Movable feasts just got easier // Quality equipment perks up picnicking

My husband accuses me of turning every trip into an extendedpicnic - taking along enough food, thermal containers and eatingutensils so we could be stranded just about anywhere for a day or twoand never go hungry or thirsty.

Now I've discovered some portable culinary aids that make mymobile dining inclinations even more palatable. Many items may beavailable in area stores. Prices do not include shipping andhandling.

MONDO THERMOS: I seldom travel without my stainless steelThermos, especially on car trips. In this virtually indestructiblevacuum bottle I can keep the coffee of my choice steaming hot allday. Now for people with a really big coffee thirst - or who aretraveling with others with whom they must share - Thermos hasdeveloped a huge two-quart model with some handy innovations.There's a retractable handle for easy grip that folds nearlyflat and prevents rolling, and a detachable heavy-duty shoulder strapfor easy transport while walking. The plastic stopper has groovesthat make for pouring without removal; just twist the stopper oneturn, tilt and the liquid pours out smoothly. The manufacturerclaims this model keeps liquid hot (149 degrees) for 24 hours in aroom at 68 degrees or higher. Amazingly, that proved true intesting.Thermos/Nissan 2-quart stainless steel vacuum bottle (NCD18) isabout $65. For a store near you, call (800) 831-9242.PICNIC ON YOUR BACK: Just because you are heading off on foot(or canoe or bicycle), doesn't mean you shouldn't have all theaccoutrements of a gourmet picnic. Vesture, a North Carolinamanufacturer, has developed a backpack stocked with all theaccessories you need for fine dining al fresco - you just add thefood and wine.The Back Pac, which is constructed of a heavy-duty blue PVCmaterial, comes with two each of sturdy plastic plates, acrylic wineglasses, blue and white checkered napkins, forks and spoons, as wellas a cutting knife, cheese slicer, corkscrew, blue and whitecheckered tablecloth and cutting board (the latter stores in aninternal pouch pocket).An insulated side pouch can hold a bottle of wine. The BackPac comes with a slim cooling pack that can be frozen beforehand tokeep items cold in the back pack. There is also a heatableMicrocore element that keeps items hot after it has been warmed up ina microwave oven. Now all you need are the ants.Picnic Back Pac is $78 from Vesture. For mail order or tolocate a distributor, call (800) 283-7887.COOL COOLERS: A less chi-chi but very efficient portable cooleris the Backpackable Cooler from L. L. Bean. Made of heavy-dutypackcloth with a no-leak vinyl lining over foam insulation, the 161/2-by-11-by-6 1/2-inch-deep pack has two zip compartments (one ontop, another in front) to keep beverages separate from food.A deep pocket on each side can hold eating utensils (notincluded) or bottles up to one liter. A large mesh zippered pocketat the front of the pack can hold sunscreen, magazines, a towel andother small items. Shoulder straps have extra padding for heftytake-along feasts.Bean also makes three other easy-tote coolers: the 6-Pack,which carries six cans of soda or other beverage and has a zip pocketfor extras, the larger 6-Pack Plus Carrier, which also has room forsandwiches and other snacks, and the Picnic Size, which carries lunchfor a whole family.Backpackable Cooler is $65; 6-Pack is $18; 6-Pack Plus Carrieris $32; and Picnic Size is $40; all in spruce/navy or red from L.L.Bean; (800) 809-7057.TABLE TO GO: Picnicking on the ground is not the mostcomfortable way to go - especially for us aging baby boomers withincreasingly persnickety joints. Rejoice then, for the Little TableBox from Howda Designz, a 10-pound pine box that resembles abriefcase and converts in minutes into a perfectly civilized31-inch-by-19-inch dining table.Pull apart the canvas carrying handles, fold down the12-inch-long legs (alas, we said this was a table, not full-sizetable) and you are almost ready. The box also contains two canvasstadium seats with basswood frames so you avoid grass stains and getsome back support. The table supports a maximum weight of 10 pounds.Little Table Box with two stadium chairs is $190 from HowdaDesignz; (800) 348-3884.TODDLER TUMBLER: So your toddler can join in the picnic withoutspilling his drink all over the crowd, Evenflo, makers of children'sfurnishings, has developed an (almost) spill-proof plastic child'stravel tumbler.The screw-on lid conceals a soft silicone straw that pops upwhen the top of the lid is turned counter-clockwise and folds back inwhen the lid top is turned clockwise. The lid also has a detachablecarrying strap so junior can roam the grounds with ready refreshment.Toddler Travel Tumbler is $4.99. For a nearby store call themanufacturer, Evenflo, at (800) 356-2229.Judi Dash is a free-lance writer in Ohio.