Oh, what’s there not to love about the great outdoors? Spending time outdoors is just one of so many ways to enjoy life and have a good time with friends. Whether that involves heading out to the beach, visiting the local park, or just having a good time among friends with a picnic basket, they all count. What’s more important is taking advantage of the blissful summer weather to enjoy a good time when it eventually arrives.
Amidst the food, the laughter, and the unending games, it is hard to envisage anything that could go wrong – until it’s time to leave and you discover your fine summer outfit is completely soaked through sitting on a wet blanket for hours. Ah, not again!
We simply can’t consider the idea of staying away from the beach, or not sitting down on the sand because we’re scared of dirtying our clothes. But we must talk about preparing you for whatever the weather has in store on your camping days. You essentially want to be sand proof, dirtproof, and waterproof any time you go outdoors for a good time. And only the best picnic blankets can protect you from your worst outdoor nightmare.
Anytime you head for the beach or local park, we consider carrying with you a smooth and waterproof surface a fundamental. A good outdoor blanket will provide a water-resistant barrier between you and the ground you sit on. A quality waterproof blanket can protect your clothes from getting soggy, and ensure no dampened mood when it’s time to leave. A quality picnic blanket can elevate your camping experience.
Beyond the obvious protection you get from the mud under, you want your beach towel to be sturdy and very tough – tear-resistant if possible. You also want a blanket that shakes clean from dirt, sand, and crumbs. And of course, the inevitable spills from drinks, juice, or wine will happen, but when it does happen, you want your blanket to be able to hold up pretty well.
So, we have considered good things that make a great beach blanket and rounded up the market to see what fits the bill. Thankfully, we arrived at a few options that will surely interest you. They offer adequate protection against the dirt on the ground, and look fashionable when you spread them out in the open, too.
How We Confirmed
You want to get the performance aspect spot on when choosing a blanket. Cause you're going to have your dog run ragged on it, you'll all step on it, it's sometimes going to be on uneven grounds. I tell you one thing, you don't want to be anywhere near a worn-out waterproof blanket out on the beach. It can't protect you from wet grounds and doesn't look good on it either.
Because people camp out all the time, outdoor blankets are really popular essentials you can easily get on the market. With a lot of blanket makers trying to win your business by offering you sweet deals, it may be difficult to keep the focus on the most important qualities you need your picnic blanket to have.
Since all blankets are not made the same, we have reviewed the experiences of verified buyers to see which ones customers are raving about. Because these experiences are those of real people, we are confident these blankets listed below will perform as expected when you subject them to the test.
We have got a specialty for spotting quality buys, allow us to do this for you again with these waterproof blankets.
Why We Love It
One of the best parts of the outdoors is going with a group. You all get to share the fun and laughter. If I was hosting a picnic on the grass, I would want to come with CHANODUG Extra Large Picnic and Bleach Blanket. It is extra spacious and can accommodate a large family or group of friends.
Also, this is a really thick blanket as well, which it needed to be because of the possibility of carrying large traffic of people. You may worry that a thick and large waterproof outdoor blanket such as this will be heavy, but that’s not the case. For a beach blanket of this size, it’s surprisingly lightweight. And that’s great for your shoulders and arms!
It’s waterproof and sand proof, of course. But another quality we find equally useful is that the CHANODUG beach blanket is extremely stain-resistant. I mean, you would be amazed at how easy it is to get juice pills and food crumbs off the surface with only a few wipes. Also, it does shake off sand well enough. You shouldn’t worry if the kids play on this blanket with reckless abandon, you can easily restore its new look because it’s machine washable.
What We Noticed
The blanket is very tough yet light, thanks to the polyester taffeta on the one side (topside) and Oxford fabric on the underside. The beach blanket is very water resistant on both sides, so laying it on damp surfaces should be no problem. And ant liquids spill on top you can handle because it won't trickle through to the other side.
The taffeta fabric offers more breathability than a traditional fleece blanket, making it a great option for warm weather picnics, camping, and sporting activities because it won’t trap heat on either side.
The color and design itself can be better, but it’s no ugly duckling. The gingham pattern is a classic and the red and white combination is bright and loud, which shouldn’t do anything to dampen the mood when it’s time to have fun.
It does take a few tries to get the folding right, but that's understandable as this is a large outdoor blanket. You are provided with a carry handle to assist your transport efforts, which should come in handy as well.
Why We Love It
Sometimes, you just want a smaller, more intimate group on your outings. A small family, with one or two seated adults, will do just fine on the Little Unicorn outdoor picnic blanket. Of course, it works if you bring your baby with you. In fact, it works better that way.
It is specially designed to handle any (expected) mess your baby throws at it. It is made from polyester fabric that wipes clean with little hassle. Even on the white portion of the fabric, stains from coffee or grape juice comes off easily. If the stains prove too stubborn for a clean wipe, we bet the machine-washing will do the trick.
While taking this picnic blanket outside might seem the more natural use of it, it is very adaptable indoors too. We were very impressed with the amount of cushion it provided against a hard floor. You and your baby can have swell playtime indoors as the surface is soft with the right thickness.
It does come in a variety of patterns as well, so you can easily find one which matches your floor decor if you are particular about style and fashion.
What We Noticed
The Little Unicorn Sun-Baked Outdoor/Indoor Blanket is very lightweight, very portable, and high quality. The inside of the picnic blanket is lightly padded and silky soft for extra cushioning while sitting on a rough surface. The stitching is thorough and detailed throughout the polyester fabric, with good color coordination between the inside and reverse sides of the blanket.
The sun-baked beach blanket is designed to be extremely waterproof and stainless. For that reason, this is something you want a baby to play directly on top. Hard spills and messes come off easily, making this blanket durable for both indoor and outdoor use.
