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In spring 2023, we tested five more picnic blankets, two of which we’ve added as picks: the Moosejaw Carpet Diem Outdoor Blanket and the Rumpl Everywhere Mat. 40 X 72 Moving Blankets
Staging a picnic requires little more than the union of a blanket and a patch of grass. Yet, when combined, those humble elements can elevate a mundane meal to an alfresco fete.
Not all picnic blankets are equal, though: We considered 55 and tested 19 before choosing the Nemo Victory Picnic Blanket as our favorite.
Its soft flannel is comfortable to sit on, the waterproof underlining keeps you dry, integrated straps help you transport it easily, and the colorful stripes make your picnic feel like an Impressionist masterpiece.
Our favorite picnic blanket travels easily, feels comfortable to sit on, and holds up to wear and tear. It has, however, increased in price as well as size over the past few years.
The four-person, 95-by-95-inch Nemo Victory Picnic Blanket offers the best combination of durability and comfort, thanks to a layer of foam padding and a waterproof bottom. It’s portable too: Rolled up, the Victory Picnic Blanket is just a 16-inch-long cylinder that’s 8 inches in diameter. (It has gotten bigger and become more expensive since we first tested it, though.)
The acrylic flannel top doesn’t trap dirt as some other blankets do, and it also comes in an even larger size—120 by 120 inches, good for roughly seven or eight people—so you can choose the one that best suits your picnic needs. Grommets on the corners let you stake down the blanket in windy weather.
Less than a third of the price of our top pick, this blanket packs a soft-enough top and a durable bottom, but it has neither padding nor stake loops.
The inexpensive Moosejaw Carpet Diem Outdoor Blanket felt very soft yet didn’t cause overheating. Much to our surprise, crumbs shook off its surface easily, and for larger spills, it can be machine washed, unlike our top pick. The nylon straps are adjustable, so even if you roll the blanket loosely you can still buckle it into a burrito shape (which is easier to do compared with the precise folding demanded by the Yeti Lowlands Blanket or the Rumpl Everywhere Mat).
This Moosejaw blanket doesn’t take up a lot of space when it’s rolled up (and you don’t have to put it face down to roll it); though it’s not as compact as our pick from Rumpl. It lacks the padding of our top and upgrade picks, though, as well as the stake loops.
This plush-on-top, sturdy-on-the-bottom blanket was the most luxurious and sturdy of all those we tested, and it is the only one that you can machine wash and dry, but it has an eye-popping price tag to match.
The Yeti Lowlands Blanket was easily the softest blanket we tested—so soft, we could use it on our bed and sleep soundly. And not only is its sturdy underside waterproof, but its top is spill resistant, too, causing liquid to bead up on the surface but not sink in. Even if it does somehow catch a mess, it can tolerate machine washing and drying—it’s one of the few blankets we tested that can withstand both.
Still, it’s awfully pricey, and with our other picks being nearly as comfortable and durable, it isn’t a worthwhile investment for anyone but the most devoted picnic (or Yeti) enthusiasts.
Available in dozens of colorful prints, this was the most compact of any blankets we tested, folding down small enough to fit in a purse. But it lacks padding and fits fewer picnickers.
The Rumpl Everywhere Mat was by far the most portable blanket we tested: It folds down to the size of a paperback novel (about 5 by 11 by 2.5 inches) and is contained by an attached carrying case. But it’s very soft, thanks to a polyester microsuede top, and has thoughtful details like stake loops and a little corner pouch. It comes with a 100-day trial policy—so if you decide it doesn’t meet your needs, you can return it.
This blanket lacks the padding of our top pick and upgrade pick, and it’s pricier than our budget pick. But if you’re someone who likes to always have a picnic blanket on hand, this one offers a great combination of comfort and compactness.
Our favorite picnic blanket travels easily, feels comfortable to sit on, and holds up to wear and tear. It has, however, increased in price as well as size over the past few years.
Less than a third of the price of our top pick, this blanket packs a soft-enough top and a durable bottom, but it has neither padding nor stake loops.
This plush-on-top, sturdy-on-the-bottom blanket was the most luxurious and sturdy of all those we tested, and it is the only one that you can machine wash and dry, but it has an eye-popping price tag to match.
