Waterproof Outdoor Blankets That Hold Up So Much Better Than a Beach Towel

If you live for outdoor picnics, playing in the grass, and taking advantage of everything that your local park has to offer, upgrading your outdoor blanket should be a no-brainer. With a good, waterproof outdoor blanket on hand, you can spread out pretty much anywhere you want without having to worry about patchy, prickly grass or a lawn that's damp with dew.

The Best Outdoor Blankets

• Best Overall: California Picnic Waterproof Picnic Blanket
• Lightest Blanket: Rumpl Original Puffy Blanket
• Best Cheap Blanket: MIU COLOR Large Waterproof Outdoor Picnic Blanket
• Best for Pet Owners: YETI Lowlands Blanket
• Best for a Party: ZOMAKE Extra Large Waterproof Picnic Blanket Mat
• Coziest Blanket: L.L.Bean Waterproof Outdoor Blanket
• Best Wool Blanket: Pendleton Roll-Up Wool Blanket
  

What to Consider Before Buying

The most important features of an outdoor blanket are its size and waterproofing. Additionally, a blanket's comfort level, durability, weight, and any included carrying straps and cases can also make or break a product.

If you've ever tried to lie on the grass atop an old bath towel or pool blanket, you'd know that a towel that's meant for drying off with is a poor material for sunbathing on. Cotton bath towels are designed for absorbency, which is why any moisture or dew from the grass will soak right into the material. Not only that, but standard bath towels are roughly 58x30 inches — a 5-foot-tall person cannot comfortably stretch out on a material that narrow!

With this in mind, many of the outdoor blankets on this list can comfortably fit one or two people sitting or lying down (the smallest one we chose measures 75x52 inches) and are made of water-repelling material or are layered to wick away moisture, so you can stay nice and dry without feeling like you're lying on a plastic tarp.

The price can be another factor — the pricier outdoor blankets on this list can double as camping blankets, providing warmth on an outdoor excursion, not just a seat on the ground. They are typically also made of higher-quality materials, though they may still provide the same level of waterproofing as the cheaper picks.

Read on to figure out which of these seven outdoor blankets should be your sidekick for the season.