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We bought 16 of the most promising camping tables and took them on many road trips, where we set up camp in everything from basic campgrounds to elaborate backyard BBQs.
After hundreds of hours of side-by-side tests, we are confident the Lifetime 4-Foot Fold-In-Half is the best bet for most people. It is sturdy and fast to set up. The Portal Outdoor Lightweight Aluminum is not quite as sturdy or large, but it is more portable and an even better value.
Editor's Note: On November 18, 2024, we revised some of the key award text.
Strong steel design, good height, lots of space, folds up nicely, high value
Lightweight for its size, portable, lots of surface space, easy to set up
Great look, steel frame, large surface area
Inexpensive, lightweight for size
Super strong and sturdy, stands tall, appealing price
Easy to set up, sturdy, metal top isn't susceptible to sparks or flames, cool colors
Lightweight, aluminum, corrosion-resistant, lots of shelves
Cons
Protective grommets prone to detach, base of table difficult to expand, tight to pack into carrying case, limited leg space
Sits low, does not compress or collapse, small cooking space
Small table with a high price, fabric can melt, confusing to set up on first try
A little wobbly, can't place knees underneath
Narrow, needs flat ground, unstable if weighted unevenly
Short for cooking, non-adjustable legs, durability concerns
Difficult to set up, support bars limit leg space, could be taller, potential durability issues
A little wobbly, extra steps to set up, can't place knees underneath
Lengthy setup, hard to carry, poorly designed faucet and drain assembly, shallow sink, no handles or straps, drainage is limited by size of container, needs a separate water source
Small, heavy for backpacking, colored table top shows scratches
Wobbly, durability issues, weak
Bottom Line
This is a square, stout table that that comes in handy for a camping trip, tailgate party, day at the beach, and more
Top notch organization comes at the expense of portability, but having all your camp cooking needs in one place is super convenient
If you're looking for the best ultralight camp table on the market, you've found it
Rigorous daily use isn't this table's gig, but it can hold its own in basic situations and compares well against similar lightweight models
This table closely resembles a standard outdoor barbeque grill; it's stout, stands tall and has tons of counter space
Length and height make this table perfect for dining or playing cards with plenty of leg room underneath
This metal table has plenty of surface area and distributes weight well, but it's more difficult than desired to set up
This table offers decent quality and basic function, and there's a place for that, especially at the price point
A unique table idea that falls a bit flat due to an annoying setup process and a few design flaws
A fine end table for any camping chair, this aluminum table is small, light, and easy to set up
If you're looking for a lightweight cook station and plan to use it carefully, this model will do the trick
Material: Steel and high-density polyethylene plastic | Weight: 18.1 lbs
REASONS TO BUY
Built to last
Versatile
Easy setup with adjustable legs
Lots of surface area
Easy to clean
REASONS TO AVOID
Heavy
Packs up large
When we compare prices to overall performance, nearly nothing compares to the Lifetime 4-Foot Fold-In-Half Adjustable. It's a great general-purpose design and is hands down one of the best deals on the market, earning it our top honors for the sixth year. It scored high marks throughout our testing and is one of the more practical and usable tables we used. It's stable, strong, portable, and easy to set up and take down. We love the workable surface area it offers, and with the steel legs adjusted to their highest setting, this is one of the tallest tables we've reviewed. This table has no X-braces, allowing plenty of room for knees and legs, making it more than just a “prep” table. The Lifetime may resemble something from an industrial supplies catalog, but what it lacks in a flash is that it easily makes up for basic function, extreme durability, and cost.
The Lifetime has some serious perks but isn't perfect. It's heavy, and its bright white tabletop shows dirt, smudges, and spills. Although incredibly strong and durable, it still has much sway. The plastic-based, injection-molded table top is also less fire- and heat-resistant than its all-metal competitors, but it's almost dent-proof and otherwise exceptionally durable. It doesn't look like a traditional camping table, but it's incredibly practical and affordable.
It's one of the heaviest tables we examined, but the Lifetime folds up nicely and transports from camp to car more easily than we anticipated.
Material: Wood, poly-vinyl, and aluminum | Weight: 10.1 lbs
REASONS TO BUY
Solid surface
Very packable
Wipes clean easily
REASONS TO AVOID
Leaves aluminum residue on hands
Some wobble
A longtime favorite for car camping and multi-day rafting trips, the Camp Time Roll-A-Table is also one of our favorites year after year. It sets up quickly and rolls down into a compact package, and its tabletop uses wood slats fully encased in a durable polyvinyl that is easy to wipe clean. Its aluminum legs screw into the tabletop, a unique design among roll-top models, which often have more complicated setup configurations. It's large enough for food prep, playing cards, or seating a few people for a sit-down meal, and the mesh pocket in the front is great for storing odds and ends and kitchen tools. It can also serve as a drying rack for recently washed dishes. One of our testers put this model through the wringer with several years of rafting trips, and it still has lots of life in it.
