Should I fill an umbrella base with water or sand?

Sand gives more weight in the same tank. From our actual products: the 60 L interlocking base reaches 60 kg with water or 80 kg with sand, and the 180 L base reaches 180 kg with water or 250 kg with sand.

Water is the easier option. It can be filled from a hose and drained in minutes, which suits a terrace that gets re-arranged. The trade-offs are that it evaporates over a hot season, it can freeze in winter, and it needs a water point on site.

Sand is heavier for the same volume, does not evaporate and does not freeze, which suits a base that stays in one position all season. The trade-off is that it is much harder to empty if the base ever has to be moved.

Either way, check the fill level at the start of the season. A base that is half empty is the most common reason a canopy starts moving in a light wind, and it is also the cheapest problem in the category to prevent.