Weighted blankets have been around for years as a tool for in-home therapy. These blankets are traditionally made by quilting pockets of dense beads between layers of a soft, fuzzy material like fleece. They help people who have conditions ranging from anxiety to autism to relax and unwind. Plus, the blankets give a snug, cozy feeling. But the stress-relieving benefits they impart are just as necessary year-round. So, how do you get that comfy, restful sleep when the mercury rises? Switch to a cooling weighted blanket.
Cooling weighted blankets offer the same snug feeling without the added heat. By replacing fleece with alternative filling materials, makers of these blankets say they help body heat to escape rather than build up throughout the night. If you’re ready to make the switch, read on for recommendations on some of the best cooling weighted blankets.
- BEST OVERALL: YnM Bamboo Weighted Blanket
- RUNNER-UP: SAFR Home Therapy Weighted Blanket
- BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Ourea 3.0 Upgrade Cooling Weighted Blanket
- UPGRADE PICK: Degrees of Comfort 100% Cotton Weighted Blanket
- ULTRA SOFT PICK: Pine&River Chilled Bamboo Weighted Blanket
- CUSTOMIZABLE PICK: Degrees of Comfort Weighted Blanket w/ 2 Duvet Covers
- LIGHTWEIGHT PICK: LUNA Kids Weighted Blanket
Before You Buy a Cooling Weighted Blanket
While the benefits of using a cooling weighted blanket are numerous, especially for those with anxiety, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and autism, these cozy covers are not for everyone. The added weight can pose a hazard to small people. Young children under the age of three and those weighing less than 50 pounds should not use them. Those with claustrophobia, sleep apnea, asthma, and blood pressure problems might find them suffocating. Diabetic patients and anyone with sensitive conditions should avoid weighted blankets to help prevent worsening these conditions.
Common Fabrics in Cooling Weighted Blankets
Fabric plays a key role in the cooling effect of these blankets. For best results, the fabric should be breathable, cool to the touch, and easy to clean. Where buyers consider sustainability a concern, they should look for renewable plant-based fibers like tencel, bamboo, cotton, and eucalyptus.
Bamboo
Bamboo fabric is a great choice for cooling weighted blankets for several reasons. It wicks moisture away from the skin, dries quickly, and retains good breathability. It effectively regulates temperature. Bamboo also has antistatic properties, so it doesn’t cling or shock. Bamboo has a reputation for ultrasoft comfort.
Bamboo fabric is derived from a renewable resource that grows very quickly. It can be a sustainable option. In some places, bamboo is harvested sustainably from existing stands. In other areas, farmers are cutting down old-growth rainforests to make way for new bamboo plantations.
The methods used in manufacturing the fabric from bamboo fiber also vary. Bamboo requires crushing the harvested material into pulp and softening the fibers into a slurry before spinning it into thread. Some manufacturers use mechanical processes and natural enzymes. Others use chemical processing.
Cotton
Cotton is the most common and familiar of all fabrics. It is relatively inexpensive, durable, and comfortable. Cotton’s absorbent nature and breathable fibers offer a cooling effect. In addition, it proves an easy-care and low-cost fabric that provides familiar comfort. Manufacturers often blend cotton with polyester for greater durability and to improve the fabric’s moisture-wicking properties.
Cotton is a plant-based, renewable, biodegradable fiber. It is a well-established agricultural crop which grows in warm regions around the world. Through selective breeding, farmers continue to develop ever-improving strains. Unfortunately, cotton consumes outsized quantities of water and pesticides. Organic cotton reduces chemical usage, but comes with decreased productivity and increased land use.
Eucalyptus Fiber
Eucalyptus fiber fabric feels soft and smooth, and users often describe it as feeling like a mix of cotton and silk. Superior comfort, breathability, moisture-wicking, and coolness to the touch make it an excellent choice for cooling weighted blanket material. It is also stain-resistant.
Eucalyptus fiber is one of many types of cellulose fiber that manufacturers can convert to fabric using the lyocell process. The wood fiber breaks down into pulp through a non-toxic chemical solution. The solution converts cellulose into microfiber. Machines then spin the fiber into thread and weave it into the fabric. With sustainable forestry practices employed in the supply chain and nontoxic chemicals used in processing, eucalyptus fiber stands out as a more sustainable choice.