Though sturdy, the table can be wobbly due to its lack of crisscrossing support beams — although this allows you to comfortably sit at the table, too. Aluminum dust from the legs wore off on our hands when assembling, which required us to rinse off our hands after setting up and tearing down. Flaws aside, we know of several people who've utilized this table for a decade or longer. It's not one of the cheapest options in our test fleet, but considering the years of potential use you may get out of it, its price tag could be a bargain. We loved its packability, straightforward setup, and general usefulness.
Put the crossbeams in place and then thread in each of table's aluminum legs. Then flip the table right side up, and you're done.
It lacks a wow factor, but if you're looking for a basic, portable camping table, the Portal Outdoor Lightweight Aluminum is easy on the bank account and good enough to get the job done. This is your best option if you just need a basic table for light-duty work. The Portal is lightweight and sturdy enough for general use in most outdoor environments. It doesn't rely on a bungee system to hold its folding tabletop design in place, giving this table a leg up on its peers in terms of durability.
The Portal certainly isn't big-boned, and most of its key moving parts are made from thin plastic, leaving a large question mark on its long-term durability. It's also a little short, and the X-shaped metal braces force most adults to sit sideways instead of placing their knees under the table. These drawbacks aside, we still think that this model proves its value by sufficing for many camping and backyard needs without costing too much. If you won't use your table a lot, this one works and saves cash.
The Portal is great for light-duty work. We enjoyed using its metal table surface as a base for our camp stove.
Material: Nylon, aluminum, and steel | Weight: 5.1 lbs
REASONS TO BUY
Heat resistant tabletop
Easy to assemble
Strong, sturdy, and rugged
Dual-height settings
REASONS TO AVOID
Expensive
Slightly heavy
Houston, there is no problem. The Nemo Moonlander is our favorite mini table because of its sleek design and incredible performance in all of our metrics. The manufacturer went to great extents to create a well-built table that is sturdy, strong, and very easy to use. Its dual-height settings are nearly effortless to achieve. Its low elevation is perfect for ground-level activities like picnicking or a day at the beach. Opening the table automatically deploys hinged, fin-style legs, which hold it about 4 inches from the ground. On the underside of the Moonlander are four legs that can be detached and twist-locked into place if more height is needed. Its 19 x 15-inch nylon tabletop is heat-resistant and is rated to support 100 pounds. Additionally, we love the stylish carrying case and the shape of the table, which gives a nod to early NASA spacecraft. From top to bottom, only the best materials were used to create the Moonlander. It was built to last — and it has the price tag to prove it.
In addition to being a little pricey for its size, we also feel the Moonlander could be just a little taller. Additionally, we also struggled a little to find a broad-scale application for the table because it's too heavy for backpacking or other backcountry adventures and too small for anything more than simple activities. However, if you think you might need a very sturdy, cool-looking mini table, the Moonlander should be one of your serious considerations.
The Moonlander's stout design makes it a little heavy, but it still transports easy enough. We do wish the shoulder strap was a little longer.
Material: Aluminum and 600-denier fabric | Weight: 10.8 lbs
REASONS TO BUY
Stellar organization
Relatively lightweight
Easy to set up
REASONS TO AVOID
A little short
Narrow tabletop
Tired of fumbling through plastic storage totes or make-shift containers for the spatula or pancake mix? The Camp Chef Sherpa Table is designed to keep your camping kitchen organized in one place. One of the most unique cooking station tables we've ever reviewed, the Sherpa is an organizer's dream — complete with color-coded storage totes that can be individually labeled. Think of the Sherpa as a portable kitchen cupboard system. It's smaller than the largest cook stations we examined, but its denier fabric design is lightweight and sturdy. This table's stand-out feature is its colorful, separate storage totes. They fit perfectly into the table's interior and allow users to organize, pack, and carry nearly all of their cooking supplies in one enclosed system. We even had enough space to store our stove. One of the totes is an insulated cooler that doubles as a washbasin and can keep iced drinks cold for about one day. The Sherpa sets up super fast and has a very reasonable base weight. It's an ideal table for keeping everything you need in one place and for cooking up grub for a medium to small-sized camp.
