If your hunt for a restful night's sleep, or a calm afternoon on the sofa has you searching for the best weighted blanket, you are definitely in the right place. Also known as calming blankets, these (deliberately) heavy covers use the benefits of deep compression therapy to help you relax.
The result is that most people who use them feel soothed when lying under them, and when used at bedtime, they offer a deeper sleep. No wonder there is so much hype around them now.
However, there is a big range in quality and efficacy of these blankets and – unsurprisingly – quite a price range too. That makes it so hard for anyone just looking into them to know what might suit their needs. Which is exactly where we come in.
If a stress-reducing, sleep improving blanket sounds like something you need in your life, don't miss our guide. Then, if you think you need a total sleep upgrade, take a look at the best mattress list too, for the ultimate restful night in.
The best weighted blankets
You would expect Simba's weighted blanket to be a winner because everyone loves their mattresses so much – and it's definitely one of the best weighted blankets available. It's filled with thousands of glasses beads for a really natural feeling, even weight. If you don't want a blanket that has a fleecy cover, this one would be a good choice as it's made from a cool, breathable cotton, which also means it's not going to overheat if you want to use it in warmer months. The cover is removable and machine washable which is a big win in our eyes and kind of essential if you plan to sleep directly under it. You can read our Simba Orbit weighted blanket review for more.
A lot of mattress companies have delved into the world of weighted blankets, and due to all their sleep knowledge, most of them are the best you can buy. We really liked the Nectar blanket because not only it is really soothing, not too warm and not too heavy, it's actually made of bamboo so is better for the environment (something we always look out for).
The filling is made up of really small glass beads that don't pool so the weight always remains even across the whole blanket no matter what position you sleep. Plus this blanket looks really nice too so can be left over the back a sofa or at the end of the bed.
Not 100 percent sure a weighted blanket is for you but want to give one a go? Buying a cheaper blanket before investing is a good idea. This one is by far the cheapest of our picks but still does a great job at relaxing you as you sleep or chill on the sofa. The only downside we found is the weights go up with the size of the blanket, you can't choose size and weight separately, so if you want a lighter weight your blanket is going to be smaller and vice versa. A great intro to the concept though.
If you want to be eased into weighted blankets, or buying one for a child, this John Lewis blanket comes in really small weights that would be suitable for new or younger users. There is a really helpful weight guide on the John Lewis site so you make sure you buy the right one but the general rule is select a blanket weight that is around 10 per cent of your body weight.
This blanket is a very stylish grey, that wouldn't look out of place at the end of a bed and the cotton is lovely and soft but won't make you overheat. The inside is weighted with tiny glass beads and that creates a very even weight throughout the blanket.
It was the stylish branding that drew us to the Mela blanket, but as well as looking very aesthetically pleasing it's great quality too. Filled with glass pellets that are evenly distributed throughout the blanket, this weighted blanket is said to be the quietest of the lot (yes apparently some weighted blankets can get noisy with all those beads drifting around). It comes it lots of sizes and weights too so you can pick the one that suits you best.
Plus there is a 100 night trail so if it turns out weighted blankets aren't for you, you can get your money back. And every purchase protects 25 trees in the Amazonian rainforest which is a nice bonus.
What is a weighted blanket?
Well, honestly? They are exactly what they sound like: a heavy blanket. You can buy them in a range of weights starting from around 4kg and and going up to 12kg, depending on the weight of the person who will be using the blanket. Most models are filled with plastic or glass beads and microfibre padding to add the extra weight and extra softness.
The theory behind them is that the added pressure will create a feeling of calm and – in a non-scary way – they also stop you moving as much in your sleep, so you are less likely to be disturbed.
Traditionally, weighted blankets were used for children with disorders like autism or ADHD to calm them while they slept. But now they have become much more widespread and can be used to calm anxious adults, to soothe those with sleeping problems or just to create a more comfortable and cosy bedroom set up.
Read more:
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