Picnic basket - yay or nay?

[snowman212]

If you have one - do you use it?
Considering getting one by wondering if it will end up sitting in the attic ...

[1word]

We had one for about 10 years before we got rid. Used once. Lovely idea but the cool bag always wins for practicality for us.

[Whatwhyhowwherewho]

Have one. Don’t use it.
Unless you are sitting next to your car to picnic (unlikely) they are a PITA to carry.
We just put cold things into cooler bags and put them in a rucksack, flasks/drinks & non chilled items in another. Much easier to walk to a nice spot to eat.

[SomeRandomerOnBumsnet]

Yes, we have one, we use it a lot, especially when we got camping.

[SomeRandomerOnBumsnet]

*go

[snowman212]

Thanks for the replies. Love the idea and think would look good on photos, but not buying it, due to impracticality, like you two mentioned

[snowman212]

@SomeRandomerOnBumsnet

Yes, we have one, we use it a lot, especially when we got camping.

Thanks. Didn't see your response when posting a reply earlier.

[NannyR]

I suppose it depends on what sort of picnicking you plan to do - a basket is nice for a posh picnic, near the car where you plan to stay in the same spot for a couple of hours; for taking a picnic on a day out, I prefer to wrap stuff up in packaging like reusable bags, paper etc and put it in a rucksack, then when you've finished eating you haven't got lots of empty containers or a bulky coolbox to carry around.

[SausageRoll2020]

We have one and do use it, but we live very near a nice little park (about 60 seconds from our door) so it doesn't have to travel very far.

It's more for the traditional picnic vibe than any sort of practicality.

[CeibaTree]

We got a beautiful one as a wedding present which is now gathering dust in the cupboard under the stairs. We used it a couple of times, but it's too heavy and awkwardly shaped to carry any distance. I think of you are picnicking near your car then it would be a nice thing to have just as it's so pretty and bestows a sense of occasion on the humble picnic. But a backpack with a cool compartment is the best option if you are a regular picnicker :)

[actiongirl1978]

Have one. It gathers dust looking stylish in the kitchen. Literally used it twice for school sports day (private school where you go for the whole day and take lunch). Totally useless, can't fit much in it and a cool bag is much better! Definitely style over substance.

[AnneLovesGilbert]

We’ve got a beautiful one we got with soma vouchers on a whim. Having it (in the understair cupboard) means we use it. It fits loads of stuff in and we got small cool bags which are great for sandwiches and salads and stack in the middle. It’s got plates, plastic glasses, decent cutlery and napkins, mini salt and pepper so it’s ready to go and has turned out to be really useful.

[Herja]

I've got a picnic backpack. It comes wuth plates, cuttlery, champagne flutes and all the wankiness you could want, but with more practicality than a basket (which I also had - it was ok when the event was a picnic, but anniying if the picnic was last of a day out).

I broke the basket using it as a seat once too often. The bag is much better. It also has a handy bit for attaching a blanket and a bottle bag.

[Herja]

*was part of a day out. There are other mistakes but at least they are readable! Stupid phone...

[Floralnomad]

My sister has one and we use it for outdoor theatre etc it’s very practical , will hopefully get a bit more use out of it this year .

[AnnaSW1]

Picnic backpack is the way forward! I love mine. We use it loads

[MyAnacondaMight]

I have a backpack cooler, which has proven time and again to be the best (albeit not prettiest) option. I make up for it with a beautiful tartan picnic rug from Fortnum and Mason, complete with leather carry handles. The rug clips onto the bottom of the backpack, when walking.

I have considered getting a pretty wicker basket for plates and glasses etc, but would still need the cooler for the actual wine/food.

[Allgirlskidsanddogs]

I had a cool basket.

Then I bought a picnic backpack, 2 compartments, cool one close to the back and then plates and utensils in front. The plates and utensils are dictated by the spacing and so it’s restrictive. The cool compartment isn’t big enough for what you need on a picnic.

Overall the backpack is big and heavy, making it not worth the hassle, I’ve gone back to a wicker basket and a cool basket!

[katy1213]

They're fine if you like a picnic with exhaust fumes beside the car,
Mine is somewhere in the cupboard under the stairs; can't remember ever using it.

[IndecentFeminist]

Which one have you got @AnneLovesGilbert?

[AnneLovesGilbert]

www.johnlewis.com/croft-collection-filled-wicker-picnic-basket-4-person/p3073620

It was years ago but almost identical to this one @IndecentFeminist

We’ve definitely had more picnics, and put more thought into them since having it.

[CMOTDibbler]

I adore picnic baskets, but we never do the sort of picnic where we eat next to or near to the car. So instead I have this coolbag rucksac set which is very practical and with the addition of someone else having crisps and other temp stable stuff in their bag does us all for a day out

[Miscarriage39]

Ours gathers dust. We bought a very practical insulated rucksack which we use all the time!