Virtual Art Academy
Soltek Ultra Easel
Soltek Ultra Easel

Soltek Plein Air Easel V2.0

The Soltek Easel is an aluminium constructed and lighter update to the traditional wooden french easel design.

Company name: Soltek Ultra Easel

Website: www.soltekarts.com

Pochade box name: Soltek Ultra Easel

Type: Aluminum Box Easel

Price range:  $680

Weight:  7lb 3.2kg

Palette size: 12″ x 16″, 30 x 40cm

Construction: aluminium

Average Rating: 2.5 stars (based on 8 ratings)

Description

It is an aluminium version of the traditional french easel, but much lighter and with many more design features. It has two built in side trays that fold out to reveal the palette. Your canvas is held by a telescoping aluminium rod and plastic side bars.

It comes with:

  • Soltek Easel Ultra Box
  • Soltek Easel 2.0 Tripod
  • Polymer Oil / Acrylic Palette
  • 2 Hex Wrenches for Friction Adjustments
  • Portable Container for Mineral Spirits

Features include:

  • Unfolding box wings for a massive 2.5-foot wide worktable that can double as palette space
  • Or, use only the provided palette to keep the easel clean and leave the trays for holding gear
  • Wings have 7 rounded notches apiece to keep brushes separated without rolling around
  • Larger easel box so you can pack everything you need
  • Bigger palette so you have more space to mix
  • 60% more storage space compared to the Soltek Compact so you paint more prepared
  • Built-in divider lets you keep your paints and brushes etc. separated for easy organization
  • Thicker aircraft-grade aluminum for a premium plein-air experience

Construction

It is made of aluminium with various plastic parts added on.

Setup

Comparison

To compare it with other plein air easels, see my Guide to Plein Air Easels.
To compare it with other pochade boxes, see my Guide to Pochade Boxes.

Reviews

Better than a French easel

I actually have two of these, one in each studio. I used them for many years as my preferred easel, but after a lot of heavy use it started to have problems. The extension arm for holding the panel was not rigid and caused problems when the wind blew. Some of the plastic edging on… Read more “Better than a French easel”

Barry Raybould

quick set up but now legs are not telescoping

I love my Soltex for the quick set up for plein air. But now the legs are not telescoping in like they should. I’ve carried it home with the legs out.too many times..can’t load it on my wheeled cart…It is 3 years old and I’m 87 years old. I would sell it to anyone that… Read more “quick set up but now legs are not telescoping”

vivian Longfellow
United States

Soltek

I have several easels/pochades – the one I reach for is the Soltek. It sets up faster than any other situation, it will be up and ready before other people have all their tripod legs out. I use the side trays as part of the palette surface, paint on one side the other used for… Read more “Soltek”

Noelle Naiden
USA

The Soltek is a great

The Soltek is a great system. I loved the ability to take a single system with me in which I could place my paints, easily set it up without a lot of parts. It’s drawback is it’s weight and you must protect the feet of it from sand and dirt. When I would be painting… Read more “The Soltek is a great”

Cynthia Rosen
USA

Soltek what you should know

I bought a Soltek easel around July of 2018. I was really looking forward to using the pochade for it’s quick set up time and light weight. But after finally getting it after a 2-3 month wait, I was disappointed as the pallet part kept slipping downward. I couldn’t get the pallet to stay level… Read more “Soltek what you should know”

Kyle Rauschkolb Jess
United States

Soltek unobtainable

The Amazing Soltek 1. All in one easel is no longer made apparently. I have been trying to find one for three years. Now they have replaced it with a Soltek 2. Which is a two piece easel. Larger. And defeats the object. Why? Oh… Read more “Soltek unobtainable”

John Fuller
UK

If you paint in sand forget it

I bought this easel because I saw how easy and fast the set up was, but I painted on a sandy beach and the legs stopped telescoping. I worked with it and got them to go again but then during a competition this summer one would not go down all the way. I toted it… Read more “If you paint in sand forget it”

Delilah a Smith
United States

Pros and Cons

This easel has had steady use since 2014 and, after heavy wood box/half-box easels, this is the one I always use outside and often in the studio. I like the ease of setup, the adjustability, and the aluminum construction (less weight). I do not like the movement while painting, and the plastic bits are vulnerable.… Read more “Pros and Cons”

Mark Butterworth
USA

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