Picnics are there to enjoy nature, tasty food, and refreshing drinks, most importantly, they are undertaken with the ones you love. But, before you pack your blanket, there is now a crucial item that can make or break your outdoor activity, and that is the picnic blanket.
The perfect picnic blanket should have a few qualities. These qualities depend on the style in which you intend to be and some criteria, like the size and quality of your blanket. A picnic blanket's design is simple, it mostly depends on how you plan on using it, and that is why what makes a good picnic blanket is important to have in mind.
A good picnic blanket can be used as:
Festival blanket
Tent floor
Picnic blanket for traditional picnics
Car blanket
Beach blanket
Stadium blanket for outdoor concerts or sports events
And many other uses for a tarp, almost anything you can think of. But, it's not the multiple purposes in question; instead, it's how you intend to use your blanket. Is it going to be only a beach blanket, or are you going to take it to national parks too? In the end, your perfect picnic blanket is the one that fits your needs, and not the one size fits all, which most articles nowadays recommend.
Next up, we will discuss what makes a good picnic blanket, its characteristics and what to look for when choosing the right fit for your next park field trip.
Size
The size of your seating space plays a crucial role in what makes a good picnic blanket. Your outdoor picnic blanket should offer you enough space to sit on it comfortably while all of your food, drinks, and accessories are lying on top of it too. You shouldn't feel cramped.
If you're trying to cram as many accessories as possible onto your picnic blanket while on your picnic, and the space is as minimal as possible for you to sit, it's no good. Imagine doing this on a too-small blanket, where you're pulling the blanket to get more seating space while the person sitting across from you is doing so too.
If you're searching for some more information on picnic blanket size, we have a great article with a size chart. How Big Should a Picnic Blanket Be: What Size Should I Choose for My Family? will tell you what to look out for when it comes to size and how big of a blanket you need, by the number of people you're planning on seating.
As you can see, a big picnic blanket is a must if you're trying to seat a lot of people on it. If not, opt for something small and lightweight, perfect as a loveseat.
Material
The upper material of the blanket or top layer also makes a difference when it comes to both the use and quality of the blanket. There are numerous materials in use today, from fleece to nylon.
Nylon
Nylon and polyester are used for beach blankets because they have water-resistant properties and dry fast. Another good thing about an outdoor blanket made of nylon is that you can quickly get rid of sand clinging to it.
Cotton
Cotton picnic blankets are soft, making them ideal picnic mats for picnic parties for adults, or babies with sensitive skin. Outdoor blankets with cotton blends are widespread during summer picnics because of the material's breathability.
Wool
A wool outdoor blanket is a luxury picnic blanket, it breathes well and offers heat retention, but it is not machine washable and is on the expensive side.
Fleece
Last but not least is the fleece blanket; it is trendy, and people love it because it's cushioning, fluffy, and offers insulation.
Since there are so many versions of the camping blanket today, you can choose the fabric according to your needs. First, you must consider your intended use and how much you're willing to pay for your blanket.
Waterproof
Some picnic blankets have a water-resistant or waterproof underlayer. A light shower can come by on any sunny day, and the wet grass in the park can ruin your outing. That is why blanket manufacturers started making a waterproof bottom layer on picnic blankets.
A waterproof blanket will keep you and your friends dry by keeping the moisture and the cold away from your clothes and skin in any condition. Think of what you will use your blanket for and the area's weather conditions. After that, choose whether it's best to purchase a blanket with or without waterproof backing.
It would be good to have one if you're facing colder and wetter climates. But, if you live in the tropics with minimal rain, and if you're trying to find a blanket for the beach, you might not need a waterproof blanket.
Machine-washable
Once you go out for a fall picnic and all of the little leaves start to stick onto your blanket, and your pet's hair sticks to it, too, you will realize why this is on our list.
Having a machine-washable blanket is a pro for those of us with pets and any other kind of messy hobby. Some people even like to wash their outdoor blanket in the washing machine after every use, just to keep it germ-free.
You can check out more information on the importance of washing your picnic blanket every season and a guide on how to do this in our article on How To Wash a Blanket and Maintain it Afterward. You will find a washing guide and a how-to on maintaining it there.
Portability
One of the deciding factors on what makes a good picnic blanket is its portability. The ease of transporting your foldable blanket from point A to B is vital. Whether you go on a picnic, fishing, camping, or watching a sports event in a stadium, you don't want to carry a blanket that takes up a lot of space; the chances of you bringing it with you on every outing are very small.
Others place their outdoor blankets inside their favorite picnic basket; but with a stuff sack or a carrying bag, you can easily sling your blanket on your shoulders to every outdoor function without breaking a sweat.
Lightweight
Like portability, the weight of your blanket might play a crucial role in making or breaking it. Weight is a factor of what makes a good picnic blanket, and you can imagine how hard it might be to carry around a 10-pound heavy extra-large blanket.
We recommend including blanket weight as one of the considerations in choosing a picnic blanket, especially if your picnicking place isn't so close to your car.
