The 10 Best Shade Sail Hardware Kits
This wiki has been updated 17 times since it was first published in May of 2020. A shade sail offers an affordable, attractive, and practical solution for protecting your outdoor recreational spaces from the sun's rays. Hardware kits are the most effective means of securing and tensioning these between your chosen anchor points, and we have come up with a variety of options ranked according to their various components, quality of materials used, versatility, and value. When users buy our independently chosen editorial choices, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
Editor's Notes
July 23, 2020:
A shade sail looks its best and is at its most effective when it is evenly anchored and pulled taught. Much like a tent in this respect, its efficacy lies largely in its installation. Choosing the correct hardware kit and installing it correctly can make the difference between an awkwardly stretched canopy that flaps in the breeze and a firm, evenly curving one that enhances the features of your outdoor environment.
Most of the hardware kits in this ranking have similar components, and the main considerations when making a choice are what you are installing, and where your anchor points lie. For instance, the Cosweet 24 Piece, Coarbor Rectangle, Coarbor Triangle, and ColourTree Awning Installa come with no plastic expansion anchors, which is fine if you plan on fixing the pad eyes onto wood, otherwise, these must be purchased separately. On the other hand, the Lawn and Patio 46 Piece, Weiatas 44 Piece, Ollieroo 8 Inch, Satinior 80 Piece, and Yofit 6 Inch, all include expansion anchors, and therefore you have the option to attach your connection points to brick, concrete, and stone, as well as to wooden surfaces, without the need to visit a hardware store beforehand.
The other consideration is the type of shade sail that you are installing, and in most cases, this comes down to shape and size. Common shapes include square, rectangular, and triangular sails, and there are kits that are better suited to three anchor points, although for a little extra cost, a four-piece set will do the same job and you'll have a spare turnbuckle that could come in handy. For larger sail areas, a bigger kit, such as the Lawn and Patio 46 Piece, Satinior 80 Piece, or Yofit 6 Inch would be you best option as they can accommodate eight anchor points each.
If you are looking to extend a connection, or stake it to the ground, then you might consider the ColourTree Awning Installa, or the Tang Canopy Support, the latter of which comes with a ground anchor that screws into the earth. Both sets feature lengths of stainless steel cable that can be essential if you have no convenient anchor points nearby.
Special Honors
Custom Installation by Shadesails.biz. Just as you can buy custom shade sails to ensure a perfect fit for your outdoor location, Shadesails.biz also provide professional custom installation services. They use the finest grade stainless steel hardware and layout all points of connection to ensure your canvas is set up correctly with the right angles and tautness, in order to provide you with optimal results. shadesails.biz