cweston
Trail Wise!
Posts: 4,277
Member is Online
|
Post by cweston on Aug 1, 2020 8:16:25 GMT -8
I'm thinking something like this:
The reviewer says he uses it as a computer table. That's my intended use: to use with a laptop as a portable outdoor desk on my upcoming work/hike retreat. So it has to be pretty sturdy, but also has to be reasonably packable. Any experiences or ideas?
|
|
|
Post by High Sierra Fan on Aug 1, 2020 9:06:50 GMT -8
I’ve no table experience but I’ve Helinox chairs and that’s (sigh) taking a lot more weight than a table: and they’re solid. Does it need to be compact of simply collapsible? Some overlandrr accessory people make solid top tables that collapse. Front runner makes some that store under their roof racks. www.rei.com/b/helinox/c/camp-tablesOTOH I have a small bistro table that folds from either Home Depot or Lowe’s that is solid (if a bit heavy) and folds flat. i put my new, rather completely tricked out, MacBook Pro 16” on it all the time with no qualms at all with the solid top and locking metal legs. Not the lightest or most compact, but it’d roof rack easy enough. I’ve thought of going that on my 4Runner for some of my longer campground visits. Coupled with my LL Bean Chair I wouldn’t be tied to where the campground table is mounted. ETA: for a workspace I’d want more area than a camp square table offered; this type might offer possibilities? www.homedepot.com/p/Lifetime-24-in-x-48-in-White-Granite-Adjustable-Height-Fold-In-Half-Table-4428/202380414
|
|
cweston
Trail Wise!
Posts: 4,277
Member is Online
|
Post by cweston on Aug 1, 2020 9:17:23 GMT -8
Thanks, High Sierra Fan. Sturdiness and sufficient height are my top two priorities. It has to be somewhat collapsible, but that's not my top consideration. I may even consider a simple fold-in-half plastic top table. Not too compact, but they're very sturdy and could also be more useful around home (for yard entertaining, which is the only kind of entertaining we do, for now).
|
|
|
Post by High Sierra Fan on Aug 1, 2020 9:27:19 GMT -8
Yes, the more I think on it for anything more than the equivalent of on the lap laptop use a rectangular table gives better workspace utility. And I see you’re already considering a fold in half type. That seems a good option especially if you have a roof rack. If you’re thinking of adding a rack the Frontrunner line is outstanding. They offer direct bolt on to OEM mounting points but also (my choice, being a bit timid) mounts that strap to the vehicle existing rack rails. www.frontrunneroutfitters.com/en/us/I’ve one for my 4Runner and it’s solid. Good build quality. Perhaps overbuilt for some uses as it’s intended for offroad but it’s an option versus Yakima who is also expanding their rack line I’ve seen recently.
|
|
zeke
Trail Wise!
Peekaboo slot 2023
Posts: 9,876
|
Post by zeke on Aug 1, 2020 9:38:59 GMT -8
I’ve been using a roll up table for years in a car camp situation. Sized almost like a card table.
|
|
jazzmom
Trail Wise!
a.k.a. TigerFan
Posts: 3,059
|
Post by jazzmom on Aug 1, 2020 9:52:50 GMT -8
I have two camp tables for car camping. One is very similar to the one you have linked and I'm pretty sure it's an older-style Alps Mountaineering one; I think I got it off of REI Outlet. Pro is that it's really portable, packs up to about the size of a basecamp Thermarest, weighs 10lb at most. I use it mostly as a kitchen extension, for front country campsites that have a picnic table. It's a good size for a 2-burner Coleman stove. I also have a folding one for when we car-camp in backcountry sites. It's much sturdier and twice the surface space. Looks like this though it's not this exact model. I got it at Costco a long time ago - don't see it on their website any longer. It's obviously a lot bigger but it's flat, so not awful to pack in the car, but it's too heavy for walk-in sites (for me, anyway.) Re the height, since you've pointed it out as a priority. If you're planning to use folding camp chairs, I've found that they sit a LOT lower than typical dining chairs. We took a folding card table once and it was really awkward to eat with camp chairs. So when I got the bigger folding table, I looked for one with adjustable legs like this one. I think you might also appreciate the larger surface area, so you can leave your laptop on it and still have room to eat, etc.
|
|
|
Post by High Sierra Fan on Aug 1, 2020 9:54:26 GMT -8
|
|
cweston
Trail Wise!
