There is more to packing up a picnic than you might think. You have to make sure that your food and drinks are secure and easy to carry, and you will want to use a basket that you can easily carry back when you are done.
The SmartFold Picnic Basket from Beckworth & Co is designed to make your lunch on the go easier.
We had a chance to review the product for ourselves to see if it lives up to the hype – here is everything we loved about the Smartfold Basket, and everything you need to know before you purchase it.
SmartFold Picnic Basket Review
Features
This is an insulated, collapsible picnic basket. At its full size, it measures about 17 by 11 by 9 inches.
The inside of the basket is insulated to keep food warm (or to keep drinks chilled).
When it is empty, the basket folds down to about 11 by 11 by 4 inches – for your reference, that’s a little larger than a baseball glove.
It weighs less than 2 pounds on its own.
What’s included
The picnic basket comes in two parts: the basket, and the folding aluminum frame.
The frame fits onto the top of the basket, with a handle that locks into an upright position for easy carrying.
Ease of use
We don’t generally think about how easy it is to use a basket – but I was actually surprised by how simple the design of this product is.
It easily folds down to its compact size to carry in a backpack or by hand. When you need to use it, you just unfold the frame and snap the handle into place.
It only takes a few seconds.
Removing the basket to clean or store it is very quick, too, with Velcro notches along the rim.
Why use a folding picnic basket?
I was a little skeptical about the folding feature of this basket at first. After all, how much more portable does a basket need to be?
But I quickly realized that the portability of this basket is super handy for camping, backpacking and hiking.
You can take your food with you on the first part of a hike, and then collapse the bag and put it into a backpack to have your hands free for the rest of the day.
Or, when you are camping, you can use the picnic basket on a day trip and then pack it away with the rest of your gear when you are done.
Materials
The folding frame of the basket is made out of hollow aluminum.
Aluminum is a great material because it is super light, but strong and naturally corrosion resistant. That means you can use this basket in all kinds of weather without it getting rusty or spotted.
The fabric of the basket is also weatherproof. It is made out of sturdy dyed polyester, with an insulated coating along the inside.
The fabric is thick enough that it will not tear or stain.
I set the bag down on rocks, grass and dirt and have not noticed any difference in the material.
Durability
One issue I had with this basket is that the aluminum frame only surrounds the top of the basket. The walls and bottom of the SmartFold basket are soft.
It will stand up on its own on a flat surface, but it slouches a little, which may cause your food to tip around inside.
Other than that, this is a pretty tough little picnic basket. It will definitely hold up to outdoor use in all kinds of weather.
Depending on how often you use it, it should last for years of use without tearing or wearing out.
Size
If it weren’t collapsible, I would think this picnic basket is a little bigger than necessary. It has a 32-liter capacity – that’s enough to hold a full feast, including the wine bottle.
For two people, it is probably more space than you will need on your picnic. The size is ideal for feeding three or more, plus drinks.
Because it folds down when you are done using it, though, the big size is not an issue.
This basket is big enough to hold everything you need when it is unfolded and tiny enough to fit into your pack when it is folded up.
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Final Thoughts
I never thought a picnic basket could be a luxury item, but this one really is.
The SmartFold basket keeps your food secure and insulated, and it is incredibly easy to carry out when you are done.
I would definitely recommend this basket to someone who likes to spend their time outdoors in style.
It will make a great impression on a first date, or help to get the party started on a beach day or bonfire.
