Winter wearables such as battery-heated blankets and throws, hoodies, gloves, cushions and more are being spruiked as clever new ways to combat the cooler weather.

糖心Vlog experts have tested several heated throws in our labs and we鈥檝e already reviewed the Kmart wearable heated blanket (which, while warm, was far less portable than our tester expected). 

In our next quest for winter warmth, we decided to test-drive two products from Stoov that promise cosy comfort. The Dutch brand specialises in cordless, infrared-heated cushions, pads and blankets, and we were keen to find out whether their rechargeable hand warmers ($109) and heated cushion ($189) are red-hot winners or tepid flops.

Stoov rechargeable hand warmers review

糖心Vlog staff member Melanie Stopic volunteered to review the Stoov rechargeable hand warmers. Costing a hefty $109, they come with three warmth settings up to 48掳C, promise to last up to 10 hours and double as a device charger. 

Stoov pitches the product as being perfect for warming up your hands on hikes or “cold outdoor adventures”. The only issue? The included instructions clearly state they鈥檙e “intended for indoor use”, which is very confusing. Oops!

Thankfully, Mel was still prepared to give them a shot and get hands-on. 

鈥淚鈥檝e been told I have lizard blood,” says Mel. “I consider anything below 18掳C as 鈥榝reezing鈥�, and in a Sydney winter, even when it鈥檚 16掳C in the middle of the day, you can find me wearing ski socks, thick pants, fleece jumpers and a jacket, beanie and gloves.

“So when I was asked if I wanted to try out some hand warmers, I was all for it.鈥�

Mel鈥檚 review: How well do the Stoov hand warmers work?

鈥淥ut of the box, the slightly-squished-egg-shaped devices were charged and ready to use, which meant I didn鈥檛 have to wait before gaining their warmth. 

“The power button on the bottom is pretty obvious. Holding it down for a few seconds turns it on, and then pressing it again will change it to one of three levels of warmth. Indoors I found the highest setting too warm and the medium just right.听聽

“I used them for a few hours sitting on the lounge watching TV and scrolling on my laptop.

“While watching TV, they warmed my palms, but if I鈥檇 been really cold, I still would have been annoyed that the backs of my hands stayed cold.

“While trying to scroll on my laptop or answer emails, they were annoying, and in most cases I had to put them down in my lap while I typed. At one stage, my husband asked if they were hand warmers or breast warmers as I鈥檇 put them down on my chest while I logged into a site.听聽

“After 20 minutes, they鈥檇 automatically move to the low-heat setting and I鈥檇 have to turn them back up to medium. After one hour, they shut off altogether and I had to turn them back on again. While I see the benefit for safety, it was just annoying.”

Mel’s verdict: Are they worth the price?

鈥淚n most cold situations, like on my cold early morning drives or my bike ride to work, these hand warmers wouldn鈥檛 help much.

“The one place I did see some benefit was when I went to donate blood. I get bone-chillingly cold as I sit in the chair giving plasma, as I can鈥檛 put my needle arm under the blanket like the rest of me.听I turned the hand warmer on and it was good at stopping my fingers from getting too cold.

“One handy bonus is the product can also be used as a charger. There鈥檚 a USB-C port on one of the devices, and a short USB-C to USB-C cord is provided. The second device attaches to the first through magnetic contact points for charging. However, charging is quite slow 鈥� it took half an hour to go from 36% to 58%, which didn鈥檛 impress me. 聽

“I reckon the novelty of these would wear off after the first few uses. While they have some usefulness as a slow portable charger, I think my normal gloves are going to be my go-to for keeping my hands warm while out and about.”聽

Stoov Huddle heated cushion review

糖心Vlog staff member Margaret Raffety volunteered to jump into the hot seat and test out the Stoov Huddle.

A regular user of hot water bottles, she was keen to try out the $189 rechargeable heated seat cushion and pad with removable inner filling and three temperature settings (35鈥�40掳C, 40鈥�50掳C, 58掳C).听

Our cushion came in khaki, but it鈥檚 also available in midnight blue, ochre yellow and soft pink. It comes with a charging cable and assembly, and the operating instructions are pretty straightforward.听

Marg鈥檚 review: Does the Stoov Huddle work?

