1st Time Camping. Do we need a table? Recommendations?

[PenguinsMummy]

We are going camping with friends for a weekend in July as a first taster! We have 3 DD's - 1, 3 & 5. Already have tent, bedding, lights, picnic mats, cool box and a couple of folding chairs. Not keen on buying stuff specifically for the trip as we may never go again!!! But have been told that we really need a table. Do we really need to buy one?? Reviews of cheap ones seem to be basically that they break after first use. So for all you experienced campers, 3 questions? Do we need a table; any recommendations; any other things that we really should take given only going for a weekend and have the stuff listed above anyway!!

Well we have a table, but never used it. We have only been camping once- 3 years ago. We are going again this year and I am getting an adjustable table. We all had chairs, which we had collected over the years, but they didn't work with the table - chairs too low. I got really stressed at meal times as everyone was balancing plates on their knees...and dc4 (then just 3) dropped several meals.

I can't offer any suggestions as to which table...about to do the table search myself.

We camped with our kids four or five times without a table, and it was absolutely fine. We sat on the ground, or on the boxes we'd brought with us, or on the logs round the fire. Part of camping IMHO.

We have now inherited one of those tables with stools attached, but it's almost more trouble than it's worth what with the sloping, wobbling and spilling and it only seating four (we're also a family of 5).

We have a medium sized table which has proven invaluable. It was from argos. The top comes off and is slated so rolls up. The legs fold up so it all fits in a bag same size as those folding camping chairs.

Had it bought as a present but I'm sure i was cheap. Dead easy to pack in a corner of your boot. Have used it about half a dozen times and still going strong.

Who told you that you really need it? What happens to people who camp without one - I seem to have turned out OK .

Not sure if I took one when I had a car but not having a car, it's definitely not on my list of must haves. We usually eat either sitting on collapsible cool box/folding stools/small chair and food on plates on out laps or sitting on ground sheet/picnic blanket.

A table is useful for food preparation but so too is the top of the cool box, or the picnic blanket.

I have the same Argos table as mentioned already here. Agree its good but in sll honesty could count on one hand the number of times Ive actually used it. Most sites have tables/benches you can pull over beside you, or we use the picnic blanket ...

We also have the argos one mentioned - but got it in B&M Bargains for £16 recently. Its great as it folds down small into a little bag so doesnt tke up much room. I do tend to use it for food prep/keeping things out of reach, rather than eating as we have a toddler and a dog that are somewhat inquisitive at mealtimes. We eat on our laps generally (and put a blanket over the dog crate to make a coffee/side table )....so I would say its not essential but has made my life easier. I have only heard bad reviews of those folding tables with chairs attached.

I hate not having a table. We have this one:

www.decathlon.co.uk/table-4-6-persons-4-seats-id_8030285.html

Gets used lots for picnics etc not just camping. Stools store inside, but are not attached to the table so doesn't have the same problem with tipping.

No. Take a picnic mat. It's helpful, if you are doing your own cooking, to have something to put things down on though, even if only a tray or plastic box with a flat lid.

I must be in the minority, as we take two tables . Admittedly, the first time we did this was just because we happened to have space, so we chucked them both in, but the second one proved so useful we've taken two ever since.

The bigger one sits outside, with stools round it for meals and meal preparation (if it rains, we can fit it inside the tent to eat if necessary). The smaller one sits inside the tent and is a useful place to store things and keep them off the ground (cutlery, crockery, tea bags, coffee, water etc) as well as assorted other bits dumped there by the dcs. Tbh, our camping is usually a 2 week holiday in France, so there's no way I'm going to manage without a table for that time, and I want us all to be able to sit down properly for meals.

I guess it just depends on your view of camping - if you really like it pared down or if you want a bit of comfort and convenience. I did years of the pared down stuff - now I'm leaning the other way.

Should have said that we use this sort of thing here (though bought years ago and much cheaper!) ie, legs fold in so can be packed flat, and legs are adjustable, so can be levelled on uneven ground.

Thanks everyone. Think we'll probably survive on the picnic mats we already have for one weekend!!!

well i love my table with fold out seats - we are 5 so we take a folding stool for the end. i find my little ones fall over in their camping chairs or spill their dinner, so a table with chairs attached is much more stable.
we have a metal one though (the plastic ones had sold out) and it is fantastic for us.