Of all the picnic supplies, the picnic basket plays one of the most important roles. After all, it carries the food! A picnic without food….well, is like a fish without water, a hotdog without the bun, peanut butter without the jelly, ok, I think you get my point. Picnic baskets have come a long way. While the basic concept of a picnic basket is relatively simple, some baskets are quite extravagant! You can find all types of picnic baskets on the market today. Some are huge with hidden compartments, some specifically carry wine, some are made to carry hot foods while others carry only cold. Finding the perfect picnic basket to fit your lifestyle should be a relatively easy task. It all depends on your needs and the money you wish to spend.
Picnic baskets are made of many different types of materials, the standard being good old fashion wicker! Wicker picnic baskets come in all shapes and sizes and are often lined with fabric. They usually have a hinged top that easily flips open and several compartments to hold utensils and plates. Wicker picnic baskets are relatively inexpensive and they are the perfect picnic accessory.
A more durable option would be a picnic basket made of canvas. For those of you who like to picnic off the beaten path, canvas is a durable, easy to clean option. A canvas picnic basket may hold up better in the long run compared to a wicker picnic basket at the sacrifice of that classic wicker look. Other benefits of canvas picnic baskets are weather durability and wide color selections for the fashion conscious picnickers out there.
And your choices don’t end at wicker and canvas. Aluminum and plastic picnic baskets are also available and, again, offer improved durability over their wicker counterparts, providing you’re willing to forgo that classic picnic basket look. While these options cater to function over form, they do precisely what they are intended to do - pack your food and keep it cool (or warm).
Still, at the end of the day, nothing beats the look of that little Red Ridinghood picnic basket with the checkered cloth interior. This style has been around for ages. While perhaps not as durable as canvas, plastic or aluminum, wicker is no slouch in the weathering-time department. My own family still uses a wicker picnic basket for small outings which was handed down from my Grandmother. Though the cloth interior has seen better days, the wicker exterior has retained its form through three generations of sandwiches, cheese and memorable moments. My own children will enjoy it themselves if I can stand to let it go.
We’ll return to picnic baskets soon as there’s so much more to discuss beyond their construction. Not only are they the kings of picnic supplies but the amazing options available today will astound you at their ability to pack everything but the kitchen sink.
Tags: aluminum picnic basket, canvas picnic basket, picnic, picnic basket, Picnic Baskets, picnic supplies, wicker picnic basket
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