How to put up a parasol with a crank
Updated: 22.10.2026
The first wind is where most new crank parasols go wrong: the pole is only resting in the stand, and the canopy tries to climb before the joint is tight. This is how to put up a parasol with a crank on a centre pole. Seat the mast, wind it open, tilt only after it is up, and close it before you store it. The seven listings are on the [parasol with crank comparison](/hub/sun-shades/parasol-with-crank). Kilograms and pole diameter are a separate job from the handle.
The first wind is where most new crank parasols go wrong: the pole is only resting in the stand, and the canopy tries to climb before the joint is tight. This is how to put up a parasol with a crank on a centre pole.
The first wind is where most new crank parasols go wrong: the pole is only resting in the stand, and the canopy tries to climb before the joint is tight. This is how to put up a parasol with a crank on a centre pole. Seat the mast, wind it open, tilt only after it is up, and close it before you store it. The seven listings are on the parasol with crank comparison. Kilograms and pole diameter are a separate job from the handle.
Our top picks
| Badge | Product | Tilt | Base included | Cover included | Note | Price | Offer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall |  VOUNOT VOUNOT 2.7 m tilt with cover | Yes | No | Yes | 9.5 | about £39.46 | View offer |
| Alternative |  ZealWe ZealWe 3 m tilt crank | Yes | No | No | 7.0 | about £51.84 | View offer |
| Preis-Tipp |  Harrier Harrier 2.7 m crank and tilt | Yes | No | – | 7.1 | about £37.99 | View offer |
On this page
Before you wind anything
Clear a circle bigger than the open canopy. Fit the base where it will live. A fillable base, the PHI VILLA 2.7 × 4.5 m in this set, should be filled with sand before the first open. The bags arrive empty. A crank sold without a stand does not get a test wind on the lawn and then a lift into the hole.
Join a two-piece pole until the sections lock. The ZealWe is different: reviews say you fit the arms and the fabric yourself, about 5 to 15 minutes. If you wind it before those ribs are seated, you are turning a half-built frame. SIT Connect's manual for Great Britain, Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Malta asks for about 40 cm of pole in the stand on that brand. Your base may differ. The pole must be fully home, and the knob tight, before the handle moves.
Open, tilt, and close
Wind the crank clockwise to open, which is the direction in the SIT Connect manual and on Christow's 2.7 m crank-and-tilt page. Wind anticlockwise to close. Stop when the canopy is fully out and the crank meets resistance. Extra turns strip the gear.
Tilt only after the canopy is open, and only if your model has a tilt. On the VOUNOT that is a push-button. On the Harrier, one review found a single 30-degree stop. Return the canopy to upright before you close it. Closing on a tilt is a common way to jam the winch.
Keep fingers off the runner. One ZealWe close snapped shut and cut a hand. Tie the strap before you let go of the pole, and leave the base in place. John Lewis's UK guidance says not to use a parasol in high winds, and to keep a base on even when the canopy is closed.
When the handle fights you
Stop at the first grind, a click that will not finish, or a handle that suddenly goes light. The usual causes are a pole that is not seated, a rib caught in the cloth, a tilt still engaged, or wind pushing the canopy while you wind. Lower the tilt, check each rib, and try one slow turn the other way.
A stiff new crank can ease after a careful first open. A crank that jumps or sheds metal is a fault. A spare crank handle will not rebuild a broken gear. If the pole spins in the tube while the handle is fine, tighten the knob. A narrow ZealWe pole that still rattles is a tube that is too wide. More winding will not fix the fit. Those checks are on the base weight and wind page.
End of the day
Close the canopy, return it to upright, tie it, and only then use a cover. The VOUNOT sleeve is for a dry parasol. One reviewer says it is not waterproof. Damp polyester in a closed bag is how mildew starts. Let a wet cloth dry before you bag it. The large PHI VILLA does not include a weather cover for the canopy.
Do not drag a sand-filled base across paving. For a week you will not sit out, store a dry canopy indoors. A closed parasol left up in a gale still needs the base attached. UK hospitality guidance, as a rule of thumb, says close around 25 km/h and store around 35 km/h. A qualifying purchase can earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Common questions
Which way do I wind the handle?
Clockwise opens and anticlockwise closes on the SIT Connect manual and on Christow's 2.7 m page. Read the arrows on your handle. A ZealWe review found arrows that did not match the mechanism. Follow the direction that opens the cloth, and stop when the crank resists.
How far should the pole sit in the base?
SIT Connect asks for about 40 cm of pole in the stand on that manual. Your base may stop higher or lower. The mast should be fully home, and the knob done up, before you wind. A two-piece pole also needs its own joint locked.
Do I open it on the ground or in the stand?
Open it after the pole is in the stand or through the table, with the base already heavy enough. Fill a PHI VILLA base with sand before that first open. A parasol sold without a base does not get a test wind until the separate stand is in place.
How do I tilt without it walking?
Open fully first, then use the tilt, and only on a base that already holds the upright canopy. A light 10–11 kg block is the one reviewers call too light even before a deep tilt. Put the canopy back to upright before you close.
How do I close and store it overnight?
Bring the tilt upright, wind anticlockwise, keep your hands off the runner, and tie the canopy before any sleeve goes on. Leave the base on. Dry a wet cloth first. The VOUNOT cover is not described as waterproof.
Related pages
Sources
Public UK sources and the amazon.co.uk listings compared on this page. Shelf figures stored 21 October 2026. Updated 22.10.2026.
- Shade Specialists parasol buying guide (retrieved 22.10.2026)
- Shade Specialists parasol base guide (retrieved 22.10.2026)
- Opal Retail parasol base weight table (retrieved 22.10.2026)
- Ideal Home best parasols (retrieved 22.10.2026)
- Cancer Research UK sun safety (retrieved 22.10.2026)
- GOV.UK ultraviolet radiation FAQs (retrieved 22.10.2026)
- BSI BS EN 13758-1:2002 (retrieved 22.10.2026)
- Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 19 (retrieved 22.10.2026)