Hi! I'm Ethan Green from nosleeplessnights.com, and in this video I'm going to be talking about seven different
weighted blankets. Now, with weighted blankets there's quite a lot to talk
about even conceptually, and about choosing
them, before I even talk about each of the individual ones. So I'm going to try and
give some brief personal answers to some of the key questions I know people have. And then we'll look at each of them in turn. If you're not interested in knowing
my opinion about weighted blankets in general, then please skip forward a couple
of minutes and you'll find the reviews of each one. Or you'll also find the
timestamps in the description below so you can skip ahead a few sections if you
want. So the first question to think about is: do they even work? Now, this is a
bit of a tricky question to answer. There is some research out there that
says that they do help with sleep or anxiety. But, you know, it's not like
there's an enormous wealth of research. It's just a few bits and pieces here and
there. So I think personally, it's more of a personal thing. And I think for me - and
my wife as well, I've been talking to her a lot about it and her views on it - I think
that they're great for relaxation. There's definitely something that we
feel that they help with on that front. For sleep, I think it very much depends
on the individual and what causes your sleep problems anyway? Maybe a weighted
blanket is going to be no help at all; maybe it'll be just what you need. So
again, it's very much a personal thing. Now, the next question is: do they sleep
hot? Are there cooling weighted blankets? Are some better than others? I think
this is a very easy question to answer in some respects, which is that there is
no such thing as a cooling weighted blanket - it just doesn't exist. Any
blanket that you put on top of you is always going to make you feel warmer
than you did without the blanket. Now, some of them are definitely more
breathable than others. I think that when they have a thick minky kind of
polyester outside cover, then it's definitely going to be warmer than one
that uses cotton and doesn't have so much fiberfill in the pockets as well. So
really, I think the material can be breathable, and I think it can be less
warm than others, but it can't be cooling. So that's something to bear in mind.
Now, what about choosing the weight? This is also a key question that people have. There are two approaches to this. One is that you choose 10 to 12 percent of your
body weight, and that's been the standard approach for quite a long time, and the
one that most people talk about. However, it doesn't work for everybody in some
respects, because if you're in between weights - you know, weighted blanket
manufacturers don't create a 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 ,15 pound and
onwards weight. They have 10, 15, and 20, 25. Some of them have individual weights, but
it's not that common. So if you're in the middle, you then need to decide yourself
whether to go down a bit or up a bit. And that's going to be very much a
personal choice. For me, and my wife also, going down weight is better than going
up. But again, maybe you would prefer the extra weight that you have on top of you.
Now, the other approach is that you have a set weight for each square foot, and
this is something which a couple of manufacturers have started doing
recently. And they claim that people enjoy that more than having a particular
weight based on your body size, because, you know, I can see some logic in that. If
you're very short or very tall, but you have a particular weight or a different
weight, then that's going to mean that you have maybe the same weighted blanket, but
on a smaller surface area of your body. So I can kind of see some logic to that.
Do you need a cover? Well, some blankets, like the Bearaby Napper and the Layla, are one-piece so there's no cover anyway. Others come with a pre-attached cover
and so you just choose the style and the material that appeal to you. In some
cases, you have to buy the cover separately though. And actually, if you're
a hot sleeper or on a tight budget then you could just get the main weighted blanket
and skip the cover to save some money. However one major benefit of having a
cover is that you can just wash that, instead of having to stuff a heavy 25
pound blanket into your washing machine. Another thing to think about with the
cover is that that's where the extra softness is often generated - if it has
like a soft minky exterior or cotton or whatever it might be. And the sensory
nodes that a lot of them have as well - like these two here - that's done in the
cover not the blanket itself. What about the internal weight? Well, in pretty much
every case these days it seems to be glass microbeads, or 'hypoallergenic
glass microbeads - not plastic pellets' which is the common marketing phrase
that they use. But actually, I haven't been able to find any that use plastic
pellets recently. I know that there are some out there, and perhaps the older
manufacturers or some of the cheaper manufacturers, but all the ones in this
review use glass microbeads. So when they say that they're special because
they use glass microbeads - kind of not really that special because they all
seem to these days! But it's still worth checking if you're going to use one that
isn't in this video. However, there is an exception, which is the Bearaby here, which
doesn't have any beads it's all. It just has a cotton design to it. But I'll come to that
when I talk about the Bearaby in its turn. So with those questions in mind,
let's take a look at the first blanket. Okay, let's start off with the Baloo
weighted blanket. What I really like about this one is that it's very
breathable. That's why it's my personal favorite at
the moment. My wife's also really a big fan of this one, and that's because it
feels soft and smooth on the skin, and she likes the elegant design. So, let's
take a closer look. The Baloo uses a premium cotton, which feels very soft.
