Are you always drawn back to the great outdoors? Then a picnic blanket should definitely be part of your next trip to the countryside, beach vacation or camping trip. So you can make yourself comfortable wherever you like and enjoy your snack outdoors. In this buying guide, I will explain what is important when choosing the right picnic blanket and what else you should know about it.
The most important things first
- The material, coating, size and pack size play an important role in picnic blankets.
- A good picnic blanket is cozy and offers you sufficient protection from the cold and wet ground.
- There are different types of picnic blankets – from camping blankets to the smallest pack size and XXL blankets.
Inhaltsverzeichnis
- The most important things first
- Ultralight and waterproof: the editors’ recommendation
- Good & affordable: The price-performance winner
- What is a picnic blanket?
- What types of picnic blankets are there?
- Material for a picnic blanket
- Which picnic blanket suits me?
- You should pay attention to these features when buying
- I compared these picnic blankets
- Frequently asked questions about the picnic blanket
Don’t want to scroll? Click here to go directly to the picnic blanket comparison.
Ultralight and waterproof: the editors’ recommendation
- Immer trocken – PU-beschichtetes Polyester blockt Nässe komplett; keine feuchten Hosen mehr am…
- Sturmfest & strapazierfähig – Robustes High-Tech Material inkl. 4 Sandtaschen & 4 Ösen inkl….
The outdoor blanket is ideal as a beach blanket, seat pad for camping, picnic blanket for hiking or as a waterproof carpet pad at festivals.
Good & affordable: The price-performance winner
- 🌴Kompakt und einfach tragbar: Dünnes und leichtes Material. Kleinere Größe…
- 🌴Leicht zu sichern: Ausgestattet mit 4 Ecktaschen, in denen Sie Kieselsteine oder andere schwere…
Small pack size, light weight and quick-drying: this is how a picnic blanket for hiking and trekking tours should be!
What is a picnic blanket?
Let’s start with the question of what makes a picnic blanket in the first place. As the name suggests, it is an important part of a picnic. It serves as a base outdoors so that you can make yourself comfortable there. Unlike normal blankets that you might use at home, these models are specially designed for trips in the great outdoors and are correspondingly robust.
What types of picnic blankets are there?
As already mentioned, there are a few differences between picnic blankets. So it makes a big difference what you want to use them for. For permanent use when camping, it should be a more robust version than a base for a trip to the lake or a short break in the garden. I would like to briefly explain the differences.
The classic
A classic picnic blanket is comparable to a normal tablecloth. It is usually made of cotton and has one or two layers. It is suitable as a beach towel or for making yourself comfortable on a lawn on warm summer days. Of course, you can also use them at home as a bedspread or something similar.
![Lumaland Baumwoll-Tagesdecke aus 100% Baumwolle ca. 200 x 240cm | Premiumqualität, extra weich und flauschig, vielseitig einsetzbar, hohe Langlebigkeit | Waschbar und trocknergeeignet [Mintgrün]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41PZmgBRhXL._SL160_.jpg "The best picnic blanket for a short break on the go 6")
The simple
In addition to cotton blankets, there are also simple models made of soft polyester or microfiber. These picnic blankets are particularly fluffy, but have no special extras and are only of limited use on damp surfaces. These simple picnic blankets are usually a little cheaper.
The waterproof
Most picnic blankets are now made from a waterproof material. These include Oxford fabric, for example, which is considered particularly robust. Other picnic blankets are covered with polyethylene on the underside so that no moisture can penetrate. Nylon models are also particularly robust and waterproof. Roughly speaking, we can choose between two waterproof models – some picnic blankets are completely waterproof, so it’s no problem if you spill a drink, and with other blankets only the underside is waterproof.
The insulating
As the name suggests, this is a picnic blanket whose underside has an insulating effect. The coating is mainly made of aluminum and protects you from a cold floor. And that’s not all – the aluminum layer is also waterproof, so moisture from the ground cannot penetrate the picnic blanket. Another practical feature is that body heat is stored on the upper side, giving it a warming function. For these reasons, insulated picnic blankets are the ideal companion when camping. You can also use them as a floor in your tent to protect yourself from the ground cold.
The padded
It is the luxury version among the picnic blankets – the padded one. In contrast to the other models, which usually consist of one or two layers, this one has additional padding. There is usually an insulating underside, a soft upper side and a middle layer of foam or wadding. If you spend a lot of time outside on your picnic blanket and are an enthusiastic camper, then this version is a real bonus. So you don’t need an additional seat cushion, but can make yourself comfortable on the blanket for longer periods of time. The only disadvantage is that the additional padding also means a larger pack size. It is therefore not really suitable for trekking tours.
The outdoor blanket
There are even special outdoor and camping blankets that are ideal for backpackers and hikers. The picnic blankets have a particularly small pack size and can be easily stowed away in a rucksack. They are particularly light and can be used individually in nature. Outdoor picnic blankets are waterproof and made of a robust material. The underside is made of a waterproof material and the surface can be made of either fleece or wipe-clean fabric. Some models even come with practical pegs so that you can anchor the picnic blanket to the ground. The outdoor blankets are usually supplied with a practical transport bag so that you can transport them in a space-saving manner.
