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Picnic season is finally here, and whether you’re meeting friends in Prospect Park or heading to the Rockaways, a smooth and preferably waterproof surface to sit on is fundamental. With input from both outdoorsy types and professional picnic planners, I found the best picnic rugs, throws and blankets for all occasions, from casual hangs to hiking pit stops. I tested out many of these blankets myself, while also consulting with fellow Strategist staffers (and their dogs) about their favorites. Once you’ve picked out your blanket, we’ve also written about the best picnic accessories, outdoor games, and outdoor chairs.
What we’re looking for
Size
When buying a picnic blanket, says Perfect Picnic NYC founder Wendy Weston, “the biggest thing to consider is size.” A blanket or rug that measures just 40” by 60” is really only suitable for one to two people — then again, at most group picnics, everyone usually brings their own blanket. For families, you’ll want to consider blankets that measure at least 60” by 70”. To help you plan, we’ve noted the dimensions of all our picks, as well as which of them are sold in multiple sizes.
Fabric
Whether it’s made from polyester, nylon, or cotton, a good picnic blanket “should be durable and able to be put down on any outdoor surface,” says Annie Seddington, president and coordinator of PikNYC Luxury Events. “You don’t want to worry about it ripping or getting holes in it.” While the term “picnic blanket” might recall the heavy wool plaid of yore, these days we tend to prefer washable and wipe-down rugs that are better suited to the great outdoors — especially if food, kids, or dogs are involved.
Best use
I’ve also taken note of where each blanket will work best. “If it’s going to be a windy location, a picnic blanket with loops in the corners so it can stay firm in the ground is very helpful,” says Seddington. “For beach picnics, there are special picnic blankets where you can put sand in the pockets and the sand acts as a weight.” If you’re on soft grass or sand, you can get away with a thinner (and therefore more compact) blanket, but on most other terrain you’re going to want a thicker weave or some form of cushioning. While all these picks are relatively easy to clean, experts advised to stay away from light colors if you’re planning on taking your blanket to places other than the beach. “It’s a pain, once the dirt does get in, you can wash them nine million times and it’s not coming out. Someone’s footprint will never come off.”
Best overall picnic blanket
Size: Eight sizes, from 60” by 60” to 61” by 77” | Fabric: Acrylic | Best use: Park picnics
This very toteable blanket from Scuddles fulfills all the criteria that experts suggested for a comfortable and practical picnic base. It’s a classic double-sided design: wipe-down waterproof plastic on the bottom and soft acrylic on top, with a layer of padding in between to prevent any Princess and the Pea situations in the park. “It can conquer grass, sand, or any other area that you might want to sit in,” says Ali Rosen, author of the cookbook Bring It!. There are numerous size options that’ll suit singles, couples, and groups; the blanket also rolls up easily and comes with an unusually sturdy carry handle. Best of all? This blanket is affordable enough that you can keep a couple different sizes around, or keep one in your car and have another stored indoors.
Best padded blanket
Size: 72” by 60” | Fabric: Polyester | Best use: Park picnics
This packable (and surprisingly affordable) Pendleton blanket has a similar tote design to the Scuddles rug but just a little more padded comfort. It also has a water resistant polyester shell on both sides. It’s available in the brand’s familiar prints, which are inspired by the National Parks system. The blanket has two large storage pockets for stashing away your stuff while you lounge around, and it’s plenty durable, even if you have pets of the chewing or slobbering kind: Arizona-based outdoor enthusiast and mom to three dogs Dulce Randall, a.k.a. @chaosinthedesert, has found it to be “perfect for all our adventures.”
Best puffy blanket
Size: 75” by 52” | Fabric: Recycled polyester | Best use: Park picnics, camping, hiking
Rumpl’s sleeping-bag-like puffy blanket is a luxury that day hikers and even backpackers will make room for. After testing this blanket for more than a year now, I am basically unable to picnic on a non-puffy surface. This blanket feels luxuriously comfortable; the moderate extra bulk is totally worth it. While designed to keep campers warm on chilly nights, it’s great for picnicking — it even has corner loops for staking out (as well as a clip feature that turns it into a cape). I’ve taken mine to friend hangs and on a picnic Hinge date; it was made to sprawl out on. The blanket stuffs down surprisingly small; the Whimsical Woman founder Jennifer Mabus used hers on a summer hiking trip with her husband, son, and dog. “We carried it on the hike and once we were done we had a picnic,” she says. “It’s very light to carry and is so comfortable for even my baby to crawl around on. Even the dog can walk over the blanket and we don’t worry that her nails will tear the material.” The fabric is treated with a durable water repellent finish, and it’s machine washable.
Best beach blanket
Size: 80” by 50” | Fabric: Nylon | Best use: Beach days, camping
Seddington describes this large beach blanket as “compact, waterproof, sand proof, and windproof.” While it doesn’t have enough padding to protect your butt against uneven or gravelly terrain, the lightweight ripstop nylon surface provides the perfect defense against beach elements. It comes with both sand pockets and stakes, packs into a small drawstring carabiner pouch, and weighs just ten ounces.
