What does a picnic basket mean to you? Is it a symbol of relaxation, peace, and tranquility? Does it remind you of a mountain getaway or a weekend on the lake? Maybe it means family and a reunion in the park. Or perhaps it looks more like a romantic date on the beach with your favorite wine and decadent cheese.
Whatever the occasion, choosing the best picnic basket will undoubtedly influence the ambiance. So, let us help you choose the right one!
Quick Answer: The Best Picnic Baskets
- Best Overall: Picnic Time Piccadilly Willow Picnic Basket
- Best Insulated: Allcamp Insulated Picnic Basket
- Best Collapsible: Sammart Collapsible Picnic Basket
- Best Budget: Lanouoggk Picnic Basket
- Best Backpack for Two: Apollo Walker Picnic Backpack
- Best Backpack for Four: Sunflora Picnic Backpack
- Best Wooden: California Picnic Woven Woodchip Picnic Basket
- Best Wicker: SatisInside Insulated Wicker Picnic Basket Set
- Best Small: Vintiquewise Picnic Basket
- Best Large: HappyPicnic Wicker Picnic Basket Set
How to Choose the Best Picnic Basket
When it comes to choosing the best picnic basket, there are quite a few parameters to consider. You definitely don’t want to just grab the first one and go! Take a closer look before you buy, considering things like price, structure, material, size, and portability.
1. Price
It’s safe to say that price always matters, but the range in prices for the best picnic baskets can be a little startling at first. The cost of a good picnic basket can run the gamut from budget options as low as $15 to the ultimate in picnic luxury, topping out at well over $80. Deciding what a picnic basket should be worth all comes down to five factors: structure, material, size, accessories, and portability.
2. Structure
Although many of us typically envision a picnic basket as a cute wicker basket with handles and a red checkered cloth tucked inside, we’ve come a long way since The Wizard of Oz!
Today, picnic baskets come in many shapes, sizes, and materials. And, structurally speaking, you can find anything from foldable aluminum frames with soft sides and eco-friendly woodchip baskets to collapsible hard shell picnic baskets and insulated tote bags. And there are also backpack picnic baskets and even options on wheels. Each of them offers different perks or conveniences. And, inevitably, their durability is directly influenced by which material they are made of.
3. Material
As mentioned above, the function and durability of picnic baskets have a lot to do with construction and material. Aluminum and soft-sided options are great when a lightweight, easy to carry picnic basket is desired. If you’re planning on hiking or boating to your picnic destination, it’s important to consider if the material is waterproof and abrasion-resistant. You might also want a picnic basket with a cooler function to keep your food and drinks insulated. If you’re just going to the park, a classic wicker picnic basket or rolling suitcase style might be a bit more functional.
You can still find the basic but iconic wicker basket as well as eco-friendly options made of sustainable woodchips. There are also picnic baskets made from BPA-free plastic, very much like a Rubbermaid container. Soft-sided baskets often have a durable canvas polyester. Insulated options usually include a cotton and foil liner, while some picnic baskets have specialty fabrics to make them waterproof.
Other materials you might find on your picnic basket include zippers, bronze buckles, leather straps, and even fleece or waterproof blankets.
4. Size
The size of the picnic basket you need depends on many factors, including how many people you want to serve. Is a backpack picnic basket for two a suitable option, or do you need something for the whole family?
Also, what do you expect to fit inside your ideal picnic basket? Some folks want room for a cutting board and wine glasses. Others are fine with space for a few plates and a cutlery set or a few sandwiches and fresh fruit.
In addition, how far you plan to carry it is a big deal. If it’s just a few steps from the trunk to a picnic table, heavy and clunky or tiny and cute will both be acceptable. However, taking the picnic basket up a mountain or to a secluded lake might warrant an entirely different choice.
5. Portability
You might be surprised to learn that not all picnic baskets are alike, and the distinct styles will directly influence how portable they are. For example, a classic woven basket or tote might be just fine for the park or the lake. But if you’re headed for a bigger adventure, the modern picnic basket is designed like a backpack and includes cooler-inspired insulation. If you’re a traditional traveler, you might need a foldable or collapsible picnic basket. Or, if you’re more of a city slicker, you can opt for a picnic basket on wheels, just like a snazzy suitcase.
6. Accessories
Now for the goodies, the filling in the pie, so to speak. For some, the most important aspect of a great picnic basket is what’s on the inside. We’re talking about accessories, everything from cutlery to dining sets, wine glasses or cups, bread knives and cutting boards, wine openers and so much more. Some picnic basket sets come with some or all of these included. But, the quality can vary quite a bit from lightweight plastic materials to more durable or shatter-resistant upgrades. Sometimes they even include napkins and a picnic blanket. On the opposite end of the spectrum, you can also find picnic baskets with no accessories at all.
The quality and quantity of the accessories will heavily influence both the price and weight of the picnic basket. Some are intentionally lightweight for longer hauls and may include numerous plastic items, while others are made as luxury picnic baskets and will have a greater emphasis on appearance and quality than portability. They usually have durable plates, stainless-steel cutlery, and bamboo cutting boards.
