Helinox Café Table
There are a few reasons why I ordered this table. The first is that I have a couple of other Helinox products that despite regular use over the last three years or so, they still feel and look like new.
Another reason is being 6'2" tall I wanted a tall table on which I could prepare food and other stuff whilst standing up and not have to stoop. Being 68cm high, the Café Table fits the bill perfectly.
At 60cm square, the Café is plenty big enough for two of us, and the high-pressure laminate top has a smooth surface that easily wipes clean. Not only that, but it can withstand temperatures of up to 180ºC for short periods, or 100ºC for up to eight hours, making the table ideal for cooking and hot drinks - or a heated game of Rummikub!
Assembling the Café Table is simple. Once you have slotted together the four shock-corded aluminium legs (like tent poles) - the leg assembly has uniquely designed hub that allows you to easily open the legs (ooo, missus!). Once open you place the table-top on top and marry each corner hole to the rubber grommet thing (sorry Helinox, I’ve no idea what they’re called!) atop each leg. With a weight capacity of 50kg and a sturdy and stable surface that’s easy-to-clean, I’ve found the Helinox Café Table to be an essential accessory for when I’m out and about. You know what they say, when camping you can’t have enough flat surfaces.
This table is stronger than it looks. Here it is happily holding the Ecoflow Glacier fridge/freezer.
When it come to packing up, the only difference between this and other Helinox products is that the table-top doesn’t fold, therefore when packing you have a rather large bag that measures 61cm square. The great thing is that this sturdy carry-bag is oversized, so as well as the leg assembly and table-top, you can fit more things inside like a folded chair, games, solar panel or even a garden gnome, if that’s your thing!
Are there any negatives?
I guess the price will be a sticking point for some as it is a lot of money for 'just a camping table', but consider this - unlike most camping tables it can withstand high temperatures, safely holds up to 50kg and is lightweight and very sturdy. On top of all of that it has a whopping 5 year warranty, so you can argue that equates to just 12p a day for a table that will last the course.
price: £219.95
more at » helinox.eu
Reviewed in Issue 51 - September 2023