8 picnic essentials for outdoor dining this spring

Photo collage of a father and son enjoying a picnic, a picnic basket, and a couple walking in nature with a wicker basket — The cooler, blanket and baskets your outdoor moment needs

(Image credit: Illustration by Julia Wytrazek / Getty Images)

When you make a purchase using links on our site, The Week may earn a commission. All reviews are written independently by our editorial team.

You made a stacked sandwich, picked out the ripest berries for a fruit bowl and whipped up a big batch of lemonade — the last step for readying for your picnic is packing everything up. These eight products, including durable baskets and leak-proof containers, will ensure you can easily haul and enjoy your outdoor spread.

Mark & Graham Promenade picnic tote for 2

A beige monogramed Mark and Graham Promenade picnic tote for two with a wicker bottom and M embroidered monogram — Add a monogram to your tote so everyone knows it is yours

There is no need to lug a giant picnic basket when it is only a party of two. The "stylish" Mark & Graham Promenade canvas tote is great for a cozy picnic, Good Housekeeping said, with ample space for food, drinks and a blanket. A "sturdy" handwoven wicker bottom helps the tote keep its shape when set down. Plates, glasses and utensils are included, and embroidered monograms can be added. ($59, £45.50, Mark & Graham)

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Rurality wicker picnic basket with lid and handle

A wicker picnic basket with a red and white gingham and lace lining — Have a Little Red Riding Hood moment with this classic picnic basket

A traditional wicker basket gives off a "vintage, old-school picnic vibe," Travel and Leisure said, and this charming version comes with a classic red and white gingham liner. It is "sturdy" and roomy enough for all your essentials, plus the top of the basket is a "great table-like surface" when you are ready to dig in. ($36, £28, Amazon)

Scuddles extra large picnic blanket

A multicolored Scuddles picnic blanket — This colorful blanket is wipeable and waterproof

There is room for everyone on this "substantial and durable" layered blanket, The Strategist said. Its wipeable waterproof plastic bottom and soft acrylic top work for "both grass and sand," and the "unusually sturdy" handle makes it easy to carry the blanket along with your other picnic accoutrements. ($28, £22, Amazon)

Sunflora picnic backpack for 4

A black Sunflora picnic backpack open to show wine glasses, cutlery, a cutting board, napkins and plates — A blanket is included in Sunflora's picnic backpack

Melamine plates, silverware, napkins, wine glasses, salt and pepper shakers: This backpack is filled with all the "high-quality picnic essentials" you need, Food and Wine said.

9 recipes to cook (or not cook) during the hot summer months

11 summer essentials for fun in the sun

7 fresh and flavorful recipes to cook this spring

Charcuterie fans will appreciate the cheese knife and cutting board, which occupies hardly any room in the organized main compartment. ($80, £62, Amazon)

Sunnylife beach cabana

Stay cool and protected under this large, gazebo-like canopy. The "jaunty" striped fabric blocks ultraviolet rays, The Guardian said, and thanks to an umbrella-style mechanism, it pops open and sets up easily. The legs have sand feet for added stability. ($110, £85, Sunnylife)

Tirrinia 4-bottle wine tote carrier

A black Tirrinia wine cooler open to show four bottles — Take out the divider, and the Tirrinia cooler can hold 15 cans

This leakproof cooler fits four standard wine or cider bottles and includes a bottle opener "for when it's time to get the party started," Southern Living said. A removable divider keeps the bottles from clanking together and the thermal foam interior provides enough insulation to ensure chilled beverages for about three hours. ($23, £18, Amazon)

Vitever salad dressing to-go containers

Six small stainless steel Vitiver cups with lids — Bring ketchup, peanut butter, ranch and other condiments in these small cups

Bulky condiment bottles are heavy and can spill in the basket, ruining a picnic before it even begins. Instead, put dressings, dips and jams in these 1.6-ounce stainless steel cups for a "mess-free" experience, Food and Wine said. There are six in a set, each with a different colored "tight-fitting" lid to prevent "leaking in transit." ($8, £6, Amazon)

Youeon portable wine picnic table

A portable Youeon wine picnic table with wine and cheeses on it — The portable table's legs fold up for easy storage

No picnic table? No problem. This portable table with foldable legs means happy hour can happen any time, anywhere. There are four slots for wine glasses and cans and a hole to hold your bottle of vino or bubbly, with room left to place crackers, cheese, meats, fruits and other nibbles. ($24, £18.50, Amazon)

Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.