While the Camp Chef Sherpa has plenty of storage space, it doesn't boast a large workspace. After our cooking stove was in place, we had little to no space to prepare food or place cooking utensils. It's also a bit vertically challenged. It's shorter than the other cook stations we tested, and our testers felt it needed more than just one height setting. Yet, for its overall convenience and organization, this is our favorite cook station.
The Sherpa's totes are big enough to store supplies for a 1 to 2 day adventure. They have a clear pouch on the front which allows users to individually label the contents of each.
Material: Aluminum and polyester | Weight: 1.5 lbs
REASONS TO BUY
Surprisingly high weight capacity
Compact and lightweight
Cup holders
REASONS TO AVOID
Not suitable for cooking
Pricey
Small
If you need a high-quality, lightweight pack table, the Helinox Table One is worth the high price. This table is super light, compact, and strong. Also suitable as an end table, the Helinox can accompany a camp chair for an outdoor meal or hold drinks during sunset at the beach. For short weekend forays into the backcountry, river trips, and lunch hikes to a scenic spot, this table is easy to stow or lash to the outside of your pack to bring some convenience to your experience.
Again, this table will set you back some serious cash. The fabric top isn't suitable for cooking, either, which is one of the limiting factors in this table's versatility. Still, we recognize the Table One for its backcountry prowess, boasting the quality and strength needed to withstand the rigors of more extreme outdoor use, all in a tiny, lightweight package.
Compared to other tables, the Helinox is extremely lightweight and packs up small, allowing you to take it just about anywhere.
Credit: Jason Wanlass
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Reviewer Jason Wanlass toting several tables for testing.
Credit: Jason Wanlass
Why Trust GearLab
For the last 8 years, our experts have put the best camping tables to the test. Our review process always begins with thorough research into the market for whatever product category we're testing. We assessed the latest models released over the past year, and after settling on the most intriguing models, we purchased them for side-by-side testing. Once the tables were in hand, our review team hit the road, winding through mountains and beautiful red rock country. On several occasions, our lead tester incorporated the assistance of other campground veterans in the tests and assessments. Along the way, he spent hours using and testing each table to determine its overall performance. To test each model's ability to support weight, we added unbalanced weights to their corners until the point of failure. We cooked several meals on all models that would support two-burner camping stoves and assessed the give and wobble in each table's legs. From specific tests to all-around use, we got to know these tables very well to provide in-depth performance assessments.
Our camping table testing is divided across four rating metrics:
Stability and Strength (30% of overall score weighting)
Portability (30% weighting)
Durability (20% weighting)
Ease of Setup (20% weighting)
Our camp table connoisseur, Jason Wanlass, makes Utah his home, where he has year-round access to a variety of outdoor settings and activities. On any given day, he can be found wandering about in the nearby mountains. An avid hiker and backpacker, he also spends a lot of time on the road and enjoys finding unique, out-of-the-way weekend campground spots in Utah or its neighboring states. When on foot, Jason enjoys wandering trails in the Sawtooth Mountains of Idaho, the Tetons of Wyoming, the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California, the Olympic Peninsula of Washington, or the Grand Canyon. Cruising up to campsites regularly, either in public campgrounds or BLM land, Jason has more than 20 years of camping experience. Having a vast working knowledge of camping gear, he applied it to this review of camping tables and cooking stations.
The Trekology model provides the option of a small table that can be cooked upon. This is one thing we didn't dare do on the fabric tabletops of other portable models we tested.
Campground meal classics made their way into our testing period.
Analysis and Test Results
We narrowed our test metrics down to four vital assessments: stability and strength, portability, durability, and ease of setup. Of these four metrics, we weighted the first two the heaviest, which means scores in these two areas had a greater impact on the table's overall score. After all, we feel a camp table needs to be stable and strong, and it needs to be portable. We recommend that you focus on the metrics you find most important, though, to lead you to the right product for your needs.
What's the Best Value?
We realize cost is a key decision-making factor for most folks making gear decisions. While specialty tables can offer extremely low weight or systematic organization and features, expect to pay more. But if you just want a surface for cooking and eating upon, you can save a great deal of cash. The best bargain of the models we tested is the Lifetime Adjustable model. Instead of specializing in any given area, it's a utility table that can be used for camping, cookouts, and many other social gatherings, and it's built to withstand years of abuse while ringing up for a very fair price.
We tested each table individually and then compared each one to its peers to see exactly how they stacked up.
Credit: Jason Wanlass
Should you want something that takes up less packed space and is more portable, the Portal Outdoor Lightweight Aluminum table impresses with its performance per dollar spent. It lacks the utility of the do-it-all Lifetime table, but most campers just need some kind of surface to cook or eat upon, and the Portal table suffices with an inexpensive price tag. Among camping tables, one typical tradeoff for a lower price tag is long-term durability. This applies to the Portal model, as well as many of the low-priced products we tested. Still, if you won't be using your table frequently and don't abuse it, bargain products like the Portal get the job done without spending money on a larger, sturdier table.
