Coleman Pack-Away Camp Kitchen
- Thread starter Lance4me
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seanz0rz
Adventurer
if its the one that comes in the suitcase looking thing, then its the one i got my dad for x-mas.
we used it up at big bear. it was pretty nice. surprisingly sturdy, well thought out, well engineered. fits a 2 burner stove perfect, but did not fit our huge dual fuel powerhouse 3 burner.
id say for its intended audience (weekend campers who drive in on decent roads and camp) it deserves 4.5 out of 5 stars.
for me personally, who will travel dozens of miles of rough dirt roads to camp at a spot for one night then repeat, id give it a 3/5. im not sure it would stand up to being tossed around in the box on my trailer with all the other stuff hitting it, and im not sure i would want to set up and take down every day.
for my dad, it is a great product. for me, im still in love with my cheap-o collapasable high stand my parents purchased 20 years ago from tex sport.
we used it up at big bear. it was pretty nice. surprisingly sturdy, well thought out, well engineered. fits a 2 burner stove perfect, but did not fit our huge dual fuel powerhouse 3 burner.
id say for its intended audience (weekend campers who drive in on decent roads and camp) it deserves 4.5 out of 5 stars.
for me personally, who will travel dozens of miles of rough dirt roads to camp at a spot for one night then repeat, id give it a 3/5. im not sure it would stand up to being tossed around in the box on my trailer with all the other stuff hitting it, and im not sure i would want to set up and take down every day.
for my dad, it is a great product. for me, im still in love with my cheap-o collapasable high stand my parents purchased 20 years ago from tex sport.
Herbie
Rendezvous Conspirator
I have that one also. We really like ours, and finds it works well with both our 2-burner and 3-burner Coleman liquid-fuel stoves.
Its big enough to hold the stove and do some amount of prep-work, but it isn't big enough to cook a meal, have food laid out, and start pre-soaking the cookware while you eat. Last time, we set ours up next to the bear box to supplement the "counter" space so we could leave the picnic table free for eating.
I do like that it folds up so small, but I wish that our version included the "game table" graphics that I have seen on other similar coleman camp-kitchens, it would just add even a little more functionality. I'll probably paint a checkerboard on ours before the next trip, but the wife will still have to bring a backgammon board.
Its big enough to hold the stove and do some amount of prep-work, but it isn't big enough to cook a meal, have food laid out, and start pre-soaking the cookware while you eat. Last time, we set ours up next to the bear box to supplement the "counter" space so we could leave the picnic table free for eating.
I do like that it folds up so small, but I wish that our version included the "game table" graphics that I have seen on other similar coleman camp-kitchens, it would just add even a little more functionality. I'll probably paint a checkerboard on ours before the next trip, but the wife will still have to bring a backgammon board.
R_Lefebvre
Expedition Leader
We have had one for a while and it's not bad. I find it's slightly flimsy. If you're careful, it should last. But it wouldn't take much to break it. Particularly I find the table top surface to be disappointing. It's nice to have, but also takes a long time to set up. It's just another item to add to the long list of things to setup and break down. It's also another item taking up space. Not a big deal if you have a pickup truck, but for an SUV it gets to be a bit much.
I just built a trailer with an integral kitchen. Both problems solved.
I just built a trailer with an integral kitchen. Both problems solved.
Ah yes, but if I remember correctly, your awesome custom-built trailer doesn't have a combo checkers/chess/backgammon board, does it?? :elkgrin:
yubert
Explorer
I got one about a year ago and used it on several trips. I like that it's compact and has a lot of features such as a pole for hanging a lantern. But I also think it's flimsy and takes too long to set up and pack up. Most of my trips, I'm traveling to a new location every day so time is a premium and the Coleman doesn't really work for me.
Instead I now use a 4'x2' rectangular table that folds in half. I got it at Sam's Club for about $24. It's a lot sturdier, more durable, stores easily and most importantly, it's quick to set up and pack up. Below is a link to more info the table and attached is a photo showing it in use.
http://www.buylifetime.com/Products/BLT/PID-4428.aspx
Instead I now use a 4'x2' rectangular table that folds in half. I got it at Sam's Club for about $24. It's a lot sturdier, more durable, stores easily and most importantly, it's quick to set up and pack up. Below is a link to more info the table and attached is a photo showing it in use.
http://www.buylifetime.com/Products/BLT/PID-4428.aspx
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bajajoaquin
Adventurer
I'm really surprised at how much I liked mine. I thought it would be too flimsy and unstable to use on the beach, but it has done several trips now with no problem.
The comments about set-up are right. I wouldn't use one if I was setting up and breaking down every day. But as you can see, I'm not too concerned about daily setup.
The comments about set-up are right. I wouldn't use one if I was setting up and breaking down every day. But as you can see, I'm not too concerned about daily setup.
R_Lefebvre
Expedition Leader
That's not the same one we're talking about. That looks less flimsy.
Herbie
Rendezvous Conspirator
Yeah, that's the other one, that has the "game table" top, its the "Coleman Exponent Outfitter Camp Kitchen" and it seems to be about double in price versus the "Pack-Away" kitchen.
Looks nice and sturdy, though.
I bought mine a few years ago from Costco and am pretty happy with it. I guess time is relative because I don't think it takes long at all to setup. Open the case, expand the legs/stand and put the case/tabletop on; then another minute to add the hanging rack and lantern pole if I even put those up. I leave the mesh rack attached to the legs/stand since it still collapses fine that way....Maybe 5 minutes. This table along with my Camptime Roll-a-table is what I carry for cooking/eating counterspace.
Costco is selling it online now with a lantern:
http://www.costco.com/Browse/Produc...=8&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Nty=1&topnav=&s=1
Costco is selling it online now with a lantern:
http://www.costco.com/Browse/Produc...=8&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Nty=1&topnav=&s=1
Uncle Roger
Observer
I've had one for a few years too. Got mine from Costco for a bit more than that ($100, iirc). It's not sturdy enough to tap dance on, but it's plenty sturdy for cooking. Takes only a few minutes to set up or take down. The table top comes off, pull the light pole out, take the two stove supports off, and the frame just collapses. Flip the table-top over and put everything in and that becomes the case. The trick is to not tighten the stove supports (the stove will hold them down) nor anything else, really. I've taken it camping at state parks and on off-highway trips; it's been fine.
My only complaint is that it got something sticky (teriyaki sauce?) on the frame and it won't come off. (Mind you, I haven't tried all that hard, but still -- it should clean itself, right?)
My only complaint is that it got something sticky (teriyaki sauce?) on the frame and it won't come off. (Mind you, I haven't tried all that hard, but still -- it should clean itself, right?)