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Thoughtfully made essentials for summer’s best occasions.
“To sit in the shade on a fine day and look upon verdure is the most perfect refreshment.” Jane Austen may have written those words more than 200 years ago, but the appeal of a picnic hasn’t really changed. A proper picnic remains one of summer’s simplest luxuries: fresh fruit and little sandwiches, a blanket spread across the grass, long conversations that stretch into golden hour.
Unlike so many modern gatherings, picnics invite people to slow down. Breezes replace air conditioning. A patch of grass becomes a dining room for the afternoon. Phones might even stay tucked away.
Unfortunately, many picnics also come with piles of trash, from plastic cups to disposable Styrofoam coolers. Happily, a few thoughtfully chosen items can elevate a picnic without generating much waste. Here are a few essentials designed to last for many summers to come.
Spread Out in Comfort
A good picnic blanket should feel substantial enough for a long afternoon in the park without being a drag to carry. Nomadix’s Festival Blanket weighs 32 ounces, folds down almost flat, and expands to 5-by-6 feet: plenty of room for a proper spread. Each blanket is made almost entirely from post-consumer recycled materials — the equivalent of 58 water bottles. The soft, microsuede top repels sand, dirt, and dog hair, while the water-repellent backing keeps damp grass from soaking your bottom. ($69.95)
Take a Load Off
Prefer to keep your tush off the ground altogether? I don’t blame you. Nomadix recently launched a line of Easy Chairs, perfect for outdoor films, concerts, and days on the shore. Each chair weighs 7.4 pounds, packs down to just 4 inches wide, and has convenient straps so that you can carry it like a backpack. The frame and seat cover are made entirely from recycled materials, and the armrests are bamboo. ($79.95)
Make Your Picnic Pop
A picnic spread should feel elegant, even if lunch is just bread, cheese, and cherries from the farmers market. Ekobo’s lightweight, stackable tableware makes outdoor meals feel far more pulled together than flimsy disposable plates and cups ever could. Made with responsibly sourced bamboo waste, the dishwasher-safe pieces are shatter-resistant, kid-friendly, and free from BPA, PVC, and phthalates.
Pack a Lighter Cooler
Heavy coolers are one of picnicking’s pains. Out of the Woods solves that problem with lightweight, soft-sided, easy-to-carry coolers that keep frozen food chilled for up to five hours. They also make great-looking totes. Like Bluedot Living, Out of the Woods is a 1% for the Planet Member and plants a tree with every order, so every purchase you make will have double the impact. ($9+)
Stop Wasting Paper
A picnic napkin should survive more than a single swipe, but most paper napkins just aren’t strong enough. Marley’s Monsters makes cheerful napkins that will last for years, and they have the added bonus of making your spread feel more special with fun patterns and designs. Depending on your preference, choose from 7-by-8-inch napkins ($14 for 6) or 10-by-12-inch UNpaper towels ($24 for 6). A washable Wet Bag ($38) is the perfect way to transport linens (as well as dirty dishes and anything else messy) to and from your picnic.
Steep Your Own Iced Tea
A pitcher of iced tea is perfect for a picnic, but premade iced teas tend to come in wasteful jugs, and it turns out that many tea bags actually contain microplastics. Marley’s Monsters makes reusable tea bags, so you can steep your own brew at home. We like making super-concentrated teas ahead of picnics that we can then water down or mix with lemonade and other refreshers.
Keep Drinks Colder Longer
No one wants a lukewarm drink on a hot afternoon. Klean Kanteen’s 64-ounce insulated jugs will keep your refreshing beverages cold for hours: perfect for beach days, festivals, and long afternoons in the park. The stainless steel construction skips the plastic interiors found in many similar containers. We also love the brand’s colorful, nearly indestructible stainless steel cups. (Thermos $67.95, cups $10.95+)
Make Your Own Shade
A long afternoon in the sun is much more pleasant when your scalp isn’t roasting. Bluedot Living’s organic cotton caps help protect your face and scalp from sunburn. And, of course, they look good, too. Choose from 13 conversation-starting, sustainability-related phrases such as Pollinator, Renewable, and Farm Raised. ($34.95)
Leave It Better Than You Found It
No trash bag is entirely impact-free, but Zero Waste Store’s Compostable Trash Bags are a far better choice than a conventional trash bag made from virgin plastic. Certified for both industrial and home composting, the bags come in two sizes. Pack some of each so that you can easily sort everything at the end of the day. ($10.49–$22.99)