Best Picnic Basket Reviews
Now that you know what to look for, here are the best baskets for picnics currently on the market.
Best Overall Picnic Basket
1. Picnic Time Piccadilly Willow Picnic Basket
If you’re looking to channel your inner Dorothy, the Picnic Time Piccadilly Willow Picnic Basket is sure to please. It makes our pick for the best basket for picnics because it’s stylish and sturdy while including everything you need at just the right price.
This built-to-last picnic basket gets five stars for design, as it’s the holy grail of cute vintage-style picnic baskets. You can’t go wrong with the traditional woven wicker, dual-lid design, and adorable leatherette accents. And who wouldn’t love the classic red and white checkered cloth liners?
What’s more, the inside is filled with lightweight but beautiful and durable tools. Think shatter-resistant acrylic wine glasses, stainless-steel flatware and corkscrew, plus eight-inch white melamine plates.
And the icing on the cake – err, the ants on the cheese – is the built-to-last lifetime pledge. Picnic Time has been crafting picnic memories since 1982, and the company is so confident in the quality of its product that it offers a lifetime replacement guarantee. What does that mean? If anything in the basket fails to last, you can have it repaired or replaced for free. Forever.
Best Insulated Picnic Basket
2. Allcamp Insulated Picnic Basket
When function is more important than fashion, the Allcamp Insulated Picnic Basket is our favorite. Why? Because this sleek and lightweight option is the best of the best if you’re leaning toward a picnic basket with a cooler. But just in case you do care about style, it’s not all basic black boxes here. You can make this picnic basket a bit more fashionable by choosing the Greek-inspired blue-and-white striped version.
Now, back to the function. This Allcamp Insulated Picnic Basket is definitely a cool picnic basket when it comes to affordability, portability, and overall convenience. It weighs in at just over 1.5 pounds and has a collapsible aluminum frame with a polyester canvas exterior that opens up to 15 inches wide, 9.5 inches deep, and 9.8 inches high. In addition, the soft grip handles, reinforced zippers, and removable Oxford velcro ensure that it’s easy to use and carry.
But what’s inside? The fillers are up to you, as this budget-minded picnic basket doesn’t include any accessories. Yet it is thoughtfully created to keep your stuff cool or hot with aluminum foil insulating. And its leak-proof lining is also super-easy to clean.
Best Collapsible Picnic Basket
3. Sammart Collapsible Picnic Basket
In many ways, it seems like a cool picnic basket still ranks as such when it’s both cheap and collapsible. But did you ever think of carrying something akin to a Rubbermaid or Tupperware tote as a picnic basket? Well, Sammart sure did!
The Sammart Collapsible Picnic Basket is literally a shrinking plastic tote. The BPA-free plastic tub magically folds flat to just over two inches for convenient storage and yet pops open to an impressive nine liters and 15.1 inch wide, 11.6 inch deep, and 5.5 inch high picnic basket. It also has dual handles and a snap-on top, making it easy to carry – and it’s spill-resistant.
While it might not be the cutest picnic basket you’ve ever seen, it does come in a variety of colors that do improve its appearance a little bit. You can choose from pink and a range of blue and green options.
As you might’ve guessed, this cheap picnic basket doesn’t come with anything inside. So what you tote in this tote is entirely up to you.
Best Budget Picnic Basket
4. Lanouoggk Picnic Basket
Since we’re on the subject of affordable picnic baskets, we can’t help but mention that budget doesn’t necessarily mean lacking in features. Our favorite in the budget-friendly category is the Lanouoggk Picnic Basket because, while it doesn’t include any accessories, how it’s made is decidedly better than other cheap picnic baskets for sale.
Despite falling into the lower price range, this picnic basket is larger than others (19.09 inches wide, 11.22 inches deep, and 10.24 inches high) and suitable for up to eight people. It’s also foldable and lightweight due to its aluminum alloy frame and 600D Oxford cloth canvas exterior. Carrying it is easy, too, thanks to its soft-grip handle and soft bottom.
In addition, the 600D Oxford material and PVC coating make the Lanouoggk Picnic Basket both abrasion-resistant and waterproof. The pearl cotton and aluminum film offer great insulation to keep foods and drinks either warm or cool as desired.
So, while it may not be heavy-duty, it’s absolutely functional for a range of outdoor activities and picnics.
Best Picnic Basket Backpack for Two People
5. Apollo Walker Picnic Backpack
Now, let’s put cheap aside and hop back over to the side of fully functional picnic baskets for 2. What’s great about the Apollo Walker Picnic Backpack is how well it blends the most sought-after features of structure and material, size and portability, plus all the accessories. And the backpack style is really all the rage these days.
The Apollo Walker Picnic Backpack undoubtedly offers an easier way to schlep your picnic anywhere you want to go. Whether you are heading to a city park or a national park or anywhere in between, this backpack picnic basket definitely has everything you’ll ever need.
