The 8 Finest Picnic Blankets of 2024, Examined & Reviewed

Picnicking is romantic. Meals is packed up and punctiliously stacked in a wicker basket or cooler, and you then sit on a cute blanket and nosh and chuckle and perhaps watch clouds. And mentioned cute picnic blanket is what arguably makes a picnic a picnic—with out it, you’re simply sitting on grass and getting stains in your trousers. 

I really like internet hosting an outside dinner or lunch soirée, so I got down to discover the most effective picnic blankets by testing 13 of them. This concerned lifting two 20-pound dumbbells, consuming ham sandwiches and sushi, heading off seagulls and ants, and naturally, having a grand outdated time within the nice open air. The consequence: I discovered eight of the most effective picnic blankets you should buy, so you can also have a picturesque out of doors meal with out worry of a grass-stained posterior. 

The Winners, at a Look

This blanket is fairly, packs up simply, and saved me, my associates, and our lunch protected from damp grass and sand. (The seagulls have been one other story.) It’s additionally light-weight and has a built-in shoulder strap. 

I cherished this blanket for its cashmere-soft materials that stayed dry and was hefty sufficient to not flutter away with a breeze. It additionally has loops on the corners for stakes. 

Cute, cozy, and moveable, this little picnic blanket is lower than $30. It was a wonderful mat for each park and seaside picnicking. 

Desire a luxe picnicking expertise? Get away the Yeti. It’s heavy-duty, it gained’t flap off the bottom on a windy day, and the highest materials is tremendous comfortable. It’s additionally fairly spacious. 

That is one utilitarian little blanket. It packs as much as be the dimensions of a deck of playing cards and weighs 3.8 ounces—you might toss it in your daypack and never even realize it’s there. It additionally has built-in stakes so you’ll be able to pin it down securely wherever you wish to take a break out of your hike. 

If a picnic full with a wicker basket and actual china is your dream, this beautiful blanket can assist you understand your imaginative and prescient. Appears to be like apart, it’s additionally waterproof, comfortable, and spacious, which counts for an entire lot. 

This flannel blanket is an entire lotta cozy, and it appears cute, too. I additionally cherished how straightforward it was to pack up and go: it has a built-in deal with and simple loop closure. 

If you wish to host a veritable picnic blowout, that is the blanket to get. It’s an enormous 95 by 95 inches—that’s 63 sq. ft complete. (It may match three of me mendacity down every approach!) Whereas rolling up a blanket of this dimension was a problem, the built-in bag straps made it rather less awkward. 

The Exams

• Damp Grass Check: I positioned every picnic blanket on dewy grass and caught a 20-pound dumbbell on high. After 20 minutes, I checked the blanket for soaked-through moist spots on the highest and backside. I additionally sat on the blankets to see in the event that they bought damp. Afterward, I packed the blankets up, noting how straightforward it was to take action. 
• Portability Check: I toted every bag round, noting if it was heavy and if the carrying straps have been snug. 
• Seaside Picnic Check: I took the picnic blankets to the seaside for an actual picnic (full with potato chips and a ham sandwich someday, and sushi and grapes one other). In between heading off hungry seagulls, I famous if the blankets have been cozy to sit down on, in the event that they felt cramped, and if the sand shook off simply afterward. 

What We Realized

Picnic Blankets That Folded Right into a Bag Have been the Best to Pack

The post-picnic cleanup is the un-fun a part of picnicking. You’re left tucking sweaty prosciutto right into a plastic bag and deciding whether or not to complete off a piece of cheese now or deliver it house, the place it’ll inevitably molder within the fridge. With all of this to consider, packing up the picnic blanket ought to be the least of your worries. 