Available in dozens of colorful prints, this was the most compact of any blankets we tested, folding down small enough to fit in a purse. But it lacks padding and fits fewer picnickers.
A good picnic blanket should offer several diametrically opposed features:
We kept all of those aspects in mind while selecting our blankets and testing them, as well as the following:
Portability and storage: We looked for blankets that came with attached straps or a separate sack to keep the blanket compactly folded or rolled. We preferred blankets that came with elastic loops, as they usually didn’t have to be folded as precisely as those with Velcro straps or those that had to be shoved into sacks—sacks that, we should add, invariably get lost.
Water resistance: Most blankets without some kind of moisture barrier pull dampness up from the ground like a sponge, especially if you’re lying on them for a few hours (and every good picnic should last at least that long). We tested only those blankets claiming to have water-resistant or waterproof backing.
For an earlier version of this guide, which senior staff writer Kit Dillon wrote, we placed all the blankets on a recently watered lawn in the shade and lay on each one for roughly 10 minutes. We then put a 45-pound plate weight on each blanket and inspected the weighted spot after 20 minutes for dampness.
For the 2020 to 2023 updates of this guide, which staff writer Dorie Chevlen wrote, we had two adults sit on blankets atop grass for one hour. We also poured water on the underside of each blanket to see if it would leak through to the surface. Thankfully for us and the comfort of our afternoons, none of the blankets we tested let any moisture through.
Durability: We looked for blankets that we thought would last. Amazon has plenty of $15 picnic blankets, but they didn’t look like they’d stand up to much wear and tear.
Price: We focused our initial testing on blankets that cost about $20 to $70. This seemed like a reasonable price range for a durable blanket that wouldn’t fall apart after just a season of use. In later testing, we included pricier options as well.
Our favorite picnic blanket travels easily, feels comfortable to sit on, and holds up to wear and tear. It has, however, increased in price as well as size over the past few years.
The two-person version of the Nemo Victory Picnic Blanket was our favorite picnic blanket for several years, thanks to its combination of comfort, durability, compactness, and affordability. Nemo replaced the two-person size with the Nemo Victory Picnic Blanket—it’s 95 by 95 inches, and it fits four people with room for food or other items—which is now our current pick. Here’s why.
It’s comfortable. Its acrylic flannel top is soft enough to let you comfortably nap in the sun and gentle enough for the delicate skin of infants or children. The top isn’t quite as soft as the polyester-rayon blend of our upgrade pick, the Yeti Lowlands Blanket, but considering that it costs about 25% less and is over twice the size of that blanket, this disparity wasn’t enough to bump it from its throne. The blanket’s ample padding blocks most of the sticks and twigs underneath you, and the waterproof polyurethane underlayer keeps moisture from seeping through.
It’s easy to clean and keep clean. The Victory Picnic Blanket’s acrylic flannel made it less prone than fleece blankets to trapping particles of food, grime, and dirt, which is important given that a picnic by definition involves food, grime, and dirt. The blanket is not technically machine washable, though one Wirecutter staffer has tossed it into their washing machine anyway without consequence. Still, we easily wiped mud and dirt off the flannel with a damp cloth without leaving a mark.
It’s big enough for the whole gang. At roughly 95 by 95 inches according to our measurements, the four-person Victory Picnic Blanket is bigger than most blankets we looked at, so it’s well suited for larger groups of people or two people who want to fit a lot of board games and snacks. For those who really need extra space, it’s also available in a truly mammoth XXL version (120 by 120 inches) that should accommodate at least seven people.
It includes some thoughtful details. Unlike most blankets we tested, the Victory Picnic Blanket also includes corner loops to stake it into the ground on windy days (though not the stakes themselves; we recommend this inexpensive set). Both sizes come with two adjustable, clasping straps that keep the blanket rolled up tight, and those clasps can also perform double duty as bottle openers. They each also have a little pocket for stashing small items.
Unlike cheaper, less durable options, our pick should withstand people’s walking, rolling, and jumping across it from time to time. Several Wirecutter staffers own the Victory Picnic Blanket, and all say that even after years of use, it’s holding up well.
Less than a third of the price of our top pick, this blanket packs a soft-enough top and a durable bottom, but it has neither padding nor stake loops.