Tencel
Tencel is a fabric brand that employs a sustainable lyocell process. The makers of Tencel pride themselves on the transparency of their processes and supply chain for the raw material that comes from sustainably-managed forests.
Polyester
Polyester fabric is a synthetic material made of chemical byproducts of the petroleum industry. It is inexpensive, durable, easy to clean, and quick to dry. Polyester is not breathable as a standalone fiber, but blending the fabric with cotton gains breathability, reduces static, and increases softness.
There are significant environmental impacts on the production and disposal of polyester. Consumer care of polyester is considerably more sustainable due to its long-term durability and ease of cleaning.
What to Consider When Buying a Cooling Weighted Blanket
Not all of these blankets are the same. Materials, construction details, size, and weight all come into play when determining which is the best cooling weighted blanket for you. Considering several key variables helps when shopping.
Moisture-Wicking Capabilities
As people sleep, they sweat, or at least, moisture from the body constantly transpires. The best cooling weighted blankets have moisture-wicking materials. Moisture-wicking fabric pulls sweat and transpiration away from the skin and promotes faster evaporation. These fabrics help sleepers maintain a consistently cooler temperature.
Bamboo and polyester have good moisture-wicking properties. Lyocell is quite absorbent, but also promotes fast evaporation. Cotton absorbs, but does not wick moisture, meaning that it soaks up and holds moisture easily and allows slower evaporation. Heavy sweaters might want to avoid cotton.
Breathability
Breathability refers to air circulation within the blanket. To avoid buildup of body heat, good air circulation is key. Breathable fabrics reduce moisture buildup by allowing transpiration and perspiration to evaporate directly from the skin surface. Bamboo, cotton, lyocell, and polyester are all considered highly breathable fabrics.
Ease of Cleaning
Most cooling weighted blankets can go into a household washing machine. However, blankets 20 pounds and heavier need laundering in commercial washers and dryers. Wash the blanket alone on the gentle cycle in warm or cold water. Do not bleach. Tumble dry on low heat or line dry.
Weight
Weighted blankets weigh between 5 and 30 pounds. The ideal weight of a blanket to choose is about 10 percent more than the sleeper’s body weight. A 150-pound person should use a 15- to 17-pound weighted blanket.
For some, the weight feels excessive the first time sleeping under a weighted blanket. It can take up to a week to become accustomed to sleeping with one.
Size
When choosing a weighted blanket, it helps to know that their sizing differs from normal comforters. Weighted blankets typically cover only the surface of the bed size for which they are listed. They do not drape over the edges of the mattress. Always consult the actual dimensions shown for the blanket so that you know what to expect. Only king-size weighted blankets are suitable for sharing.
A cooling weighted blanket should match the sleeper’s body size as well as their weight. Consider the size of the bed and your height. Buy a blanket that is the same size or slightly larger than you.
Our Top Picks
The following highly-rated cooling weighted blankets from top manufacturers have been measured against these shopping considerations. Sleeping comfort is one of the most personal choices a buyer can make, so choosing the best weighted blanket should be a carefully considered decision. If you’re looking for a better night’s sleep, one of these comforting cooling weighted blankets might be for you.
Photo: amazon.com
Available in 13 sizes and weights, plus eight different colors, the YnM Bamboo Weighted Blanket should be a good fit for most sleepers. This blanket features a unique 7-layer breathable fabric construction with minimal fiberfill. Natural glass beads provide the weight. The beads are evenly distributed among hundreds of small 4.7-inch compartments for maximum comfort that conforms to any body shape.
The YnM Bamboo Weighted Blanket receives high marks for softness, comfort, weight distribution, and sleep quality. Adding a duvet cover is a smart option for even greater durability and easier cleaning.
Photo: amazon.com
The SAFR Home Therapy Weighted Blanket is a 15-pound, 7-layer woven weighted blanket. It is made of 100 percent breathable cotton, and includes a double brushed ChillFab microfiber cover for cool summer sleeping. Super-secure no-leak stitching holds the borosilicate glass filling inside. Buyers can choose from nine different adult size and weight combinations for maximum comfort. This blanket comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee and a limited lifetime warranty.