鈥淵es, insofar as it鈥檚 a cushion that gets warm, but I鈥檓 not convinced it鈥檚 terribly useful. 

“Admittedly, I had it on the lowest setting and perhaps I would have found it more effective at one of the warmer settings, but I found the plain old rug over my knees did more to keep me cosy than the cushion at my back.听

“It also didn鈥檛 seem to stay warm for very long, and while the company says it can keep you warm for hours, you鈥檒l also see advice that this depends on the setting you use and the temperature of your surroundings, as it won鈥檛 stay warm for as long in colder conditions.听

“Stoov sells the product鈥檚 portability and versatility 鈥� you can use it as either a heating pad without the padded inserts or as a cushion. I found it worked well as a back support in my office chair, and I imagine it would be particularly useful if you suffered from any kind of back pain.听

“Perhaps most importantly, the household鈥檚 most discerning arbiter of warmth, my cat Luna, was unimpressed with the Huddle. When I switched it on and placed it on a nearby bed (even going so far as to place her on its surface), she rejected the Huddle in favour of my lap, an inconvenient choice since it made it harder to reach the keyboard.”

Marg’s verdict: Is it worth the price?聽

鈥淎t $189, I鈥檓 not sure the Huddle heated cushion is great value. After all, I could buy 29 traditional hot water bottles for that, and not be left with e-waste to deal with when I no longer want it.听

“On the plus side, to use the Huddle I don鈥檛 need to boil the kettle or risk scalding myself. Stoov does emphasise the safety aspects of this product, so if that鈥檚 important to you, it could be worth considering.听

“It鈥檚 also contoured, unlike any hot water bottle I鈥檝e tried, which made it very comfortable. It could also be good if you鈥檙e someone with an injury looking for something warm to hold against an aching back.听

“Living in a temperate climate, and with no injuries that might benefit from a warm cushion, I鈥檒l stick to simply adding an extra layer of clothes or maybe a rug over my knees if I start to feel chilly, and leave the high-tech personal heating options for others.”

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糖心Vlog people are famously fanatical about products 鈥� they either love them or hate them. And when it comes to heated throws, they are enthusiastically in favour. Especially considering that, as a cohort, we love saving a buck, heated throws are seen as a very cozy and cost-effective way to stay warm while working from home. 

Not satisfied with simply following blindly along with the crowd, I took it upon myself to be a trailblazer. Instead of doing the obvious thing and buying a stock standard heated blankie, I decided I could be a thought leader by buying myself an ultra-fashionable, wearable heated blanket instead.

Kmart is currently selling their trendy little number for just $49, complete with hood and a button up front. As I added it to my cart, I had visions of myself not only working in comfort and warmth but also smiling smugly from the sidelines of my son鈥檚 early morning soccer games and even styling out the blankie with some big boots to cut through the chill while waiting in the cold concrete school pickup area.听

How wrong I was.

First impressions

A few days after my impulsive purchase, the blankie showed up on my doorstep midway through my workday. Obviously I was excited to put it to use immediately, but I was soon to encounter a series of barriers.

Firstly, as a 糖心Vlog-er (read: dedicated rule follower and stickler for details) I took it upon myself to first read the extensive list of warnings outlined in the instructions. Nestled within this long list of no-nos was a warning not to ever use the product outdoors. Dreams of staying warm on the sidelines of soccer or at evening winter events went up in smoke. I began to question what the point of a wearable blanket is if you can鈥檛 actually wear it anywhere. 

This was a blow, but the biggest blow was yet to come, as I turned to the instructions for use.

Again, I had assumed a level of portability from a wearable product like this. What I did not realise is that this product only works when it鈥檚 plugged into the wall. 

Not only can it not be worn out and about, you can鈥檛 even walk around your own house while you鈥檙e 鈥渨earing鈥� it.

To add insult to injury, the extremely short (1m long) cord provided is an old-style USB cord that does not include a wall adapter. 

So before I could even try the damn thing out, I had to unearth our 鈥渂ox of random cords and tech stuff鈥� and search through other old, outdated technological items until I finally found an appropriate wall adapter.