And I like how it has small double stitched pockets, which improves the
durability and the weight distribution of the glass microbeads. The pockets
contain minimal fiber filling, which is a key reason it's so breathable. The
stitching is consistently good across the whole blanket, and I like the
attention to detail that's gone into the construction. On this size, there are six
strong loops and ties, but I think eight would have been a bit better to keep the
cover in place. Unlike most weighted blankets, the Baloo
uses wooden buttons instead of a zip, which looks nice aesthetically. The only
cover option they have at the moment is French flax linen. I personally really
like the natural feel of that, but my wife does say she would have preferred
cotton. It's worth noting that all the materials are Oeko-Tex certified. And
conveniently, you can machine wash and dry both the external cover and the
internal weighted blanket. When it comes to relaxation during the day and the
evening, the Baloo is a great choice because it's so breathable and it looks
good too. But at the same time, I can imagine the plain white cotton and
minimalist look might feel like it belongs more in a bedroom for some
people. It comes in set sizes rather than having the same weight across different
dimensions. So at the moment, they have a 12 pound twin, 15 and 20 pound queen, and a 25 pound King. And the one I'm using is the 20 pound queen size. As always, the
price varies by size. Mine was just under 170 dollars, so it's not a budget
weighted blanket - which, by the way, I will cover later in the video. I do think the
cover is a little expensive at ninety-nine dollars. So, combined it makes it one
of the most expensive options. But you can just use the internal blanket and
save some money. They have a 30 day returns window, which is pretty standard.
However, they offer a lifetime craftsmanship warranty, which is pretty
exceptional considering many don't offer any warranty at all. As for sleep, the
Baloo is a great choice because it's so breathable and it looks elegant. I also like
how well the weight is distributed and how it hugs your body nicely. And for
colder months you can use it on top of or in-between your own bedding to add a
little extra warmth. So overall, this is a really good weighted blanket. Admittedly,
it's not a cheap option, but the quality of the craftsmanship, the soft feel,
breathability and aesthetic design make this a great
choice. Next up, we have the Bearaby. Now, this is one which is a bit of an outlier
when it comes to weighted blankets, because they haven't done the whole
thing of using microbeads on the inside, and filling it with thousands of
microbeads. Instead, they've gone for this giant woven cotton, so there's no
internal filling. It's literally just cotton weave, and it looks and feels
great. So, let's take a closer look. The Bearaby Napper has a lovely soft feel to it. They use 95 percent organic cotton and 5% spandex. And the weave actually has a
little stretch to it whilst being very durable. As I said, there's no synthetic
filler, and it's these chunky layers of hand-knitted cotton weave that manage
to create all that weight. It's great that you can machine wash and dry the
Bearaby, but it does weigh a lot when you pull it out of the washing machine. When
it comes to using a weighted blanket on the sofa for relaxation the Bearaby is
definitely one of our favorites. And my wife always says this is the one for the
sofa, just because it looks beautiful aesthetically. And importantly, it feels
relaxing to sit or lie under. In terms of the options, they have three different
weights for adults at the moment: 15, 20, and 25 pounds. Interestingly, they avoid
large sharing sizes and only make them for individuals. So mine's a 20 pound
blanket and it's 40 by 72 inches. It also comes in six different colors.
