Outdoors & Fitness · Head-to-head
ALPS Mountaineering Regular Dining Table vs GCI Outdoor Compact Camp Table 20
Which should you buy? Our verdict on both, pulled from our full The Best Camping Tables: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) comparison.
The ALPS Regular Dining Table does the hard job well: it seats a group, takes hot cookware, and rolls into a bag you can carry one-handed. The GCI Compact Camp Table 20 is the better buy for solo trips and tailgates, and pairs well with the ALPS if you want both.
ALPS Mountaineering Regular Dining Table
Buy itA proper four-person camp dining table with an aluminum roll-top and no braces in the way of your knees.
- Seats four adults comfortably with room for plates and serving dishes
- No cross-braces on the long sides, so camp chairs pull all the way up
- Aluminum slat top wipes clean and takes hot cookware without damage
- Rolls into a shoulder bag that stows flat in a vehicle
- Long and moderately heavy packed, so it needs a real slot in the car
- Gaps between slats catch crumbs and small items
- Narrow leg tips sink in soft sand unless you put pads underneath
GCI Outdoor Compact Camp Table 20
Buy itA four-pound one-piece side table that goes from bag to standing in seconds and takes a hot pan.
- Telescoping-leg design sets up and folds down in a few seconds
- Heat-resistant aluminum top handles stoves, kettles, and hot cookware
- Packs to a flat two-inch panel with a built-in carry handle
- Wide stance stays stable on gravel, grass, and sand
- Small surface, closer to a side table than a dining table
- Fixed low height is awkward for eating a full meal
- No lower shelf or second tier for storage
Side by side
| ALPS Mountaineering Regular Dining Table | GCI Outdoor Compact Camp Table 20 | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict | Buy | Buy |
| Best for | Families and groups who cook and eat at camp and have vehicle space for a full-size table. | Solo campers, tailgaters, and anyone who wants a quick surface beside a chair, cooler, or stove. |
| Price tier | $$ · mid-range | $ · budget |
The bottom line
Our overall pick is the ALPS Mountaineering Regular Dining Table - A proper four-person camp dining table with an aluminum roll-top and no braces in the way of your knees. Choose the GCI Outdoor Compact Camp Table 20 instead if solo campers, tailgaters, and anyone who wants a quick surface beside a chair, cooler, or stove.
Want the full picture, including the other options we compared and the popular one we'd skip? Read the complete The Best Camping Tables: 4 Compared (and One to Skip).