Best hiking blanket
Size: 63” by 44” | Fabric: Nylon | Best use: Hiking and backpacking
This wallet-size blanket is similar to the beach-friendly one above, but even smaller and lighter, making it ideal for taking along on hiking and backpacking trips. I’m a fan of the tiny but mighty built-in corner stakes, which make it easy to stretch the fabric into a taut, waterproof surface when you’re on the trail. Lines of stitching on one side show you where to fold the blanket so it fits into the small included pouch, though I tend to just scrunch up and stash mine. A note: While I do take this blanket on park hangs because I love its packability, it’s nowhere near as comfortable as the Rumpl. You’ll want to clear the ground of rocks and sticks first, and ideally lay it somewhere flat.
Best all-terrain blanket
Size: 60” by 70” | Fabric: Recycled polyester | Best use: Park picnics, beach days, festivals, camping and van life
Nomadix sent me this blanket to test out at the beginning of summer 2022, and I’ve been taking it to the beach most weekends. Pleasingly thick but easy to fold or roll for storage, it has a unique (slightly towel-like) microsuede surface that is pleasant to lie out on as well as a water-resistant base. It feels extremely durable and doesn’t stain easily. Although I haven’t used it yet for this purpose, I think it would make a perfect tent doormat to glamp up a campsite. One note: Though this blanket has corner loops for anchoring, it does not include stakes. I have occasionally brought along my own, but the fabric is usually heavy enough to hold its own against wind. If you’re looking for just one blanket for a variety of outdoor activities, this is the one.
Best picnic blanket for dog owners
Size: 55” by 79” | Fabric: Polyester | Best use: Park picnics and beach days
Yeti’s outdoor products, while expensive, are known for their durability and thoughtful design. We’re big fans of the brand’s memory-foam dog bed, which Strategist writer Arielle Avila calls “indestructible,” adding that it has far outlasted any other bed that she has purchased for her pooch in the past. Avila says that Yeti’s padded waterproof picnic blanket is similarly durable, and has lasted for two seasons of park picnics and beach hangs so far without so much as a loose thread. “It’s expensive, but has withstood lots of spills without staining,” she says. “And our dog loves it — she rolls around and is pretty rough on it and it hasn’t torn at all.”
Best throw blanket
Size: 50” by 60” | Fabric: Cotton | Best use: Park picnics
If you prefer the aesthetic of a cotton throw blanket, our picnic planner experts recommended layering these with a plastic or canvas tarp underneath to avoid stains and that uncomfortable wet grass feeling. This patterned throw, a favorite of Seddington’s, is available in eight muted colors, and the decorative tassels are surprisingly luxe for this price point.
Best luxury throw blanket
Size: 60” by 78” | Fabric: Cotton | Best use: Park picnics, outdoor events
If you’re styling an outdoor event, Weston suggests adding pops of color with Annie Selke’s soft cotton throws. “They’ll elevate any picnic,” she promises. “They’re just a high-quality blanket that’s made from natural fibers and really fits with any environment.” The throws are generously sized and are available in all sorts of bold and subtle striped shades. They’re machine-washable and ethically crafted in India.
Best (less-expensive) throw blanket
Size: 47” by 63” | Fabric: Recycled polyester | Best use: Park picnics
Picnic & Peonies founder Michelle Ison, meanwhile, stocks up on these simple Ikea throw blankets, because they’re “relatively large, soft, and come in a beautiful green color.” Not to mention the fact that they’re extremely affordable, “so you don’t feel guilty if they get dirt or grass stains.” If that is a concern, though, they’re machine washable.
Best durable blanket
Size: 36” by 60” | Fabric: Cotton | Best use: Park picnics, beach days
Thicker and more durable than the picks above, trendy glamping brand the Get Out’s picnic blanket is an investment piece that will — true to its name — look great against any backdrop. Recommended to us by Chelsea Rizzo and Allison Levy, the stylish co-founders of women’s outdoor-gear brand and New York City–based hiking club Hikerkind, the rug is something of a hybrid between a beach towel and picnic blanket, and would look right at home laid out next to a swimming hole upstate. It’s machine washable; aside from picnicking, the brand also recommends using it as a tent-area rug.
Some Strategist-approved picnic accessories
Our experts
• Arielle Avila, writer, The Strategist
• Michelle Ison, founder, Picnic & Peonies
• Jennifer Mabus, founder, The Whimsical Woman
• Dulce Randall, founder, Chaos in the Desert
• Allison Levy and Chelsea Rizzo, co-founders, Hikerkind
• Ali Rosen, food journalist
• Annie Seddington, president and coordinator, PikNYC Luxury Events
• Wendy Weston, founder, Perfect Picnic NYC
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