As somebody who can’t fold a towel or bedsheet to avoid wasting my life, I cherished picnic blankets that have been straightforward to fold again up—even higher if it was right into a self-contained bag. The Pendleton was one such blanket: I simply refolded it the place it was creased, zipped it up, and it was able to tote away. Rolled blankets, like the Baggu, have been tougher to pack. I needed to squeeze the air out as I rolled, bringing me again to my days as a Woman Scout making an attempt to wrangle my sleeping bag again into its carrying pouch. After a couple of failed makes an attempt rolling the Oniva Waterproof Stadium Blanket Picnic Blanket, I wound up scrunching it up and shoving it into the bag in defeat. Harnesses have been additionally largely a ache, since I struggled to fold blankets sufficiently small to suit them again in, and wound up simply chucking all the things helter-skelter into my tote bag. 

Tender, Giant Picnic Blankets Have been the Most Comfy

It could sound trite, however I cherished comfortable, cozy picnic blankets. If I’m going to be sitting on the bottom, I wish to mitigate discomfort as greatest I can. Whereas some blankets just like the CG Gear Sand-Free Picnic Mat prioritized retaining sand off and others tried to be utilitarian stylish with ripstop building, they only weren’t snug to sit down on. The CG Gear blanket was itchy and left patterned imprints on my leg, and the Baggu ripstop materials felt crunchy and cheesy to the contact. As a substitute, I most popular the comfortable, cashmere-like topsides of the nomadix and Yeti Lowlands blankets. I may lounge on my facet and really feel like a Roman emperor plucking grapes on a comfortable ottoman relatively than a bug-bitten gal heading off ants on an itchy blanket. Picnicking is an try and elevate consuming exterior to a romantic expertise, and the picnic blanket ought to match that vibe. 

Talking of consolation, a lot of the blankets I examined have been round 60 by 70 inches when opened and will comfortably match two to a few individuals, plus meals. In different phrases, if you wish to have a picnic celebration with five-plus associates, you may want two blankets. The exception was the Nemo, which is a whopping eight by eight ft—the limo of picnic blankets. 

Most Picnic Blankets Have been Considerably Waterproof

My testing included laying the blankets on dewy grass and placing 20-pound dumbbells on high. After 20 minutes, I eliminated the dumbbells and checked the blankets for damp spots. Spoiler alert: Almost all of them remained dry. The exceptions have been the CG Gear blanket, which is porous (it’s made this fashion so sand can slip by), and the Matador, which is made from skinny materials. The Baggu wasn’t damp on high, however the underside had some seen splotches the place dew soaked into it.

The Standards: What to Search for in a Picnic Blanket

A picnic blanket ought to be snug to sit down on, spacious, and simply packable. I particularly appreciated blankets with built-in carrying pouches—they have been straightforward to re-pack and I didn’t have to fret about shedding the carrying bag or harness. A great picnic blanket must also keep dry; winding up with a moist or grass-stained backside isn’t what I need from a picnic. If it can be used on the seaside, that’s a win in my guide. 

Our Favourite Picnic Blankets

What we appreciated: This light-weight blanket simply folded right into a bag, full with a deal with and shoulder strap. It was additionally cozy to sit down on, stayed dry on damp grass and comparatively sand-free on the seaside, and match three individuals comfortably. Oh, and it is available in a couple of enjoyable colours and patterns and within reason priced. What extra may I ask for? It needed to be a winner. 

What we didn’t like: It’s gentle, so it’s greatest to weigh it down on the corners if it’s breezy. 

Key Specs 

• Folded dimensions: 17 x 14.5 x 3.5 inches
• Unfolded dimensions: 60 x 72 inches
• Supplies: Polyester
• Weight: 1.15 kilos
• Cleansing: Machine-washable

What we appreciated: I cherished the silky, comfortable floor of this picnic blanket (and the enjoyable patterns!). It has loops on the corners for stakes (which aren’t included), however it’s additionally heavy sufficient that it stays flat even on a breezy seaside. Whereas it doesn’t have a carrying case or pouch, it folds up sufficiently small to slide right into a backpack or tote. 

What we didn’t like: There is no such thing as a carrying case or pouch, and I couldn’t discover cleansing directions.

