What to Buy Trending Products & Deals This Small $22 Table Is My Secret to a Hassle-Free Beach Trip It keeps sand out of my snacks and folds up to fit in my beach bag. By Nicol Natale Nicol Natale Nicol Natale is a freelance writer and editor based in Hawaii. Her work has appeared in Travel+Leisure, Prevention, Woman's Day, Southern Living, Good Housekeeping, Food & Wine and Real Simple. Nicol worked at Hearst Magazine as associate editor full-time for several years before shifting her focus to freelance writing. She graduated from Fordham University with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a minor in Marketing and works today as a freelance writer and yoga and reiki instructor. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Published on April 21, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Photo: Amazon We're at the very beginning of picnic season, and I'm ready to head to the beach. There's just something special about enjoying a turkey sub and spiked seltzer while kicking back and tanning. The only downside is keeping sand out of my snacks. After realizing I desperately needed a stable place to dip my hummus and store my drinks, I found this small-but-mighty table on Amazon. The Portal Store Compact Folding Side Table weighs just 1.5 pounds and has a 16-inch by 9-inch surface. But it's not awkward to cart from my car to the beach. Impressively, it folds right up to about the size of a bowling pin, which I stash away in an easy-to-carry drawstring bag. To buy: Portal Store Compact Folding Side Table, $22 at amazon.com When it's time to use the table, I pull it out and unfold the sides in five seconds or less. You can adjust the height to either 4.3 inches or 6.4 inches from the ground. The durable surface is made with high-quality aluminum that has withstood many drink spills and rain showers. I generally use it to hold food and drinks, like hummus dips, sandwiches, utensils, and beer, but it's also great for keeping miscellaneous items out of the sand, like speakers and sunglasses. Because the foldable table is so lightweight and easy to carry, I've brought it to beach picnics, outdoor concerts, camping trips, and have even flown with it to other islands in my home state of Hawaii (I just checked it in my bag, but it's small enough to carry on). It's the perfect height if you have low beach chairs or are lounging on a towel by a fire. The Best Koozies to Help You Keep Your Cool All Year Long Amazon shoppers agree that the Portal Store Foldable Table is convenient to carry, with many commenting on how it's a beach go-to. "It's super light and compact so it easily slips into your beach bag," one wrote. "Then you unfold it and it's ready to use!" It's not just a beach accessory, though. Another person said it makes for a great side table while camping: "We have a huge tent and the 'bed' is low, so having a little side table like this keeps my stuff I need at night a tad more organized." And with a price of just $22, this travel-friendly table is practically a steal. Grab it now that we're in picnic season and use it all summer long. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit More Fresh Finds from Food & Wine I’ve Had My Microplane for 10+ Years, and It’s Still the Easiest, Most Reliable Way to Grate Any Ingredient 10 Top-Rated Cleaning Tools at Amazon to Make Your Kitchen Sparkle—Starting at $8 Vitamix Blenders Are Marked Down at Amazon, and One Is Its Lowest Prices Ever