Picture this: you're at the beach, enjoying the sun and the sand when suddenly a gust of wind sweeps in and turns your relaxing day into a battle with a rebellious beach umbrella. This is my absolute nightmare, so I, for one, love that sunshades are having a moment. But with so many options out there, which is the best one for me?
After some research, I narrowed it down to two contenders that were recently featured in Wirecutter and tried both to determine the ultimate winner. So here’s how the Sun Ninja Tent compares to Shibumi Shade:
If you’re looking to maximize shade…Shibumi Shade
Shibumi Shade has got you and your entire crew covered, literally. With a generous 150 square feet of shade, it can fit 6 people comfortably plus beach towels and snacks. And since you’re only filling up one sand bag to anchor it, you’re not taking up valuable beach real estate and annoying your fellow beachgoers.
Meanwhile, Sun Ninja offers a 4-person tent and an 8-person tent. However, the larger 10x10 ft version still doesn’t offer as much shade as the Shibumi Shade and it takes up quite a bit of space compared to the amount of shade it offers.
If you’re after a product that works well with wind…Shibumi Shade
Thanks to Shibumi's ingenious “Wind Powered®” design, runaway beach umbrellas are a thing of the past because it stays put, no matter how much the breeze picks up. In fact, the Shibumi Shade was designed specifically to use the wind to stay afloat, and it only needs as little as 3 mph of wind. I love the lightweight look and feel of the Shibumi Shade and I feel very relaxed sitting under the gently flowing shade knowing it won’t blow away on me.
The Sun Ninja also stands strong against the wind but it achieves this in a very different way. Its heavy-duty spandex material stays taut because it’s stretched so far out and anchored down by four sandbags. Overall, I found it to be a more cumbersome experience.
If you want a fast and simple setup…Shibumi Shade
I’m not a particularly outdoorsy person but I was able to set up the Shibumi Shade by myself in about a minute. All I had to do was connect the folded-up aluminum pole, thread it through the parachute-like shade, plant each side of the pole, and fill up the one bag with sand. Pack up was just as easy and the sand bag doubles as the carrying case. Plus it only weighs four pounds, so it’s light, easy to carry, and can be thrown in my beach bag.
On the other hand, it took me a few more minutes to set up the Sun Ninja tent and I couldn’t do it alone. Not only are you having to fill up more sand bags but it’s a bit difficult to figure out where the four ends should go to achieve the right tension.
If you’d prefer not to spend as much $$$...Sun Ninja
Sun Ninja’s 4-person tent costs $114.95 and the 8-person tent costs $159.95. The Shibumi Shade costs $270, which is definitely a bigger upfront investment. But it’s worth noting that Shibumi offers free shipping and returns and a 100% satisfaction guarantee that has no time limit.
If sustainability is important to you…Shibumi Shade
Both Sun Ninja and Shibumi shades provide UPF 50+ sun protection to help protect against harmful UV rays but I also appreciate that the Shibumi Shade is sewn in America and made from 40% ocean-bound recycled plastic bottles. I enjoy supporting a company that cares about preserving the environment and leaving the beach better for everyone.
The Ultimate Winner... Shibumi Shade
After testing out both sun shades, it's clear to me that the Shibumi Shade reigns supreme. Its innovative Wind Powered® design, spacious coverage, feather-light portability, sun protection, and commitment to sustainability make it the ultimate beach day companion. It has completely revolutionized my beach-going experience and I’m sure it will for yours too.
