Hey everyone! I'm working on a BHG article on picnic baskets. And I'm focusing on a few categories:

Best Wicker or Rattan,
Best Backpack options
Best insulated

I'm also including a section on picnic ACCESSORIES, so if you have anything to send over please let me know.

And when you email me, please make sure to include any shopping links to major retailers. That helps!

Question

Hey everyone! I'm working on a BHG article on picnic baskets. And I'm focusing on a few categories:

Best Wicker or Rattan,
Best Backpack options
Best insulated

I'm also including a section on picnic ACCESSORIES, so if you have anything to send over please let me know.

And when you email me, please make sure to include any shopping links to major retailers. That helps!

Haley Spracale · Accepted Answer

Hi there! A great backpack option for picnics is the Hydroflask 20 L Carry Outtm Soft Cooler Pack (https://www.hydroflask.com/20-l-carry-out-soft-cooler-pack?color=Trillium). I've been using Hydroflask products since early high school, and I truly love their bag and totes line. They're great for picnics, but also super useful for other outdoor adventures. I've used them for road trips, visits to the pool, and even lugging groceries around in the AZ heat.

Plus, they come in a bunch of the fun Hydro colors... so matching with your water bottle is possible! You can also always get the cooler on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Hydro-Flask-Cooler-Backpack-Beverages/dp/B0DSQBNNCS?ref_=pb_hm_dp&th=1

Rebecca Paxton · Answer

As a mom of two young kids, we love to spend time outside at parks but I always look for options that are affordable and useful for the everyday mom.

Mark and Graham offers a timeless picnic basket ($200) that has the whole package. It comes with complete serve ware and a zippered insulated cooler pocket.

If insulation isn't a priority and you're heading somewhere local, Serena & Lily has super chic on-the-go wicker basket option ($140). It's perfect for those quick park dates or backyard playdates.

For the more affordable, all-in-on solution, Amazon features a hand-woven willow basket ($70) with an insulated interior and full tableware for four, including a wine bag, mini table and a waterproof blanket. It's the ideal option for family outings or even just a romantic date night!

I personally own a yeti backpack and it has been a lifesaver for my growing family. The one that I have my eye on as upcoming birthday ask  is the Yeti M12 Backpack Soft Cooler ($275). While it doesn't include the full serve ware, it holds multiple drink size options and a comfortable fit.

What I love about these options is there is a picnic set-up to match every vibe and budget.

Links: 
https://www.markandgraham.com/products/picnic-cooler-basket/
https://www.serenaandlily.com/products/picnic-basket/1235848
https://www.amazon.com/Mutifunctional-Blanket-Insulated-Tablewares-Camping
https://www.yeti.com/coolers/soft-coolers/18060131560

Rachel Blindauer · Answer

There's something quietly luxurious about a well-packed picnic basket—less about the meal, more about the feeling it evokes. Time slows. Beauty becomes tactile. And the world, even for an hour, feels curated.

As an interior and product designer, I think about rattan the way some think about linen or stoneware—timeless, textural, and always just right. At shop.rachelblindauer.com, we carry 2 pieces that echo this ethos and elevate the art of outdoor entertaining without sacrificing ease or elegance.

For Accessories: Function Wrapped in Aesthetic
1. The Cactus Bloom Plaid Napkin
A tactile, refined detail that elevates even a simple picnic blanket meal. Shop here https://shop.rachelblindauer.com/products/cactus-bloom-plaid-napkin

2. The Duskberry Linen Napkin - A favorite from my styling toolkit. View here https://shop.rachelblindauer.com/products/duskberry-linen-napkin

Bio
Rachel Blindauer is an award-winning interior and product designer known for creating spaces and objects that feel as good as they look. With over 15 years of experience and a portfolio that spans from boutique hotels to coastal residences, her signature lies in editorial restraint, rich textures, and quietly bold choices.

