The GCI Outdoors Slim-Fold Cook Station set up in the woods.
Megan Plete Postol

Gear Review: GCI Outdoors Slim-Fold Cook Station

There are not a lot of things in life that are more pleasant than relaxing outside on a summer evening and cooking up some dinner in the open air. What makes it even better is good equipment that makes the job easier.

Enter the GCI Outdoor Slim-Fold Cook Station. This beastly table is designed to work. It has a firm, sturdy top layer and is equipped with four levels of shelf space.

GCI Outdoor Slim-Fold Cook Station

The Slim-Fold Cook Station features a one-piece design and weighs just shy of 20 pounds. It stands approximately 32 inches tall, making it comfortable to cook on with no hunching over required. The cook station is self-contained, so you don't have to assemble multiple parts. It has a fairly straightforward assembly process: just unfold and click to secure. You can tell if the legs are properly assembled when they pop into place.

The design is simple and easy to use. It is just as easy to take down as it is to put up, and it folds flat for storage. When folded flat it measures 35 inches long by 21 inches wide by four inches thick. This makes it portable and allows it to slide into a vehicle upright or down flat for easy transport. It is a tad on the heavy side, but that is because of the sturdy materials used in its manufacture. The Slim-Fold Cooking Station has an incredibly sturdy all-steel, powder-coated frame. This product is not built for only one summer. It is going to last and last.

Camping Advantages

The Slim-Fold Cook Station was created to make camp cooking smooth and simple. It is equipped with several convenient extras, including cup holders, paper towel storage locations, and garbage bag anchors. The main cooking area is wide, flat, and ideal for its intended job. It makes cooking at camp a breeze.

There is a big issue with this cook station, though. It can become quite unstable, especially if the ground is not perfectly level, which describes most outdoor locations and camp spots. This could be a potential safety issue if cooking with flames or hot liquids. It is also quite tippy if items are placed on the shelves unequally. To keep the table steady, weight must be dispersed evenly on both sides.

As outdoor cook stations go, the GCI Outdoor Slim-Fold Cook Station is a good value, as long as the user stays on level and sturdy ground.

READ MORE: TARPESTRY: THE OUTDOOR BLANKET WE'VE ALWAYS WANTED