the light ready to use without dragging out and extension cord for the lights. Im looking forward to using the lights during the summer time evenings