Coleman Pack-Away Portable Kitchen

I am glad I listened to another reviewer who said they are shipping the new model of this (and they provided pictures), as I got the updated version as well and it is terrific so far. Without referring to the instructions (except for one part for the stove support section) I was able to set it up without any problems. It goes up really quickly and easily as well, first time it took me maybe five minutes (again, that was without even reading the instructions), I'd imagine now that I know how it is setup I can probably do it in a couple minutes or less easily. Take down is super fast as well. I also really like that everything fits inside the main table when it's folded with room to spare. You could easily store some of your kitchen items in there like utensils and spices or what have you. The main table portion is pretty much all aluminum, while the stove portion is steel, but since it needs to hold far more weight that is understandable. It's still pretty light all together though, and it folds up nice and compact which will make stowing it nice when car camping or overlanding. It's also plenty sturdy I think given the cost and the construction. The only thing I can find fault with so far is that the legs are not adjustable to compensate for uneven ground. It'd add to the cost, but it'd be really nice. As it stands, you either need to get a fairly flat and level bit of ground, or shim the legs with something. I'll probably go to the hardware store and pick up some plastic framing shims (used to shim door frames and walls while you're building) to throw in there so that when I need to level it I have something on hand. They are cheap enough and one pack will be more than enough unless it's horribly bumpy land you're on. Other than that I am looking forward to using this on our next camping trip.

I bought this kitchen specifically for the convenience to my trip to Minnesota to camp. With that said, every camping trip is different and so is the weather. To put it in perspective, we camped in an Oak Grove adjacent to a lake. You didn't park where you camped, so you basically walked close to a quarter of a mile to your campsite. I read the reviews regarding the "bubbling" of the particle board by the following morning. I bought a 6x8 tarp and bungee cords so that when we set it up during the day, we could create a cover for the entire top of the kitchen at night (stove, utensils, spice, etc). After the stove cooled off after dinner we pulled the tarp from behind the kitchen and draped it over the top and front and bungeed the front to the aluminum legs. In the morning, not a drop of dew or moister underneath this and the aluminum legs held up just fine. Let me put it this way: would you want to buy a "pack-away kitchen" known for how light and convenient it is (particle board and aluminum), but expect it to be constructed of wood and steel? The weight is perfect, so you can't complain about what they used to make it with. Not to mention, it fit great in the packed trunk of the car. This isn't a product you can manhandle, but it can hold up fine if you use it properly. Also, I've seen complaints regarding the propane tank not having a rest. I normally take a storage box/bin when I go camping (waterproof and holds all your random stuff) so it worked out to rest the tank on that when we cooked since it sat to the right of the whole kitchen anyway. We disconnect our propane after every use, so it doesn't get in the way of getting into the bin. We set up camp during the day and the first night camping we had thunderstorms all night. Woke up the next morning and took the tarp off...and not one "bubble" on/underneath the table. The second night there was a wind storm, and the lake didn't help cut down the 50+mph winds. Our campsite ended up losing a total of one very large canopy and 1.5 gazebos (it didn't COMPLETELY destroy the one the kitchen was in)from snapping poles. Our kitchen didn't fall over and the tarp held up yet again. Not a spot on my whole kitchen other than some mud. True, this can be flimsy and dent a bit because it stands on aluminum legs and has a laminated-like particle board table. However, it was one of the lightest things I had to carry to camp AND it had handles...my air mattress is decently lightweight but doesn't have handles. :) I would recommend this product if you have the patience to take care of it. It's simple to set up and take down, but you have to take a couple extra minutes to protect it.

This was perfect for our family camping trip last week. I’ve been debating on whether or not to invest in a camp kitchen for years. So when I saw this one at a reasonable price, offered by Coleman (a reputable brand name) I broke down and bought it. I’m so glad I did! It is compact when packed away but offers plenty of work surface once assembled and it is super easy to put together. It was very sturdy, which was somewhat surprise given how lightweight it is. And the storage net underneath was perfect for putting a container with all of our essentials. We didn’t use the pole for the lantern since we cooked over the fire at night, but I could see where it would be very helpful if cooking in the dark. My only regret is that I waited so long to buy one.

