I really like the umbrella so far.  The pole is made of a synthetic material, but it's very strong and durable.  The hand crank is easy to use in assisting the umbrella up and down.  We've had a lot of crazy weather recently and the umbrella has held up very well.  Even the fringe edge has held up nicely in the wind and rain.  I have no doubt or worries about it being durable and lasting a long time, especially if we leave it down in bad weather.  I'm impressed!