The XXL version
If you often go on picnics in the countryside with the whole family or friends, an XXL picnic blanket is ideal. These are particularly large and can easily be used by several people at the same time. While normal picnic blankets for one person are usually around 140 x 200 cm, the XXL version can be a few centimetres larger. Most large models have a size of 200 x 200 cm. But there are also XXL picnic blankets measuring 200 x 300 cm.
The little one
Where there are large XXL picnic blankets, there can’t be too many small-format blankets. In fact, there are extra small picnic blankets that can be folded up so small that you can put them in your pocket. Although they are so compact and have a small pack size, two people can sit on them. The small picnic blankets then have a size of around 110 x 70 cm, 110 x 160 cm or even 180 x 160 cm.
Material for a picnic blanket
Your picnic blanket should be perfectly tailored to you. This also includes the right material. Which one is suitable for your needs depends on various factors. Cotton or fleece is often used for the surface. Both materials have a warming effect and are considered to be very hard-wearing. The advantage of fleece is that it is water-repellent and dries quite quickly. Polyester and polyacrylic are also popular. They are both heat-insulating, dry quickly and are very easy to care for. If the picnic blanket is specially designed for camping, other materials such as Oxford fabric or nylon come into play. These are particularly suitable for hiking and trekking tours.
Which picnic blanket suits me?
Now you may be wondering which picnic blanket is suitable for your needs. First and foremost, you should ask yourself what you mainly want to use them for. A simple picnic blanket is perfectly adequate for a few trips to the lake in summer. However, if you want to sit together with your whole family, it should be an XXL blanket. If you want to use them when camping, a small pack size plays an important role. You should also take into account insulating functions and the choice of materials if you are allergic to certain substances. It’s best to go through the following list and think about how important the individual points are to you:
- Utilization
- Size
- Material
- Pack size
Based on these criteria, your selection will certainly be a little smaller and you will be a little closer to making your purchase decision.
You should pay attention to these features when buying
Before you decide on a picnic blanket, you should take another quick look at the various properties and special features. I would like to briefly explain what is important in the end.
Kind
First of all, it is important to decide which type of picnic blanket you will use most often. For occasional trips to the beach or the lake, a different base is required than for a long camping adventure. You can choose between a normal picnic blanket, one with insulation, a pad that is particularly small or one in XXL format.
Material
The choice of material again depends on your needs. Some materials are particularly soft, while others have a heat-insulating effect. Roughly speaking, you can choose between cotton, fleece, polyester, polyacrylic, Oxford fabric or nylon.
Pack size
A small pack size is particularly important on long hikes or trekking tours. After all, you will be wearing the picnic blanket for most of the day. It’s best to look for sizes that can be easily stowed on or in your backpack. The pack size plays a less important role for irregular trips, but should not be underestimated.
Size
In addition to the pack size, the spread-out size also plays an important role. If you want to use the picnic blanket with several people, you will need a much larger size than you would need on your own. As a beach blanket, 90 cm wide is probably enough, while a large picnic blanket for the whole family should be at least 200 x 200 cm.
Transportation options
It is particularly practical if your new picnic blanket is easy to transport. Almost all models now have a carrying option. However, these vary greatly depending on the model. Camping picnic blankets usually come with a small carrying bag. Other bases are supplied with a Velcro strap and others have a carrying handle that is already integrated into the ceiling.
Insulation
If the underside of the picnic blanket is insulated, you can use it almost all year round. It is particularly practical because it protects you from the cold and moisture. Picnic blankets can be used individually and are also a practical carpet pad on the tent floor.
Waterproof
It is also a great advantage if your picnic blanket is waterproof. Fresh morning dew or damp sand can’t harm you in this case and you can make yourself really comfortable on your blanket.
Upholstery
You have increased seating comfort if the blanket has an intermediate layer. Some models are padded in the middle and are therefore particularly comfortable.
Cleaning
If the picnic blanket is used frequently, it can of course get dirty. This makes it all the more important that it is easy to clean. Depending on the material, wiping it down is enough, while others need to be washed by hand. It is particularly practical if you can simply put the blanket in the washing machine.
I compared these picnic blankets
Frequently asked questions about the picnic blanket
Which picnic blanket is suitable for camping?
If you want to use your new picnic blanket mainly for camping, then you should focus primarily on the quality of the blanket. In this case, the material plays a far more important role than with a simple base for a trip to the meadow. The picnic blanket for camping and hiking should be as small as possible so that you can take it with you wherever you go. Many models can be stowed away in a small transport bag to save space. The material should preferably have an insulating and water-repellent effect so that you can use the blanket in all weathers. In view of this, an aluminum coating on the underside, for example, is a good option. You can often use camping blankets in many different ways. You can use it as a carpet pad in the tent, as an insulating rug in front of the tent or as a blanket if it does get a little colder in the evening.
Are all picnic blankets washable?
Depending on how often and where you use your blanket, the dirtier it can get on a camping trip. So it’s all the more practical if you can wash the picnic blanket quickly. Unfortunately, there is no concrete answer to this question. In fact, how the picnic blanket should be cleaned depends on the manufacturer and the material. Some models should only be washed by hand, while others should be cleaned with a damp sponge or brush. However, there are also models that you can simply put in the washing machine.
How much does a good picnic blanket for camping cost?
You should budget around EUR 20 for a waterproof picnic blanket with a small pack size and low weight.
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