Key Specs 

• Folded dimensions: Folded as small as attainable, it is 9.25 x 7.25 x 2.5 inches
• Unfolded dimensions: 60 x 72 inches
• Supplies: Polyester
• Weight: 2.2 kilos
• Cleansing: Not specified

What we appreciated: This light-weight blanket folds up simply right into a neat little roll with a deal with. The floor was comfortable and plush and comfortable to sit down on, even when a rock snuck into the sand beneath. My sister and I had loads of room to take pleasure in our seaside picnic lunch, too. Plus, it’s lower than $20 and is available in a couple of sizes. 

What we didn’t like: This isn’t a deal-breaker as a result of it wasn’t an actual check, however my cat had a grand time attacking this blanket and it did fray simply. It’s additionally fairly gentle, sufficient that I needed to get a couple of rocks to carry it down on the seaside. It’s additionally on the smaller facet. 

Key Specs 

• Folded dimensions: 12.25 x 7.5 x 8 inches
• Unfolded dimensions: 60 x 60 inches
• Supplies: Acrylic, cotton
• Weight: 1.3 kilos
• Cleansing: Machine-washable

What we appreciated: That is virtually like a quilt—it’s that comfortable, comfortable, and comfortable. “I’d use it for my blanket at night time,” I wrote in my notes. I admit I used to be tempted to lie down and take a nap on it. However for the nice of this assessment (and my job safety), I stayed awake. Okay, again to what else was nice about it: It stayed dry in damp grass and, because it’s hefty, it didn’t transfer a lick even on a gusty seaside day. It was additionally surprisingly straightforward to roll up and tuck again into its bag, which sports activities a shoulder strap. 

What we didn’t like: It’s large and it’s heavy—not excellent for a blanket you may wish to tote throughout a park or seaside. To not point out it’s round $200. 

Key Specs 

• Folded dimensions: 20.25 x 10.25 x 7 inches
• Unfolded dimensions: 78 x 55 inches
• Supplies: Rayon, polyester
• Weight: 6.13 kilos
• Cleansing: Machine-washable and dryer-safe

What we appreciated: In case your thought of a picnic is consuming some backpacking meals trailside on a climbing journey, that is the blanket for you. It’s tiny, weighs lower than an avocado (I truly weighed an avocado to substantiate this), and has built-in stakes to maintain it taut on the bottom. It’s greatest for solo picnics, although you might squeeze a buddy on it for those who don’t thoughts being cozy. 

What we didn’t like: It stained simply and bought damp spots. The wind saved ruffling it up on the seaside and the stakes don’t keep caught within the sand—in different phrases, it’s not a beach-friendly blanket. 

Key Specs 

• Folded dimensions: 4.5 x 2.7 x 1.1 inches
• Unfolded dimensions: 63 x 44 inches
• Supplies: Polyester with waterproof polyurethane coating (PFA-free), spandex-blend storage bag, metallic floor stakes
• Weight: 3.8 ounces
• Cleansing: Not specified

What we appreciated: The highest of this blanket is comfortable and woven with a fairly sample, whereas the underside is lined with waterproof materials: It’s the most effective of each worlds. I’d seize this blanket if I wished to impress my associates or partner with a dreamy picnic unfold (full with tea muffins, finger sandwiches, and chilly lemonade). The weave building appeared sturdy, too.  

What we didn’t like: I sat on this blanket whereas carrying black leggings and once I regarded down, I used to be lined in white lint. It additionally doesn’t have a built-in bag—only a harness, which takes extra effort to wrangle.

Key Specs 

• Folded dimensions: 15 x 6 x 6.5 inches
• Unfolded dimensions: 60 x 70 inches
• Supplies: Cotton, polyester
• Weight: 3.14 kilos
• Cleansing: Machine-washable

What we appreciated: The fleece-lined high of this blanket is comfortable and cozy (and screams autumnal picnic date). It’s straightforward to pack, light-weight, and has a built-in deal with for toting and a corded loop closure to maintain it rolled up. 