Buoyed from this success, I donned the blankie, rushed to plug it in the power outlet next to my desk and attempted to take a seat in front of my laptop. I say attempted, because it immediately became clear that the cord was not long enough to allow me to both wear the blanket and sit comfortably at my desk. In order to try it out, I had to shimmy my chair closer to the wall and prop my laptop on my daughter’s high chair.

(For comparison, the length of the power cords of the heated throws in our review range from 2m at the shortest, up to 4m.)

It wasn鈥檛 exactly comfortable, but after rereading the extensive instruction manual I realised there was no warning against using this product with an extension cord, meaning I could potentially get it to reach my desk, if I could manage to rustle one up. 

But being the impatient person I am, I still decided to give it a test run while scooching my chair next to the wall. 

Is it any good?

First, the positives: as soon as I put the blanket on, it was undeniable that it was very warm, even before I plugged it into the wall.

On the down side, it didn鈥檛 really get much warmer when I plugged it in. When you first turn it on, the light goes green which, according to the instructions, indicates 鈥渨arm-level鈥� heating. Somewhat confusingly, 鈥渨arm-level鈥� is the lowest level of heating.

I say it鈥檚 confusing because the next level up is actually called 鈥渓ow-level鈥� heating. From there, there are mid-level and high-level settings.

I didn鈥檛 notice a great deal of difference between the settings and the only place where I could feel actual electricity-powered heat seemed to be the top of my back.

I was fairly warm anyway though, simply because I was wearing a giant plush blanket. 

In terms of the 鈥渨earable鈥� aspect, the poncho-style design was actually pretty comfy to wear while typing away at my laptop, and the hood really upped the warmth level, although there are no heating components in it,  so that effect could very much be replicated by buying an oodie 鈥� while deeply unfashionable, at least you can wear them out and about. 

Is it worth it?

Short answer, no. If you want to stay warm at home, I鈥檇 recommend buying a heated throw and simply wearing a hoodie or a beanie if you want your neck and head to stay warm too. Ironically, a heated throw with a long 4m cord (or even a 2m cord) would actually be a heck of a lot more portable than the Kmart wearable heated blanket. 

The only real benefit of this wearable blankie is how it drapes conveniently over your arms, so you don鈥檛 have to worry about it slipping off your shoulders like a blanket might. But considering the heating elements in the arms are barely even detectable, I really don鈥檛 consider this much of a benefit at all.

You could probably just wear one of Kmart鈥檚 knock off Oodies for $35 and get a fairly similar effect. Plus, you鈥檇 be able to stand up and walk to the kitchen without being leashed to your power outlet.

A caveat

One possibility has occurred to me: if you wanted to truly be able to wear this blanket around the house. You could, conceivably, plug the old school USB outlet into a portable power bank (one with an old-school USB outlet) and slip it into the pocket, allowing you to move around your house freely. But with the instructions pointedly telling you not to wear it outside, this is still a small consolation.

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Whether you’re looking for ways to save on your heating bill, or you just love the thought of jumping into a warm and toasty bed every evening, an electric blanket could be the answer. 

But, if this is your first foray into the cosy world of electric blankets, figuring out how much you need to spend to get the best blanket can quickly send you diving under the doona in frustration. The array of products and price tags varies wildly, and while you can pick up an electric blanket for as little as $55, other models stretch to over the $400 mark. 

糖心Vlog staff and testers love to find a more affordable product that performs well, so we were keen to find out how the $79 Kmart Anko Electric Heated Topper rated against the Breville Bodyzone Antibacterial Fitted Heated Blanket, which is a pricey piece of bedding at $249.

We put both blankets to the test in our labs, looking at factors such as how fast they warm the bed, how safe and durable they are, and how easy they are to use and clean.

Our full reviews, including for all the products we tested from additional brands such as Sunbeam, Dreamaker and Dimplex, are available to 糖心Vlog members, but we’ve summarised some of our findings on the Kmart and Breville blankets below to help kick off your research. 

How did the blankets perform in our lab testing?