Images and headshot available upon request.
Attribution: Rachel Blindauer, Interior & Product Designer
www.rachelblindauer.com
shop.rachelblindauer.com
Instagram: @rachelblindauer

Mimi Nguyen · Answer

As a serial snacker, I take my picnics pretty seriously as I always dash back and forth from work to some place outdoors, even casually. I swear by a backpack-style picnic basket to keep your hands free and your setup quick and simple. My favorite is the Apollo Walker Picnic Backpack on Amazon. It's spacious, insulated, and comes as a full set that includes utensils, wine glasses, and a picnic blanket all tucked in. I always bring it out for spontaneous park dates or lakeside munching.

And for accessories, I never leave without my rechargeable wine opener (yes, I know it makes you look extra prepared!) and our instant Vietnamese coffee blend from Cafely, which are such crowd-pleasers. Great picnics are all about ease and mini joys, and all these things really take the experience to the next level without being complicated.

Sandi Hendry · Answer

We love a picnic here at Minky Couture, and I got just the accessory for your guide: the Everywhere Blanket (here is one of our popular designs: https://www.softminkyblankets.com/products/everywhere-blanket-tan-cheetah)! With water-resistant backing on one side and our signature fabric on the other, we created this product specifically for picnics and outdoor adventures. Plus, the fact that it folds up into a backpack makes it so easy to carry while you're packing all your picnic essentials. It's like having a blanket, a picnic mat, and a bag all in one! If you'd like to get any additional info or have any questions, please feel free to email me at sandi.hendry@minkycouture.com

Laura Stone · Answer

After running sunrise kayak tours for years with our award-winning Sydney by Kayak, I've learned that the best picnic setup is actually about portability and marine-proof gear. Our guides pack breakfast items daily for harbour tours, and we've finded that soft-sided cooler backpacks work infinitely better than traditional wicker baskets near water.

For backpack options, choose ones with waterproof zippers and external attachment points. We use similar gear when preparing our coffee service with San Antonio Bakery—anything near Sydney Harbour needs to handle splash and humidity without failing.

The critical accessory everyone overlooks is reusable containers that actually float. Since we've saved 45,676 disposable cups through our floating reusable cups program, I've seen how water-friendly gear prevents waste and frustration during outdoor trips.

Skip fancy wicker entirely if you're near any water activities. Our corporate team-building experiences taught us that practicality beats aesthetics when you're dealing with real outdoor conditions and potential weather changes.

Mary Winkenwerder · Answer

Picnic accessories.  Taking time to incorporate details into a personal or shared picnic is important. This one detail elevates the total picnic experience while amping up ambiance.

The unscented candle. If your picnic is a well-cultivated gourmand experience of flavors and textures, the unscented candle made with natural wax is a wonderful picnic mix fusion. The candle elevates the dining experience and becomes a topic of discussion. Picnic candle accessories elevate the entire experience from just a unique dining excursion to the unforgettable picnic experience.

The scented candle.   If you enjoy layered tastes in your picnic spread, adding the right complementary scented candle adds an entirely new dimension to this freeform dining experience. Food items produce some scent, and this scent experience becomes well cultivated when accompanied with complementary scents. Think about adding simple scents like fresh-baked bread or a favorite wine or spirit. A complementary scented natural wax candle is the little detail you did not know you were missing.

The scents.  Fresh-baked bread amplifies bread used in a meal even if you're not enjoying bread in your picnic. While your olfactory senses are taking a scent bath in fresh bread, your taste buds are enjoying different flavors and textures. The experience can be incredible.

Citrus scents make great enhancements during fresh leaf and pasta salad focused picnic meals.

Amaretto and vanilla are elevating scents enjoyed with dessert courses.  
Merlot- or wine-scented candles elevate charcuterie, pasta, and sandwich experiences.

When prepping for your picnic, make sure you bring a lighting device for your candle. For general safety, make sure your candle has a 3" lip around it to ignite and maintain the flame throughout this joyous eating experience.

Taking time to add this one simple scent accessory makes picnic experiences worth pressing repeat, again and again! The right candle at your picnic takes the experience to ahhhhhh in minutes.

5 Answers

Haley Spracale

Rebecca Paxton

Rachel Blindauer

Mimi Nguyen

Sandi Hendry