Professional Series En Plein Air Pro Oil & Acrylic Easel Package with 1/8" Abrasion Resistant Palette

A well thought out easel. Lightweight but sturdy enough for me to paint large pieces on location. The large palette helps too. The backpack is comfortable with enough room for a Raymar 12x16 panel box. Sweet !

This is a poorly designed easel. The pochade box attaches to the tripod with plastic supports. The directions said to secure the box using A clamps on the tripod legs. The plastic broke rendering the pochade box useless. I contacted En Plein Aire Pro. They would not replace the box. They told me to use epoxy resin to repair it. I had already repaired the box once using JB weld. Lesson learned.

Although the weight on this easel is said to be 12 pounds, the carry bag also weighs a bit. By the time you add all the other things you need to carry, it is a bit too heavy for me. The carry bag is described as a backpack, but truthfully is not easily carried like a backpack at all. The palette is said to be glass in its description, but is absolutely not glass. It is some type of clear plastic. I found this to be cumbersome and not really as quick to set up as I’d prefer. At my age (70), although I’m reasonably healthy, I’m wishing I had bought a much lighter easel and an easy pochade box to attach instead. I will likely only be using this next to wherever I can park my car and find a good view or subject to paint, so it is limiting my choices.

It is ALMOST perfect The tripod is sturdy and easy to set up. I wish the pochade box had a clip or something to keep the pullout sides in place when it is stored vertically in the backpack. Also, the acrylic jar is nice, but should be metal so you can keep Gamsol (or whatever) in there longterm. The size of the palette is great, and it is wonderful to be able to stand closer to your work than other high end metal easels. I am using this with a cart with a seat rather than the supplied backpack. I would DEFINITELY buy this again and recommend it nightly. I am thrilled to be rid of my old wooden French easel forever.One added note: it is nigh impossible to scrape one day old oils off the plastic as it is STUCK on and the plastic bends under a scraper. They don't recommend using a razor blade. I will be replacing the plastic with a piece of glass (will be a bit heavier but much more functional). In the meantime I have cut paper palettes to size.

Have tried several "set ups" over the years. This is the best easel by far. Easy to set up, stable yet light weight. Fits easily into the back pack with room to spare for your paints etc.. Weighs #10 including the back pack. Pallet is plenty big enough for all your pigments and mixing colors. You won't be disappointed with this easel.

I researched this for several weeks. Then I asked my professor what his opinion was. He thought it was the best easel on the market.Now that I’ve had it for a month or so, I think so also. The features are great, Sets up easily. Has a pochade box that is easy to place on easel.The backpack is a little heavy, but has plenty of storage for easel and pochade box, paints, and other needed supplies.Highly recommend this easel.

This thing is hilarious: a 3rd-party camcorder tripod ships with assorted jerry-rigged clamps, bungees, and plastic parts. It’s like something an ingenious cheapskate would cobble together from spare junk in the garage. It will not fit stretched canvas, only canvas boards, and only small ones at that. When assembled, the box sits at an irritating angle. Could never get the mast to not wobble. So ugly and cheesy it’s difficult to imagine using it to create anything beautiful. This one’s not ready for prime time.

This lightweight easel, together with easy levers is the best setup I have seen and used. Comes with a wonderful palette, side shelves for your a jar of medium, turp or water and a very durable backpack. The rig can be easily brought around internationally. I can't say enough about it. Thank you!