Unlike other reviews, this paper towel holder rolls with ease. I have had zero issues with it. It's stylish looking, very sturdy, and I can rip a piece of paper towel with one hand. I'm impressed, especially when some reviews said that the paper towel gets stuck, etc.NoI have had this paper towel stand for about 4 years now. I like its simple look. The paper towel roll itself doesn’t rotate on it very well, but I don’t think it is necessarily meant to with this design. It’s a good value.Sturdy and heavy enough to tear off paper towels with out moving. However, the cylinder is too big in diameter causing the roll to be to snug on it not allowing it to move to unroll paper towels.I use the biggest paper towel roll I can find and it works good. It’s sturdy and I like the look. I will say sometimes my paper roll get stuck but that’s probably because I’m usually a huge paper roll or maybe I’m just too fast for it.The “new item” tag says that the paper towel holder is black, but the box actually contains the “espresso/black” option, which looks like oil rubbed bronze on the base and top, and black where the paper towels sit. Had to return and reorder.It doesn’t grip the Costco paper towels roll all that well, but it’s definitely better than the non-grip versions.Buying a paper towel holder is like buying a car. You want something that's functional, stylish, and fits you as an individual. So as there are a variety of things to consider when purchasing a car, there are a variety when looking at paper towel holders.The first is to consider your usage of paper towels. I believe functionality and utility come first. The Umbra has a weighted base with a felt like material on the bottom. The holder is heavy enough for one to rip off a paper towel with a quick swipe and will not slide around the counter top. If you're like me, you usually only have one hand available at a time in the kitchen. One is sauteing zucchini, while the other reaches for something to clean up the tomato sauce you spilled. The need for a paper towel can be urgent, so it is necessary that a paper towel holder be stable.The nice thing about this paper towel holder, at least to someone with my considerations, is that you do not have a little bar on the side that is supposed to keep the roll from unrolling. I have found that those little bars are usually in the way of being able to rip off the appropriate number of paper towels.Which leads to my next consideration, which is that you should ask yourself whether you only need one towel at a time, or whether you need varying amounts depending on the situation and need. The thing that scared me away from the "single towel" rip paper towel holders was that I use a different number of towels for messes, cleaning, and napkin use. Sometimes I need one, other times I need three or four. On a side note, I use the smaller width cut of paper towels, so the number I need can be fairly particular. But, I don't want to have to make three or four rips. I just want to pull out a few length's worth of towels and take them at once. This paper towel holder certainly allows for that.Another reason I chose this paper towel holder is that you don't have to unscrew the top to access the entire roll. I have small children, cats, and a dog. Sometimes, taking the whole roll for a clean up is more convenient, so that I have what I need on hand at the mess.Finally, the paper towel holder is aesthetically and intellectually pleasing. The finish is sleek, looks good, and doesn't shout out, "Look at me!" Instead, the brushed finish tucks itself into the space of the kitchen nicely and warmly. Then, the design, filled with so many considerations of paper towel usage and functionality, remains simple and elegant. It is much like cooking, where one takes a variety of things to produce a pleasing flavor that is all it's own.I highly recommend the Umbra, but only if you find goodness in the reasons I've presented.Paper towel holder that stays in place and makes tearing easy!Although an attractive design, this in no way constitutes single-handed operation as advertised. The roll just spins loosely around on the spindle giving no purchase whatsoever, rendering it unusable by a person with only the use of one hand (fyi Kamenstein, I have since discovered, do a great ‘ratcheted’ one which grips the roll brilliantly for perfect one-handed operation). Useless to me, I attempted to return the order only to discover it would incur a £17 postage charge to the US. Refunded by Amazon after complaint, but be aware of the above if ordering this item.Ive been using these as stands for replica helmets, and I have to say they are perfect! Perfect height and sturdy enough to not fall over if you dont position the helmet perfectly, wich is a nice feature to have.Oh and they also seem to hold paper towel rolls pretty good aswell. Stops them from spinning around when you try and tear off a pieceTried several different brands of kitchen towel and the centre of the house is so thin that they just rattle around on it, forcing you to hold the roll with one hand and tug with the other.No. It doesn't work as well as I imagined. You have to be swift, fast and precise with the motion to tear off one single paper without letting the whole rim spin out of control. Its just as regular as other holders. And pricey for that. Tested on only two brands Bounty and Kirkland. Its heavy though. Meaning if you tug on sheet to hard it wont fly off and hit your face.The holder isn't wide enough to keep the paper towel roll on snug. When trying to pull off one piece of paper towel with one hand you end up pulling 4 pieces and have to re-roll the paper towel up. Wish it fit a bit more snug so you actually can just pull off one piece. I was pretty excited for this product but once received I'm disappointed.