ALDI - Compact camp table

[OzEclipse]

I own a few different designs of folding camp tables. Many are quite good, they just aren't compact enough when I go travelling. I live in very dark skies so I usually go travelling by car to travel not to do astronomy. When I go to star parties, I usually go to meet other astronomers and I don't bring much gear because my skies here are better than Wiruna or Duckadang. Both locations are great and skies are ok but they are necessarily close to their target clients who live in major light pollution sources of Greater Sydney and Greater Brisbane.

When I go 4wd touring, my car is full of tents, sleeping bags, sleeping mats, stove, fuel food, recovery gear, camera gear, tripods, and so on.

I was at ALDI today and saw a very compact camp table for $30. It has a stretch fabric top about 700x700mm and a collapsing frame not unlike many camp chairs. The top only sits about 500mm high so you won't be sitting down to dinner at it but if you are a mobile astronomer, it would make an excellent accessory table for eyepiece case, accessories, camera bag, or a tablet or computer.

The best part is that the fabric top rolls up and the legs collapse into a compact cylindrical pack <100mm diameter, 750mm long. I cook on a comfortable standing bench height laminex benchtop off the back of my Isuzu UTE. This will make an excellent table at which to set out a meal for 2 or 3 people who will then have to hold their plates or put them on their lap while they eat. On special this past week at ALDI. Hurry.

:D

[Leo.G]

Sort of like camping out as has always been, lol?
I must look in the local store because I want to take my star tracker (Astro Trac) up to a local lookout and would like a small area to work instead of in the dirt, thanks Joe!


I did a LOT of touring (and camping out), Philip Island 89 and 90 (a week both times), Tasmania 89 for 10 days immediately following on from Philip island with tent, sleeping bags, clothes, necessities and missus on the back of the motorcycle (90 I fitted a trailer to the big bike I had and even had a cast iron gas stove, twin burner and cylinder) and, in canoes, any log was a great place to park it to eat. Some fancy folk had small folding chairs but nowhere near as compact as some things Aldi have occasionally that disassemble. I don't do either now but there is some great gear around at decent prices if you are quick.
Adli had the 300 Watt power stations quite cheap at the same time and LiFePo4 batteries at $449, I really wanted one but a bit pricey for me.
I also have their instant up tent, not so instant down, I always have to check online how to pack it up, otherwise good tent.

[OzEclipse]

Leo,
I have the Coleman instant up 4 person darkroom tent. Instant down as well. Excellent tent. Full blackout so great for astronomers who want to sleep during the day. Usually around $500, I picked it up on special for $250.

My 4wd is kitted out with 160W solar panel, 120AH LiPO4 accessory battery, solar charge controller, distribution panel, 240V 300W inverter and a 40L fridge. Fantastic setup. I can charge and operate, camera batteries, phone and laptop, satcom unit all without running the engine.

Joe

[Leo.G]

That sounds like a very nice set up Joe!