There’s nothing like planning an old-fashioned picnic with your friends or family. When the weather’s nice, you’ve got good food, and great company, life is great. Picnics are a great way to get everyone out of the house, and head to the local park. Plus, you get a chance to soak up a few rays while the kids are occupied. It’s a win-win for everyone. When you have the people, the food, and the location, all you need is a great picnic blanket.
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After all, a great picnic blanket is a vital part in having a great picnic experience. It’s your kitchen table on the go! Even better, picnic blankets are usually extremely versatile, so you can use them for your other outdoor outings.
This makes them a great investment if you do a lot of outdoor activities! When looking for the best picnic blanket, there’s a few qualities you may want to specifically look for.
Qualities of the Best Picnic Blanket
Waterproof: There’s nothing worse than setting up your entire picnic, and then sitting on your blanket and feeling like you’ve wet your pants. Make sure that you’re buying a picnic blanket that’s waterproof, to protect your outing from any unwanted moisture. Some come with a waterproof back, while others are waterproof on both sides!
Compactable: The whole purpose of a picnic is the ability to have your meal outdoors, and it’s important that your picnic can easily be packed up. Same goes with your picnic blanket! Plus, when you’re outside you never know when you need to pack up quickly to head home. Look for a picnic blanket that can easily be folded up into a tote bag or zippered bag.
Machine Washable: It’s easy to assume that any blanket can be washed at home, but not all picnic blankets are recommended to machine wash. Some recommend that you only spot clean. However, especially if you’re looking for a versatile picnic blanket that you can use for other activities like the beach, you want to have a blanket you can throw in the wash. Look carefully at the reviews to see if others have machine washed the blanket successfully.
Size: Just like other blankets, picnic blankets come in different sizes. Most picnic blankets can measure anywhere from 50 by 50 inches to 50 by 80 inches. If you’re planning on using this picnic blanket for the family, most likely the larger sizes will work best but remember the larger the blanket the more blanket you have to carry.
Weight: When you have a picnic, the challenge is getting all food and other items to the destination safely. Most likely, the food will be the heaviest to carry, so make it easier on yourself and buy a light blanket. For a general rule of thumb, look for picnic blanket under 3 pounds.
Top 5 Best Picnic Blanket
yodo Outdoor Water-Resistant Picnic Blanket
This oversized picnic blanket is a necessity for families that like to spend time outdoors. Measuring 79 by 79 inches, this blanket can easily fit 5-6 adults sitting or 3-4 adults laying down. However large blankets can be a hassle to carry and fold up quickly, especially if you have little ones that aren’t cooperating.
This picnic blanket folds into a small tote that measures just around 13.5 x 11 x 7 inches, including a handle and Velcro to keep closed! Plus, this blanket is less than 3 pounds, making your picnic outing less trouble if you have to move spots or pack heavy! Also, the back of this blanket is waterproof, adding protection if you happen to camp your picnic out on a wet patch of grass.
Pros:
- Waterproof bottom & top wicks away moisture
- Huge XXL blanket!
- Easy to fold & store
- Affordable
- Cute pattern
Cons:
- Not available in many colors & sizes
- Leaves, dog hair, and pine needles stick to top fabric
- Some say fleece is too warm for summer
Pratico Outdoors Premium Picnic Blanket
Looking for a blanket you can use for picnics, the beach, and even outdoor sports games? This is the perfect product. Made out of 100% polar fleece, the top of this picnic blanket is soft to the touch, yielding 220 gsm.
Measuring 58 by 80 inches and weighing 2.4 pounds, this blanket is a good size for a group of 4 for a picnic, or for 2 to share during a cool night on the bleachers for a sporting event.
This blanket rolls up into a small and lightweight bundle, and comes with a buckled strap to carry around. Perfect for any outdoor activities, this picnic blanket is machine washable, and has a water-resistant backing!
Pros:
- Waterproof bottom layer
- Very soft fleece
- Machine washable!