It is small and compact, certainly smaller than most other picnic blankets on the market. The blanket folds up to a perfect shape and you can store this under a stroller or in the trunk of your car. There’s a zipper, carry handle, and shoulder strap to assist with both handling and transporting.
The blanket comes in many sizes and styles, with the smaller sizes perfect for a small family with toddlers. There are several neutral designs and tones to choose from, you can shop for one of these knowing you don’t have to compromise on your family’s style.
Why We Love It
For people who want a cozy picnic blanket, the ONIVA Blanket Tote will be a hard choice to beat, or even match.
Straightaway, we were impressed by the quality of this picnic blanket, especially at this relatively affordable price point. It certainly does feel expensive and cozy right from the off.
The plush fleece topside does what is expected: which is to provide a level of comfort and cushion, even for hard and rough surfaces such as rocky areas. The fleece topside tends to retain heat, which makes it particularly comfortable in the colder months. While the waterproof backing will offer adequate protection from the mud and wet grounds.
One area where fleece will be a concern is the stain-resistant metric. Indeed, fruit juice does leave a faint stain. So you have to be a bit more careful with your drinks and immediately spot clean any accidents as they occur.
What We Noticed
The ONIVA is a large waterproof outdoor blanket that is foldable with a cozy polyester fleece top side and a water-resistant underside. The lightweight construction certainly has many upsides, such as during transporting and handling, but that means it isn’t windproof. There are no stake rings or weighted corners to keep it down during windy conditions.
The blanket measures 70 by 80 inches when wide open, that’s plenty of room for 4 or 5 people to stay on without getting cramped up. The large picnic blanket folds up into an attractive tote, measuring just 18 by 11 by 5 inches. The adjustable shoulder strap and zippered pockets make for seamless handling.
This blanket is not machine washable. But you can spot clean with warm water to remove stains. Sand does shake off well, making this blanket ideal for outdoor concerts, camping, and picnics.
Waterproof Blanket FAQs
Getting the right waterproof blanket that will serve your needs is our primary concern. To help you shop for picnic blankets the right way, we have provided answers to some commonly asked questions to help as a reference
Anytime you feel in doubt, the following answers should help you stay on course to make the right decisions you will be proud of.
How Do a Picnic Blanket and a Regular Blanket Differ?
The key difference between the two types of blankets is the number of people they can accommodate. Unlike regular blankets and beach towels, picnic blankets are designed to accommodate multiple people at once. A picnic blanket is typically constructed with a sand-proof and waterproof fabric, or a fleece topside with water-resistant backing, giving you ample protection from sandy and wet surfaces. And unlike a beach towel, most picnic blankets are made to absorb water either, because a soggy blanket is not what you bargained for when out camping on a wet morning.
What is the Best Material for a Picnic Blanket?
The best material is the one that offers you the following qualities in a blanket: water-resistant, easy to clean, comfortable, durable, and lightweight. Fabrics such as fleece are the most comfortable because they make soft top layers while vinyl and nylon are good waterproof backings. Hence, a blanket with both fleece and nylon makes a good combination. Polyester, on the other hand, can also be used to make reversible blankets. This means both sides of the blanket are waterproof.
What is a Good Size for an Outdoor Blanket?
You basically want a size that can allow two or more people to sit with some room to spare. You should have an idea about how many people you want to accommodate before picking a blanket. A good size picnic blanket for adults is around 50 x 60 inches. To fit four or five people comfortably with space to spare, grab a camping blanket of around 60 x 80 inches.
Why Recommend a Waterproof Blanket for Dogs?
Surely, we all love our dogs – even though they can be very messy. A waterproof blanket specifically for your dogs can be a great addition to any pet parent's home. A blanket for that purpose becomes a cost-effective way to protect your furniture from slobber or the occasional accident. Also, your floors now have another barrier against dirt and pet hair. You may very soon find that a waterproof blanket just for pets may quickly become an indispensable item.
How should you maintain a Picnic Blanket?
The maintenance approach to take for a picnic blanket is tied to the type of material used for its construction. Typically, there is a variety of materials used to make picnic blankets, hence, you should defer to the manufacturer's care instructions when washing.
Many picnic blankets are machine-washable, especially those made with polyester, while others may be spot-clean only. Because so many picnic blankets are made of feature waterproof, stain-resistant fabrics, they're easy to wipe down between uses and spot-clean or machine wash only when necessary.
Other things to Consider When Shopping for a Picnic Blanket
Here are a few important things to consider before splurging the cash on a new blanket
Portability
So many people don't consider this key factor enough. On a picnic or beach day, your hands may be full trying to juggle a picnic basket, a cooler, chairs, some gadgets, and more, so, the last thing you need is a blanket that is difficult to carry about. Typically, picnic blankets are designed to be rolled up and carried with a built-in carry handle, while many space-saving blankets are designed to fold into a small pouch with a zipper and straps to hang it over your shoulder.
Durability
You don’t want to be changing blankets every few months down the line because it’s not tough enough to withstand anything from twigs to sand to pet paws. As much as the construction material dictates its durability, to keep your blanket in good condition, you should refer to the manufacturer's care instructions. Note that most beach blankets are washable, while others should only be spot cleaned.
Our Confirmed Catch
In our opinion, a waterproof blanket is an indispensable item for any outdoor gathering with friends and family. The best picnic blankets – such as those reviewed above – will provide a comfortable barrier between you and the ground, while also keeping you dry and protected from the elements.
We have analyzed the market and come up with our top picks to help you narrow down the search for the right blanket that fits your needs. If you wish to become an expert blanket shopper, we have included tips to help you do just that.
Shop for your blankets with our recommendation by sticking to this guide and we promise you, your camping experience is about to get even better!