This umbrella is awesome! We had purchased another one for the same price that required a separate base. It was lopsided and the main bar looked like it was going to snap.  This umbrella is so solid, sits perfectly straight, is easy to assemble and comes with an awesome base that keeps it secure. Two other pluses are that there is a crank to rotate the entire umbrella left to right depending where the sun is in the ski and the solar lights make a great atmosphere at night! Highly recommend