- Classic picnic plaid pattern, available in 2 colors
- Great blanket for many different purposes
Cons:
- Some say the backing is slippery
- Some believe it’s overpriced
SONGMICS Outdoor Waterproof Picnic Blanket
Want a quality picnic blanket, but saving your money for summer vacations? This blanket is a great affordable option, that still will give you a cute and durable blanket to bring on picnics.
Made out of a cozy fleece cover, this blanket gives you a cozy cushioning, whether you’re sitting or laying down. Underneath it’s top layer, it has a foam cushion providing further comfort.
No one wants to feel all the bumps and lumps of the ground beneath them while on a picnic! Finally, there is a backing made of waterproof material to keep your picnic dry.
This blanket easily folds into a small carry bag measuring 16 x 10 x 4 inches. One of the lighter blankets, this one measure 1.9 pounds, making your picnic luggage much lighter.
Pros:
- Available in 3 different colors & patterns
- 3 layered blanket
- Detailed instructions to easily fold up
- Good size picnic blanket
- Extremely affordable
- Versatile blanket
Cons:
- Collects dirt & sand easily
- Recommended to spot clean, not machine washable
- Some say material is a little thin
Roebury Picnic Blanket
Unlike the other picnic blankets on this list, this blanket is water-resistant on both sides. If you happen to spill something during your picnic, you can just wipe it right up!
This blanket is large, measuring 55 by 70 inches, making it big enough for the family and a great item to keep in the trunk of the family car!
The blanket’s material has a waterproof coating, making it very easy to wipe off any dirt or food. This is also a great blanket for kids or babies to sit/lay on instead of the ground, as it’s easily cleanable and still extremely comfy!
Like many other the blankets, this picnic blanket packs into a carrying bag! Just fold up the blanket, and zip into a tote with a strap long enough to put on your shoulder.
Pros:
- Water-resistant on both sides!
- Machine washable
- Available in 2 different patterns
- Folds into a zipper tote with shoulder strap
- Able to be used for many different uses
- Directions to fold blanket are sewed on the back of the blanket
Cons:
- Zipper is a bit flimsy
- Some believe it’s overpriced
yodo Outdoor Picnic Blanket Tote
Made for comfort, this picnic blanket may have you sitting outside all day long. Not only does this blanket have a layer of soft fleece, but it also has a sponge foam layer, and then an eco friendly waterproof bottom.
If you can’t stand the feeling of uneven ground while you enjoy your outdoor meal, this picnic blanket has the ideal padding!
Even though it has an extra layer of foam padding, this blanket is still extremely light, weighing only 1.2 pounds.
Perfect for family outings and other outdoor activities, this blanket measures 59 by 53 inches, and can roll up into a tote measuring 12.5 by 8 by 4 inches. And it’s available in other colors and patterns!
Pros:
- Foam padding layer
- Affordable
- Easily compacts into a bag
- Sturdy handle
- Waterproof backing
- Available in 7 different colors & patterns
- 180-day money-back satisfaction guaranteed
Cons:
- Colors may not be accurate to pictures
- Long Velcro that may ruin the fleece
Final Thoughts
After taking a look at our list of best picnic blankets, you can probably tell that most of them have a lot of the same qualities.
These blankets are great for any kind of blanket you want to take on-the-go outdoors, or even to use inside. Especially if you’re an active family that rushes to sport games, this is the perfect product to keep in your car at all times.
With built in handles that most picnic blankets have, you can easily grab your blanket for last minute plans, and they’re easy to pack up if the weather is cooperating.
No one wants to be stuck in a downpour just because they can’t figure out how to pack up their blanket! Some blankets even have instructions right on the back of the blanket.
Furthermore, look for picnic blankets that are machine washable, especially if you plan to use this for beach days or sports outings where they’re highly likely to get dirty.
All in all, you know your family best. Stick to your budget (you’ll find great picnic blankets in all budgets), and order what suits you. Just make sure the company has a return policy, as there are always other picnic blanket options. Happy picnic-ing!
