Rosie Frazier
Tech professional and blogger. Loves sharing recommendations for products that promote health and well-being.
I created this site to share my experience of trying out six of the most popular weighted blankets on Amazon. I want everyone to be able to enjoy great quality sleep. When site visitors purchase a weighted blanket through a link featured on my blog, I receive Amazon affiliate revenue. If you decide to buy a weighted blanket I’ve reviewed here, please consider using one of the links below to make your purchase.
As a project manager for a small tech startup, my life is pretty hectic. I’m up early almost every morning, troubleshooting technical issues and tracking the progress of my team. And that’s all before I’ve even gotten to the office. I can’t afford to start the day feeling tired before it’s begun!
Although I love my job and all of its challenges, it has become increasingly difficult to fall asleep at the end of a long, busy day, with the next morning’s schedule whirring through my mind and constantly worrying about all of my responsibilities. Anxiety has been an issue for me since graduate school, and I’d rather not take anti-anxiety medication if there’s a natural way to feel better.
I first heard about weighted blankets a few years ago from a colleague, who let me borrow hers for a few nights. I knew right away that this was exactly what I needed in order to improve my sleep and feel more relaxed in bed. Ever since then, I’ve been obsessed with searching for the perfect weighted blanket.
Once viewed as therapeutic tools used only by therapists, weighted blankets have become increasingly sought-after as a safe and gentle way to naturally relieve anxiety and improve sleep quality. Long before they became mainstream, weighted blankets were recognized as effective sleep and relaxation aids for people with anxiety, insomnia, ADHD, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Weighted blankets are also known for their efficacy at calming and comforting individuals on the autism spectrum, including children.
I bought and tried each of these weighted blankets.
These days, most people who purchase a weighted blanket are looking for a simple way to relax, de-stress, sleep soundly, and wake up feeling refreshed. My anxiety was the main reason I started researching weighted blankets and ultimately decided to try a bunch of them myself. I’m not a doctor, so I won’t make any claims about their use as a medical treatment, but I do feel confident discussing how a weighted blanket is a fantastic way to relieve anxiety and find calm and relaxation after a long and stressful day.
Hopefully, my experiences with these weighted blankets will help you to find one that works well for you. A good-quality weighted blanket is a fairly substantial purchase, and I don’t want people to waste their money on substandard products, especially now that I’ve learned so much about different weighted blanket brands from firsthand experience.
How did I evaluate the weighted blankets?
- I read a variety of reviews to get ideas about popular weighted blankets to try
- I ordered six of the most popular weighted blankets available from Amazon
- I slept under each weighted blanket every night for a week
- I took several naps with each weighted blanket
- I lay under each weighted blanket when I was feeling anxious or stressed
- I considered how well the blanket “hugged” me and calmed me down
- I considered how rested I felt after waking up
- I shook each blanket to see whether the filling shifted or made noise
What were the most important factors for choosing a weighted blanket?
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Breathability and temperature regulation
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High-quality filling
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Even weight distribution
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Large enough to fully cover you
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Not so heavy that it feels claustrophobic
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Machine washable
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Well-made stitching and durable zippers
Is it worth purchasing a budget alternative?
Based on my personal experience, I think it’s worth paying slightly more for a high-quality weighted blanket that will be as comfortable and effective as possible.
My first foray into purchasing a weighted blanket was buying the absolute cheapest so-called weighted blanket that I could find. It was a complete disaster -- the blanket seemed to be filled with sand, which kept bunching up in the corners, making it lumpy and uncomfortable. It was also far too heavy, and not at all like the cool, comfy weighted blanket that I had borrowed from my colleague.
Although some shifting of the filling material is pretty much inevitable with any weighted blanket, inexpensive blankets have large pockets that result in constant, noisy movement, making your blanket lopsided and unevenly distributed. Better-quality blankets will have smaller compartments to reduce this shifting.
The zippers on budget blankets also tend to snag, which is what happened with my first purchase -- it got stuck every time I took the cover off to wash, and eventually broke. It’s definitely worth looking out for a durable zipper, even if it’s attached to a slightly more expensive product.
I’ve come to realize that there is no point buying a weighted blanket that isn’t a decent, well-made product. Unless you’re going to buy your weighted blanket from a respected, reputable brand, you’d be better off just buying a normal blanket for a fraction of the price. After all, a weighted blanket is a therapeutic item that you’ll be sleeping under for seven or eight hours every night.
It really is worth spending the money to ensure that you’re getting a product that will last for many years (and many washes!), and that makes you feel like you’re being hugged, not smothered.