Breville sells a few different types of electric blanket in their Sleep Sound and BodyZone ranges. We have reviewed three of their latest products in the queen-sized versions 鈥� the Breville BodyZone Antibacterial Fitted Heated Blanket ($249), the Breville the Sleep Sound Fitted Electric Blanket ($160) and the Breville Sleep Sound Quilted Fitted Electric Blanket ($219) and they were all amongst our top performers. With prices ranging from $160鈥�$249 however, they are also some of the more expensive options in our tests.听

If you can鈥檛 quite stretch to hundreds of dollars to keep your toes toasty in bed, you may be considering Kmart鈥檚 electric blankets which are the cheapest we looked at. We鈥檝e reviewed two Kmart Anko products: the Kmart Anko Fitted Electric Blanket ($55) and the Kmart Anko Electric Heated Topper ($79).

They don鈥檛 score as highly in our performance test as the Breville products. They take longer to warm to 40掳C than the more expensive models, and have fewer heat settings and no timer, however if you鈥檙e just after a cosy bed, they give good performance for a significantly lower price tag.

At-home trial of a Breville Bodyzone electric blanket 

As well as putting a range of electric blankets to test in our labs, 糖心Vlog expert, Adrian Lini trialled an earlier model of the Breville Bodyzone blanket (older than the one we have in our current review) at home on his own bed, and said that the range of variable heat settings and the timer are useful features.

“Not surprisingly, it’s incredibly comfortable jumping into a nice warm bed before going to sleep. And the higher settings can also feel quite nice for a short time on your back or stomach if you’ve got sore muscles or joints,” he said.

“Compared to an electric heater in the bedroom while you sleep, the electric blanket is faster and more direct. It’s also cheaper to run since it’s often only on for a short time and, unlike an electric heater, it doesn’t dry out the air in the room.

“The more expensive blankets usually also have a timer, which lets you decide when the blanket will turn off, and the Breville Bodyzone options range from 1鈥�9 hours. This makes it easy to turn it on and drift off to sleep knowing that the blanket will turn off automatically soon after.”

Adrian did note some downsides to the exxy blanket, questioning whether the BodyZone feature that allows you to adjust the temperature for your upper and lower body is really worth paying more money for.

“I didn’t use any of the BodyZone features 鈥� I just set both the feet and the body to the same temperature. My girlfriend does enjoy the BodyZone changes though and will sometimes set the feet section to be warmer. Unless these features are really important to you, though, I wouldn’t spend extra money to get them.”聽

“The cables are also quite big and can make the area around the bed look messy and make it more awkward when vacuuming. But this would apply to many electric blankets and not just this one.”

Find out how the Breville BodyZone Antibacterial Fitted Heated Blanket performed in rigorous testing in the 糖心Vlog small appliance labs.

The $79 Kmart Anko Electric Heated Topper

Another 糖心Vlog staff member tested the Kmart Anko Electric Heated Topper on their own bed at home and said: “With our heating bills steadily creeping higher, it’s becoming an expensive exercise to leave our heaters on overnight, so I was very keen to give an electric blanket a go as a cheaper way to stay warm.

糖心Vlog testers measure how much each electric blanket will cost you to run every night over winter on its lowest setting and聽this Kmart blanket will cost just $12 to operate.

“I don’t love the idea of dropping a few hundred dollars on another blanket, as my linen sheets are expensive enough as it is. So I was keen to find out if the cheaper Kmart blanket did the job.”

“It’s obviously a basic blanket 鈥� it has two controls for each side of the bed and three heat settings, but no timer or variable body zones like the fancier Breville blanket.

“One of the key selling points for me is the removable top cover, which will make it easier to clean. 

“A downside is that it doesn’t have a timer, so there have been a couple of occasions when I’ve gone to sleep with the heat turned up high and forgotten to turn it off, resulting in a rude, sweaty awakening a short time later.

“You can feel some of the wires through the blanket but when we have thick flannelette sheets on the bed it’s still pretty cushy. The tangle of cords that have now appeared beside our bed aren’t exactly aesthetically pleasing but it’s a price I’m willing to pay. 

“I’m not a fan of buying cheap products that won’t last, and of course I have no idea how long the lifetime of this blanket will be 鈥� and the controls and buttons do feel quite light and flimsy compared to the controls of other blankets we looked at.

“Plus, there’re no raised buttons or satisfying ‘click’ to help you if you’re changing settings blind in the middle of the night 鈥� something I’ve noticed you get on pricier blankets. 