Posts: 4,277
Member is Online
|
Post by cweston on Aug 1, 2020 10:05:08 GMT -8
Yes, jazzmom : I'm thinking that the table in your pic is what I need--fold-in-half, adjustable height (for the reason you gave--chairs vary in height.) Menards has a plastic one with steal legs that is cheap--I'll probably pick one up and test it out at home. If it's not sturdy enough, I'll have to find something more like the one in your pic. I'm also happy to take suggestions if anyone has them on more comfortable folding chairs. I find this type, which is now ubiquitous, to be extremely uncomfortable on my crappy lower back: The traditional type of folding chair, like this, are much more comfortable, but not as packable: This type is more comfortable still, but even less packable:
|
|
|
Post by High Sierra Fan on Aug 1, 2020 10:08:32 GMT -8
What’s your vehicle situation going to be? I’m thinking packable versus foldable requirements. One aero solution I’ve been considering is a trailer hitch rack. I’d get cargo space without sticking bulk up into the airflow of my truck to tank my mileage. With something like that folding flat is all you’d need which opens more possibilities for furniture. At the other end of the robust/price spectrum there’s these: pakmule.com/shop/
|
|
cweston
Trail Wise!
Posts: 4,277
Member is Online
|
Post by cweston on Aug 1, 2020 10:12:37 GMT -8
I'll be in an mid-sized SUV, but traveling alone, so space will not be at too much of a premium. I may carry a kayak: if so, no room for a roof carrier (but I don't think I'll need one.) My stays are at AirBnBs: two cabins and one RV. So I mostly only need to carry my BPing equipment and my work gear (which is fairly minimal).
|
|
|
Post by High Sierra Fan on Aug 1, 2020 10:18:15 GMT -8
Well, it’s my experience for work comfort is a key so if you need to work around a less traditional camp chair solution I’d suggest it’d be worth it.
If you’ve got a kayak strapped to some cross bars I’d think there’d be room beside it to strap that last folding chair.
OTOH don’t underestimate what a months worth of “what if” can add up to. I quite nicely filled my 4Runner for my last summers 7 week swing out west. Between backpacking gear, food for the trip, camera gear, a bitoif furniture for the campground (cot,chair, bigger tent) and I had to be careful how I repacked after a stay somewhere. Maybe like with a bear canister: try it out ahead of the trailhead..,, just saying. Lol
ETA: speaking of toad trips in these times. For the first time in ages I bothered to take a cooler along. The option of cold food storage helped me avoid relying on fast food take out windows in my attempt to avoid any indoor restaurant meals.
|
|
ErnieW
Trail Wise!
I want to backpack
Posts: 9,850
Member is Online
|
Post by ErnieW on Aug 1, 2020 14:53:52 GMT -8
What’s your vehicle situation going to be? I’m thinking packable versus foldable requirements. One aero solution I’ve been considering is a trailer hitch rack. I’d get cargo space without sticking bulk up into the airflow of my truck to tank my mileage. With something like that folding flat is all you’d need which opens more possibilities for furniture. At the other end of the robust/price spectrum there’s these: pakmule.com/shop/I have been considering something like this. I am guessing it might be more aerodynamic than roof carrier. The thing that make me hesitate is the ones I see are banged up like either the driver backed into something or someone came too close from behind.
|
|
|
Post by High Sierra Fan on Aug 1, 2020 15:12:38 GMT -8
As it’s not up in the airflow over the roof of the vehicle it’s got to be more aero.
For the getting run into by others? Maybe those flags like people put on things like recumbent cycles to get notice more up in the following driver’’s sightline.
OTOH I could really see someone backing into their garage and squishing it. Totally driver error though.
|
|
|
Post by bradmacmt on Aug 2, 2020 5:44:18 GMT -8
When I saw this thread title I immediately thought of the old Coleman Camp Table we had in the 1960's. Jazzmom's recommendation is a very close copy. Nearly 1000 ebay offerings:
Amazon:
|
|
|
Post by Lamebeaver on Aug 2, 2020 10:15:08 GMT -8
I also have a folding one for when we car-camp in backcountry sites. It's much sturdier and twice the surface space. This is the one I'd get, with the key feature being the two horizontal bars at the base of the legs. This allows you to put a couple large rocks across the braces so it won't blow over, which seems to happen frequently at camp.
|
|