What we didn’t like: It smelled skunky the primary time I unwrapped it. However after airing it out the scent dissipated. The fleece high collected bits of leaves and grass, and sand took some time to shake off. It’s additionally not machine-washable.

Key Specs 

• Folded dimensions: 13 x 9 x 4 inches
• Unfolded dimensions: 59 x 59 inches
• Supplies: Fleece, polyethylene vinyl acetate
• Weight: 1.8 kilos
• Cleansing: Don’t machine-wash or dry. Floor-wash with heat water and delicate cleaning soap by hand solely. Don’t dry clear. Don’t iron.

What we appreciated: That is the limousine of picnic blankets: It’s large, and it could possibly maintain a whole lot of meals and folks. Whereas all the different blankets I examined have been round 60 by 70 inches, the Nemo added about 30 inches per facet. (And there’s a fair bigger providing, too, although I feel the XL dimension I examined is large enough.) The highest of the blanket was comfortable and cozy to sit down on, and I appreciated that it had a built-in strap system to pack it up—making an attempt to fold this factor and match it right into a bag would’ve been a Sisyphean job. The hidden zipper pouch was a pleasant contact, too—I put my keys and cellphone in it once I went for a dip within the sea. 

What we didn’t like: Should you’re like me and hate drawing consideration to your self in a public place, this blanket may trigger you stress. Once I examined it on the seaside, a couple of individual stopped to touch upon its appreciable dimension (however this additionally may have been as a result of it was solely myself sitting on it, which regarded kinda humorous). Sand caught readily to the underside, and it was arduous to shake out as a result of the blanket was so huge. Packing it again up felt like wrangling a tent, however as soon as I bought it folded, hooking the clasps round it was straightforward. 

Key Specs

• Folded dimensions: 16 x 9 inches
• Unfolded dimensions: 95 x 95 inches
• Supplies: Acrylic, PU Foam, EVA
• Weight: 3.8 kilos
• Cleansing: Spot clear when essential, machine-wash on a mild cycle if wanted

The Competitors

• Rumpl In every single place Mat: This was an excellent picnic blanket, however I discovered the feel somewhat crunchy. It was additionally tough to stuff into the hooked up bag. 
• Oniva Waterproof Stadium Blanket Picnic Blanket: This was a pleasant, comfortable blanket with a fleece-like high, however the separate bag was small, making it powerful to repack. 
• CG Gear Sand-Free Picnic Mat: This blanket carried out greatest on the seaside because it’s made from porous materials that lets sand fall by. But it surely wasn’t the comfiest blanket I examined, and it bought moist on a grassy garden. 
• Baggu Puffy Picnic Blanket: Cute, however the ripstop building was crunchy and bought damp spots on the underside. It was additionally arduous to roll up due to the puffiness.
• Tiny Land Picnic Blanket: This blanket is definitely two separate items: a liner and a high blanket. This meant extra to hold, and the harness was tough to slide onto the folded blankets. 

FAQs

What kind of blanket is greatest for picnics?

A picnic blanket ought to be massive sufficient to accommodate no less than two to a few individuals (plus meals!), and it ought to have a water-proof underside. When you may simply use a towel or blanket, it would get soggy on damp grass. It must also be straightforward to fold up and carry.

What materials is nice for a picnic blanket?

In our assessments, we discovered polyester, acrylic, or cotton (or higher but, a combo of a water-proof materials and a comfortable one) have been the most effective by way of consolation and sturdiness. Ripstop was too crunchy and scratchy, and a blanket solely made from polyethylene was too rubbery and textured.  

How large ought to a picnic blanket be?

A picnic blanket ought to ideally match two to a few individuals, plus meals. We did discover a bigger blanket from Nemo that might simply accommodate 5 to 6 individuals if you wish to have a bigger picnic celebration. 

Why We’re the Specialists

• Grace Kelly is a commerce editor at Severe Eats. 
• She has been testing kitchen gear for nearly 4 years. 
• Grace examined picnic blankets by weighing them down with 20-pound weights on damp grass, sitting on them, toting them round, and organising a picnic on the seaside.