Travel blanket quick picks
The best travel blankets offer a lot more than warmth. Some double as travel pillows, while others transform into hoodies. In other words, there’s a lot more to travel pillows than you’d think, whether you want to prioritize comfort, portability, warmth or all three.
We spoke to two travel gear experts — a former flight attendant and a frequent flyer — to get tips on how to find an excellent travel blanket. And if you’re looking for even more guidance, we’ve got a list of 19 top-notch travel blankets for a variety of occasions, including long-haul flights, camping trips and road trips.
What is the best size for a travel blanket?
As cozy as an oversized, plush throw may be, you’ll want something compact for travel, says Bobby Laurie, a travel expert and former flight attendant. “You don’t want to pack something too big, especially if you’re?traveling in economy class, because you don’t want to be the person that impedes the personal space of the passenger next to you.”
Shelbi Okumura, a travel blogger who’s ventured to more than 50 countries, agrees. The best travel blankets won’t be bulky, she says, though she adds that consumers should look for models that are at least 65 inches by 40 inches.
What is the best travel blanket to take on an airplane?
It’s no surprise, then, that the best travel blanket to take on an airplane is compact and packable; otherwise, they’ll “eat up valuable storage space in a carry-on,” Okumura says.
“My ideal blanket is something that I can attach to the outside of my luggage as a hands-free personal item,” she says. “It won’t take up any space in my luggage or my shoulder bag, and I don’t have to carry it while navigating through the airport.” Another way to save space? Look for a blanket that serves more than one purpose, Laurie says. He loves “a blanket that self folds and snaps into place to?also form a pillow.”
As important as portability is, Laurie stresses that consumers should also think about warmth. Say you’re a hot sleeper who wants to stay cool. In that case, “you don’t want something that will have you overheat,” Laurie says. And the opposite is true as well. “Alternatively, if you get cold on planes make sure to look for a blanket that ensures you’ll stay warm but is also easy to tuck away if you get too warm,” he adds. “Some aircraft cabins have varying temperatures and you need to be able to adapt.”
Does TSA allow travel blankets?
Yes, the TSA allows travel blankets. Still, flyers should be sure that their blanket and luggage don’t exceed airlines’ baggage policies, though travel pillows and blankets would typically fall under the category of personal item.
Best travel blankets
A mashup of a hoodie, the Snuggie and a blanket, this travel blanket from MasterManner will have you extra cozy on your next flight. Laurie is a fan because he can “tuck away into the hood and rest up,” even if the other passengers have their windows open. Pair it with a sleeping mask if you need complete darkness to sleep.
This hybrid travel blanket and pillow can hang from your backpack, attach to your luggage or pack into your suitcase. Because it embodies all the qualities of a great travel pillow, namely portability and versatility, Laurie says it’s one of his favorites.
The Yeti Lowlands Blanket is waterproof on the outside and padded and insulated on the inside, so it’s meant to be used for outdoor recreation. Ideal for camping, glamping, tailgating or outdoor concerts, this blanket makes a nice ground cover for those times you may need a warm and dry place to sit. This travel blanket is also machine-washable and can be tossed in the dryer, so you can use it over and over again regardless of where your outdoor adventures take you.
Okumura recommends this travel blanket from EverSnug because it doubles as a compact pillow and fits over luggage handlebars in its packed form. And unlike the Yeti Lowlands Blanket, it’s affordable for most people.
While Away is known for its high-quality suitcases and luggage accessories, the company also offers a top-rated travel blanket for less than $100. Available in black and green or black and blue, this blanket comes with a kangaroo pocket that helps you store essentials while you curl up, and button snaps mean you can connect it to another travel blanket. Plus, there’s a foot pocket so your feet can comfortably rest off the dirty ground. This travel blanket is also lightweight and machine-washable, and it comes with its own carrying case.
The Therm-a-Rest Honcho Poncho is one of the best travel accessories to pack if you plan to go camping, glamping or hiking during the colder fall or winter months. This insulated adventure poncho is a blanket that you wear, which means you can stay cozy and warm without having to sit still. This travel blanket also comes with built-in pockets to keep your hands warm, a zipper pouch to store items you want to keep close by and its own pouch for storage and transit. The Therm-a-Rest Honcho Poncho is also water-resistant, so it can keep you safe from the elements too.
A weighted blanket can provide calming comfort while also keeping you warm — and this travel version is perfect for the road. Available in three different colors, the travel napper comes with 10 pounds of weight. So, while it offers the calming support of a weighted blanket, it won’t entirely weigh your bag down, as it also comes in its own handy duffel carrying case for easy transport. The Travel Napper is also machine-washable, and the manufacturer offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
This travel blanket from Travelrest comes with its own carrying case that makes it usable as a travel pillow too. When fully unfolded, you can slip this blanket over your head and wear it like a poncho. Made of plush polyester fabric, the Travelrest blanket weighs just 20 ounces and is machine-washable for long-term use.
Vera Bradley offers a sizeable but lightweight travel blanket that’s made of soft, comfortable fleece. Offered in a fun paisley design Vera Bradley is known for, this blanket is meant to be both functional and stylish. A trolley sleeve lets you easily store the blanket on a suitcase, and when it’s folded, it becomes a pillow.
This affordable travel blanket from Target folds out to offer maximum coverage, and it comes in three striking shades: Rose Gold, Charcoal Gray and Navy. It’s lightweight and folds into a small rectangle when not in use, so it won’t take up too much space or weigh down your luggage. This blanket is also machine-washable, and it can be tumbled dry for use over and over again.
The Portable Travel Blanket from Magellan’s comes in five different colors and reaches up to 65 inches long when unfolded, offering plenty of coverage. It also comes with its own carrying pouch that features a piggyback strap, so it can easily be whisked through the airport on the handle of your rolling carry-on bag or checked luggage. This travel blanket weighs only 13 ounces, so it won’t weigh you down on the go either. The jersey fabric is soft to the touch and is also fully machine-washable.
This premium lightweight travel blanket was created to help you stay warm and cozy during long car rides, plane rides and train rides. It’s fully packable with its own carrying case, and it even comes with two lost-and-found tags. The blanket is also large at up to 70 inches in length when unfolded, and it comes with built-in neck snaps, cozy pockets for your feet and legs, and a luggage sleeve for easy transport.
This travel blanket from Sol is made for protection from extreme weather, yet it can also work as a light sleeping bag when temperatures are over 50 degrees Fahrenheit. The blanket is windproof and waterproof, and it even reflects up to 80% of body heat back into itself to warm you up. Meanwhile, a foot vent at the bottom can keep you from getting too toasty. This travel blanket is great for taller travelers, as it expands to up to 84 inches long.
This travel blanket from BlueHills comes in a zippered pouch that makes it just as usable as a travel pillow when not in blanket mode. An attached hand-luggage belt allows it to sit seamlessly on your rolling luggage when you’re on the go. The blanket-pillow combo is made of soft micro-plush material that can keep you comfortable and warm no matter where you are. A backpack clip is also included, and the blanket is fully washable.
If you’re heading on a road trip, consider this electric blanket to keep you warm on the journey. The heated travel blanket plugs into your car’s cigarette lighter socket, and it offers three different temperature settings for maximum comfort. A timer is also included so you can set the blanket up for heating in 30-, 45- or 60-minute increments. Made of polyester fabric fleece and with a cord that’s long enough to reach the back seat, this heated blanket is spot-clean only.
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