The perfect picnic is a grass patch away with this collection of 8 essential portables
Celebrate warmer weather by dining alfresco


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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
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)
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Rurality wicker picnic basket with lid and handle
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
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 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.
Charcuterie fans will appreciate the cheese knife and cutting board, which occupies hardly any room in the organized main compartment. ($80, £62, Amazon)
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Sunnylife beach cabana
Put up a cabana to prevent getting sunburned at your picnic
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
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
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
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.
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