Radius Outfitters Kickstand Camp Table is the piece of gear you didn’t know you need

You know that piece of gear you didn’t think you needed, but you talked yourself into getting it anyway, and after owning it for a while it became one of your favorite things? That’s what happened when I was given the opportunity to review the Radius Outfitters Kickstand camp cocktail table. Did I need another camp table? Nope. Did I find the anodized aluminum legs and bamboo tabletop more attractive than my worn-out plastic folding table? Yep. So, I accepted the opportunity to review the Kickstand and after using it for a few months, I’m so happy I did.

The first thing you’ll notice about the Kickstand – besides the $400 price tag – is just how beautiful it is. Next, you’ll discover how easy it is to set up and then how quickly it becomes the camp social hotspot. It stands at about the same height as a conventional cocktail table, making it a convenient place to park your beverage while enjoying trailhead chips and salsa with friends after the weekly group ride. As a remote worker with an adjustable desk at home, I appreciated the ability to use the Kickstand as a standing desk on the road. We often found ourselves using it for food prep, a welcome respite from our cramped camper. Fair warning: people gravitate to it, and if you set it up in a campground you should expect your neighbors to inquire about it.

The tabletop and legs each come with their own high quality storage bag that did a great job of protecting them during our five-week summer road trip through Oregon. When you’re ready to use the table at camp, assembly takes less than a minute. Remove the tabletop and legs from their storage bags, placing the tabletop bag on any flat surface, even the ground. Push each leg firmly into the holes of the exposed plastic bung, and then just flip it over. Rubber feet on the legs protect the aluminum and offer traction on slippery surfaces. The final optional step is to place a hand cranked blender on the tabletop and proceed to whip up margaritas for you and your friends. You’ll find the table to be plenty sturdy when your friends decide to see who can crank the blender the fastest.

The only real downside of the Kickstand is the same thing I love about it. It’s standing height, so to use it, you must, well…stand. After hiking the Trail of Ten Falls at Silver Falls State Park, I wanted to do two things: attack some tacos and get off my weary feet. Until Radius Outfitters makes a collapsible camp barstool, you’ll have to use the optional short legs that convert it to a side table. In this mode the leg spread isn’t as wide and I found the table to be a little too tippy to inspire trust. A different set of holes on the bung that would angle the short legs out more would resolve this issue.

Do you need a $400 camp table? Probably not, but for those who appreciate fantastic design, beautiful things, great functionality and well above average quality, the Radius Outfitters Kickstand is a top-notch option.

Visit the Radius Outfitters’ website and see the myriad of intelligent camp storage products they offer at www.radiusoutfitters.com.

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