Picnic Baskets Tested

Make the most of the great outdoors by having a picnic. We try 10 sets that you can fit in the car

Auto Express Car Reviews

May 2011

Summer sun and school holidays mean that now is the perfect time to go on a picnic. But you don’t want to be throwing your best china in the boot when packing up your car – so why not get a dedicated picnic set instead?

There’s a variety of different sets on offer, including backpacks and cool bags, while the traditional hamper is slowly undergoing a retro revival, with wicker and fabric baskets back on sale. These ready-to-go products come with cutlery, plates and cups, and should provide plenty of space for your food as well. But which is the best dinner guest? We packed up 10 to find out.

Armed with a checklist of kit we wanted to see, our picnic sets were rated based on number of place settings and quality – porcelain plates and glass cups scored higher than plastic sets. After cutlery and crockery, essentials included a sharp knife, chopping board, corkscrew and cloth napkins for spills.

Marks were given for storage compartments, and separate space for cold food won extra points. We then noted build quality by testing the zips, before picking up each set and factoring in how easy each one was to carry. Our final criteria was price.

Verdict

Draper came second in our last test, but wins here thanks to a keen price, good build quality and massive storage. Newcomer Navigate takes the runner-up spot with its well equipped Summerhouse Vintage Insulated Picnic Basket. If money was no object, we would pick PicnicShop.co.uk’s traditional Premium Stripe Carnival Basket.