Touch, like getting a hug, releases oxytocin in your brain. This hormone contributes to our overall well-being and ability to handle stress. It’s why Thundershirts help anxious pets, and it’s one of the reasons we swaddle newborns. We don’t always have someone to squeeze us, especially nowadays, and that’s where weighted blankets come in.
These blankets use deep pressure to simulate the feeling of being gently held. Pressure has been touted as a way to help with insomnia and anxiety—the Hug Box for example, invented by Temple Grandin, uses pressure to calm those on the autism spectrum. (There isn’t a lot of science-backed research, so you should discuss using one with your doctor.) A weighted blanket isn’t a cure for anything, but it could make you feel better. My colleague Jess Grey and I both suffer from anxiety disorders, and these blankets have been rewarding, helping us manage our anxiety. We’ve tested several—here are the best.
Be sure to check out our other guides, including our roundup of products to help people go to sleep, and the Best Sunrise Alarm Clocks.
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Photograph: Yaasa
Before You Buy
How to choose the right weight
The general advice you’ll see from companies is that the weight of the blanket should be around 10 percent of your body weight. So if you’re 150 pounds, that would be a 15-pound blanket. We didn’t find that to be accurate for ourselves, as we wanted the heaviest option possible that still allowed us to move around underneath. As Yaasa’s website points out, the 10 percent rule is just a guide—you can pick whatever you think will be best. Do you like to be tightly cuddled while you sleep? You probably can go with a heavier blanket.
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Photograph: Yaasa
Best Overall
Yaasa
The Yaasa is the best weighted blanket I (Medea) tried. It’s sufficiently heavy, cooling, and pretty to look at. At 45 inches wide, the 20 pounder is just shy of covering the top of a full-size bed. It feels heavier than other blankets that actually weigh more, because its weight is evenly distributed. (There’s no filling inside that can pool to one area.)
The open-knit design allows air to circulate, so you shouldn’t feel like you’re heating up. And unlike other blankets, it doesn’t look messy hanging off the back of a couch or in the background of your Zoom meetings. Unfortunately, you can’t return this item, so there’s no way to try before committing to it, and it can only be dry-cleaned—though I was able to spot clean it easily enough.
Available in 15 or 20 pounds
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Photograph: Amy Fronczkiewicz/Bearaby
Runner-Up
Bearaby Tree Napper
The Bearaby Tree Napper and the Yaasa blanket are similar in design, featuring the same open-knit style that allows for better air circulation. The Bearaby comes in much more beautiful colors and is biodegradable, being made from plant-based Tencel. It’s machine washable, a huge plus over the Yaasa, but it didn’t take the top spot because the thicker Yaasa feels more weighty at 20 pounds than the 25-pound Tree Napper. I would sleep under 60 pounds if it was possible, but if you don’t need the heaviest blanket, go with the Tree Napper.
Available in 15, 20, or 25 pounds
