Outdoors – Page 6

June 13, 2013April 9, 2017

Folding beach table

A flat surface for eating, resting a drink on, or playing games on, always comes in handy at the beach. You may have tried using a towel, but you know that sometimes that just isn’t good enough. When it comes to food especially, you want a steady table. Ideally this table will be fairly small and collapsible, so that it can be carried easily, but not so lightweight that it flies away with any slight breeze.

Here’s a cool version – actually I don’t know which I like best – the table or the cool blue plastic plate and mug:

Folding beach table pictured: GSI Outdoors Micro Table

I have seen people use the top of an ice cooler as a table, and that seemed to work pretty well. But It all depends on how flat and uniform the top of the cooler is. If the handle sticks out in any way, it will be awkward to set things down on it. A table can be used as a surface to play cards or other games, or it can be used as at place to rest a book or magazine. Some may be just high and wide enough to put over your legs, like a bed tray would be.

Small metal folding table

Whether for camping or at the beach, if there are no pic-nick tables and benches around, a small portable table is a must to bring along. The most obvious use for this type of table is as a lunch or dinner table, but it has many more potential uses. Most of these folding tables are lightweight, since they are made to be carried around, sometimes on long treks. Aluminum is very light, and so this is usually the metal these tables are made from.

Here’s a nice model – I actually own something like it, but this one is cooler-looking than mine:

Small metal folding table pictured: Heavy Duty Aluminum Roll-up Top Folding Camping Table/TA-8117 by Ming’s Mark

When camping, portability is a major concern, and so you may want to choose your table according to how it folds up. Some simply flatten, which is fine if they will be put in a car trunk, while other actually roll up, taking very little space. These can usually fit in an included bag that has a strap, so that you can carry it over your shoulder. Of course, foldable tables are not only useful outdoors. They can be used indoors, whenever an extra table is needed. But if you are opting for a short model, be aware that your seat will have to be fairly low as well. They may work well as a “TV tray table”, because a surface that is somewhat low tends to match-up well with the height of a sofa or an easy chair.

I like the retro-kitchen-table look of this one:
Small metal folding table - b
Outsunny Aluminum Camping Folding Camp Table w/ Carrying Handle – 23.5″ L x 17.5″ W

Sometimes metal tables tend to have a slippery surface, but on most models this is somewhat remedied by the metal having a certain rough texture. Otherwise, you may want to place a rubberized place-mat on top of the table to keep things from slipping and sliding. Then again, a slippery surface can be good for certain activities, such as playing cards. Make sure the feet of the table have rubber ends. If used indoor, the metal could scratch your floors, and if used outdoors, hollow-tube legs can dig in the ground and get partially filled with dirt and grass. If used for the outdoors, make sure the table won’t rust.

May 19, 2013April 9, 2017

Inflatable camping chairs

When camping, it’s good to travel light, so a chair that can be inflated and deflated is ideal. It takes up little space in the car or RV, but can be very comfortable (perhaps even more so than a regular folding chair) when inflated. Some people like “roughing it” when camping. If this is the case, inflatable furniture is probably not for you. If, however, you like to be comfortable while you relax in nature with a cool drink and good conversation, then a blow-up chair is ideal.

Here’s an example that looks pretty comfy to me:
inflatable camping chairs
Inflatable camping chair pictured: Aerobed Collegiate Tailgater Chair – Maroon

Pictured above: 1-Bestway Multi-Max II Inflatable Air Chair 2- SENQIAO -Inflatable Lounger Air Filled Balloon Furniture, Hangout Bean Bag, Outdoor or Indoor Air Sleeping Sofa, Couch, Portable Waterproof Compression Sacks for Camping, Beach, Park, Backyard 3- Intex Inflatable Empire Chair, 44" X 43" X 27", Color May Vary, 1 Pack 4-Inflatable Air Lounger Sofa Bed With Special Headrest Design. Strong Waterproof Parachute Material. Lightweight Lounge Chair Couch For Camping, Pool, Festival & Beach. Back Bag & Warranty Included by Camp is easy 5-Intex Pull-out Chair Inflatable Bed, 43" X 86" X 26", Twin (Colors May Vary)