There’s no question that the Eureka Cook Table is for those campers that enjoy “not roughing it”. And yes, I fit into that category. While I’m happy to travel light for a day hike, when it comes to camping, I’d prefer real meals, cooked properly. If you’re camping from your car, there’s no reason you can’t bring along a few pieces of gear to make food prep easier. And this table is one of them. Of course, it’s also likely to get weekly use around our fire pit, which is not such a bad thing either.
Open, it stands at a height of 32 inches, which is just perfect for most outdoor chefs. Eureka took a 31 x 19 table, added a handy storage bag underneath, and then made it pack down to 32 x 19 x 4.5 inches. The Eureka Cook Table doesn’t take up much room in your vehicle, but once you are at your site, you have a decent working surface, plus plenty of storage for food, spices, and utensils. Setup is quick, with velcro securing the storage area, and the top just snaps into place. The designers have made it easy to get cookin’. Being made from powder coated steel, it should hold up pretty well too, and the included storage bag will keep it safe during transport and the off season. Another nice touch not visible in the photos is an adjustable foot on one of the legs, for uneven surfaces.
In actual use, we found that the Eureka Cook Table offered ample space for preparing outdoor meals for our family of three. The storage cabinet underneath helped keep things organized, and also contributed to stability, by keeping heavier items below when not in use. But where this table really shined is when we used it as “S’mores central”. Throughout the year, we test a variety of lights, cookwear, insect repellents, and various other outdoor gear. Before anything goes out on a camping trip, we’ll usually try it at home, to get familiar with its functions. (Right by the fire pit is our hammock testing lab, which is also used for assessing sunscreen and portable speakers) And we’ve found that the Eureka Cook Table will hold enough marshmallows, chocolate bars, and graham crackers to satisfy several families at once. That’s a win right there.
We’re all about gear that does double duty, which is key to products like this, as far as we’re concerned. The MSRP of $99.99 may not sit well with some folks if it only saw a handful of outings each year. But being able to use it at home, and then pack it for a day at the park or beach, or a long weekend in the mountains, that makes it much more of a value, which is what we’ve come to expect from Eureka.
– Brian
Disclosure of Material Connection: We received the Eureka Cook Table for free from Eureka in consideration for review publication.