There’s just something about eating al fresco that makes food taste better. Maybe it’s the background noise of birds chirping or the child-like freedom that comes with sitting criss-cross in the grass, unbothered by a few crumbs. Whatever the reason, it’s a joy everyone should partake in at least a few times each spring and summer. The only damper on this otherwise idyllic scene? Carrying your meal to the park in an old, worn-out tote bag.
A picture-perfect meal outdoors demands the right gear, including a leakproof insulated water bottle, your favorite stemless wine glasses, and the best picnic basket. We tested seven options to help you find the right carry-all for your next fresh-air feast, evaluating each for durability, insulation, and design. Our list includes picnic baskets ready-made for Instagram, plus a picnic backpack designed for mid-hike sneak breaks.
Our Favorite Picnic Basket
Our top honors went to Picnic Time’s Belmont Picnic Basket, which includes high-end accessories like cutlery, dishware, glasses, and a wine cork, plus a charming and spacious wicker design.
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This picnic basket includes everything you need to enjoy a meal, including cutlery, dishware, glasses, and even a wine cork.
If you’re looking for a piece that teams the charm of a picnic lunch with the convenience of dining at home, you’ve found it in Picnic Time’s Belmont picnic basket. The epitome of what you’d imagine a picnic basket to be, it’s spacious and stunning. Its sturdy wicker body has luxe vegan leather detailing and a striped waterproof interior that’s easy to wipe clean. Unbuckle the lid and lift it to reveal a stocked selection of essentials, including real porcelain plates, gleaming flatware, short-stemmed acrylic glasses, and even a corkscrew. The base features two designated sections, one alongside the glassware for any dry goods, and a zippered insulated compartment to keep your meal cold or hot for as long as necessary.
In our tests, this picnic basket wowed us instantly, thanks to its quality design and smart interior organization. Packing a lunch for a crowd was easy, and we found plenty of room in the interior for a full bottle of wine, a medium-sized baguette, and plenty of cheese. Eating off real dinnerware sets upgraded our picnic experience, and nesting everything back into their designated compartments at the end of the meal was easy. This basket has a leather handle with a comfortable grip, allowing you to carry it briefcase-style through the grass until you find the perfect dining spot. It is a bit heavy when full, and we were worried about the food sliding inside while we walked, but that ultimately turned out not to be an issue.
Weight: 9 pounds | Dimensions: 21 x 13.5 x 8.25 inches | Material: Wicker | Included Accessories: Forks (4), spoons (4), knives (4), glasses (4), plates (4), corkscrew (1)
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We recommend the Happy Picnic Wicker Basket for diners who only occasionally make it out of the house for dinner al fresco. With an affordable under-$60 price, it touts everything you need for a memorable meal outdoors without breaking the bank. Tucked inside the durable wicker body is a cabinet’s worth of tabletop accessories, including melamine plates, flatware sets, wine glasses, and cloth napkins. You’ll even find a waterproof blanket included, though we found it pretty stiff. The gray and blue waterproof lining extends throughout the entire basket. It also has an insulated base complete with a zipper closure.
As we were testing this basket, we quickly came to appreciate the balance between budget and design. Nothing about this picnic basket looked or felt cheap, even though it was lower priced than other similar styles we tried. Fitting a meal’s worth of food in the base was easy, and our wine and cheese stayed surprisingly cool with help from an ice pack (not included). Like the Belmont basket from Picnic Time, this basket was pretty heavy when full, due to the quality wicker body. The faux-leather handle is roomy and easy to grasp, and we loved the smart addition of the side straps, which allow you to attach your picnic blanket (or any extra you can think of!) to your basket for easy carrying.
