For the family schelp I leave my fancy picnic basket at home and usually use cardboard boxes or paper grocery bags, and coolers, with Ziplock bagas and containers in them. I think Tubtrugs would be great for the purpose, as well. Easier to carry, and with less failure, but then we always have lots of bags and boxes that need reusing so I've never gotten any.

There are all kinds of interesting bento box configurations that would work for a small group. Also stainless tiffins.

My favorite picnic basket for concert in the park kinds of things is a woven rectangular cube with a shoulder strap. It has a removable soft cooler that fills the interior, and sides that hinge up with wire legs so that the top forms a small table. It can with dishes, but those never get used. As you mentioned, they take up too much room. On those occasions we use disposable, even if they're coming home for reuse, because they're lighter and take up less space.

I'm inclined to think you need two. One being the cooler Mustangs has that's seperated wet/dry, and one that's non-cooler for dry items and things you don't want cold.

It makes me think of the steeplechase where people opened the backs of their suv's and came out with everything, including white linen tablecloth and the candleabra! You might say it was tailgating with a touch of class.

Beth

With the baskets that have strap-in plates etc, you simply take some inexpensive plastic bags with you (grocery store bags are fine), scrape the plates and wrap them dirty in the bags to strap in until you get home, keeping the basket clean.

Yeah, that's the problem, I don't do plastic bags and throwaway stuff. I need to find or make some canvas drawstring bags that I can put the dirty stuff in and then throw in the laundry. That's why I was thinking clear plastic containers, good for storing stuff clean and dirty. I have lots of cooler options, it is the dry stuff I need storage for--cooking utensils, can opener, matches, corkscrew, S&P shaker, tablecloth, napkins, etc. The picnic baskets I shopped for online all seem to fru fru and flimsy. I just need a sturdy basket that is effeciently shaped and can stack.

I'm seeing a ton of ones like I have for sale used online, maybe I should just get one of those. I don't do online shopping for used stuff though. I'm not much of a shopper/bargain hunter.

Here is a link that might be useful: Used Redman picnic basket