Picnic blankets are widely available in high street shops during the summer months and online year round. Autumn Statement: Workers to pay less in national insurance – but rate cuts don't offset the freezing of personal tax thresholds

These are fully machine washable, which saves you time if they become dirty or stained, but can be much more expensive. If you have a footprint groundsheet, you probably already have 3 layers under your airbed to protect it from sharp objects - the footprint, tent groundsheet and inner tent groundsheet. The Red Camp Picnic Blanket stood out from the rest of the blankets we tested thanks to its easy-to-fold design, making it simple to clean up after a picnic. While this budget-friendly blanket isn’t the softest, the polyester fabric easily resists dirt, water, and stains, making it ideal for picnics on the beach where sand can be pervasive. Both sides of the blanket are waterproof, so it's easy to clean up any spills. And finally you have the Pacmat-style blankets, which are waterproof, lightweight and can be folded into a tiny carry case.

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If you're off camping, you'll need some camping equipment to help you along the way - read our buyer's guide to find out more. The foil-covered closed cell mats are more effective because they help with both conduction (foam being a very good insulator) and radiation (foil being a very good reflector) of heat. The foil side of these mats feels warm when you put your hand on it, which suggests it doesn't conduct much heat away from your skin. Martin Lewis: What the Autumn Statement means for you – including wages, benefits, pensions, ISAs, national insurance and more Made from tough and durable polyester, these are ideal for families as they’re machine washable too, but they can cost a little more. Where can I buy a picnic blanket? For big groups, you'll naturally need more room to spread out. A large blanket (typically over 150cm long) should leave plenty of space for your feast, as well as room for three or four people. Keep in mind that larger blankets may take up more storage space, although many designs can be neatly rolled up, like this picnic blanket from John Lewis & Partners. Anything smaller than 150cm is better suited to a party of two.

Wekapo Sand-Free Blanket: We were excited by this blanket's "sand-free" name, and testing proved that the smooth material allows sand to easily rolls off of it. However, this blanket is not waterproof and we're wary of how the combination of wet bathing suits and nearby sand would affect this blanket's performance. If you plan to not get in the water at the beach, then this blanket may not be for you, but families with eager children may want to opt for a definitively waterproof design. Whether you prefer a grassy knoll or a sandy perch to enjoy wine and a cheese board—or perhaps your favorite deli sandwich—the right picnic blanket to host your feast makes all the difference in your dining experience. But any old blanket won't do. The best picnic blanket should be waterproof to keep away damp grass and offer the right amount of comfort to lounge on.While it may take some practice to refold this blanket correctly, it is secured by a bungee wrap and has a carrying strap. There's also a zippered pouch where you could store items such as your keys, and you can adjust the shoulder strap for easy carrying. Dirt and sand fell off this blanket after just a few shakes during our testing, and though liquid does soak into the fleece fabric, it’s fairly easy to blot out. The one big downside of this picnic blanket is you can't machine wash it, so you have to spot-clean any stains. However, it’s a good value considering its large size and quality construction. Both employees and self-employed workers will pay less in National Insurance from next year, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has announced in today's Autumn Statement.