The best travel blankets for your next vacation

Whether you’re looking for an airplane travel blanket, an outdoor blanket, a camping blanket, or any other specific kind of blanket, we’re going to discuss them all here – I’ll break down the best travel blankets for all your travel needs, as well as what makes them good and worth buying.

From the compact travel blanket to the lightweight travel blanket, we’ll look at the pros and cons so that you can pick the ideal travel blanket for you.

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How to choose the best travel blankets

There are a few factors to consider when searching for the best travel blankets. I’ll go through them for you; from durability to material type, here’s how to choose the best blankets for travel.

Durability

The best blanket in the world is a durable blanket. First and foremost, durability is vital.

If your travel blanket has holes in it, tears, or wears down to a thin, useless thing before you’ve had a chance to even use it, then it’s useless to you.

A warm travel blanket is a durable travel blanket.

Warmth and coziness are your biggest needs from a blanket, and to get that you must have strong durability. You’ll be using it a lot and you want it to last, so make durability your highest priority.

Wind- and waterproof

Having a blanket that’s windproof and waterproof means having a portable means of protecting yourself against the elements.

If you’re in a warm country and you don’t want to carry around a winter coat to protect you from the wind and the rain, a wind and waterproof blanket is the answer.

Machine washable

It’s a simple ask, but not one you can always guarantee.

So, when shopping around for the best blankets, make sure the ones you’re tempted by are machine washable.

If you’re traveling and have access to a washing machine – at your apartment, hostel, or hotel – then make use of it and keep your travel blanket clean and fresh.

Size

This means two things: how much space does it take up in your luggage, and how much of your body does it cover?

A small travel blanket is ideal for if you’re packing light and you want to keep a blanket in your hand luggage or with you on the flight.

A compact travel blanket is very useful, but you have to sacrifice the comfort that comes with having a larger, longer travel blanket that can cover your whole body.

Where to use it

Always consider what your blanket is for. A small travel blanket is the best travel blanket for an airplane.

But you’ll need a big, waterproof blanket for camping and picnics. For a road trip, something big and warm is ideal – something that can cover you and be stored in the boot of your car.

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Best materials to look for

You’d be surprised at how many options there are for blankets – from small travel blankets to camping blankets.

And different materials suit different people so use this guide to help determine which blanket is right for you.

Cotton

Cotton blankets are soft and hypoallergenic.

Soft means cozy and comfortable. They’re not the thickest blankets, but they definitely offer lasting comfort and a cozy feeling, which airplane blankets certainly need.

And being hypoallergenic means that everyone can use it.

Wool

Wool is a fantastic material for all temperatures. The colder you are, the warmer a wool blanket feels.

Being wool, it’s naturally insulating and therefore super reliable as a warm travel blanket.

The biggest downside is that wool does not make a good outdoor blanket. It’s very much not for the rain; you cannot get a wool blanket wet.

Fleece

Fleece is like wool but more lightweight and fluffier. It’s a little softer, but almost as good at insulating and keeping the warmth in.

Fleece blankets make ideal airplane blankets, as well as ideal lightweight travel blankets.

Polyester

Polyester is a man-made fabric that’s not the softest or the coziest.

But it is warm, durable, and very long-lasting. As I’ve said, durability is vital and polyester is the most durable fabric around, making for the ideal reliable travel blanket.

Acrylic

Acrylic pretty much ticks every box you’re looking for. It’s warm, lightweight, and hypoallergenic.

Everyone can use it; acrylic keeps heat in effortlessly, and it can be easily folded and stored. It weighs next to nothing.

The only downside is that it’s not very fluffy and cozy, at least not compared to cotton and wool.