Recently, they've added a smaller 8 pound kid's size too, with four different color
choices. The Bearaby is one of the most expensive weighted blankets because of
all the craftsmanship involved. Mine was just under two hundred and sixty dollars.
They have a 30 day returns period, but no extended warranty. So yeah, make sure you
look after it! Mine's still doing well though - it's lasted nine months so far. As for sleep, I think like the Baloo the breathability makes this a fantastic
choice for hot sleepers and warmer weather. But in cold weather, you probably
want to use it on top of some warmer bedding. I also really like how well it
hugs your body - more so than any of the other weighted blankets I've tried. So
overall, I think this is a great choice. It's breathable, made with sustainability
in mind and it just looks good. But the high price point and the lack of warranty is
something to consider if you're in a tighter budget. Next up we have the Luxome weighted
blanket. Now, this is the first company that I'd personally seen that had broken away
from the ten percent body weight rule. And they've worked out an average per
square foot by testing their blanket weights on different age groups. And so
they say that this is an average that most people like. So if you're not quite
sure about choosing based on your body weight or you're not quite sure about
the 10 percent rule, then perhaps this is one that will suit you. So, let's take a
closer look. The Luxome has various different cover options, but mine here
has a smooth minky on one side that feels very soft. The reverse side is a
300 thread count organic lyocell bamboo, which feels a little cooler on your skin. To remove the cover there's a very subtle zip that's well hidden - it actually
takes a while to find it. With this blanket there are 12 ties and loops,
which is a good number to keep the cover nicely attached. The stitching is strong,
but I do think it could have been finished a little bit neater. A small
issue I had is that the loops are actually quite small, so it's slightly
fiddly to attach the ties. By the way, here's a good technique to attach the
cover: you just lie it flat on top of the blanket, attach all the ties, and then put
your arms inside, grab the opposite corners and reverse the whole thing. The
weight of blanket itself uses glass beads and polyester filler batting, which
actually seems to do a really good job of keeping the beads evenly spread
despite the relatively large 6 inch pocket size. The 233 thread count cotton
seems very robust. But it's not the softest. One point I really like about the Luxome is that both the internal blanket and the external cover can be machine
washed and dried. I think the Luxome feels cozy enough
and looks good with the cover, so it's one that I'd happily use on the sofa
while relaxing. So, let's take a closer look at the different weights they
decided on. Here you can see that they have 8, 15, 18 and 30 pound weights. The blanket size also increases accordingly. So you've got the
8 pound for kids, and I personally use the 18 pound. And my wife and I both find that that weight works nicely. They also have several different covers to
choose from, including sensory dots if you like that style. The price varies by the
size and the cover you choose, ranging from under 100 for the smallest up to
around $250 for the largest. So it's not exactly a budget weighted blanket. They
have a 30-day returns policy, but you must include the original bag if you
want your money back. And there's no extended warranty either, like the Bearaby,
which is a bit of a shame. But it should be fine if you look after it well. As for
sleep, well, it feels cozy, it looks good and it conforms nicely to your body. It's not as breathable as the baloo or the Bearaby because of the fiberfill, but
it's better than those that use thicker minky on both sides of the cover. So overall I think this is a good option. If you're not quite sure what weight to
choose, and you just prefer the simplicity of choosing the basic
dimensions instead, and also if you just want an elegant and comfortable weighted
blanket. Next up we have the Layla weighted blanket. Now, Layla is a bedding
company and like many other bedding companies they've gotten in on the
weighted blanket action. And I think they've done a really good job in
creating just a nice all-round, well balanced weighted blanket. Personally, I
really like the hexagonal design that Layla uses. The top side has a plush soft
minky, that feels really lovely against the skin. The pockets are six inches
across and they're very robustly stitched, which helps keep the microbeads
and the poly filler in place. The underside is 300 thread count cotton,
also feels soft and smooth against the skin. It does tend to show up any lint
