Frequently Asked Questions Where is the Strada Easel made? The Strada Easel is manufactured and assembled in the USA. Why should I choose the Strada Easel over other pochade boxes? The Strada Easel is a simpler, stronger, thinner portable box easel with a patented self-locking component. The Strada Easel offers significant improvements on the more conventional wood box easels on the market today. Made from high quality aluminum and with fewer than half the parts of other easels and pochades, there is less to break down and wear out. It uses only one adjustable hand screw, two position control hinges to hold the box open at any angle up to 180 degrees, and a durable tripod attachment. These features reduce weight and setup time. Furthermore, there are no parts that protrude from the sides, top or bottom surfaces making it easier to slip in and out of a backpack or carrying case. The STRADA is the only pochade on the market that can nest two side trays inside the box. Can the angle of the Strada Easel palette be tilted and adjusted? Can the angle of the canvas holder be adjusted too? In case of glare from the sun on the palette and canvas holder, the Strada Easel can be easily adjusted by moving the lid back and forth (just like you would a laptop...without having to unscrew any hinges or bolts). Do I need a palette to use with the Strada Easel? Although the bottom of the easel can serve as the palette, we recommend a wood, glass or plexiglass (included) palette. If you prefer to not use a palette you can paint directly on the box bottom. How much does it weigh? Here is a list of weights of the STRADA equipment: STRADA Easel 4 lb 11oz (including plexi palette) STRADA MINI 2 lb 9oz (including plexi palette) Side Tray 10oz MINI Palette 5oz STRADA Palette 11oz Expandable Palette 5oz What size panel/canvas can I paint on using the Strada Easel? The Strada Easel can accommodate a panels with a vertical dimension between 1” to 16". There is no restriction on the canvas widt