If used for basic, light-duty activities, the Portal is durable enough to last more than just a few years. We don't feel it will last a lifetime, but considering its price tag, it's still a great value.
Credit: Jason Wanlass
Stability and Strength
At its core, a table's purpose is to hold things. Therefore stability and strength should be major components of any table. A table should be able to support a reasonable amount of weight and do so without tipping, twisting, or bowing.
Our stability and strength scoring accounts for 30 percent of each table's overall score. We conducted several tests, including adding weight incrementally to the same corner of each table until it began to tip. We also examined each table's construction and the materials used to create it. We studied its pressure points, design, and sturdiness. Then we conducted tests to determine how much sway the table had and scored each accordingly.
We weren't very nice. We pushed, twisted, yanked, forced, and much more, to find out how each of these tables would perform in the outdoors. In the end, we feel a camp table should be strong and stable.
Credit: Jason Wanlass
We found steel-framed tables to be the strongest and generally the most stable. Our favorite, the Lifetime 4428 Adjustable, mixes a heavy-duty steel frame with a lightweight injection-molded tabletop, giving it incredible strength at a slightly lower weight. Likewise, the Goplus Portable Fish Cleaning Table is supported by steel legs, which are attached to a beefy rectangle frame that runs the entire perimeter of the table. This all-encompassing steel design provides incredible strength and stability.
Gettin' the deets on our Goplus table. In addition to being one of tallest tables we've ever tested (37 inches), a 220-pound max weight capacity also makes it one of the strongest.
Credit: Jason Wanlass
Other all-metal tables like the REI Co-op Camp Prep Table and the Mountain Summit Gear Heavy-Duty Roll-Top offer a bit more style along with their strength. Both scored high marks in this area; however, both come with a larger price tag than the Lifetime, which is every bit as robust. The GCI Outdoor Slim-Fold Cook Station also employs a powder-coated steel frame. However, it didn't receive as high of marks for stability. Its fold-out design creates a base that is much more narrow than its width, creating a potentially top-heavy design, depending on the weight of the items it is holding.
The Lifetime's steel frame and legs don't get in the way of knees. This is one of our favorite features. We also like that the table has three height settings: 24, 29, and 36 inches.
Credit: Jason Wanlass
The Coleman Compact and the Portal Outdoor Lightweight are inexpensive, light-duty tables with the same basic design. However, of the two, we found the Portal was slightly stronger and sturdier than the Coleman. Overall, we were most impressed with the Nemo Moonlander for its amazing stability and strength despite its small size. The Moonlander is extremely tough and is made with top-grade materials. Similar to the Moonlander in size and function is the Snow Peak Single Action Round Table. Its all-bamboo tabletop sits upon high-tensile aluminum legs. The combination results in a very sturdy, balanced design with a low center of gravity.
While not as practical as other options, the Snow Peak is a joy to use for casual beach hangouts where you don't mind sitting on or low to the ground.
Credit: Jason Wanlass
Portability
A table is often considered a luxury item in the outdoors, and luxury shouldn't be arduous or inconvenient. After all, camping has its own set of innate challenges, so what is the point of adding a bit of luxury if it's more trouble than the comfort it provides?
While spending time outdoors, be it camping, traveling, or tailgating, one key component a camping table should possess is portability. Weighing in at 30 percent of each table's overall score, we believe portability is equally important to stability and strength. Simply put, a camping table should be reasonably lightweight, easy to carry, simple to move or reposition, and compact.
We like the storage bag of the Mountain Summit table. It's large enough to easily fit the table's components and convenient enough to easily sling over a shoulder for easy transport.
Credit: Jason Wanlass
The table that received our highest marks in this area is the small backpacking-focused Helinox Table One. In the cooking station category, the Mountain Summit Gear Deluxe is the most portable, based on its overall weight and ability to collapse for transport. For smaller, square tables, the Coleman Compact and the Portal Aluminum tables are both relatively lightweight and fit nicely into carrying bags with shoulder straps.
Lightweight tables like these are portable enough to travel further from your vehicle than larger, traditional models. Here we see the Helinox Table One on top of the Trekology Talu.
Credit: Jason Wanlass
Of the heavier models, the Lifetime is easier to transport than many of the steel-framed models we tested. It's well-balanced when folded up and has a single, well-placed handle. The Nemo Moonlander comes with a stylish storage case that features an adjustable shoulder strap. We also love the grab-and-go Snow Peak Round Table. Designed in Japan, this round, picnic-style table folds in half and can be easily carried to just about any destination. Although extremely portable, its lack of a shoulder strap kept it from receiving even higher scores in this metric.