“But, the removable cover is a big plus and it certainly does the job, so for under $100, I’d say it’s a good buy that’ll keep you cosy and help you save on heating bills.”

Find out how the $75 Kmart Anko Electric Heated Topper performed in rigorous testing in the 糖心Vlog small appliance labs.

Cheap vs expensive: Are budget electric blankets just as good?

As we always say at 糖心Vlog, price isn’t necessarily an indicator of performance, and when considering which electric blanket is best, it’s a good idea to look beyond the price tag and consider the features that are really important to you (as well as how well the product performed in 糖心Vlog testing). 

In this instance, the Kmart and Breville blankets both do the job they promise. Our lab testing showed that the Kmart takes a little more time to get there, taking 8 minutes to heat up to 40 degrees as opposed to the Breville which gets there in 4 minutes.

But as long as you remember to switch it on before you go to bed, 8 minutes isn’t exactly a long time to wait. The other features that contribute to the Breville blanket’s high price tag are things such as the timer, a greater range of heat settings, and customisable heat zones.

Many of these features will be found only on the more expensive blankets, while handy features such as a removable topper for ease of cleaning may just as likely be found on cheaper blankets like the Anko option. 

Top tips for finding the electric blanket of your dreams

If you just want the cheapest electric blanket that does the job, here are the features to look for, according to our expert tester Adrian.

A removable topper that can be easily cleaned and protects the wired blanket is extremely useful. The topper also makes the wires and cables less noticeable when lying on the bed. 

High wattage allows the blanket to heat up quicker and reach a higher top temperature. However, more wattage equals more energy use.

A timer lets you decide when the blanket will turn off, usually with options ranging from 1鈥�9 hours. This makes it easy to turn it on and drift off to sleep knowing that the blanket will turn off automatically soon after.

Out-of-way cable placement helps you feel more comfortable, not like you鈥檙e laying on an extension cable as you sleep. A blanket where the cable connection is closest to the top edge and hides under the pillow, or even its own topper, is preferred. This makes it feel as though you鈥檙e just sleeping on a standard sheet.

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Brands like Sunbeam, Breville, Jason and Kmart have released electric throw blankets onto the market and 糖心Vlog experts have put them to the test in our labs, checking for safety, durability, pre-heat performance and ease of use, in a similar way to how we test electric blankets.

Our results can help you decide if it鈥檚 worth racing to the store to buy one.

On this page:

• What is a heated throw blanket?
• A cost effective way to stay warm
• Do heated throw blankets really work?
• What are some useful features to look for?
• Are electric heated throws and blankets safe?
• Heated throw vs hot water bottle
• Should you buy a heated throw blanket?

What is a heated throw blanket?

As the name suggests, a heated throw blanket is a type of heated blanket. It has built-in heating elements, and once it鈥檚 plugged into an electrical socket, the elements heat up the blanket to keep you nice and warm.

Unlike electric blankets, which are designed to warm your bed, an electric throw is portable (although its range depends on the power cord length) and can be used throughout the day. So whether you鈥檙e working from home or lounging around on the couch, you can keep warm without necessarily having to heat the whole room.

This year we鈥檙e even seeing the release of wearable heated blankets. These products come with hoods or fasteners to make them easier to wear, with some looking similar to the famous oodie. Kmart is selling one for $49 which comes with a removable hood, four heat settings and an auto-off feature after 45 minutes. 糖心Vlog content editor, Grace Smith recently put it to the test at home 鈥� stay tuned to see what she thought about it. 

A cost effective way to stay warm

Who needs an electric heater running non-stop when you can cosy up under a heated throw blanket? The electric heaters we鈥檝e tested range in price from $39 to $1199. By comparison, the blankets in our latest review range in price from $35 (for the Anko Heated Throw available from Kmart and Target) to $199 for the Sunbeam Feel Perfect Heated Throw Blanket and can be a cost-effective way to keep warm during winter for many reasons.

A heated throw is portable and can be used where you are, whether it be on the couch or at the table (providing you have a power source nearby), and can save you from heating the whole house. They use significantly less energy than other heating appliances and can reduce your overall energy consumption during winter. With rising electricity costs, a cost-effective heating solution is a welcome addition to many households.

