Lock-On Accessories Compared: Device Holder, Side Table and Storage Pods

Quick answer

Oztent Lock-On accessories are not a one-size-fits-all upgrade. The Wallaby Chair Series III accepts Lock-On accessories through its Positive Lock System, so it is the natural starting point for a device holder or side table. If you need storage rather than a surface, the Oztent Storage Pods are a separate solution and should be judged on their own. Buy the accessory that matches the problem you actually have at camp.

Lock-On sounds like a single system, but the name covers different jobs: holding a device, giving you a flat surface, and keeping gear off the ground. That means the real question is not which Lock-On accessory is best, but which one solves the problem you notice most at camp.

This comparison looks at the Oztent Wallaby Chair Series III as the Lock-On host, the Sidekick as a multi-purpose furniture piece, and the Goanna Cot Series II as a sleep system. It also covers the Oztent Storage Pods category because campers often ask about them alongside Lock-On gear. The trade-offs come down to compatibility, packed size and what you are willing to carry.

What Lock-On compatibility actually requires

Lock-On accessories need a host product with the matching attachment point. The Wallaby Chair Series III is the clearest example in the current catalog: it features the patent-pending Positive Lock System, which allows you to customize your setup with compatible Lock-On accessories. If you own a different chair or tent model, check whether it has the same system before buying any Lock-On add-on.

This is the main trap with accessory systems. A device holder or side table may look universal, but it only works if your chair or frame has the receiving point. The Wallaby Chair Series III is also lightweight and packs down small with a compact folding frame and built-in carry handle, so adding Lock-On accessories does not change the chair's basic transport story.

• Confirm your chair or tent has the Positive Lock System before ordering any Lock-On accessory.
• If you are unsure, check the product page for the host item first, then match the accessory to it.

Device holder vs side table: two different problems

A Lock-On device holder is about keeping a phone, tablet or small item at a usable angle without balancing it on your lap. A Lock-On side table is about creating a stable flat surface for a drink, plate or small cooking item. They sound similar, but they solve different frustrations, and most campers only need one first.

The Oztent Sidekick shows how a single product can blur those lines. It works as a fishing stool, a footrest and a small table, and the hard side-flap folds out of the way for stool or footrest use, or secures to the top to create a stable surface. It has side pockets and packs flat, with a 275lbs weight rating. That versatility is useful, but it is a standalone piece rather than a Lock-On attachment, so it does not depend on your chair having a Positive Lock System.

• Choose a Lock-On device holder if your main annoyance is where to put your phone or tablet.
• Choose a Lock-On side table if you keep needing a flat surface for drinks or food.
• Consider the Sidekick if you want a stool, footrest and small table in one standalone item.

Where storage pods fit in the decision

Oztent Storage Pods are often grouped with Lock-On accessories in conversation, but they serve a different purpose: organizing and storing gear rather than mounting a surface or holder to your chair. If your campsite is cluttered and you keep digging through bags, storage is the problem to solve first, not a device holder.

The trade-off is that storage pods add bulk and packing volume, while Lock-On accessories are small and stay attached to the host product. Neither is wrong. The mistake is buying a Lock-On accessory for a storage problem, or buying storage when what you really wanted was a place to set your coffee down.

• If you keep losing small items in the tent, storage comes before Lock-On add-ons.
• If your chair feels incomplete, a Lock-On accessory is the more direct fix.

How the Wallaby Chair Series III changes the math

The Wallaby Chair Series III is the anchor product for Lock-On because it is explicitly designed to accept compatible Lock-On accessories. It is lightweight, packs down small with a compact folding frame and built-in carry handle, and the Positive Lock System lets you customize your setup over time as your needs change.

That modular approach has a real trade-off: you buy the chair first, then add accessories later, which spreads the cost but also means your setup only works as well as the accessories you choose. If you want one purchase that does everything, the Sidekick is simpler. If you want a chair that grows with your camping style, the Wallaby Chair Series III is the more flexible base.

• Buy the Wallaby Chair Series III first if you plan to add Lock-On accessories later.
• Buy the Sidekick first if you want a single standalone multi-use item with no compatibility questions.

Trade-offs to weigh before you buy

• Compatibility vs convenience: Lock-On accessories only work with a host that has the Positive Lock System, such as the Wallaby Chair Series III. The Sidekick works standalone and needs no host. If you already own a compatible chair, Lock-On is the cleaner path. If not, start with the chair or choose a standalone item.
• Modular cost vs one-piece simplicity: Building a Lock-On setup means buying a chair plus accessories over time. A single item like the Sidekick covers stool, footrest and small table in one purchase. Choose modular if you want to expand later. Choose one-piece if you want to buy once and stop thinking about it.
• Storage vs surface: Oztent Storage Pods organize gear, while Lock-On device holders and side tables create usable surfaces on your chair. They solve different problems. Match the accessory to the annoyance you actually have at camp, not to the accessory that sounds most useful.

Product facts that affect your choice

• Oztent Wallaby Chair Series III: Lightweight and packs down small, with a compact folding frame and built-in carry handle. Features the patent-pending Positive Lock System, allowing you to customize your setup with compatible Lock-On accessories. It is the host product for Lock-On accessories, so compatibility starts here. If you do not own this chair or one with the same system, Lock-On add-ons may not attach.
• Oztent Sidekick: Can be used as a fishing stool, a footrest and a small table. The hard side-flap folds out of the way for stool or footrest use, or secures to the top to create a stable surface. Has side pockets, packs flat and a 275lbs weight rating. It solves surface and seating needs without depending on Lock-On compatibility, making it a strong alternative if you want one simple multi-purpose item.
• Oztent Goanna Cot Series II: Designed for smaller campers, with a compact size, easy-to-reach storage and a 150kg weight rating. Fully padded for insulation and comfort, built on an X-legged frame for sturdiness, and packs down compact. It is a sleep system rather than a Lock-On accessory, so it belongs in the decision only if your priority is comfortable sleeping rather than chair-mounted convenience.

Which one should you choose?

Best for

• Campers who already own or plan to buy the Wallaby Chair Series III and want to add a device holder or side table over time.
• Campers who want a standalone stool, footrest and small table without checking Lock-On compatibility, such as the Sidekick.
• Campers whose main problem is cluttered gear rather than a missing surface, who should look at storage solutions first.

Not for

• Campers who own a chair or tent without the Positive Lock System and do not plan to upgrade the host product.
• Campers who want a single purchase that covers seating, surface and storage all at once.
• Campers who need a full sleep system rather than a chair-mounted accessory, who should compare cots and bedding instead.

Lock-On accessories reward planning more than impulse buying. Confirm your host product has the Positive Lock System, decide whether you need a surface, a holder or storage, and let that answer pick the accessory. The Wallaby Chair Series III is the flexible base; the Sidekick is the simple standalone alternative.