The Best Picnic Basket to Enjoy a Perfect Outdoor Meal

Buyer's Guide to Finding a Picnic Basket

When we think about picnics, we think about wining and dining while enjoying Mother Nature, gently caressed by the wind whilst savoring the delicious flavor of wine and cheese and enjoying the company of family, friends, or a loved one. Whatever the occasion may be, you can’t go about dragging coolers and grocery bags, only to get to your destination and the food and the drinks have been ruined.

Here’s where you need the best picnic baskets in the market. There are several options to pick from now— you can still decide to go for the rustic traditional wicker basket, or you can go for the more modern types that come with all the picnic accessories you need to have a great time. If you are finding it hard to choose the best picnic baskets for you, this buying guide should help you make a choice faster and easier.

How Do I Choose the Right Picnic Basket?

Material

The durability of any picnic basket depends greatly on the construction and type of material used in making it. There are numerous picnic baskets made with different kinds of materials and the best one for you depends on your use for it.

For instance, if you’re planning on having a picnic on a boat or hiking a long distance, you would need to go for a picnic basket that is waterproof and dirt-resistant.

If you desire easy-to-carry picnic baskets, then you may want to go for lightweight baskets made from aluminum that have soft sides. For simple picnics in the park, the traditional picnic basket may be more functional.

Some picnic baskets are made from woodchips and are eco-friendly if you are a nature enthusiast; others are made from canvas polyester, insulating materials, and are collapsible for easy storage. Essentially, the best picnic basket for you depends on where and how you will be using it

Size

When buying the best picnic basket, size matters a great deal. You should choose one based on the average number of people that you would be serving. Some picnic baskets come with accessories such as a corkscrew, cutting board, glasses, etc.

However, some people prefer the empty more traditional picnic baskets. Whichever you decide to go for, make sure it has enough room to accommodate food and utensils for the number of people you intend to serve. Some brands have picnic baskets for groups as small as two and as large as eight. Of course, the larger the capacity the higher the price (on average).

Accessories

Picnic baskets have come a long way from the ordinary plain basket to a more modern and versatile type. These days picnic baskets come loaded with accessories. Of course, the quantity and quality of these accessories greatly influence the price. Some of the accessories include sets of cutlery, plates, wine glasses, cutting boards, bread knives, salt shakers, wine openers, picnic blankets and so much more.

The quality of these accessories varies. Some may be made from lightweight plastic materials, while others are made from durable non-tarnish stainless steel. In the same vein, there are picnic baskets that come without any accessories. Consider whether you would prefer to bring your own accessories from home or if you’d like to have an all-in-one set so all you have to worry about is packing the food and beverage.

Carrying option

For a light picnic meant for two people, a lightweight picnic basket with small handles would be perfect. However, if it is meant for more than two persons, it means that your picnic accessories may be heavy and you would need a picnic basket that is convenient to carry, especially if you’re going to be walking a long distance to get to your destination. So, consider your carry option as that would determine the best picnic basket for you

Traditional picnic baskets just have two handles. Now, there are many backpack-style options that are great for keeping your hands free, allowing you to carry other items. Carrying a large picnic set on your back is also easier than carrying it in your hands too. There are also sets that have a suitcase-style basket in which you carry it by the single handle.

Insulation

Picnic baskets now have modern models with brilliant features such as built-in insulation or a cooler. This comes in handy especially during summer when the weather may be insufferably hot.

Picnic bags made with polyester usually have this built-in insulation system that keeps your food fresh and your drinks cool for hours. Some traditional baskets made out of willow or other woven fibers also have insulation options. Follow the manufacturer’s description thoroughly if a picnic basket with insulating properties is what you want to get.

What Are the Types of Picnic Baskets?

Traditional picnic basket

This type of picnic basket is the one we are the most familiar with. It is usually made out of woven fiber and has a sturdy handle for easy carry. The traditional picnic basket comes empty and the interior is usually lined with decorative fabric, although you’ll find some without.

This type of basket has a simple design and is the classic go-to picnic basket. It is very durable has no special features and is often bulkier than modern picnic baskets.

Picnic backpack

The picnic backpack does not fit the traditional definition of picnic baskets, but it serves the same purpose. As the name suggests, it is a backpack that has been converted to hold picnic accessories.

These backpacks are modern and versatile, they usually come with several picnic accessories meant for 2-6 people. They are often made from waterproof material and have well-organized compartments to hold picnic utensils and your food. They are great for long-distance travel and are more comfortable to carry than traditional baskets.

Picnic basket with cooler

There are two designs of picnic baskets with coolers. The first type is modern, can be collapsed for easy storage, and is made from a waterproof material like polyester. These types of picnic baskets are available in different designs and colors and they keep food and drinks at the right temperature.

The second type is modeled after the traditional picnic basket; they’re made out of wicker or any woven fiber but there’s an insulated cooler within it to keep foods and drinks fresh and cool.

Specialty picnic basket

As the name suggests, these types of baskets are used for transporting specific food or drink such as wine and cheese. They are considerably smaller than other picnic baskets and are used mostly by connoisseurs. They come with accessories and are quite portable but do not have the same capacity as some other options.