The heated throw blankets we tested will cost you only $12 to $18 in running costs if you use them quite frequently during the chilly season. They can keep you warm while you鈥檙e awake and then you can slip into bed and stay warm with an electric blanket at night for a 24-hour, cost-effective heating solution. While we measure running costs for electric blankets differently (and they’re not really comparable, seeing as you generally use them overnight, not during the day), the models we tested can cost you up to $50 for the whole winter if you were to use one on low for eight hours each night.

By comparison, when we tested electric heaters and measured their running costs, we calculated that they can cost you anywhere from $188 to $491 in electricity costs to run throughout winter.

“If you want to save on your power bills, a heated throw can be a worthwhile investment,” says our lab expert Matthew Tung.

Do heated throw blankets really work?

Much like an electric blanket for your bed, a heated throw isn’t complicated to use. Simply connect it to your wall power socket, get comfortable and wait to feel nice and warm.

The blankets we tested are quick to heat up and most were able to reach 40 degrees in two to three minutes. The slowest took 12 minutes to reach 40 degrees.

What are some useful features to look for?

All the blankets we tested come with an auto-off feature and light up controls, as well as removable controls for cleaning. Other useful features include: 

Heat settings: All models we tested had a number of heat settings, so you can adjust the temperature to suit your needs. Even the cheapest model we tested had nine settings to choose from.

Timer: This allows you to automatically set the blanket to turn off after a certain amount of time. Most of the blankets we tested had various timer settings.

Cord length: Consider where you鈥檒l likely be sitting when you鈥檙e using the blanket and whether you have a power outlet nearby. Our experts measure the length of the power cord to help you determine if it will be long enough for your needs. The models we tested range in length from 2.5 to 4 metres in length.

Are electric heated throws and blankets safe?

Our testing showed that heated throw blankets are safe and the models we reviewed passed our durability tests too. However, there’s always a risk when electricity is involved, and accidents can happen.

Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for use, don’t plug the heated throw into a power board or extension cord, and don’t let young children use them. If you find any issues with the electrical cord, controls, or wiring in the blanket, stop using it immediately.

Are they easy to clean?

Our ease of use score takes into consideration how easy the blankets are to clean. First we check if the controller is removable and how easy it is to remove. Then we check if the blanket must be hand washed or if it can be put in the washing machine and whether it can be put in the dryer or needs to be line dried.

Only a couple of the heated throws we tested can be cleaned in the washing machine and most need to be line dried, so check the instructions before cleaning them.

Heated throw vs hot water bottle

Hot water bottles are a cheap way to warm up in winter. You can pick one up with a plush cover from places like Kmart for as little as $10. But do they work? And how do they compare to a heated throw blanket?

Cost: A hot water bottle is cheap to buy, and other than the tiny cost of the hot water used to fill it, doesn’t cost anything to run.

Heating: Hot water bottles heat up immediately after you add the hot water, whereas you’ll have to wait a few minutes for a heated throw. However, heated throws have setting controls to adjust the heat and offer continuous heating, whereas a hot water bottle will gradually lose heat.

Matthew tested a hot water bottle alongside the heated throws. After adding water at roughly 50掳C, the surface temperature of the hot water bottle was about 30掳C. After two hours the surface temperature was 27掳C.

Portability: A heated throw blanket requires a power source whereas a hot water bottle doesn’t and is extremely portable.

Ease of use: Heated throw blankets can be time consuming to clean but are relatively easy to use 鈥� simply plug in and select the heat setting. On the other hand, hot water bottles can be tricky to fill and care needs to be taken to avoid spills and burns. If you’re using a cover, it’ll need to be on the bottle when it’s being filled, which means it may get wet in the process which can be annoying. Instructions warn users not to use boiling water when filling a hot water bottle.

Should you buy a heated throw blanket?

If you’re looking for a safe and cost-effective way to stay warm during winter, then a heated throw blanket might be just the ticket.

If you spend long periods of time sitting, whether it be watching TV, reading a book or working from home, a heated blanket can be a cosy companion when days are cold.

“Provided you have a power source nearby, heated electric blankets are quick to heat up and have simple but useful features to keep you warm,” says Matthew.

