Titanium Camping Table Elevates to Spikes, Sticks, or Tripods: Schwarze Biene Big Mama Evaluation
The Schwarze Biene Big Mama Table is a lightweight, modular, and fireproof camp table that offers numerous applications and accessories designed to enhance its use in backpacking and camping. With a base weight of just 10 oz, this table is suitable for ultralight gear users, hammock campers, bikepackers, and hot tenters.
The table's surface area is small, measuring 8 x 8 inches, making it perfect for hammock-side use. The Big Mama Table can be used with the Woody accessory to turn a stick into its base, providing stability on rough and rocky terrain. This accessory is also useful for photographers, as it can be mounted on top of a tripod, aiding in stable setups in rocky or uneven ground.
Schwarze Biene offers a lightweight tripod base accessory, which adds about 5.1 ounces to the table's weight. This accessory is particularly useful on soft ground, enabling level setup of the table. Though it provides stability, some adjustment might still be needed for a level surface.
For those seeking to reduce pack weight further, the Woody accessory allows the Big Mama table to be attached to a wooden stick instead of bringing the table’s own support pole. This reduces pack weight by a few ounces and offers versatility in setting up a level table on uneven terrain.
To enhance portability and protection during transport, the Big Mama Table comes with a Dyneema Table Bag. This specialized bag is made from Dyneema cordage and includes 12" cording with cordlocks at each corner for secure closure.
The Schwarze Biene Big Mama Table also features a spike, tripod, and wooden stake base options, providing versatility in various backcountry contexts. When fully kitted out with the Universal Holder, Woody, and Big Baggy, the table costs around $186 and weighs 18 ounces.
The Universal Holder accessory is a multipurpose organizer attachment that can be used for hanging utensils, hats, glove loops, or other small items. The Big Baggy accessory also provides an additional pocket for hot tenting, which can be set up next to the wood stove. It is particularly useful for winter camping, as it allows for the storage of water bottles wrapped in a puffy inside the bag.
The Big Mama Table is easy to set up and has a base height of 15-16". Despite its small size, the table is fireproof and can handle hot pans and mugs directly on its surface. However, it is not recommended for cooking.
In conclusion, the Schwarze Biene Big Mama Table is a versatile and durable piece of gear that offers a variety of applications and accessories, making it an ideal companion for various types of adventurers. For more detailed inquiries, Schwarze Biene or affiliated retailers like Kero Hammocks provide contact options. The table, when folded away into a flat package within the Big Baggy, takes up about as much space in a pack as a thick envelope, making it easily the most stowable table the author has ever used.
The Schwarze Biene Big Mama Table can be used for paddling excursions, as it can easily be stowed away in a pack and its compact size makes it perfect for hammock-side use. Moreover, its versatility extends beyond camping, as the Table can be utilized at home for a unique home-and-garden lifestyle, particularly when paired with the Big Baggy accessory for added storage.
