Finding an outside table that could double as an outdoor work desk was a challenge.
Finding one that was portable AND that I could fit my knees under, was even more difficult.
A portable outdoor desk is one of the most important things I’ve purchased for working remotely and on the road.
What is the Best Portable Outdoor Computer Desk and Workstation?
The best portable and foldable outdoor desk is the Portal. I’ve used it as my portable outdoor computer desk for over 3 years while working remotely.
My outdoor desk is the regular size, they now have an extra large size as well.
A very versatile, durable, and functional camping table. I primarily use it as a remote working desk, but it's great for any trip.
If you want it to look less “aluminum” – you can get more colors with this one. If you’re primarily working in the backyard and storing the desk inside, you can go with a nicer bamboo one that is great for indoor/outdoor working and larger.
A step up in quality, but a little less portable and more expensive.
- Solid bamboo
- Adjustable legs
- Collapses in half
In addition, I recommend a chair with a “stiff” bottom so you can sit with proper posture (mine has been discontinued, but something like this).
Related Reading: the best office tents and desk chairs for an outdoor office.
There are 4 keys to successfully working remotely in the outdoors and today we’ll be hitting on part of #4:
- Internet/Wifi/Cell Coverage
- Reliable and Sufficient Power
- Weatherproof work area… ie: my Kodiak flex-bow canvas tent (link to review)
- Comfortable workstation (desk / table)
Yes, a comfortable work area is key to success.
Don’t fall for the photos of people working next to a fire or resting on a tree.
The goal for your mobile office should be to replicate an efficient workspace, like your work office or home office, as much as possible.
Why work on the road if you end up working more hours because you’re uncomfortable?
A reliable outdoor work desk is important if you don’t have a ton of room inside your camper van or it’s too hot inside your vehicle.
I work remotely while traveling in a Subaru Forester and do not work from inside my car except during extreme weather conditions or for a quick email reply because it’s simply not comfortable.
So, what should you be looking for if you’re trying to work at a campsite, in a tent, or in some other area with no tables?
Discovering the Best Outdoor Work Desk for Your Needs
It’s important to figure out your requirements before you start searching. However, if you found this page, we are probably looking for something very similar.
There are 3 basic features I was looking for in a table desk
- Portable / Foldable
- Stable / Durable
- Functional (see below)
My work is 100% computer-based and I work most efficiently with two monitors.
In addition, I need a mouse and a larger keyboard with a 10-key.
It also needs to be portable and packed small. So, no white fold-up beer pong tables for now.
Stability is also a consideration. You don’t want to be able to easily knock it over or have it collapse if you barely knick it with your knee.
I started by laying out my current set up on my home desk.
I have a laptop, a Macbook Air portable monitor, a keyboard, a mouse, and a mouse pad.
Place them on your current desk or table. Account for any amount of area you want to rest your hands/arms while you work so you don’t have to constantly have your hands hovering in the air.
Then simply measure it out.
In my case, I wanted it to be 30-35 inches long and 22 inches wide.
It’s important to take into consideration the chair you’ll be using and to make sure the desk is high enough to be off your knees and to be comfortable to sit at.
Make sure to avoid outdoor tables that have “X” crossbars that your knees might hit.
For me, working out of a camp chair, I needed this table to be around 30 inches tall.
Finding the Right Desk is More Difficult than it Should Be
I struggled to find good search results on Google and Amazon. Searching work desk for camping got a mix of irrelevant results for my needs.
After failing to find anything relevant besides things going over your legs or that go on top of an existing desk, I decided just to search for folding tables since all the cool designs were not foldable.
Here's a prime example of a table that doesn't work. Even in the product photos you can see people not being able to get their legs underneath it.
This one above is a prime example of what doesn’t work.
You would have to lean forward to work, and it would become uncomfortable.
Then I found a better solution. This aluminum roll-up table! (see 4 updates below on how it’s going!)
A very versatile, durable, and functional camping table. I primarily use it as a remote working desk, but it's great for any trip.
As you can see in the image, there is more leg room which is perfect for me.
The trade-off is that it’s a bit bulkier, but I’m willing to take that.
Here is the outdoor / outside desk in use:
I have it at the maximum height which is perfect for when sitting in a camp chair.
We only have one real desk at home, so my girlfriend uses this as her work desk when I’m home busy using my real desk.
She sits on a bosu ball so it works well.
Potentially important to note: You will not be able to use it with any fancy/tall office chair because the armrests will bump into it unless you have it really, really low.
I mention this because it’s possible you might have multiple uses for this table/desk.
MOBILE DESK REAL LIFE EXPERIENCE UPDATE (1 of 2)
After using this as my remote working desk a few times in the desert, I’ve noticed it’s difficult to get the legs to fold back into itself.
I think it’s because of all the sand/dirt it’s been subject to.
One morning I had to use a softball-sized rock to pound the leg back in.
Once I did that, it was easy to move around again, but it is a little concerning.
I might need to find one that doesn’t slide into itself (almost similar to option #1 above).
MOBILE DESK REAL LIFE EXPERIENCE UPDATE (2 of 2)
I’ve used it a few more times in the desert and I think the issue is mostly resolved.
If you move the locking lever at about 75% open vs 100% open, it closes easier (ie: don’t have it 100% in the non-locking position when trying to collapse the legs. Try to lift it up first and then force it down and it works like a charm (for now at least)).
Overall, this is still the best solution I’ve found and it’s been through a dust storm or two.
[2022] Update 3: My girlfriend began using this as her temporary work desk at our apartment when I’m around, so it’s good enough to handle regular use after 2 years!
[2023] Update 4: Still alive and kicking after 3 years of regular use. At this point, even if it fails, I will buy it again.
Additionally, it looks like there are some more options for colors and styles now.
P.S. – I know not everyone like using affiliate links. However, if you found this review helpful, I would greatly appreciate you using them. It’s the only way to keep annoying pop-ups and annoying display ads off websites like mine 🙂 – Cheers, Wifibum
A very versatile, durable, and functional camping table. I primarily use it as a remote working desk, but it's great for any trip.
Related Reading
Outdoor office tents to keep you out of the elements and prevent glare.
Outdoor office chairs that will keep you comfortable with your table.
