Here are some leads: Touratech USA Camping Gear http://www.touratech-usa.com/Store/1921/Campsite Aerostich Packable Chairs & Tables http://www.aerostich.com/off-the-road-again/campsite/packable-chairs-tables REI http://www.rei.com/category/4500555
I use a 12 foot piece of string. The string has small knots @ 2', 4' and 6'. When I camp I clear a nice area of ground and lay out the string making a 90 degree left hand turn at each knot. Then I lay the 2' x 6' damask camping tablecloth (try L.L. Bean or Ambercrombies) over the resulting rectangle. Voila! Table.
Had the GSI (NOT GCI) micro table, it was a little small. Now I have the larger macro table. Packs to the same size as a kermit (24x2.5x4) and is much taller. Perfect between two Kermit chairs. Same model as in the Aerostich catelog. http://www.backcountry.com/outdoorgear/GSI-Outdoors-Macro-Table/GSI0058M.html Have yet to bring it with me, I use it at home as a bed table for the woman. Works great for that since the legs can be set at either 8.5" or 15". If I am staying at a single camp spot more than 3 days, I'll bring it with me.
The chairs from this coleman set would work great as a little table http://www.coleman.com/coleman/colemancom/detail.asp?product_id=2794-490&categoryid=10020&brand=
+1 Another vote for one of these. Heck, I think the L.L. Bean version is less expensive than the GSI branded one I bought from REI a while back. :huh
You made a table that is 2' x 2' with 4' of string left over. Your tablecloth is now laying over the ends by 2' on each side. Your table is fucked.
The table cloth needs to extend on all sides so it can drape properly.... Yeah, yeah, yeah---I dug the string out and measured it, 2', 6', 8'...so I remembered it wrong...
Sigh...I think the is the part where one packs up ones table and slinks off into the night... Seriously, for the OP, Sometimes I've used my taller luggage box as a table while sitting on the shorter one---to cut up some meat or fiddle with the stove. But I've never really wanted a table but not had one and thought, "gee, if only I was carrying a table". I did look at some of the stuff on the Touratech site, pretty slick and some looked compact as well. I dunno. I get pretty feral pretty fast when I camp (heck, at home too). I look for a campsite that has something to work with, Part of the fun is taking whatever you find and with a bit of knowledge and cleverness, making yourself comfortable. If I get into carrying all the comforts (including furniture) of home the endgame is just going out in a motorhome---or a GL1800 at least.
I have a more general problem, which is that when I think 'table' I don't really think 'stretched flammable textile'. I want a work surface, something hard and flat and preferably kind of difficult to burn. The GCI tables with the roll-up (or are they fold-up?) aluminum tops seem closest to anything I'd actually put to good use.
this gives me quote a few ideas. http://www.instructables.com/id/Camp-Table-for-Backpacking/ WARNING I got some malware/virus issues from the above link, Ill steal the pictures and share shortly.
I have played around some with racks for my DR. One of them is this here plank of aluminum. I have a tool tube on each side bolted to an L bracket. I can take it off the bike with 4 bolts in just a couple minutes, and set it on the ground (tool tubes are the "legs") making a table that sits about 4" off the ground. Slots in it to strap my duffel bag to it too. Had a friend cut it out on his water jet, put the slight bends in it and powder coat it.
This is one of my favorite tables. VERY sturdy, so it should fit your needs. http://www.amazon.com/NRS-Roll-A-Table/dp/B002UOIK24
