Picnic Hamper Baskets

Most people tend to take the picnic hamper for granted as a modern day invention, but this could not be further from the truth. Picnic hamper baskets have been around for a very long time. Historians have calculated that picnic baskets really came into their own during the Renaissance period, when people gathered together for outdoor fairs and brought their own food and supplies for the day.

The hamper basket is the type probably most well-known for use as a food basket. These baskets feature a single or even dual wooden lid that closes over the top of the basket mouth. The main advantage of these styles of baskets is the instant and quick access to the items within. The lid acts as a table in some cases as well and can provide an eating surface while holding the food items within. Hampers are popular for laundry, kitchen and household use as well as for picnic baskets.

When looking for your new picnic hamper baskets, consider the little things. Look at the liner; most baskets will come with some type of liner to keep the dust and debris out of the basket. However, the liner also plays an important part in the insulation value of the basket. A good, thick liner will keep foods cold or hot as the case may be and can also absorb moisture from the outside of bottles or containers and thus, keep the containers far dryer.

Hamper lids can be divided into several partitions or can be a single lid attached with a hinge to the lip of the basket. You may even find divided partitions within the basket and so can keep your items organized and separated. The dual hamper lids can let you get right to the section you need rather than rummage around in the bottom of the basket.

Finally, the quality of the hinges and clasps needs to be carefully considered as issues with the lids or closures often spell the end of any picnic basket. The better the hinges, the longer the lid will last. Few people really want to spend their weekend mending their picnic basket lid, so the answer lies in choosing a good quality item that won’t require that extra maintenance.

Take your time and choose well; your picnic basket – if well chosen – can remain a happy and useful item for many years to come if you ensure the quality first.