OceanTailer 9′ Umbrella Table Mesh Screen Review

This ingenious little patio umbrella accessory is the perfect way increase your enjoyment of any outdoor space. We know that whether you live in the north, south or somewhere in between, summer bugs are a problem for all of us, By keeping your space bug free and providing a bit of extra shade, the OceanTailer 9′ Umbrella Table Mesh Screen is an excellent way to upgrade your patio umbrella, and trust us, your guests will love you for it.

Features Overview

• • Neutral black color choice

• • available for 9’ patio umbrellas

• • Lightweight construction

• • Ballast tube can be filled for extra weight

• • Large two-way zippered entrance

• Easy setup

Very compact design

Upon receiving the OceanTailer Umbrella Screen we were surprised to see it arrived in a package about the same size as a kleenex box. To us, that meant is was very compact and based on the minimal 3 pounds it weighs not hard to put up either. When unfolded completely, the umbrella mosquito screen reached 84” from the top to bottom. Our test unit was made for a 9 ft. umbrella and with the given dimensions was perfect for the task.

Extra fine, yet durable netting

Upon inspecting the umbrella screen further, we were pleased to see the the netting was a very fine weave. While maybe not quite fine enough to stop no see ums, it is more than enough for simple mosquitoes and everyday flying critters. Running your hands through it, it was immediately obvious that synthetic material was very durable and a quick run under the tap showed the fabric did not absorb water and won’t weigh down your patio umbrella in a summer storm.

Convenient ballast tube

One of the features we really like on this umbrella screen was the ballast tube that ran along the bottom of the unit. This hollow area can either be filled with water, sand or rocks depending on what you have handy and does a great job of grounding the screen during winds and prevents any determined bugs from getting inside. We found that water did tend to leak out after a while and instead choose to fill our ballast with small rocks instead. You could also use thin chains, stones or whatever else you have lying around just as easily. Once full the ballast keep the bottom of the netting firmly seated on the floor and doesn’t allow it to accidentally lift up.

Easy assembly, once you figure out the technique

From looking at the OceanTailer Umbrella Table Screen you can easily see that is has a wonderful internal/external zipper and a convenient cinch cord running along the top. To us, that simply meant zipping up the unit, throwing it over our umbrella and then pulling down the unit. While it wasn’t quite that easy it wasn’t much harder. We learned that you have to have the umbrella mostly closed during deployment or else it was just too much of a task to throw it in just the right position. Afterwards you can fully crank open the umbrella and let the extra fabric fall to the floor. Boom, your done!

Perfect for freestanding straight umbrellas and round tables

We tried this umbrella mosquito screen on a few different umbrella configurations and easily found that it excelled when it came to freestanding straight umbrellas and circular or square tables. These allowed it to fully deploy and provided optimal bug protection. However, it did have a hard time with cantilevered umbrellas as the arm got in the way and lifted up the screen from the the floor. Likewise, we tried it on an oval table and the people sitting at the end had the screen constantly rubbing up against their back which wasn’t very cool.

Easy to open and doesn’t restrict your view

We really loved the robust inner/outer zipper that is supplied with this patio mosquito netting. It allowed us to easily get in and out of the netting with little hassle regardless of which way were were going. Another great thing about this umbrella screen and others like it, is that it does a great job of not restricting your field of view. We had no issues seeing outside of it and it actually provided a little bit of extra shade and kept us a tad bit cooler in the summer. That was an unexpected benefit but we were certainly glad to have a reprieve from the heat.

Easy to clean

We know that even the best kept patio accessories eventually get a drink spilled on them or have a bird do the one thing you don’t want. The good thing is, a quick spray with the hose is all this unit need to go straight back to looking like new. If for some reason a sticky syrup was spilled on it (don’t ask us how) you can take it to the sink and use a bit of dishwashing liquid to hand wash it. Afterwards just sent it out to air dry and you’ll have it ship shape in no time.

Consensus – A great patio umbrella net that works

The OceanTailer Outdoor Umbrella table Screen does an excellent job at keeping bugs out, has an affordable price point and is built from high quality, durable materials. We can see this being an important part our patio for many years to come. While it’s not quite as stable as a screened in patio canopy or as high end as hard top gazebo, it offers a much more versatile form factor and can quickly be taken down in case of a storm or if you just don’t need it for a specific occasion. Either way it’s a great buy and if you have an uncovered umbrella we’d suggest you buy it now and take back your backyard patio from the bugs.