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Camping

Our UK Camping forum has all the information you need on finding the right equipment for your tent or caravan.

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Original poster

Do I buy a table or table and benches?

17 replies

upthehill · 09/03/2011 17:51

Time to increase our camping supplies! Nornally eat our dinner sitting in our camping chairs with our dinner balanced on our knees. It is time we got a table!

Like the idea of getting a bench seat one and this looks good and is a good price.table and bench

Not much more expensive than just a table and, most importantly, it doesn't take up much more space in the boot than just a table - would mean we could leave at least the kids seats at home.

Anyone got something similar - is it good? Do you take other seats too?

OP posts:

eaglewings · 09/03/2011 18:08

Looks good, much better than the ones with attached chairs which tend to break if you don't sit on them straight or have had too much wine

You still need relaxing chairs for the time when you watch everyone else wash up while you sip your drink - well you can dream!

Original poster

upthehill · 09/03/2011 18:26

Well DH just come home and thinks the table is too small for the 4 of us. Thinks that we will get it an find it is way too small

OP posts:

Batteryhuman · 09/03/2011 19:30

Trouble if you leave the kids chairs at home is that they will nick yours.

Better a decent sized table and your usual chairs.

greenlotus · 10/03/2011 22:21

A low table is quite useful then you can use it with the "armchairs" rather than needing to take stools too, we found this out by accident but it does help. The one you linked does different heights. You don't need that big a table, honest, everything is compact when you camp.

We had some disasters with the DC's teetering on camping stools and falling off/knocking everything off table so now we keep it all low and stable.

Janet201 · 11/03/2011 14:27

A folding picnic bench is best. Children can read and play games and eat.

MaryMotherOfCheeses · 11/03/2011 21:48

We take a table and pull up the comfy chairs, with a stool for DS.

The only problem with the bench with the chairs attached was that DH was too big for it.

Original poster

upthehill · 11/03/2011 21:58

Discounted the picnic table - Dh is 6'7" ! I think it wouldn't cope with him and a 2 year old!!

box folding table also like this flat folding table and stools.

I guess it also come down to what is best to get in the boot - something flat but big or something more like a travelcot.

I think maybe I am overanalysing this now though. I curse my affliction that means I can't buy anything without a thorough research to ensure it it is the best"

OP posts:

MaryMotherOfCheeses · 11/03/2011 22:11

Snap! re size of DH.

In that case, he can definitely just pull an armchair up to a table whilst you have a bench for the normal sized people.

Cathycat · 11/03/2011 23:21

We have a bench for 4 - the children - and me an dh have comfy deckchairs at either end.

3rdnparty · 12/03/2011 20:32

Upthehill - am no help with the overanalysing - I drive DH mad with my 'inability to make a decision for gawd sake' am also looking at tables not sure that halfords one is as height adjustable as the Vango one here
www.campingworld.co.uk/Models.aspx?ModelID=3253

I dont like slatted tables-find a complete pain to clean and ds is a messy eater....should probably just get the Vango one but still researching as well

JemimaMop · 12/03/2011 21:24

We have one more like this It is big enough to hold all 5 of us' food, without taking up that much room. We just use camping chairs with it.

vickster11 · 13/03/2011 00:04

I went to a camping shop as me and dh are rather large. I really liked the moon chairs. I was thinking of getting a fold up table and moon chairs for us not sure about lo as his only two.

Original poster

upthehill · 13/03/2011 08:50

I too like the Vango one - had already booked marked it -though you can get it cheaper by about a fiver.

Vango is table is bigger than the first one I linkedto too - the Royal one. I like Vango products too and like to support them as they are based in Scotland.

I think adjustable legs would be good and trying to decided if I need the stools or not - do I save a tener and just the get table here as we all have seats anyway.

Will it fit in the car?

OP posts:

mummyosaurus · 13/03/2011 09:01

We have our really comfy chairs (outwell I think) and a good table, from Lakeland with a net underneath it for storage.

www.lakeland.co.uk/large-foldaway-table/F/keyword/table/product/51034

The DCs (4 and 6) have a low small table which I got from argos, which they love and it's small enough it can be used inside the tent on rainy days for games and colouring.

We find that's the most flexible way to do it.

As someone else pointed out you;d still need your relaxing chairs.

Imagine getting it all inside in a sudden down pour.

3rdnparty · 13/03/2011 09:31

Didn't know that about Vango - thats a plus for them too...
I didn't find comfy chairs (though need new ones of those too ) at a table very comfortable though is better space wise -
like the idea of seperate little table for ds may look for a folding type one...

Vango still winning for me I think....

eaglewings · 13/03/2011 12:13

We have the vango table and chairs set, great size, stools make good foot rest in the sunshine!

Folding it takes practice, but once mastered it is great.

Youngest kid 6 when we got it, dh 6ft.

Height adjustment is good too.

Lasted longer (and still in good nick) than the blue table we had with fixed bench seats

greenlotus · 13/03/2011 17:17

We don't take our four stools camping any more. We take one for the person cooking to sit on (have low cookstand) and a spare one for footrest , but we sit on armchairs and the kids sit on boxes at the table. Unless your tent is huge you don't have room for different chairs/tables for different purposes. And as kids get bigger you have to keep adjusting the kit to suit.

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