Waterproof, Sand Proof and Easy Portability Are A Few Features That Make These Picnic Blankets and Mats so Good.
In 2020 if plan on bringing an ordinary blanket on a picnic or camping trip or making use of a vinyl tarp from the dusty shelf in the garage as an alternative to a picnic blanket, think again! Technological improvements have made modern picnic blankets much better at handling the elements. The last thing we you to happen is to spoil a sunny day at the beach or in the woods with a sub par protective layer between you and the dirt or sand. That generally results in dirty clothes, sandy food and a wet bum. Size is also important especially if you plan on feeding a lot of people. Fortunately manufactures like KOR Outdoors and JJ Cole have recognized this need and made some truly large picnic mats.
Picnic mats or blankets aren’t made for luxury. They are designed to provide picnic goers and campers the ease and comfort of sharing a great meal with good company while enjoying the view of its scenic surroundings.
If you are looking for a picnic mat for camping it is worth noting that all of these mats and blankets can double as a moisture barrier between your sleeping bag and the ground. They also make great camping pillows when they are folded up into their portable form.
Features To Consider
- Waterproof – Most picnic mats and blankets are made to be waterproof. Some are made with 100% water-proof materials that would easily slide down the liquid while others are made with a waterproof protective bottom layer to avoid moisture absorption from a damp grass or a wet sand.
- Sand-proof – Choose a material that can easily dust-off sand in seconds even when wet. Another feature of sand proof blankets is that the outside is sealed up tight to prevent sand from getting between the layers and ruining the blanket.
- Rip-resistant- there are some beach blanket are made from rip-stop nylon that won’t get easily punctured by pointy rock or rough surfaces. These type of beach mats are more durable, lightweight, and quick-drying.
- Mildew and mold resistant – keeping away molds and mildew from the picnic blanket is a tedious task especially if we only get to use the picnic mats during summer. Good thing there are picnic mats available that are BPA free and mold and mildew resistant.
- Easy to Carry and Easy to Store – most picnic blankets nowadays are designed with a strap and are foldable which makes it portable and easy to carry around.
- Comfortable- lightweight picnic mats and blankets aren’t always the most comfortable option unless you’ll only be using it on a sandy beach. A thick picnic mat and blanket provides the comfort and the cozy feeling either when sitting or lying down. It is also provide support and cushion for children who loves to play around.
Our Picks For Best Picnic Blankets and Mats
Here are our picks for the best picnic blankets and mats for you next camping trip, picnic or camping trip. All of these picks are a huge improvement over the conventional checkered blanket we all tend to associate with picnics. However some of these blankets and pads are more ideal for certain situations and locations than others.
KOR Outdoors Sand Free Large Beach Blanket
- Size: 10ft x 9ft
- Waterproof: Yes
- Sand proof: Yes
This oversized beach blanket is 9ft x 10ft, but it folds down in to a 4inch x 8inch compression carry bag. A great feature of the KOR Outdoors picnic blanket is that it comes with four aluminum stakes to hold down the corners, so it won’t blow away. It also has corner pockets that can be filled up with sand to ensure this blanket stays in place on a windy beach.
The KOR Outdoors blanket is made of 210T ripstop parachute nylon, so it is tough and water resistant. It is also very easy to brush or shake off sand. This blanket comes in five different colors
Oniva Large Picnic Blanket
- Size: 10ft x 9ft
- Waterproof: No (Water Resistant)
- Sand proof: No
This great looking picnic blanket from Oniva has a water resistant underside and a fleece top. This is great for picnics or outdoor concerts, but not ideal for the beach. This blanket folds down into an easy to carry satchel. There are six different colors to choose from, but the fleece side is all different types of plaid. So if you like plaid you should enjoy the overall look of the Oniva picnic blanket.
It takes a little practice to fully get the hanging of folding this blanket back up into a compact size, but that is a downside of most large picnic blankets. This blanket is not machine washable, so it will need to be spot washed and air dried. However, it does seem to be fairly stain resistant.
JJ Cole Outdoor Blanket
- Size: 5ft x 7ft or 5ft x 5ft
- Waterproof: Yes
- Sand proof: Yes
At 5’x7′ or 5’x5′ this blanket is smaller than the KOR Outdoors blanket above, so it is not ideal for a large group, but it works great for 1 – 3 people and their stuff. The JJ Cole blanket is made of thick polyester with a waterproof PVC coating which makes it ideal for damp grass or wet sand. The PVC coating also makes it pretty easy to wipe clean after a picnic or beach outing. The only downside of this blanket is that it does not do well in the dryer. It needs to be air dried which takes a while.
This blanket folds down into an easy carry satchel, and there are five different fabric designs to choose from. If properly cared for this blanket should last for many years even if it is used often.
Down Under Outdoor Picnic And Stadium Blanket
- Size: 6.8ft x 4.5ft
- Waterproof: No (Water Resistant)
- Sand proof: No
This picnic blanket is great for cold, wet weather. It looks like it was primarily designed to take to cold weather soccer or football games, but it’s rugged build, water resistant material and wind resistant polyester backing make it a great choice for almost any outdoor excursion in cold weather. The polar fleece side of this blanket is nice when you need an actual blanket to keep warm, but it also does a great job as a picnic blanket. However it is not the best choice for the beach, because the polar fleece acts like a sand magnet. At 6.8′ x 4.5″ this blanket is not as large as others in this article, but it is bigger than a lot of the tiny blankets being sold these days.
Camco Handy Mat with Strap
- Size: 6ft x 9ft
- Waterproof: No (Water Resistant)
- Sand proof: Yes
The Camco handy mat is a great warm weather picnic mat. It is not great for cold weather excursions, but it’s perfect for summer picnics, beach trips or warm weather RV outings. Available in two sizes: 60”x78” and 72”x108”, this blue and green picnic mat folds out to as compact as 10.5”x15” for easy storage and portability. It’s made with durable, mildew resistant material and can be cleaned easily with just soap and water.
Bnhnoone Waterproof Picnic Blanket
- Size: 6.6ft x 6.6ft
- Waterproof: Yes
- Sand proof: Yes
This picnic blanket checks a lot of boxes for the ideal outdoor blanket. It is waterproof, sand proof, easy to roll up and it is pretty big. Unfortunately it is not machine washable. This blanket should be hand washed and air dried. However, it is pretty easy to spot clean, so it shouldn’t need to be washed a lot. One great feature of this blanket is that it is a good option for both grass and sand. It’s waterproof base keeps it dry in damp grass or sand, and it is sealed against sand, so you don’t have to worry about sand getting in between the layers.
Welinks Outdoor Foldable Camping and Picnic Foam Pad
- Size: 6.2ft x 1.8ft
- Waterproof: Yes
- Sand proof: Yes
This pad is long and narrow. If you’re up for comfort, the Welinks Outdoor Foldable Foam Pad might suits your needs. It is made with high-grade foam materials that provides good flexibility, resistance to tear and abrasion, making it suitable for picnic and camping after an outdoor sports like crossing, hiking or biking. It features a foldable design of approximately 22.44””x6”x4.7” when folded and a comfortable size of 74”x22.44” when unfolded.