Headed for the marina with our Snow Peak in tow. Its grab-and-go design makes it perfect for nearly any adventure. We just wish it had an optional shoulder strap.
Credit: Jason Wanlass
Durability
Given the nature of how and where camping tables are used, they should be durable. Outdoor living, whether it be in a stadium parking lot, a picnic at the beach, or multiple days in the woods, comes with more inherent challenges. We expected the tables we examined to withstand repeated use in these more challenging environments, and if we didn't feel they measured up, we made sure to adjust their scores accordingly. This metric weighed in at 20 percent of each table's overall score.
In this category, we put each table through the wringer by deploying and stowing each at least a dozen times while examining them for even the slightest bit of wear and tear.
A camp table will often be subjected to environments that your home dining table would never want to see. That's why a camp table should boast a durability that will last for years as seen here on the GCI Slim-Fold.
Credit: Jason Wanlass
Additionally, we scrutinized every inch of each table, used them repeatedly outside, and gave them each an objective score based on our own experience. In the end, we felt the steel-framed tables excelled once again. The Lifetime 4428 has one of the more durable designs of any camping table on the market, especially when considering its price.
The Lifetime table uses an old-school pin system for locking the height of the legs into place. While not the easiest way to move the legs, the system is durable and strong.
Credit: Jason Wanlass
The REI Camp Prep Table and the GCI Slim-Fold Cook Station are made of durable materials ready for repeated use and exposure to outdoor living. Next in line is the Camp Time Roll-A-Table, which employs a mixture of metal, wood, and vinyl to achieve high scores in this metric. We are also extremely impressed with the top-to-bottom quality of the Nemo Moonlander and the Snow Peak Round Table. Both are built to last a lifetime of adventures. Lastly, we were somewhat conflicted over our durability scores for the Goplus Fish Cleaning Table. The table itself is made from very robust materials, making it one of the more durable tables we've ever tested and worthy of our highest scores. However, we held back on giving the Goplus our best marks due to its inferior, less-durable faucet and sink accessories.
Hooking our Goplus to the hose and testing the spout. We were very impressed with the durability of the actual table. Unfortunately, the faucet and drain system didn't impress us as much.
Credit: Jason Wanlass
Ease of Setup
A camping table should be a breeze to set up and break down. Overall, it should also be easy to use. In general, you're outdoors to have fun and relax, not to spend time reading instructions and counting and organizing a parts list. We expected the tables we used to be set and stowed in less than one minute — preferably in seconds. We also expected to be able to deploy each table with one person.
Of all the different tables we looked at, we were surprised to discover some of the easiest to use were not always the smallest and lightest options. For example, the Lifetime Adjustable is one of our larger and heavier models; however, it sets up and tears down in just seconds. That said, the Lifetime is simply no match for the Snow Peak Round Table, which opens and lays flat in the blink of an eye. The Snow Peak deploys effortlessly and precisely every time and has the fastest setup we've ever seen.
Ta-da! Presto! Voila! Abracadabra! Our fastest setup time was 2.5 seconds. So setting up the Snow Peak is as easy as 1-2-3.. or 1-2... 2 and a half.
Credit: Jason Wanlass
Among the larger models, the REI Camp Prep and GCI Outdoor Slim-Fold are three of the heaviest tables we studied, but they can be set up and taken down in under a minute. Other tables that were a breeze to use are the Camp Chef Sherpa Table and the Trekology Talu. The ground-level elevation of the Nemo Moonlander also sets up in seconds. Built-in, hinged legs pop into place upon opening and provide about 4 inches of clearance from the ground.
Despite its packed size and weight, we feel most teenagers or adults can still easily transport the Camp Prep from car to camp without much issue.
Credit: Jason Wanlass
Conclusion
Throughout our review, we didn't give these tables any leeway. Regardless of price or brand, we held all to high standards, and we were not afraid to score them according to their performance. We researched everything we would want to know if we were buying these tables for ourselves, and we did our best to score them on plain old performance. There are many different types of camping tables, and one size does not fit all. We hope this review provides you with the necessary insight to find the best table for your outdoor adventures.
When it comes to RVing, car camping, or stocking your van with the right gear, there's a lot to consider. If you're new to camping or just want to upgrade to the best camping tent or top cooler on the market, we recommend taking some time to browse our best camping gear list.
We set up camping tables in a lot of remote locations to help you find the very best option.
