Calming Blankets Weighted Blanket Review for 2022

Unboxing

My box turned up looking like it’d seen some stuff. The cardboard box couldn’t hack the weight (around 15kg) and had sagged and split down one edge. It was grimly hanging on, thanks to some impressively sticky tape. Honestly? Not the best first impression.

Once I opened it up, I found 1 blanket in a canvas bag and 1 plastic bag.

What's in the box

Inside the box was a 6.8kg minky blanket in a canvas drawstring bag. I love this bag, not just for its eco-friendly nature but because I can take the blanket away with me and it doubles as a handy storage bag. There was also 1 plastic bag that held the 6.8kg bamboo blanket and pillowcase. Finally, there was a marketing leaflet about Calming Blanket. 

I like that you only get what you need in the box with no unnecessary packaging and that plastic is kept to a minimum.

Look and feel

When I managed to wrestle them out the box, I was surprised by the feel of the blankets - the glass beads felt like grains of sand. The minky blanket felt gorgeously plush and snuggly. While the bamboo blanket and pillowcase felt deliciously cool and smooth. They looked exactly like their picture on the website. Plus, there was no weird smell.

I thought the weight distribution across the minky blanket was a little off (Calming Blankets pride themselves on their “even distribution”) so I had to unzip the covers and find the loose inner ties. This involved me crawling inside the cover to track down the 2 ties that had come undone. Hot (and hilarious to watch) and a little awkward, but it was a pretty easy fix.

User friendliness

As well as being surprised by the sand-like glass beads, I was surprised by the weight. (Yes, I knew each one was 6.8kg+ but hauling that around and over yourself is actually more difficult than I imagined.) I’m right on the cusp of the different weights but was advised to go up to the heavier one. Having trialled the blankets for a few weeks, I'm glad I opted to do this.

Calming Blanket is keen to point out that their blankets aren’t for the under 3s. I’d also point out if you’re buying one of these for your parents or grandparents to be aware of the weight. They’re not the easiest things to lug around.

Thanks to its single size and rectangular shape, it’s easy to tell which way it’s meant to go. Plus I love that the minky cover is vegan friendly and both covers are machine washable.

Performance

Due to the sticky summer nights, I’ve only been able to try the bamboo blanket overnight. The bamboo fabric is a stroke of genius. Once I’m under it, it’s cool, silky and soft. Although I’d been a bit nervous about how the blankets would feel on - I was after a calming sensation, not a chest-crushing one - I was pleasantly surprised. It didn’t feel heavy or smothering, even on my chest. Instead, it felt like a gentle hug. I was aware of the tiniest bit of pressure over my whole body.

According to the leaflet Calming Blanket sent me, it’s “designed to improve your sleep and reduce anxiousness” and to help you “sleep as you’ve never slept before”. It’s fair to say I went into it thinking (hoping!) I’d settle under it and drift instantly to sleep.

Reader, I did not.

Rather than feeling instantly sleepy, I did feel relaxed and calm. When I’d approached bedtime feeling a little anxious from a stressful day, I did find the blanket helped me calm down. So, that’s a win.

The bamboo blanket doesn’t always stay on me all night, but as I’m a sleeper that tosses and turns (a lot), that’s no surprise. Currently, I’m hanging out for winter so I can cuddle under the minky one.‍

The final word

Although personally I didn't notice any difference to my sleep, the Calming Blanket has become my favourite chill-out spot - the ideal companion to reading, meditating or streaming stuff on the sofa. I did notice a difference to my anxiousness though so for that, it definitely lives up to its calming name.