Bought this as a place to put kitchen "stuff" when car camping. Originally wanted one with a sink insert but went with this one for price and availability. Pros: very lightweight and easy to assemble. Like the design of the mesh underneath for drying pots and pans, table surface was large enough to prep food, camp stove side table was perfect for getting it off the provided park table Cons: very lightweight - could easily be tipped by a hard wind if on concrete slab. I believe you could stake it though to stabilize on ground. The hanging poles were not quite sturdy enough. The lantern pole will need a lightweight plastic LED lantern - it will not hold a coleman. Not a big deal, as long as you know ahead of time. The hanging hooks on the back are great for utensils and camp lighters but that's about it. You can't really hang a camp mug there to dry or mess kits, as the weight pulls the supports too much. Other reviews are accurate: the latches on the case to keep it closed are junk. If you try to carry this by just one handle it will open up and spill out, FYI. Overall, would recommend for car camping/family camping. Would be nice to even take to a park for a picnic or all day tailgate. For the price, performs well enough and I suspect it will last a long time.

This is built well considering how things are today. It is easy to assemble, sturdy once set up and folds into such a small package. I like the mod pattern on the table top, and like having a secure place for my Coleman stove and lantern. The only complaints are that the plastic knob thumbscrews that lock the stove support bars to the stand frame are cheap. One was broken in the box upon delivery and I could see them failing quickly. This won’t do out in the woods or wherever I plan to use it. I replaced all 4 thumbscrews with all metal versions from my hardware store. I also rivited on a conduit clamp to give the lantern stand more support as I use a vintage Coleman 228F lantern that is heavy with a full tank of fuel. There is an eyelet on the top of the lantern post and I use paracord to tie off to a tree or something close by to give it more stability. All in all I found this item better than the deluxe version, for the money it’s the best of its type and will be used for a long time.

I love this table for camping! The table is great for preparing food and the attachment holds the stove (not included) very well. It has made it easy for me to dabble in camping with my little girls. The stove attachment includes holes in the footing which made it easy for me to stake it due to wind. I have used it twice so far and I’ve been super impressed. It packs up nicely and has a small footprint of space it takes up in my roof rack. The one and only drawback I found on this last trip is that it seems like the foam on the stove bars is getting damaged already. It’s certainly not a deal breaker, just a little disappointing that it is happening so soon. I definitely recommend this table though. You will get so much use out of it camping or picnicking.

This portable cook table is awesome! It folds up so compactly that it's hard to believe it unfolds as big as it is. You certainly couldn't put a huge amount of weight on it, but it is sturdy and stable. The accordion stand for the cook stove works perfectly with a Coleman dual fuel stove, as one would expect. It is easy to set up and take down. While I thought the hanging rack was kind of pointless when I opened the box, I have a whole new view of it since using it while camping. It's pretty handy having an easy place to hang you spatula, hot pad, etc. to free up space on the table surface. The lantern pole is yet another great idea and very handy. One of the things that is good is that it is lightweight. However, if you set this up and the wind blows very hard, I'm pretty sure it'll become airborne. Obviously, this is not a fault of the table, it's a great feature, but something to be aware of. I will be screwing some small D-rings into the corners so I can tie it down next time. Also, the latches that hold it shut don't stay latched well, which may be of concern to some. It didn't affect me as I had it in between other items and it couldn't come open. However, it could easily cause loss of the legs and such inside if not properly secured with a bungee or something similar. I would recommend this cook table and would buy again if I needed another one.

Coleman has two types of Pack-Away kitchens. This one and the Deluxe model. I prefer this one and here's why. Weight savings!! Far more lightweight (13lb vs 36lb deluxe) Everything packs and folds itself into compact "briefcase" to easily transport Still supports up to 300lbs. Have not tested this but it is not an unreasonable claim At first glance the pack-away kitchen may look cheap, simple, and flimsy, but it's actually a very well designed camp kitchen that makes particularly good use of materials maximizing strength to weight ratio. One of my favorite features is the mesh shelf that holds plates, utensils while not in use or when waiting for them to air dry. Great for when arriving late to camp because it sets up so quickly. Also great for overlanding or when frequently moving from one campsite to another. Small packed dimensions allow it effortlessly fit inside your vehicle without having to play gear-tetris.