Reviews > Cook Gear > Cooking Accessories > Coleman Exponent Backpacker Table > Jodi Cornelius > Long Term Report

Date: February 7, 2006

My Background: I have been backpacking for 3 years now and before that I car camped quite a bit. I consider myself somewhat new to backpacking and was on my way towards becoming a lightweight packer.  However, I find that I prefer my little extras and so am trying to move towards being a "midweight" packer.   I tend to use a Hennessey Hammock since my only tent is a bivy tent. I prefer the hammock to a tent as the hammock leaves me swinging gently in the breeze with no hard spot from rocks on the ground. Nor do I need to dig troughs for my hips and shoulders (side sleeper) so I can practice LNT (Leave No Trace) much better.

For more in-depth reporting, please check out my Initial Report and my Field Report .

This has been a wonderful addition to my backpacking gear.  It has earned a permanent place in my backpack.  As shown in the picture below, the table is set at about chest height.  The ground was wet at the taking of this picture and I didn't want to sit on the ground to eat so I stationed the table at my "normal" height for when I make camp.  As you can see in the picture, I have my Jetboil set up on the table.  In my previous field report I had commented on the fact that I wanted to see if I could use the table to cook on.  If I was using any of my alcohol stoves or my MSR Whisperlite there is no way I can cook on the table without some special precautions that I'm not willing to take a chance with.  But with the Jetboil, the canister is the base and it does not even get warm so cooking on the table is no problem.  However, one thing I DID find out is that I must make sure the stabilizer cords are STRAIGHT!  I should have taken a picture of my one "slip" of attention - I hadn't checked to make sure the cords were straight and had set up my Jetboil to make my dinner one night and turned away to filter some more water for a "marine" bath. I heard a noise and turned just in time to see my Jetboil and dinner go sliding off onto the ground.  The Jetboil went for a ride and all my dinner ended up all over the forestfloor. <sigh>  Fortunately, I had more food (my family including my backpacking dad make fun of me CONSTANTLY because I carry enough food for a small army even when I'm only gone for an overnighter) so was able to make another meal and the flame from the stove didn't set fire to anything as the ground was wet.  But it did teach me a valuable lesson to make sure my stabilizer cords are straight before I put anything on the table.

As you can see, I have my Jetboil set up, my pack is hanging for the evening, along with my lantern - the table looks crooked in this picture but in actuality it's straight - the picture taker was crooked.  ;-).  The hook system they created for this is really nice as I can place my hooks wherever I need to and it makes it nice for setting my lantern for best use, plus, I can move it whenever I want.  For example, I can set it in one place for making dinner and setting up camp if it is dark or close to it, then I can move it to where it works the best for kicking back and relaxing before hitting the sack for the evening.  It's easy to set up on the tree at the foot of my hammock.  If I swing the table around to the opening of my hammock I can have it there to place anything that I want to set outside of my hammock.  This saves me from  having to put it back in my pack.  One example in my case is like a book that I am reading and don't want to keep it in the hammock.  So far I have been fortunate that the critters that hang around haven't decided they like my reading material and made off with it.

As I complete this test series I am totally thankful that I was selected for this test as I really have enjoyed having this piece of gear.  There has been nothing that I haven't liked (other than dumping my dinner once and trying to set fire to the place).  I appreciate the ability to set my hooks wherever I need them and setting the table at any height that is needed per situation.  It's light enough that I don't mind carrying it and the convenience of having it outweighs (for me) any weight that it adds to my pack weight.

I'd like to thank Coleman and BackpackGearTest for the opportunity to test this Backpacker Table and Gear system.

Reviews > Cook Gear > Cooking Accessories > Coleman Exponent Backpacker Table > Jodi Cornelius > Long Term Report