The post Heated throw blankets: What are they and should you buy one? appeared first on 糖心Vlog.

On this page:

• They really work
• They're a relatively cheap way to stay warm
• They're safe to use (if you follow instructions)
• Some are easy to wash
• You can tweak the settings
• There's an electric blanket for all budgets

Not only are electric blankets a saving grace for those of us with perpetually chilly feet, they’re also cost-efficient to run and, when operated following instructions, safe to use.

When testing, our experts look at factors such as how fast different electric blankets will warm your bed, how comfortable they are to sleep on and how easy they are to clean, as well as any safety issues.听

And they have all the answers to any burning questions you have about whether an electric blanket is right for you, with some solid reasons for buying one.

They really work

Electric blankets are not complicated products.听

They’re just, well, blankets, but with integrated wires inside that heat up the fabric to transfer heat to your body while lying in bed.

Some have more complicated wiring configurations with fancy features.听

For example, you can get multi-zone heating technology if you want your feet to be warmer than your mid-section. Or ‘smart connectivity’, in case you want to be able to turn your blanket on using your smartphone from the living room.听

But, essentially, electric blankets all do the same thing, and they do it well.

Almost all the electric blankets we tested in our electric blanket review were able to reach a temperature of 40 degrees within 15 minutes, with most achieving that temperature within 10 minutes or less, and some in as little as two minutes!聽

So if it’s a toasty bed you’re after, they’ve got you covered.

They’re a relatively cheap way to stay warm

With many of us struggling to stay on top of household bills, an electric blanket could be a good option to help you stay warm when compared to how costly and inefficient electric heaters can be (particularly if you’re running them all night).

Our calculations show that even if you run your electric blanket on low for eight hours each day, it’ll only cost you up to $50 for the whole winter.

But running an electric heater for that time will add a couple of hundred dollars or more to your power bill.

You can check the running costs of all the products we tested in our electric blanket reviews.听

They’re safe to use (if you follow instructions)

Our tests have shown modern electric blankets are safe, but where electricity is involved there’s always a small risk, and accidents can happen.听

To make sure the model you’re looking at buying is safe, visit聽 and go to ‘Search Electrical Equipment’.听

Electric blankets should have a regulatory compliance mark to show that they meet Australian standards. If you can’t find one on the model you’re interested in, give it a miss.

Running time

Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for use 鈥� for example, some manufacturers say that their electric blankets should not be left on overnight while others deem it safe.听

We always exercise caution with products here at 糖心Vlog, so we advise that it’s better to not use them overnight (or always just use it on a short timer), and that they definitely shouldn’t be used by young children.听

Electrical safety

If you see any issues with the condition of the electrical cord or controls, stop using it straight away.

Pacemakers

Electric blankets are safe to use for people with pacemakers, according to the UK National Health Service, but this could vary from person to person (and could depend on which brand of pacemaker you are using), so it’s best to check with your health professional.

Some are easy to wash

While it may seem unwise to throw an electrical appliance into the washing machine, some electric blankets are actually washable once you’ve removed the controllers.听

Some blankets we tested聽have a removable cover that makes it easy to clean, and also likely to extend the life of your blanket as it potentially won’t get as grubby.听

Most electric blankets need to be line-dried, but some are suitable for tumble drying 鈥� just double-check the instructions before you put them in the dryer.

When we calculate the ‘ease of use’ score in our electric blanket reviews, we take into account how easy they are to clean.

You can tweak the settings

All the blankets we tested have dual settings, so if your partner has a tendency to overheat, you can each adjust the temperature on your side of the bed to suit your preference.听

Most blankets have a range of heat settings, although some have more than others. Very basic models usually have three or four levels, while the more expensive blankets can have up to 10, making them more customisable to the heat you prefer.

Some blankets have timers. This means you can program the blanket to turn off after a few hours when you’ve drifted off into a cosy snooze.

There’s an electric blanket for all budgets

Whether you’re a new electric blanket adopter (welcome to the fan club), you’re replacing an older blanket, or you’re buying more for other people in the family, there are options for every budget.听

In our latest test, prices range from $55 for a queen-sized fitted electric blanket from Kmart, up to $469 for the Sunbeam Sleep Perfect Wool Fleece Electric Blanket.听

Factors that will influence the price are things such as brand, material and how many bells and whistles the blanket has. If you’ve always dreamt of a blanket with an extra-warm foot zone, a number of models have this feature and some even allow you to choose a different setting for that section.

