Source of the article:The 6 Best Camping Tables, According to a Chef

By Maddy Sweitzer-Lammé

Anyone who has ever been camping knows that at a campground, meal prep space is often quite limited. Sure, most sites have a picnic table, but the surface is usually quickly taken up by card games, camping cookware, and other camping gear.

For Damon Menapace, an avid camper and the culinary director at Primal Supply Meats in Philadelphia, the built-in picnic table poses another major issue. “Picnic tables are usually far away from the fire pit, which is where I do most of my cooking,” Menapace says. “A camping table allows me to have a prep space near the heat source, which reduces schlepping back and forth.” Whether you’re cooking over a fire pit, propane stove, or camping grill, you'll appreciate the added space a camping table provides for building burgers and stacking s’mores.

As a globally renowned food magazine, Food & Wine enlisted Menapace's help as they sorted through hundreds of options. Focusing on key factors like portability, assembly, and durability, they narrowed the list to the six best camping tables for any outdoor adventure, from lightweight and compact roll-tops to heavy-duty folding tables with a metal or plastic top.

PORTAL Camping Table Foldable Portable with Adjustable Legs

Material: Aluminum

Weight: 9 pounds

Dimensions: 35.4 x 20.9 x 27.5 inches

Maximum Weight Recommendation：132 Pounds

This lightweight table is made from aluminum with a roll-top construction, which makes it the lightest large table we recommend. If weight is an important concern, this table weighs in at just nine pounds and comes in an easy-to-carry and pack canvas bag. The table is large enough to seat four people and offers plenty of space for prep and storage. The adjustable legs make it even more versatile. 

Style

Camping tables come in a variety of styles, from roll-tops, which are generally the most lightweight and compact, to heavy-duty folding tables with a metal or plastic top. The style you need will depend on what kind of camping you’ll be doing. If you plan to pull a large car right up to the campground, something larger and more durable might be better, since you don’t have to worry about space or carrying the table too far. For camping where you might need to walk a little further or at sites with less infrastructure, a table with built-in seating might be your best bet.

Size

When choosing the size, you’ll need to think about height and capacity. Different heights are better for different activities. For example, it’s uncomfortable to do a lot of food prep hunched over a low table. If food prep is the main use for your camping table, be sure to get something that is higher. Adjustable height tables are great for creating different types of use.

For capacity, consider the number of people who will need to comfortably gather around a table. If most of your camping trips are solo or small-group activities, there’s no need to get a table that seats six. If you generally camp with larger groups, though, something bigger will get more use.

Stability and Durability

Stability and durability are important features for an item that you’ll be taking with you into outdoor environments. Any credible camping table will be safe from getting wet overnight, as they’re all built to withstand dampness and won’t rust. But features like adjustable legs can make a big difference if you’re in a more rugged space where the ground is rocky or potentially uneven.

If you plan to do a lot of cooking using a heavy cast iron skillet or Dutch oven, you’ll also want to make sure your camping table is heat-resistant and won’t be damaged by high temperatures.

Portability

The importance of portability comes down to how you plan to use and store the table. Car camping lends itself to larger items, but if you’re working with limited space, a roll-top table that folds into a smaller, lighter package will help you out. Smaller tables are also easier to move around a campsite, lending themselves to different uses. For longer trips where basecamp will be around for more than one or two nights, something larger can be used for sitting down to dinner.

Ease of Setup

Most camping tables are designed to be simple to set up, requiring only one person. There are a few styles: roll-top tables with collapsible bases, which typically are stored in a canvas bag like a camping chair, or heavier-duty tables with metal or plastic tops that get folded in half for flat storage. If you’re smaller or more sensitive to heavy items, roll-top tables are usually the lightest, while a folded table takes just seconds to open up.

Extra Features

Extra features like loops for trash bags, seating, and shelving can help set up a campsite that runs efficiently. If you’re camping with children, a folding table with seating is great for mealtimes, when you might want to gather more formally to encourage kids to eat. Mesh storage is a helpful feature for letting pots and pans dry, but is less useful if you’re camping solo or with small groups and don’t need as much space.

• Maddy Sweitzer-Lammé is an experienced professional home cook. She has worked in restaurant kitchens, professional test kitchens, and also on farms and at farmer's markets. She's an expert at translating techniques, recipes, equipment, and ingredient information for all skill levels. She's dedicated to making the home cooking experience more enjoyable and is always on the lookout for the next great tip or trick to pass along to readers.

• For this piece, Maddy interviewed chef Damon Menapace, an experienced camper and the culinary director at Primal Supply Meats in Philadelphia, to get his insights into camping tables.