Conor Pope reviews Picnic Baskets

Optima Voyager Picnic Tote €89.95

Highs: This will suit the picnicker more concerned with substance than style. It is well stocked with everything needed for an al fresco meal for four - except the sandwiches, the booze and the umbrella to keep the rain off. It has a large insulated compartment at the side and scores bonus points for the dirty dishes bag. The waterproof mats will come in handy as will the plastic containers. The salt and pepper canisters are cute and the plastic glasses hard to break.

Lows: But plastic glasses do not make a pleasing clink when making toasts - this, and the complete absence of wicker, may alienate the traditionalist.

Also, it is not nearly as aesthetically pleasing as some of its rivals. The plates are on the small side and the cheese board will struggle to accommodate more than a few slices.

Verdict: Puts the fun in functional

Star rating: ****

Pier Picnic Basket €59.95

Highs: This good value picnic basket for two is unquestionably the best option for a romantic on a budget. The basket is good and sturdy as are the thick leather fastenings, while the easy-to-lock clasps are much easier to secure than the buckles found on the other baskets. It even has a cute little wicker basket within the main basket to hold (two) proper glass champagne flutes. The china plates chime sweetly when stacked and removed and there is plenty of room for food here.

Lows: There are just two place settings and no frills such as wine coolers or plastic dishes. The cutlery is quite cheap and you certainly wouldn't need to be schooled in Uri Geller's dark arts to bend these spoons. There are no napkins and the plates are needlessly difficult to strap in, although as the leather loosens with use this may become less of a problem.

Verdict: The (cheap) romantic option

Star rating: ****

Habitat Picnic Back Pack €35

Highs: Habitat has a range of picnic baskets to cater for everyone from not-very-hungry outdoorsy types to starving groups with SUVs to ferry them to their destination. We opted for the low-cost, two-person former - a nattily designed picnic backpack which is compact yet contains almost exactly the same amount of stuff as the more awkward wicker basket. The cooler is perfectly designed to hold a bottle of wine and the waiter's friend for opening it is very funky. It will be no bother walking long distances in search of the perfect picnic spot with this on your back.

Lows: However, this backpack has so little room that all you will be able to feast on is one nicely chilled bread roll. There's so little space here in fact, that another bag is probably essential if you want to eat anything.

Verdict: Funky but already full.

Star rating: ***

Carnival Picnic Basket from Avoca €99

Highs: This good-sized basket comes with easy-to-store glass tumblers and four place-settings. It includes a pink polka dot table cloth, which might be a mixed blessing. The cooler box and the wine chiller show it is possible to bring a picnic into the 21st century without abandoning that wicker feel of yore. The basket is good quality and the plates are nicely strapped in. And it is tremendously pink.

Lows: It is is way too pink. There are pink handles, pink polka dots on the lining and the table cloth, pink plates and napkins and pink cutlery. It is so pink that all men and most women, would be mortified to sit beside this for any great length of time. On a practical level, the plates are very small and it is so filled with stuff that you have to wonder where the food goes. Mind you, the headache-inducing pinkness will probably take care of your appetite.

Verdict: Pink. Very, very pink.

Star rating: ***

Optima English Classic Picnic Basket €355

Highs: Handmade with sturdy willow, this is a cross between a quintessentially English picnic basket and something Little Red Riding Hood might use to pack up treats for her granny. With its sturdy handle, gingham(ish) lining, leather buckles and good quality cotton napkins it creates a great first impression.

Lows: Then you look more closely. Four tumblers? For €355, you'd expect something fancier - wine glasses or champagne flutes would be more appropriate. The cutlery, with the faux-wood handles, looks cheap, and no thought appears to have gone into how the picnicker will store the plates, cutlery or glasses, so there is a danger everything will be shattered after its first outing. There is an ugly-looking plastic bag to store the (soon to be broken) crockery.

Verdict: Disappointing, and too dear.

Star rating: **

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