Screw-in auger anchors are the best.

Yes. For a beach canopy on a windy day, nothing beats auger-style sand anchors (the spiral metal screws you twist into the sand). They dig deep, hold tight, and won’t pull out like cheap plastic stakes or flimsy bag weights.

Most beach disasters happen when wind catches the canopy and yanks the legs out of the sand. Sandbags and plastic stakes are fine for a light breeze, but once gusts hit 15–20 mph, they’re useless. Augers work because they grab sand vertically and horizontally—the more wind pulls, the more they resist.

Get at least 12-inch augers (18-inch is even better for soft, dry sand). Use one per leg, plus a rope and stake kit for the windward side if you’re really expecting gusts. Twist them in all the way until the top ring is flush with the sand. That’s your best bet short of driving rebar.

Screw-in anchors cost about $10–15 each. Cheap insurance.