Sun Shade Review — Breezy Shade

Our family enjoys spending time outdoors and we are constantly on the lookout for products that add value to our family life. A month ago, a small Brisbane company — Breezy Shade — contacted me to see if I would be interested in doing a review of their sunshade products.

I’ve been putting it through its paces over the past couple of weeks and can say it’s absolutely fantastic! It is extremely compact and light, and still provides a generous amount of shade cover. We have the largest size (Breezy Party), and you can see in the picture below how compact the bag is. I had a look at the size of a different shade we have and the Breezy Shade bag is at least half the size, but the shade offers at least double the coverage.

About Breezy Shade

Tali is from Brisbane in Queensland. She was looking for a good sunshade product, especially after her kids came along. After doing a lot of research, she designed the perfect sort of shade for the beach, camping, and even the backyard. Below is a snapshot of the features.

Benefits

• Sun protection UPF 50+
• Made from top-quality stretchable Lycra Polyester fabric
• Built it sandbags
• Super light and compact to carry
• Wind resistant

Sizes

The Breezy Shade comes in three sizes, to cater for the needs of different families. Below are the size options:

Breezy Comfy

• Coverage Size – 2.1 x 2.1 meters
• Fits 2-4 people
• Weight – 2 kg

Breezy Family

• Coverage Size – 2 x 3 meters
• Fits 4-6 people
• Weight 2.25 kg

Breezy Party

• Coverage Size – 3 x 3 meters
• Fits 6-8 people
• Weight 2.5 kg

What it comes with

Each kit comes with:

• 1x Lycra Polyester canopy with built-in sandbags 
• 2x collapsible aluminum poles 2.20 cm high (each)
• 1x waterproof carry-on bag with shoulder strap

It is possible to buy extra poles and pegs for use on grass if required. It is recommended to get an extra pair of poles for the Breezy Party size.

Breezy Family

We have a large family, so opted for the Breezy Party. It is HUGE underneath and comfortably fits our family of six.

Below is some info that corresponds to the images (L to R):

1. The breezy shade + 4 collapsible poles
2. Setting up is really easy. Just stretch it right out, fill the bags with sand.
3. Then push the poles in place underneath. That is all there is to it.
4. Packing up is easy too, just tip out the sand and shove the lycra sheet back in the bag.

I took it for a run on a rainy and windy day on the Gold Coast to see how it coped in the wind. There are a few tips for setting up in the wind, and once you have it up, it stays up really well. I’ll write the tips further below.

For smaller shades, you only need two poles. You can check out more detail on the setup page. It is possible to use the large canopy size with two poles also, as shown in the picture below. Use the two poles at the front and it slopes down.

The mat we use for the beach is from Recycled Mats, and it is 3 meters wide to give you an idea of the size of the Breezy Party shade. Heaps of space.

The pole has a round foam knob on one end (which sits under the canopy) and then the base end that sits in the sand or on the grass. There are no ropes or lines to worry about. The lycra is tight yet flexible so it holds the poles in place but also allows for breeze movement.

If you want it the cover to act more like a gazebo-style, you can use the four poles for this large size, as shown below (pole in each corner).

It was lovely and quiet on the beach this particular day, and the Lifeguard came over and chatted to us, and commented on how awesome the shade looked.

I have also used the shade on a fine, sunny day. Below is a pic of the shade using 4 poles.

And this next image is using only 2 poles, so it slopes down at the back.

Tips for Setting Up

It is by far, the quickest shade cover setup I’ve ever used. There’s no stressful pop-ups system that’s are impossible to get back down (been there, done that). No complicated poles or lines. It is really is a simple matter of stretching the canvas out, filling the bags and pushing the poles underneath. BUT, the only potentially tricky thing, depending on the weather, is placing the poles up initially. The secret is you have to work WITH the breeze. Below are my three main tips:

1. It is important to face the front of the shade into the wind. This is the biggest thing. It is tempting to just put it directly facing the water, but often that is not exactly where the wind is coming from. So you can see below, on this windy day, the shade is not directly facing the water, but on a diagonal, because that is where the wind was coming from.

2. Make sure you fill the bags with enough sand and stretch out the canopy and bags. So fill the bags and then lift up the bags and stretch out the canopy well.

3. Then angle the poles underneath the canopy at the corners. There is a little bit of adjusting so the breeze works with the canopy. The front where the Breezy Shade logo is should be a bit puffed out, or straight, rather than concaved. Once they are positioned right, it stays extremely well.

Considerations

• When selecting the size of the shade, be mindful that the Breezy Party shade size (that I have featured) is really large, so it may not be the best option for crowded beaches. It’s great for us, because most of our favourite beaches have heaps of space, and we just set up in a quiet little spot somewhere along the beach. I would recommend a smaller shade if you frequently visit a crowded beach.
• The angle of the poles and the wind direction are significant for this shelter so make sure you work with the elements. There is a little experimentation to get the gist of working with the breeze, especially on more windy days. However, the second time my daughter and I put it up, we just nailed it.

The Breezy Shade design is extremely clever. It has minimal parts and is light and compact. If you’re an outdoor-loving family, it’s the sort of product that will enhance the enjoyment of your adventures.

Find more details about the Breezy Shade over at the website here: BreezyShade.com.au.