WEIGHTED blankets have become more commonplace in recent years as people look for ways to give themselves a bit of self-care.
The bead-filled bedtime blanket is said to help aid sleep and soothe anxiety, so we put some to the test.
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Most of us know what it is like to have a restless night, tossing and turning trying to think of ways to help ourselves nod off.
More than likely this will result in picking up your phone and scrolling until the early hours, only to make the problem worse.
Weighted blankets are said to help ease stress, reduce anxiety and help you get a better night’s sleep.
Most are made up of small square pockets filled with tiny little beads and then sewn together to form a quilt.
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The blankets are said to promote calm in the same way as a hug or a baby’s swaddle.
However, not all weighted blankets are created equal and they come in many different sizes, weights and price ranges.
We put some of the well-known brands to the test against other more affordable high-street alternatives – here are the results.
Dunelm – £35
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The Dunelm “Calm and Cosy” blanket is 7kg in weight and is one of the more affordable weighted blankets out there.
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It is 150cm x 200cm which means it is just short of being the size of a double duvet cover.
Like all of the weighted blankets it has a quilted look and feel to it, it also comes in two colours, sage green or silver.
The blanket is comfortable to lie under and big enough to wrap yourself up in, without feeling too trapped or overwhelmed.
It has good weight distribution which means it does not bunch up and get you in a tangle when trying to move around under it.
Although the blanket has quite a basic look and feel compared to some of the others I tested, it is a good option for the price and does what it says on the tin.
Score: 7/10
Argos – £54
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Argos has a selection of Slumberdown Wellbeing weighted blankets on its website, it even has one that is CBD-infused.
It also has children’s ones from Disney that are much lighter and are only 2kg in weight.
Most of the adult blankets warn against children using them, and this one from Slumberdown is only recommended for 18 and above.
The general rule for weighted blankets for yourself is to choose one that is 10% of your body weight.
I tested the Slumberdown Wellbeing adults 7kg blanket that is 150cm x 200cm in size.
As with other weighted blankets, it is filled with microbeads designed to create gentle pressure over your body and give the sensation of being hugged.
This blanket was one of my favourites and I slept underneath this one instead of my quilt for a full week.
This blanket had more of a luxurious quilted feel than the ones from Dunelm and Asda so it was much easier to get comfortable in.
It gave a nice even pressure as it seemed to mould around the body more effectively than the cheaper versions.
If you can afford to pay a bit more, this is definitely a good option.
Score: 8/10
Asda – £35
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Asda has a weighted blanket as part of its George “Just Wellness” range and it is another one at the more affordable end of the spectrum.
This blanket is the same weight at 7kg, but slightly smaller than the Dunelm and Slumberdown blanket at 125cm x 180cm, although it is the same price, £35.
For some reason, this blanket felt on the heavier side compared to its Dunelm counterpart and bunched together quite a bit when I moved.
I would say this blanket is better for sitting on the sofa, rather than sleeping under, as it felt a little flat and also moved with me every time I moved.
It Is an affordable choice if you want to experience a weighted blanket, but it was not one of my favourites in terms of comfort.
Score: 6/10
Kudd.ly – £99
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The Kudd.ly weighted blanket is at the top end when it comes to price at £112 for a king-size blanket and £99 for a double.
However, when we checked the website blankets had been reduced to £69 and £49 respectively, so there are some savings to be had.
I tested the king-size blanket that weighs 7kg and is 152cm x 200cm in size.
Without a doubt this was my favourite to sleep under as it had the perfect weight distribution and the fabric has a lovely silky feel to it.
It is very cosy and feels luxurious. Although it does wrap around you nicely when you lay underneath it, it does not tangle up when you try and turn over.
I slept under this blanket for several nights and it gave me the best night’s sleep I have had in a long time.
A combination of the even weight distribution, feel and look of this blanket and the overall comfort and snuggle factor made this my favourite out of all the blankets.
What I did realise through doing this test is that when it comes to weighted blankets, you do get what you pay for.
However, committing to a blanket that costs £99 is not something that most people can easily afford, so make sure you keep an eye out for deals.
Although the Kudd.ly came out top of my test, I would say that the Dunelm blanket at £35 is the next best option if you are on a budget.
Score: 10/10
Amazon and The Range – £15.99
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Amazon and The Range both do this affordable version by Online Home Shop.
The Brentfords weighted blanket comes in three sizes and weights, 125 x 150cm (4kg), 125 x 180cm (6kg) and 150 x 200cm (8kg).
I tried the 6kg one that retails for £15.99 on both Amazon and at The Range.
My first impression of this blanket was that reminded me of the little colourful bean bags from school sports day, only on a much larger scale.
It felt quite thin and unlike the other blankets, it was very apparent that there were beads inside the fabric.
I didn’t find this blanket very cosy at all and found it impossible to sleep under as it twisted up very easily.
Each time I turned over it just clung to me meaning that it was either wrapped around me uncomfortably or wasn’t covering me at all.
I tried to persevere with this one, but each time I gave up, threw it off the bed and climbed back under my quilt.
Score: 5/10
Oodie – £119
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Most people know the Oodie brand more for its wearable blankets than its weighted ones.
This blanket was the most expensive one I tested, however, when I checked online it was available for £71.40 on sale, so keep your eyes peeled for bargains.
The Oodie weighted blanket is my favourite for snuggling up on the sofa with, and the fun design also brought a smile to my face each time I used it.
These blankets come in three different weights, 4.5kg, 6.8kg and 9kg and several fun designs including Pokemon and Harry Potter.
The size of the blanket I tested was 198 x 121cm and although I tried the 6.8kg blanket it did feel the heaviest out of them all.
The velvety material also won me over with its luxurious feel, which definitely made it stand out from the crowd.
The Oodie website describes it as an “utterly buttery cloud-like” blanket and I think that is the perfect description for this one.
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Although I found this one a bit too cumbersome to sleep under it is great for wrapping around yourself when cosying up in front of the TV.
Score: 9/10
The best sleep routine and environment
Thomas Høegh Reisenhus, TEMPUR® sleep specialist & sleep counsellor, reveals the key components of a good bedtime routine and environment…
A sure-fire way to facilitate a better night’s sleep is to practice good sleep hygiene.
Establish a sleep routine that works for you and stick to it.
This will help your body establish a consistent, natural sleep-wake cycle which can do wonders for your overall sleep quality.
As such, try to avoid making up for lost sleep with a lie-in.
Instead of sleeping in, spend your morning reading a book in bed or having a leisurely coffee in the kitchen.
Ensure that your bedroom, bedding, and sleepwear are fit for purpose too.
The ideal sleep environment is dark, quiet, and cool – much like a cave.
If you find unwelcome sources of light are keeping you up, consider investing in an eye mask or black-out curtains.
Adding soft furnishings can be a great way to reduce noise, with the surfaces having an absorptive quality, but if this doesn’t work, consider embracing a soothing soundtrack to block it out.
In terms of temperature, try to keep your bedroom at 18°C. You can further reduce the risk of waking up due to overheating by ensuring that all your bedding and sleepwear is made with natural, breathable materials such as cotton and linen.
Bear in mind that everyone is different; what might work for most, may not work for you!
Whilst knowing how much sleep you should get, how to overcome common barriers, and practicing good sleep hygiene can facilitate a great night’s sleep, if you continue to struggle with sleep or fatigue persistently, do not hesitate to visit a doctor or health professional for support.
