Picnic tables are great for family bonding occasions. Instead of TV dinners, family can spend time outdoors by having cookouts or enjoy quality conversations over cold drinks and snacks. Picnic tables are also the very essence of the American culture where families and friends share meals together in the carefree outdoor environment. Picnic tables are also great for entertaining guests or relatives who are visiting, where children and adults can enjoy each other's company over home cooked meals.

How to Choose the Right Picnic Tables Picnic tables are made from a variety of materials and come in different shapes and designs. The most durable are metal picnic tables or steel picnic tables, which have high resistance to heavy load, damage and corrosion.

To avoid the hassle of carting one's picnic table in and out of doors when the weather changes, choosing a strong sturdy set that withstand drastic temperature changes overnight as well as wet and dry conditions is certainly a wise investment.

Another consideration when choosing the right picnic table is the location. For pool sides, parks or areas where there are higher chances of wet conditions, metal picnic tables are the ideal choice as they have higher resistance to rust and can be easily maintained and cleaned. They are also durable and can withstand direct sunlight, scratches and knocks.

Many parks and outdoor recreation facilities use heavy duty metal or steel picnic tables as they can withstand heavy usage all year long. These tables can also be mounted onto the ground to prevent theft or vandalism. Heavy duty picnic tables have extra built-in stands for additional support and are normally installed at sports centers, near soccer fields or children's playgrounds where rough handling or heavy loads are every day affairs.

Shapes and Designs
Picnic tables come in a wide range of designs and shapes, and the choice of design really depends on the degree of usage and the required capacity.

Picnic table shapes can be round, rectangular or square with attached benches in all sides, two sides or three sides. One can even have a combination of materials for the aesthetic effect; a combination of wood and stainless steel picnic tables are the perfect furniture for patios or porches. The combination of materials can also merge beauty with functionality, for example by having beautiful country-style décor of wood-surfaced table and benches that are supported by a sturdy stainless steel stand to weather rough outdoor conditions.

Many picnic tables come with benches mounted on three sides, to make room for wheelchair-bound users. The expanded rectangular with double benches design is the ideal picnic table design for family or group picnics where three to five people can fit into a single bench. Alternatively, square picnic tables provide the cozy dining experience for a family of four.

For those on the go, easy-folding steel picnic tables are the essential tools for outdoor picnics where families can have their meals in comfort while surrounded by nature. Collapsible metal picnic tables are another model in the mobile picnic table category, which can be folded and stored away during winter months and be re-installed again anywhere and anytime.