This parasol doesn't disappoint in the daytime either, with a 2.7m canopy that offers UV50+ sun protection alongside a tilt mechanism to angle your shade and a crank handle for easy lifting and lowering of the parasol. We also like the addition of a sewn-on velcro fastening tie to keep the canopy neat when it's not in use. Fortunately, the manufacturers have clearly taken the great British weather into account when designing this umbrella as well – made of 220 g polyester it creates decent shade when the sun hits, but is also showerproof for those inevitable cloud bursts. It won’t fade in the sunlight either, which means the contemporary, stylish grey colour remains reliably modern and fresh. Best budget cantilever parasol: Vounot 3m parasol– a real bargain at this price [personally tested and proven] Not all parasols come with a cover, and even some that do aren’t exactly offering you the best covers you can get. I’ve had zips come straight off the first time I tried to close them, with some of the really cheap models, and some covers that weren’t even big enough to cover the parasols that they came with! Not everyone has hundreds of pounds to spend on a cantilever parasol, and even if they do, it doesn’t mean they want to part ways with that much, especially if they only want something to use every now and again.

Whether it’s raining or 35°C blazing sun outside, Purple Leaf have created a garden parasol that will protect from both extremes. The 240 g polyester canopy is water repellent as well as UV resistant – water will run off instead of seeping through and the colour won’t fade over time. I’m sure we’ve all had that moment where we are sat around a table and we just happen to be in that spot where the shade just doesn’t quite reach, or we are happily enjoying the shade provided by the parasol but as the sun moves across the sky, we are left exposed to all that UV. Even better, buy a specially designed cover to use when your umbrella goes into storage to give it the best possible protection. The majority of the best cantilever parasols that I have reviewed in this list have a 3 m canopy. This is quite common, and is a generous size. It gives enough shade for several people to sit comfortably under. Of course, if you can angle the canopy, you can create a longer shadow and more shade, which is a plus.One other thing to be aware of is how much space the base with weights attached will take up – it measures over 1 m across, so it’s worth being sure that you have the room to accommodate this. Thanks to the crank system, it can be put up and down without too much fuss and is easy to adjust depending on the current weather. People searching for a large, but reasonably priced, cantilever parasol that comes with a couple of nice little extras, should take a closer look at this Libra model from Jader. It’s hexagonal 3 metres diameter canopy will give you all the coverage you need this upcoming summer.

Although it has it’s share of flaws, when you consider that it is less than half the price of the Jarder canopy we also featured, yet is very similar, it actually makes it a very good deal indeed. Will it last forever? I doubt it. But that’s to be expected of any cantilever parasol in this price range – it’s big and does the job:

If you only want a parasol to shade a lounger then it won’t need huge dimensions, but if it’s to shade a dining set, think about opting for a design with a diameter of 2 metres for two seats; 2.4 metres for four to six seats; 2.7 to 3 metres for six to eight; and 4 metres for 10 seats.