Let’s start with the lightweight fillers. On the front half of the backpack is a compartment filled with stainless-steel flatware, nine-inch dinner plates, plastic wine glasses, and a corkscrew bottle opener. Also included are cotton napkins, salt and pepper shakers, a cheese knife, and a plastic chopping board.
The backside of the backpack has a large, insulated food storage compartment. There is also a side-facing, detachable, insulated carrier for drink containers. In addition, this picnic basket set includes a large waterproof fleece picnic blanket.
Best Picnic Basket Backpack for Four People
6. Sunflora Picnic Backpack
For a mix of luxury and adventure, the Sunflora Picnic Backpack is the ideal backpack picnic basket for 4. There’s nothing budget about it, but the higher price tag ensures that every desire is met through design, impressive materials, and better-than-average accessories.
The picnic backpack itself is made from cationic material, a type of canvas known for being color-safe and water-resistant. Its fairly average size of 16.3 by 12.7 by 7.9 inches has an impressive capacity of 14.5 liters. This includes a large insulated food container and a detachable waterproof pouch. Attached to the side are two removable items, an insulated wine bottle carrier, and a waterproof picnic blanket measuring 58 by 50 inches.
All of your picnic accessories conveniently fit in the front pouch that features a full picnic set for four people. This includes environmentally friendly TPE wine goblets, 100% stainless-steel flatware, melamine plates, a bamboo cutting board, a wood-handled wine opener, a cheese knife, and cloth napkins.
In other words, it’s the perfect picnic basket for wine lovers, sure to impress you from the first opening!
Best Wooden Picnic Basket
7. California Picnic Woven Woodchip Picnic Basket
If it’s an iconic wooden basket you’re after, it’s nearly guaranteed that it’ll also be a cute picnic basket. What’s not to love about this simple, beautiful, fuss-free version? The California Picnic Woven Woodchip Picnic Basket is a combination of classic style and modern materials. This reinvention makes it as eco-friendly as it is cute. And it’s still super-affordable!
Woodchip baskets like this one are now the cream of the crop, naturally durable and moisture-wicking, providing a natural alternative to harsh waterproofing chemicals often used on outdoor products.
This basic picnic basket doesn’t include any accessories but does feature an open top and double handles, plus an adorable red-and-white gingham cloth liner. It’s also a great size and weight for a group of four, weighing under 10 ounces and measuring 12.8 by 7.8 by 6.5 inches.
Best Wicker Picnic Basket
8. SatisInside Insulated Wicker Picnic Basket Set
The best luxury picnic baskets are made with traditional woven wicker and artful touches but also include desirable features like insulated liners, and all of the necessary accessories. That’s what makes SatisInside Insulated Wicker Picnic Basket Set our pick for the best wicker picnic basket.
Its beautiful design is both vintage and stylish, with elegant touches like brass accents, leather straps, and reinforced handles. The SatisInside Insulated Wicker Picnic Basket Set boasts all of that while remaining sturdy and environmentally friendly. And it includes a 16-piece set for two with cloth napkins, ceramic plates, stainless-steel cutlery, plastic wine cups, salt and pepper shakers, and a bottle opener.
This classic, wicker picnic basket is also an ideal size measuring 16.5 by 11 by 7.9 inches with a weight-bearing capacity of 33 pounds (15 kilograms). And it comes with a thermal insulated shield to effectively keep warm items warm and cool items cool.
Best Small Picnic Basket
9. Vintiquewise Picnic Basket
If you’re looking for something tiny or more appropriate for a table centerpiece, a theatrical event, or even a costume, look no further. Vintiquewise offers the ideal picnic basket for all of those things.
It may be décor-size at just 10.2 by 7.7 by 5.5 inches, but don’t forget small things do come in great packages. And this miniversion is made with just as much care as a full-size version.It’s woven with natural woodchip fiber and double-carrying handles. Plus, it’s lined with the classic red and white gingham pattern we all know and love.
Best Extra Large Wicker Picnic Basket
10. HappyPicnic Wicker Picnic Basket Set
Last but certainly not least is our top choice for the best large picnic basket for sale on Amazon. The HappyPicnic Wicker Picnic Basket Set is not only bigger than the rest, but it also delivers on a bigger, better scale. A lot of workmanship pride goes into this picnic basket, and it shows!
It’s made with durability and longevity in mind, as much as functionality and style. The main material is natural, steamed, willow wicker with accents of faux leather, cotton, and brass.
This beautiful woven wicker picnic basket set measures 17.8 by 12 by 7.5 inches and includes all the goodies you’d hope to find in an excellent picnic set. It’s designed for serving four people and features rivets and elastic straps to keep everything in place. Packed inside, you’ll find a set of four matching striped napkins, stainless-steel cutlery, wine glasses made of durable and insulating PS plastic, and four melamine dinner plates measuring seven inches in diameter.
Additional features include a thermal compartment that keeps foods cool or warm and a small, detachable, waterproof, sandproof picnic blanket measuring 57 by 47.2 inches.
And that’s a wrap for the best picnic baskets for sale on Amazon, running from tiny to large, classic to modern, and everything in between!
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