Weight: 5.7 pounds | Dimensions: 17.8 x 11.8 x 7 inches | Material: Wicker, fabric | Included Accessories: Forks (4), spoons (4), knives (4), glasses (4), plates (4), napkins (4), waterproof blanket (1)
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Nothing hits quite like a beach sandwich, and now you have the perfect way to tote it to the coast with this hybrid design from Picnic Time. Part wicker basket, part canvas tote, this versatile design is lightweight and breathable, making it the ideal accessory for the beach and beyond. While the durable canvas sides aren’t completely waterproof, they are water resistant, so you’ll have plenty of time to mop up a spill before it causes any real damage. The top is held shut with an easy-access drawstring, so retrieving your sunscreen, phone, or beach read is quick and easy.
As we were testing this picnic basket, we quickly came to appreciate its unique versatility. Because it’s so lightweight, carrying it around is a cinch, and you’re unlikely to fatigue during the process, whether you’re in charge of bagels on the beach or sandwiches in the park. The canvas body comes in fun colors, and the sturdy wicker base ensures that when you place it down on the ground, it stays put. We loved the length of the faux leather straps, and the soft nature of the body meant it felt more akin to carrying a canvas tote than a clunky picnic basket. Our only gripe? The top two-thirds of this basket are soft-sided and thus, essentially unprotected, so you may damage a meal if it gets stepped on or squished in transit.
Weight: 1.5 pounds | Dimensions: 14.25 x 11.5 x 13.5 inches | Material: Wicker, canvas
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Fed up with the classic gingham or stripe that you see on every picnic basket? This scalloped design from Mark & Graham is for you. Designed in collaboration with design brand Sanderson, it has your choice of botanical pattern for a subtle nod to the rolling hills of the English countryside. This basket has two pieces: an exterior wicker shell with a sweet scalloped border and an insulated carrying case to help keep your snacks at the perfect temperature. The design is finished with a pair of vegan leather straps that are the ideal length for throwing over your shoulder during the trip from the car to your favorite shady tree.
While testing this basket, we were immediately taken by its vintage appeal. Like all Mark & Graham pieces, the quality was top-notch, with a durable wicker body and a wipeable insulated carrying case with a zipper closure for keeping goods secure. The soft cooler is very roomy, though it is void of internal organization, so you’ll have to pack it strategically to cut down on the risk of squashed sandwiches or soggy crackers. The soft sides of the cooler mean there’s room around the edge to safely tuck paper plates or serving boards into the surround of the wicker basket for easier carrying.
Weight: 5 pounds | Dimensions: 17 x 10.25 x 11 inches | Material: Wicker, fabric
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Chic accessory or convenient food tote? Honestly, this piece from Picnic Time is both, and that’s a big reason why we love it. Styled after a traditional Parisian market bag, this picnic basket can easily double as a fashion accessory, thanks to a chic seagrass exterior, durable canvas straps, and striped fabric lining that disguises a layer of interior insulation. Compact but clever, this piece can easily house a few bottles of wine or a fresh baguette and is equally adept at corralling farmer’s market goodies.
This basket quickly shot to the top of our list during testing thanks to its ability to seamlessly integrate into our dinner plans and wardrobe. At just over a pound, it has plenty of interior room without any weighty materials, making it the perfect match for picnic lovers constantly on the go. Though it’s not immediately obvious, the basket has a thin layer of insulation that kept our drinks and sandwiches decently cool for a few hours. The fabric lining is not waterproof, so an ice pack or leaking drink will result in a slightly soggy interior. Two canvas straps allow you to throw the bag over your shoulder or carry it by hand.
Weight: 1.4 pounds | Dimensions: 6.3 x 14.2 x 10.6 inches | Material: Seagrass
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Adventure awaits with this REI backpack cooler, which ensures you can feast accordingly after working up an appetite during your next hike. Designed with adventurous spirits in mind, this design has different storage options, including a drawstring waterproof top, a removable insulated cooler pack, and a traditional backpack interior. The soft-sided cooler is plenty big, with enough room for 12 cans plus ice or whatever type of lunch you need to refuel mid-trek.