Some filling might come loose in shipping or manufacturing, so buyers should inspect the new blanket upon arrival, before putting it on the bed.
Photo: amazon.com
Shoppers can choose from seven sizes and six colors to get the Ourea 3.0 Upgrade Cooling Weighted Blanket that fits them best. This blanket features 7-layer construction, 100-percent organic cotton, natural glass bead weight, and small 5.5-inch quilted compartments. The 400 thread count organic cotton fabric provides comfort and breathability to keep sleepers cool through the night. This blanket is highly-rated for comfort, sleep quality, and value.
Sometimes, the glass beads can shift, causing the weight to become uneven over time. Simple fluffing of the blanket before each use should redistribute the beads.
Photo: amazon.com
The Degrees of Comfort Weighted Blanket is made of soft 100-percent cotton. It sells in 14 different size and weight combinations to help buyers choose the best fit. Plenty of other options are part of this upgrade pick, such as colors of gray, navy, or tan, and the choice of no cover, one cover, two covers, or an extra cool cover. The cooling cover is made of 50 percent cotton and 50 percent nylon for better moisture-wicking, a cool feel, and a better sleep. Nano-ceramic beads provide the weight for silky smooth comfort. The blanket’s design can cause weight to pool toward the edges, which is a plus for some sleepers, but the lack of baffles for more even weight distribution could bother others. This blanket ranks high in softness, durability, weight distribution, and sleep quality. It comes with a 365-day money-back guarantee.
Photo: amazon.com
The Pine&River Chilled Bamboo Weighted Blanket sells in either 15- or 20-pound sizes. Buyers can choose from cool blue or cool gray. Bamboo fabric feels naturally softer than cotton, provides better moisture-wicking, and allows for excellent airflow to keep a sleeper cool and comfortable. Glass beads inside the small, double-stitched weight pockets create true, even weight distribution. It is possible for some microbeads to leak from the blanket, so it is important to inspect it upon arrival or add a duvet cover for added durability and protection. This blanket is also machine-washable and should provide excellent sleep quality, softness, comfort, and value.
Photo: amazon.com
The Degrees of Comfort Weighted Blanket comes in 14 different sizes, from a kid-sized 5-pound, 36- by 48-inch choice, to a king-size 30-pound, 80- by 87-inch blanket. Buyers can choose from gray, blue, or tan and further customize their sleeping experience with two included protective covers, or duvets. The blanket comes with a COOLMAX cover for summer and a warm fleece for winter. This blanket is made of soft 100 percent cotton with micro-ceramic beads to provide the weight. The supercool cover is 50 percent nylon and 50 percent cotton for better moisture-wicking and good air circulation. This customizable pick has softness, durability, weight distribution, and sleep quality.
Photo: amazon.com
The supersoft LUNA Kids Weighted Blanket is made of natural cotton. Its makers have built the blanket for ideal breathability and temperature control. The 7-layer construction evenly distributes weight over the body. Coming in as light as 5 pounds, this is a great choice for kids and small-framed adults who just want a touch of added weight. This blanket is hypoallergenic and OEKO-TEX certified to be free of harmful substances and chemicals. A duvet cover can help protect it from little dirty feet and add durability and protection to this blanket, especially if any filling seeps out.
FAQs About Cooling Weighted Blankets
Now that you’ve had a look at these picks, you might still have a few questions about cooling weighted blankets. Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions.
Q. How do cooling weighted blankets work?
Cooling weighted blankets use breathable, moisture-wicking fabrics to move excess heat away from the body while you sleep. Weighted beads inside the blanket provide a sense of support and stability that activates your parasympathetic nervous system, reinforcing the sense of calm and improving sleep quality.
Q. Do weighted blankets keep you cool in the summer?
Old-style weighted blankets were made with fuzzy fleece or minky fabric that was too hot for summer. Cooling weighted blankets are designed with cooler fabrics for summer comfort.
Q. What is the difference between a cooling weighted blanket and a weighted blanket?
A weighted blanket might feel warm or cool. A cooling weighted blanket uses special cooling fabric to ensure better comfort for hot sleepers and summer use.