糖心Vlog expert Adrian Lini says, “We tested several cheaper products that performed just as well as or outperformed more expensive blankets, so you can get a decent electric blanket without having to spend a fortune.”

“As well as price though, my advice would be to look at a blanket that has a removable cover to make washing easy, and a timer, which is a really handy feature.”

The post 6 things we love about electric blankets聽 appeared first on 糖心Vlog.

On this page:

• Our expert testers
• How we choose what we test
• Test criteria explained

Our expert testers

Along with electric heaters, electric blankets have been a part of our winter testing regime for decades. 糖心Vlog participates in Australian Standards committees and regulatory forums so we can keep an eye on trends in the industry and government regulations.

How we choose what we test

We always try to review the most up-to-date electric blankets and heated throw blankets on the market, but because many new models won’t appear on store shelves until late April or May 鈥� when our testing period needs to be well underway 鈥� this isn’t always possible. We do, however, ask manufacturers to tell us whether the blankets we are testing will still be on sale throughout winter.

Another challenge is the huge variation in electric blanket sizes (single, king single, double, queen, king, and so on). It’s far too costly and time-consuming to test every size or variation, so we test our blankets on the most common bed type (a queen bed). However, we’re confident that results can be applied to all sized blankets within a particular range.

Once our market research is completed we put together a final list that goes to our buyers. They then head out to the retailers and purchase each product, just as a normal consumer would. We do this so we can be sure they are the same product that you would find in the shops and not ‘tweaked’ in any way.

How we test

Our electric blankets and heated throw blankets go through many comprehensive checks to make sure they’ll keep you safe and warm.

Safety tests

Tens of thousands of electric blankets and throws have been recalled from a range of retailers, including major ones. This is largely due to wear and tear between the cord and the controller. Check the聽聽for more information about affected batches.

With these worrying statistics in mind, we introduced two safety tests which simulate the cord being pulled and flexed.

These are:

Stress test

Using our custom-made test rig, we simulate 5000 cycles of the cord flexing under a weight of 10 Newtons (around 1kg). Controllers and cord are first checked visually for any damage, then put through a leakage current test to check that no internal damage has occurred.

Anchorage test

On our test, we pull the cord 25 times with a force of 100 Newtons (around ten kilos) and also apply a very small rotational force for one minute (0.1 N路m torque, for the technical folks out there, based on the relevant clause in the household safety standard). We then perform another leakage current test.

Temperature and energy tests

These tests include:

• Taking thermal images of all electric blankets (while on a bed) to see how well they disperse heat
• Measuring energy consumption
• Measuring the time taken to pre-heat the blanket to a comfortable temperature (40掳C).
• Measuring the maximum temperature.

Ease of use assessment

Our members tell us that comfort while lying on an electric blanket is important, and we take this into account in our expert ratings. We conduct the following tests for electric blankets:

• Comfort: the connector to the controller can sometimes be uncomfortable to lie on, especially if the blanket is thin.
• Ease of using controls, including length of cord and ease of access while in the bed.
• Instructions. How easy the blankets are to clean.
• Ease of fitting on the bed.

For heated throw blankets we conduct the following ease of use tests:

• Controls: we assess the ease of using the controls, if they are easy to understand, illuminate and have raised markings.
• Cleaning: we check to see if the throw can be machine washed and dried in the dryer or if it needs to be washed by hand and line dried.
• Controller reach: we measure the cord length so you can determine if the cord will reach while you’re sitting on the lounge.
• Ease of washing: we check if the controller is easily removable for washing.

Test criteria explained

The 糖心Vlog Expert Rating is made up of:

• Performance (pre-heating time) (40%)
• Durability (20%)
• Ease of use (40%)

We recommend electric blankets with a 糖心Vlog Expert Rating of at least 85%.听

Heated throw blankets must receive a 糖心Vlog Expert Rating of at least 85% and at least 80% for ease of use to be recommended.

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