For the casual picnicker, the Moosejaw Carpet Diem Outdoor Blanket is a good marriage of luxury and value. It’s soft—softer than the Rumpl Everywhere Mat, but not quite as soft as the Nemo Victory Picnic Blanket or the Yeti Lowlands Blanket. It rolls up into a unit about the size of a plush paper towel roll, smaller than our picks from Nemo or Yeti, but it’s less compact than our budget pick from Rumpl. And it’s cheaper than all our other picks. This makes it just right for the person who doesn’t plan to trek far with their blanket or isn’t ready yet to invest in something big or pricey.
The Carpet Diem Outdoor Blanket’s synthetic fleece top is soft but doesn’t cause overheating, and much to our surprise, crumbs shook off its surface easily. The nylon straps are adjustable, so even if you roll the blanket loosely you can still buckle it into a burrito shape (which is easy compared with the precise folding demanded by our picks from Yeti or Rumpl). The buckle itself is pretty tight to get onto that nylon strap (we had to wiggle it around and push for a bit before we could secure it), but after a few uses it became easier to slide. This Moosejaw blanket doesn’t take up much space when it’s rolled tightly; it makes a cylinder about 15 inches long and 7 inches in diameter. And laid out, it’s about 72 by 55 inches—smaller than the Yeti Lowlands Blanket and the Nemo Victory Picnic Blanket, but larger than the Rumpl Everywhere Mat.
We wish it came with stake loops like our other picks—on a windy day, its corners will fly up unless you have them weighted by people or detritus. But we do appreciate that the blanket comes with a built-in bottle opener in its clasp (similar to the Nemo blanket). It’s machine washable (but not dryable) and usually available in three patterns.
This plush-on-top, sturdy-on-the-bottom blanket was the most luxurious and sturdy of all those we tested, and it is the only one that you can machine wash and dry, but it has an eye-popping price tag to match.
The Yeti Lowlands Blanket was easily the softest blanket we tested—so soft, we could use it on our bed and sleep soundly. And not only is its sturdy underside waterproof, but its top is spill resistant, too, prompting liquid to bead up on the surface but not sink in. Still, the Lowlands Blanket is pricey, and with our other picks being nearly as comfortable and durable, it isn’t a worthwhile investment for anyone but the most dedicated picnic (or Yeti) enthusiasts.
Like the Nemo Victory Picnic Blanket, the Yeti Lowlands Blanket has stake loops so you can tack it down on especially windy days, though if your picnic is adequately loaded with snacks, those can work well as an anchor, too—which is good, because stakes do not come with the blanket. And it has plush padding that softens the poking of twigs or rocks below.
Also setting the Lowlands Blanket apart is its washability; unlike most of the other blankets we tested, it can tolerate machine washing and machine drying. Still, that probably won’t be necessary, thanks to its wipeable surface, unless you drag it through mud.
The only less-than-ideal aspect of the Yeti blanket is its transportability. Unlike our pick from Nemo, which has integrated straps to keep it rolled up, the Yeti blanket comes with only a zip-up carrying case. You have to fold the blanket precisely to fit it inside (once you’ve gotten it in there, it measures 19 by 9 by 5 inches), and cases are liable to get lost.
Available in dozens of colorful prints, this was the most compact of any blankets we tested, folding down small enough to fit in a purse. But it lacks padding and fits fewer picnickers.
The Rumpl Everywhere Mat is the best blanket for someone devoted to the spontaneous picnic life, who needs to always have a blanket on hand. It’s so compact when folded down (just 5 by 11 by 2.5 inches, smaller than a hardback novel) that you can store it in a backpack, bike pannier, or even a large cargo pant pocket. Still, despite its puny size, it’s a tough item. A ripstop polyester bottom keeps it dry against damp grass while still avoiding any scratches from twigs and pebbles. And its top is treated with a water-resistant sealant that repels stains.
Folding the blanket into its attached carrying sleeve does require more focus than the simple fold-and-roll system of the Nemo Victory Picnic Blanket or the Moosejaw Carpet Diem Outdoor Blanket, and doing it solo on a windy day can prove frustrating. Speaking of wind: We are particularly grateful to stake loops; the blanket’s lightweight construction paired with the fact that it may end up being a picnic blanket for solo use makes it all the easier to fly up with a strong gust. Like all our picks, the blanket doesn’t come with stakes included; we recommend these inexpensive ones.
