Comfy Camping Accessories

[mamared]

Kira's Comfy Camping Accessories, SKU#: GVF53 $85

When she arrives at the Bailey Wildlife Sanctuary, Kira learns that the bush camp is where everyone hangs out and eats meals, and it’s where she gets to spend lots of time with her new friend, Alexis. This set includes:

A lantern Kira can carry at night in the bush camp - This purple plastic lantern has a handle that can swing down, as well as supports on each side, so it's easy to hold, hang, or stand up. It runs on a battery which is included (yay for not having to buy anything extra!) It turns on and off with a push button in the front, and one of the fun features that I especially like is that the light actually flickers instead of being a steady light. I don't love all the purple plastic, but the functionality of this lantern earns it an A from me.



Two matching sling-back chairs where the girls can sit and talk - This is what really sold me on the set. Yes, the chairs are made of plastic (with cloth seats), but the plastic approximates wood color well enough, and I really like that they are adjustable and can even fold pretty flat for storage. There are three different adjustments they can make to allow from a mostly upright position all the way to a very reclined position. I'm adding photos showing the range of positions and also showing how they can be folded down when not used. The plastic seems to be a good quality and I think the chairs will be sturdy and versatile. The neutral design on the cloth seats also adds to their versatility. Would they be nicer if they were real wood and canvas? Probably, but I think this is still pretty good. Plus, there are two chairs, which seems pretty obvious but is an especially nice feature when friends want to hang out together. I give these an A.











A low wooden table - Eh, I don't love this. This hexagon shaped table is made of a thick wood-like material (not sure if it's real wood, or composite, or what) that seems substantial and durable. The shape means that the chairs can be positioned around it in a variety of ways, while still allowing enough (but not too much) room for meals. It's a good height to go with the sling-back chairs, and it's also pretty compact for storage when not being used. Those are the positives. I'm not crazy about the design on the table, which I guess is supposed to look like wood (kind of like planks on a picnic table) but actually makes it look kind of cheap in my opinion, and there's also something about the shape or angle of the legs that look strange. Overall, the functionality and low profile of the table will probably keep me from selling this piece, but the cheap-looking print means that it only gets a C+ from me. (The plank design is also used on the floor of the Platform Tent, and it looks just fine there.)



A purple throw pillow with a kangaroo graphic - This magenta pillow has a blue and purple kangaroo graphic on one side and is plain magenta on the other side. The colors coordinate with the lantern in this set and with the bed covers in the Platform Tent, and the graphic on the pillow also complements the koala pillow that comes with Platform Tent. I think this is a nice, decorative element that more specifically ties this set into Kira's collection. I'll give it a B for tying in to the rest of the collection (and give props to the designers for choosing the pillow rather than the chairs for where to use such bold colors).





A printed fabric rug - It's a nice turquoise design, printed on one side only. This piece is kind of thin and reminds me more of a picnic blanket or wrap than a rug, but I like the colors and how it serves to ground the whole set and tie it together. B+ for this.





A plant in a pot - A plastic plant in a plastic pot. The plant has several green stems, each with many leaves, and the pot is turquoise on the bottom part moving into white in the top half. I think it's a nice shape and a nice design, and it doesn't even need watering. This gets an A.



Two leaf-shaped plates to enjoy snacks in the tent - I think the leaf design was a cute way to do these bright green plates. They are made of plastic, of course, and stack neatly in each other. The photo is showing one right side up, and one upside down so you can see both sides. I'll give these an A.



Two pieces of fairy bread, an iconic Australian treat consisting of buttered white bread with colorful sprinkles on top - Um ... Well, I guess it's a nice idea to include a particularly Australian treat in Kira's collection, and I guess the size is appropriate, but the overall execution of this fairy bread (like most AG food) just makes me appreciate the creative people here on the board so much more. The bread has a tan crust around the edges and is plain on one side with a printed picture of sprinkles on the other. This would've been much cooler if it were textured or more realistic. It will get a C from me because it was a good idea, but unfortunately lost its magic.



Two pink lemonade drinks with straws - I like these. They're made of plastic, but I like the details - the ridged glasses, ice cubes, pink lemonade, and green straws. (My guess is that these have been reincarnated from an earlier set. I don't usually get to have ice in my drinks while camping, but these are called Kira's Comfy Camping Accessories, which I guess could also explain the luxury.) I’ll probably use these with Blaire’s pitcher of pink lemonade. I give these an A.



Two mixed fruit treats - These are interesting. They look like orange or grapefruit halves hollowed out to create fruit bowls, with berries and maybe melon and other fruit treats inside. I like the texture of the citrus on the outside and of the berries. I'm not totally sure what the other ingredients are. I'll give these a B+, which I've marked down because of the uncertainty.



Overall, I really like this set. I think it complements Kira's Platform Tent really well, and the pieces are versatile enough to use with other pieces in a variety of settings. The component pieces are small enough to pack away into small spaces when not being used (even though the set came in an enormous box), which is also important to me. I used my rewards to get the set for $35, which I would consider a steal and would earn an easy A from me. That said, I'm not sure I would have paid the full price of $85, especially if purchasing without the accompanying tent. In my opinion, I think it's worth more in the $60-70 range, and at full retail price I would probably give it a C.