What's the best brand of picnic basket?

[UntilYourNextHairBrainedScheme]

Is there a well known brand which make reliably excellent picnic baskets does anyone know?

I'm looking for a picnic basket with all the utensils and plates and glasses strapped in, maybe with a blanket with waterproof back included, and obviously room for food and drink, ideally in an integrated cool compartment.

Ideally I want a set for five or six people, but these don't seem to exist so a set for 4 and another one for two also an option. The set for 4 is then the priority.

Its really important that it isn't too awkward to carry and can be carried some distance (so a rucksack style maybe or one with good long, strong shoulder straps as well as a handle, not just a beautiful rectangular basket to keep in the car boot!).

Originally I was envisaging wicker but this isn't remotely essential and a fabric one is also fine!

Willing to pay a bit more (up to maybe £250 if it's perfect) for a really good one as an investment to use for years, and because it will form part of planned birthday celebrations for a family member, restrictions allowing, in the summer.

I think that something with strapped in crockery and cutlery, a picnic rug and an insulated food compartment for 6 people is likely to be too big for one person to carry on their back.

Consider getting a lovely picnic set with room for a couple of flasks or bottles and then a separate cool box or bag: it will open up your options.

Following for ideas!

I think you may struggle to get one that includes all the features you're after, it would be huge! And heavy!
I think best bet is to get one rucksack picnic basket with plates/cutlery glasses and rug attached- I've seen plenty of those, and a second rucksack with cooler feature for food.

I have a fortnums set that I got as an incredibly generous wedding present, which is gorgeous- but I also have sets from Amazon that are just as good!

ODFOx I take your point about it being too big - splitting the features and place settings between two or three smaller sets is also a good option.

What's a good brand though? Ordering from Amazon can produce a bargain or absolute unsatisfactory, leaky tat, and reviews aren't always that helpful as so many are bought these days...

Fortnum and Mason seem to be one go-to name for this, and they do have a fabric rucket set for four in budget, but unfortunately don't deliver where I live (im in the EU).

Are there other well known/ trusted go-to brands for reliably good quality picnic sets does anyone know?

The Vonshef hold-all looks like it ticks most of your boxes but doesn't include a rug. It has a small insulated food compartment but you'll still need another bag for food.

It has good reviews and is nowhere near your budget.
I'm trying and failing to find something in a similar design by a better known brand.

Ginfilledcats yes that split sounds like an option.

If the focus is a rucksack set for 4 like this: www.fortnumandmason.com/fortnum-s-4-person-canvas-picnic-backpack

can anyone suggest other reliably good quality brands? (I'm in the EU and Fortnum and Mason don't deliver here any more).

We have something similar to this, which is insulated and we use for drinks and all the cutlery etc that's included. Then a second large 'just eat' style insulated bag with a strap for all the food. We have a lovely wicker one inherited from my grandmother which is great for picnics in the garden but totally impractical for a walk first which is where we would normally picnic.

ODFOx thanks. VonShef is at least a known brand and not exclusively an Amazon seller! I don't really trust Amazon reviews as its often pretty clear the majorityvof 5 star are paid for reviews - only less glowing ones seem real, and often the contrast between poor and good reviews for the same product shows that the good ones are bought!

I'll at VonShef on other retailers websites to get a better idea I think, thanks!

Oh, here it is. Also we usually do the 'upside down' type salad jars, one per person, and I bought plastic cylindrical clip top jars for these - they stack well in the food bag.

Oh the pic I posted has a flask. The one we have has just one insulated bottle bag at the side, and a separate insulated compartment which is great for bottles of bubbly and water!

AlwaysLatte thanks! The Greenfield collection came up when I googled test winnering picnic rucksacks but the links were all back to Amazon - I think I'm getting paranoid about Amazon taking over the world with fake reviews, but it made me sceptical Goid to hear from someone who actually has the product, or at least a similar one from the same brand!

Mines a Cath Kidson one, but for 4. And a blanket to match.

I think its beautiful - bright, flowery, design. My friend calls it burglar proof!

I should say its a rucksack. Insulated with Insulated bottle holders.

Thanks Kezzie200 - that looks good too, just seems to be out of stock anywhere that would deliver to where I live. I think in an ideal situation I'd go a bit plainer than Kath Kidson but quality and carryability are my first concerns.

John Lewis usually have a reasonable range each summer- though you'd maybe need one for 4 and one for 2?

MechantGourmet yes I think you're right about one for four and one for two. I will look and see what john Lewis has and see if the same brands are stocked somewhere I can order from. John Lewis stopped shipping outside the UK at the start of the year.