We knew we had found a winner when we opened this backpack to reveal delicious, crisp, cool water mid-hike during our testing (plus cold apple sauce pouches for the kids). The cooler’s insulation is effective, and the backpack offers plenty of room for extras, including electronics, a First Aid kit, and more. The straps are adjustable and cushioned, which helps keep our shoulders and back free of pain during use. The cooler is definitely on the smaller side compared to other picnic baskets we tested, but it was adept at maintaining its temperature and still offered plenty of room for a modest collection of bites.
Weight: 2 pounds | Dimensions: 22 x 12 x 8.5 inches | Material: Recycled nylon, recycled polyester
How We Tested Picnic Baskets
We tested seven picnic baskets, which varied in design, size, and material. Each picnic basket was examined thoroughly, used repeatedly to enjoy a meal outdoors, and packed to the brim with delicious food. The picnic baskets we tested were rated in the following categories:
- Design and Durability: Part of the charm of using a picnic basket is, well, the charm of the picnic basket. During our testing, we weighed the aesthetics of each design, noting the quality of the materials and the functionality of any extras, like leather straps, drawstring closures, or fabric lining. Each piece chosen for our list of the best picnic baskets had to strike a balance between form and function while delivering longevity through quality construction and high-end materials.
- Insulation: When planning for a picnic lunch, you’ll need to keep your food cold for some time, so we tested our collection of picnic baskets with insulation in mind. Just like with accessories, a design wasn’t disregarded if it didn’t include insulation, but it had to wow us in other categories if we were going to then forgo a cooling interior.
- Accessories: Many of the picnic baskets on our list came with included accessories, which factored heavily into our decision-making process. That said, we certainly did not count a picnic basket “out” if it did not come equipped with cutlery or dishware. Rather, we made sure our final list of winners included an arrangement for every type of diner, whether you’re someone who doesn’t mind using bamboo forks (or your fingers) with a meal or someone who’d rather mimic the feel of your dinner table, complete with the napkins.
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What We Looked For
Material
Like any other bag, picnic baskets come in different materials, each with pros and cons. Many of the designs on our list were made from natural fibers, including the traditional wicker body that’s so prevalent in the category. Consider what material best suits your intended use when shopping for the best picnic basket. Wicker is great if you’re looking for charm and aren’t so worried about a basket that can handle a rough-and-tumble outing; if extra durability is key, you may want to opt for a canvas or nylon body instead.
Handles and Straps
The heft and capacity of a picnic basket are also of peak importance while shopping, especially if you envision carrying your chosen design long distances, like a few blocks to the beach or from the subway to the park. Many of the picnic baskets on our list of favorites come in different sizes, weights, and overall bulk, ensuring there’s an option out there. We looked for options with adjustable, comfortable straps made of canvas, vegan leather, and other soft materials, and secure, ergonomic handles for any briefcase-style baskets.
Insulation
The interior lining or insulation of a picnic basket is another spot for customization, allowing you to shop with your outing in mind. If you’re the type to go from car to picnic blanket in under 10 minutes, you probably don’t need a cooler that will keep your food cold for hours. Likewise, if you plan to hike for most of the morning before sitting on a rock for a sandwich, you’ll want an interior that can keep your food at a safe temperature for a considerable amount of time.
Accessories
While not a must, choosing a picnic basket that boasts integrated accessories is always a win in our book. Several of the designs on our list of the best picnic baskets come with everything you’ll need to create a ground-level tablescape, including cutlery, dishware, and glasses. If your chosen picnic basket does not come equipped with those extras, make sure it at least has room to store disposable plates or flatware.
Other Picnic Baskets We Tested
Our goal with product testing is always to bring you the best options, so there are inevitably some options that don’t meet our rigorous criteria. When we tested the Country Picnic Basket from Picnic Time, we felt the nostalgic looks did not outweigh the lack of functionality. The interior wasn’t insulated or waterproof, and the top would not stay open easily enough to include it on our list.
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Our Expertise
Alyssa Longobucco is a writer, editor, and stylist with a background in food, interior, and lifestyle content. She has over a decade of experience in the digital and magazine industry, creating unique and innovative content for Food and Wine, Food52, Good Housekeeping, and more.
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