that's been floating around though. The stitching is fantastic across the whole
of the Layla blanket - definitely one of the best in that respect. And it gives me
confidence that it will last a long time. Another plus is that the blanket can be
machine washed and dried, which is very convenient compared to a couple of
others that are coming up later in the review. It's important to note that this
is a one-piece weighted blanket with no cover, and only comes in black and green
at the moment. So although I personally really like it for relaxing on the sofa,
do be aware that you can't choose a different color or material. As for the
size options, well, like the Luxome you don't choose by your body weight, but by
the blanket size. They have a twin, queen and king. The one I'm using here is the
twin - it's 48 by 72 inches and weighs 15 pounds. I find that it's actually a
really good size and dimensions for me. It costs around $100 for the twin, which
is a reasonable price as well. Another thing I really like about the Layla is
that they have a very generous 120 day money back guarantee and a 5 year
warranty. Both of those are much longer than most companies have for weighted
blankets. As for using it when you sleep, well, it's reasonably breathable and it
feels soft. And it contours nicely to the body. But again, it depends if you like
the black and green color scheme. If not, then you can hide it between your bed
sheets, which is also fine to do. So overall, I think the Layla is actually a
really good weighted blanket. It'll obviously suit some people more than
others because of the lack of options that they have. But it's really well
designed, it feels good, and they have one of the best trial periods that I've seen. If you're a hot sleeper like me, look
away now or skip to the next section. This is not the one for you! But if
you're a cold sleeper or you're looking for a weighted blanket to add a little bit
of warmth in the winter, this is a really good option. This is by far the warmest
weighted blanket that we've tried. In fact, you really don't need to spend much
time underneath this before you start to feel warm again if you've come in from
the cold. The first thing to note is that the external cover is made with a really
soft minky, which feels great. And it also has these sensory nodes on one side,
which are always kind of fun to play around with. The other side is also minky,
but it's just flat this time and a different color. The zip is robust and
nicely tucked inside one edge. The inside blanket uses glass microbeads, and the
compartments are around six inches in length and width. They aren't exactly the
smallest compartments, but they do the job nicely. The cotton that they use is
very thick and robust, but it's not the smoothest so I probably wouldn't use
this one without a cover. The stitching and the internal blanket is good. I've
had no issues with it, even after a year's usage. There are
eight loops and ties to keep the cover in the blanket nicely attached, and the
loops are well stitched. One major downside is that the inner blanket can't
be machine washed - only the external cover can. As for using it around the home,
well, the soft and warm feel of the minky and the thickness of the blanket in the
polyfill means that this is a really good one to use in the winter time. It's
one that we use quite a lot during the day and the evening, and in the winter we
often snuggle up under it while watching a movie. In terms of options, one of the
things that I really like about Quility is that there's a lot of different sizes
and weights to choose from. In fact, there's so many combinations, I can
imagine it might be a little bit confusing for some people. But they run from 5 pounds right up to 25 pounds, there don't seem to be a 30
pound, but that should be enough to cover most people's weights. And it does mean
that there's kid sizes as well. The price is reasonable. It's going to depend on
the size obviously. But mine, as an example, is 60 by 80 inches and 20 pounds,
and it cost around 120 dollars. And that includes the
blanket and cover. Another downside is that there's only a 30-day returns window,
which is pretty standard with products that are sold on Amazon. But there's no
guarantee - there's no year-long guarantee, which for me is a bit of an issue. As for
sleep, well, for me this is a really good one to use in the winter. Maybe the
spring and autumn as well, depending on where you live. You can use it on its own
or perhaps combine it with your own bedding for extra warmth. Overall then,
this is a good one if you're looking for a soft minky feel and a warm weighted
blanket, and you're looking for particular sizes. However, you do
need to be prepared to hand wash or spot clean or dry clean the internal blanket. Next up, we have the Weighted Evolution.
