TreeLineBackpacker

Hi, Low, and Za? I’ll get to that. The Montbell Multi-folding camp table is a compact, high quality aluminum and resin table that can be used in three different height settings, but also packs down into a thin shoulder hoistable pack. This is my review:

the Mult-Folding Camp Table is a lightweight, adjustable height camp table that can be configured into three settings: A tradition camp chair appropriate height, a mid height that is more compatible with low to the ground packable chairs, and a lower Za setting (short for Zataku) which is inline with traditional Japanese table heights where the user sits on the ground in a cross legged position. The table is built from a combination of sturdy aluminum for the body and resin for the top and some pieces of the legs. It features a reversible wood-look top, with a darker or lighter tone depending on your preferences. It weights 95.6 ounces (6 lbs.), packs down to about 4″x6″x27″ inside its included travel pack, and retails for $199.

What I liked

The thing that really blew my mind with this table was how big of an impact the adjustable height really has. I camp, picnic and generally hang out with a variety of camp and patio furniture in a wide range of situations, and I always found that I could place the table in just the perfect position. Instead of hunching over a short table or being unable to reach a tall one, I could always configure it in a useful way. Packing lightweight camp chairs for a picnic by the lake? The middle position is perfectly aligned with their low to the ground posture. Hanging out at the car-side camp spot with a tall, luxuriously heavy camp chair? Max height is perfect for that. Going extra light and having no chairs at all? Zataku mode with crossed legs and a couple of noodle bowls feels genuinely fantastic to use. The amount of functionality in one table means it can do a little bit of everything and it does it all extremely well.

Setup of the table is rather easy once you see how it works and thankfully the instructions are sewn into the travel bag. The legs are all corded together and unfold to an “X” shape to varying degrees, depending on your targeted height configuration. Completely extending out the scissor like legs allows for the maximum height setting, with narrower settings being used for the low and za configuration. Just pull the poles through until the metallic pins lock into their notches, unfold the corded table top and lay it in place. The table top somewhat locks into place with a pin-to-hole design, having the outermost pin holes being used for the maximum height and the pins closest to the middle being used for the smallest height accordingly. It’s all really simple if you just look over the instructions. Setup only takes about two to three minutes after the first use and packing it up is just as quick.

The durability of the table is impressive for the weight. The aluminum legs are stout and have very little flex to them. Once they’re extended and positioned they feel robust and extremely well built. The table top, despite looking like wood, is actually a combination of metal and durable, scratch resistant resin that holds up great to hot pans, scuffing and being repeatedly packed and folded in on itself. The joints and the locks are all robust and have held up great to use with no signs of wear. Even the feet, being made out of a harder material, have held up well to use on dirt, grass and concrete with only minimal signs of wear. Its construction is exceptional and confidence inspiring as a whole.

The table stands rather stable. It holds up to moderate wind just fine and easily supports traditional table top stoves and cooking wear. I wouldn’t sit on it or anything, but if used appropriately it is secure and stout, with only minimal wiggle on less secure surfaces.

Packed size and weight are both quite good for what it provides. 6 pounds isn’t light weight, but certainly light enough to feel like an easy addition to any campsite, car-side picnic, or even a short hike up to a nice viewpoint for a sunrise breakfast. It packs down to a relatively thin and long rectangle shape that easily fit into my small hatchback along with packs and food. It’s small and light enough that it is justifiable to leave inside a car with a couple camp chairs for that spontaneous lunch outing or park-side date night.

The resin surface panels are reversible, revealing a dark wooden color on one side, or a lighter pine or bamboo like color on the other. It’s a nice touch and adds to the already very attractive design.

What I didn’t like

The travel case leaves a lot to be desired. While it does a fine job of organizing and keeping everything tidy with its two internal pockets, one for the frame and one for the table surface, the carry straps are minimal in their usefulness and not very pleasant to use. The single strap is short and only long enough to be thrown over one shoulder, not over the head and worn as a sash. This means you have to constantly have a hand on the pack to keep it from sliding off, making carrying multiple items much harder. A longer strap would have been a real useful change for the system in general. There are also no traditional handles, so a simple suitcase style carry is also mostly out of the question, unless you just pull the shoulder strap tight and use that, which isn’t terribly comfortable either. The shoulder strap also isn’t padded at all, which when combined with the relatively narrow width and the weight of the table, itself becomes uncomfortable almost instantly. None of these are deal breakers, but certainly comes across making the carry case feel like an afterthought. Luckily, the case is built well and at least should hold up for a long time.

Some minor aspects of the setup can be a little finicky, but not overly so. Mainly, connecting the surface to the legs can take a little trial and error as the positing and expansion of the scissor legs doesn’t occur in descreet increments. A little tugging and pulling is required until everything lines up just right. The top’s corners are prone to popping off until everything is properly dialed in, but is locked in securely once it’s all properly aligned. It just takes a minute but it is worth pointing out.

Overall

The Montbell Mult-Folding table is a sweet piece of kit. Be it for camping, picnicking, or just for keeping around the house as backyard furniture. It provides a lot of utility in a relatively small package. While it is slightly heavier than most camp tables I personally have tested, it is also better built and comes with a feature I’ve never used before, the adjustable height. I cannot understate how often I found myself using the various heights to best fit the scenario of the day. It’s easy enough to set up, looks great, and should hold up to many years of use and abuse thanks to the robust design and high quality construction. The storage /carry bag isn’t great, but doesn’t detract from the overall package.

Highly Recommended

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