Ten Picnic Sets Tested

Sunny weather means trips away and eating out, making a picnic set an ideal addition for your car. But which should you choose? We put 10 to the test.

Auto Express Car Reviews

July 2009

Summer time means sunshine, trips away in the car and picnics in the countryside.

The days of wicker baskets are long gone, replaced with stylish holdalls or rucksacks and full of trendy, brightly coloured contents. We tried 10 of the best to find the perfect dinner guests.

The Test

All of our sets are for four people, so we looked for those with plenty of storage for food. Once fully loaded, comfort when carrying was obviously important, as was the quality of the bag and crockery.

Metal cutlery won out over plastic and we awarded points for useful items such as chopping boards, sharp knives and bottle openers. Given that many packs will simply be thrown into a car’s boot, we wanted a durable bag that could cope with the stresses and strains of being used for many summers.

Looks weren’t too important, but nevertheless we took them into account when choosing our winners. Finally, as they are only intended for occasional use, price was a key factor, too.

Verdict

Taking top honours was Halfords’ Urban Escape, with its blend of storage, quality and price. And while the value-for-money Proteam CA1033 offered the maximum usability for minimum outlay, the Draper Coolbag secured second with its huge storage.