Now, this is one which I think will appeal to people who like shiny things,
glossy things or maybe even sci-fi fans because of this metallic, shiny, glossy
exterior that the minky side with all these nodes has. Very, very futuristic
feel to it. As I said, my favorite feature of the Weighted Evolution is the touch
sensory dots and the ultra-soft minky that they have on the top side. On the
other side, there is bamboo lyocell, which is also very smooth and soft, and
actually feels a little cooler against the skin. The external stitching is
pretty good on the Weighted Evolution. I inspected it carefully and it seems well
constructed and robust. And I like the fact that the zip is well hidden, so you
don't feel it when you're using the blanket. I also like that for larger
sizes there are 12 loops and ties, which helps keep the blanket and the cover in
place. But like all heavy weighted blankets, you do need to be careful how
you use it or you can end up damaging the stitching if you put too much strain
on them - like I did here. Now, I really like the design of the internal blanket. It has very small double stitched pockets, which means that the weight is kept well
distributed. And it has just enough fiber fill in each one to spread the beads out
and stop them bunching up in the corners. And compared to the more delicate
stitching of the cover, the stitching on the internal blanket is very neatly
finished, uniform and looks robust. One downside though is that only the
external cover can be machine washed. So you'd need to hand wash or spot clean
the blanket itself. To use around the home, the weighted evolution is one that
looks good and feels cozy enough to use when you're chilling on the sofa, whether
that's reading, watching a movie or whatever it might be. It's just one that
you wouldn't mind having out on the sofa compared to some of the more basic
weighted blankets. They have several different weights, including 8, 12, 15, 20
and 25 pounds. Although as you can see, like many brands they don't always have
every weight in stock. As for the price, well that would depend on the size and
the cover you get. For example, mine is the 20 pound blanket that's 60 by 80
inches and it currently costs around 150 dollars. They have a long trial period of
100 days, which is longer than most. And there's a year-long warranty, which
is good to see. To use when you're sleeping, for me it's in the middle in
terms of breathability - not the coolest but it's definitely not the warmest
either. But it's right up there with the best for how soft and luxurious the
external cover feels. So overall, this is a good choice if you like the sensory
dot style and the coziness of a soft minky cover. But
perhaps won't be right if you'd prefer to be able to machine wash the internal
weighted blanket as well. Finally, we come to the YNM. Now, this is one that I
bought as an experiment to see what you could get if you tried to spend as
little money as possible on a weighted blanket. And what I found you get is
a weighted blanket that weighs what it's supposed to do, and does its job, but
doesn't look or feel particularly special. So let's take a closer look.
The first thing to note then is that the YNM internal blanket, which I have
here, isn't the smoothest of cottons that I've felt. What I do like about it is
that they have a nice tight compartment size. So both sides of the square pattern
they've gone for is just under five inches. The stitching is actually pretty good as well. I couldn't fault the stitching. I had a look all the way around and didn't find
any errors. The entire blanket can be machine washed cold and tumble dried low.
I tested it a couple of times and it came out just as it went in - well, a
little bit cleaner obviously! Another thing that I like about the YNM is that
they offer a lot of variety in terms of the dimensions and the weight of the
internal blanket. So from 5 pounds right up to 30 pounds, and different
lengths and widths as well. If you'd like an external cover, they offer cotton and
bamboo and minky with or without the sensory nodes, and many different colors
and patterns as well. The price varies by size, but my 15 pound blanket for example
is currently around $70 without a cover. And like the Quility, there's a 30-day
returns period but no additional warranty unfortunately. In terms of using
it around the home, well, I have to say it's not my first choice for relaxing
whilst reading or watching TV, just because of the lack of softness in the
cotton that they've used. And for sleep, well, it's not the most breathable that
I've tried but neither is it the hottest either. There is quite a bit of fiberfill
inside those pockets, so some heat does build up, but it could be worse. So for me,
it's somewhere in the middle in terms of breathability. So if you're just looking
for a basic weighted blanket and you're on a budget, this is a good choice.
So there you go - the seven weighted blankets. I hope that you found this
video useful and interesting. If you did, and you'd like to buy any of them, please
use the links in the description below the video. And please also subscribe to
my YouTube channel to keep in touch with me, and see future reviews. And if you've
got any comments or questions about these blankets, choosing them, or any
details that I've missed out, or anything that you disagree with - please also feel
free to leave a comment. And I always reply to comments so It would be good to hear from you. Thanks again. This is Ethan from No
Sleepless Nights.