Rolled out, the Rumpl Everywhere Mat measures 52 by 75 inches—enough for two people to sit cozily with their legs out or four sitting with crossed legs. It is, however, the smallest of our picks, and it lacks padding. It’s available in several colorful prints and patterns, most of which are more interesting looking than those offered by our other picks. The Everywhere Mat is covered by the same 100-day guarantee as the Rumpl Down Puffy, our favorite puffy blanket.
If you value toughness and affordability over comfort: Consider the 80-by-60-inch MIU Color Outdoor Picnic Blanket, which is the easiest we’ve found to clean. Its polyester fabric feels similar to what you might find on outdoor lawn furniture—not soft, exactly, and it doesn’t feel like a traditional picnic blanket, but it will definitely last. And it folds up small enough (just 12.5 by 7.5 inches) to fit in a tote bag or backpack. (We also tried a nearly identical blanket, the Angemay Outdoor & Picnic Blanket, that performed the same but cost a few dollars more. The prices of each blanket have since fluctuated, so now we would recommend getting whichever one costs less or comes in a pattern you prefer.)
If you want something plush and you have the patience for very precise storage: Look into the Little Unicorn Outdoor Blanket, which was the softest of the blankets we tested besides our upgrade pick from Yeti. The light padding made it feel luxurious. Crumbs didn’t stick to its smooth top material, and spilled drinks just pooled at the surface without sinking through, so wiping it down was really easy. The only problem we had with the blanket was storage: It is heavy, and carefully folding it into its Velcro-secured tote bag proved difficult to do solo, since the Velcro needs to be perfectly aligned. Still, with three sizing options (60 by 60 inches, 60 by 84 inches, and 60 by 120 inches), it may be just what you need, and it costs less than the Nemo or Yeti blankets despite being around the same size at its largest.
Crumbs and grass stuck easily to the polyester fleece of the Picnic Time Blanket Tote Outdoor Picnic Blanket (which, confusingly, is also sold under the Oniva brand name) and were hard to brush off. Folded up, the blanket still takes a lot of space (18 by 11 by 5 inches), and you have to fold it precisely or the elastic unravels.
After just one use, the handle of the August Grove Beach Mat Picnic Blanket started to fray, which made us worry about its long-term durability.
The Mambe Essential All Season Blanket doesn’t come with a roll-up sleeve or a built-in way to keep it secured when it’s folded. Walking on it seemed oddly treacherous, like walking on a freshly waxed wood floor in cashmere socks. The fleece felt cheap, too.
The L.L.Bean Waterproof Outdoor Blanket isn’t as easy to roll or fold as our picks, and it doesn’t have integrated straps for carrying. Instead, it comes with a stuff sack, which can be easily misplaced.
The REI Co-op Outdoor Blanket can’t roll up into a sleeve or fold into a tote for easy carrying, and it was smaller than many of the other blankets we looked at.
We considered the Pendleton Roll-Up Blanket because it’s wool (with a nylon backing) and comes with a lifetime warranty (albeit a vaguely worded one). Unfortunately, it’s one of the pricier blankets we looked at, and it will continue to cost you even more: This thing is dry-clean only.
Like the totes we recommend, the Baggu Puffy Picnic Blanket is made from soft polyester and comes in several adorable prints. Though it was comfortable to sit on, the stitching looked tight, and it rolled up easily in the attached straps, the blanket lacked the other features that separate our picks from the competition: No stake loops, no bottle-opener clasp, no ultra-comfortable feel. And the price is high.
The Pendleton Outdoor Packable Blanket has high review scores on Amazon, but ours arrived with loose threads in the stitching.
This article was edited by Ria Misra and Christine Ryan.
Kit Dillon is a senior staff writer at Wirecutter. He was previously an app developer, oil derrick inspector, public-radio archivist, and sandwich shop owner. He has written for Popular Science, The Awl, and the New York Observer, among others. When called on, he can still make a mean sandwich.
Dorie Chevlen is a staff writer from Youngstown, Ohio, now living in Los Angeles. She has worked as a copy editor, fact checker, and sandwich maker, but this is probably her favorite gig. Her writing has also been published in Science, Slate, and The Wall Street Journal, among others. She has been called—both flatteringly and not—“a lot.”
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