Tips for Choosing the Right Travel Blanket
Portability
Consider a travel blanket that will cover you nicely when seated but won’t take up too much extra room and gather on the floor or onto the person sitting next to you. If the travel blanket comes with its own carrying case or stuff sack, that’s a great added feature that allows you to pack up the blanket tightly and store it when not in use. Added straps for luggage handles, carry straps, and carabiners can also help you carry the blanket around with ease. Travelrest’s Wrap 4-in-1 Travel Blanket is a great choice, as it can be used as a blanket, poncho, and pillow, and folds up into itself for a carrying bag.
Material
Most commonly, travel blankets are made from polyester, as it’s a lightweight fabric that’s also affordable and warm. Polyester is great not only because it’s soft and cozy, but because it dries quickly and doesn’t tend to wrinkle. UnHide’s Lil’ Marsh Traveler blanket is a great polyester option that is extra soft and plush.
If you want something a bit elevated, look for a cashmere option, as it’ll also keep you super warm and comfortable, but it is more expensive. The Kashwere Travel Blanket, our best overall pick, is made of chenille yarn, a type of fuzzy cotton yarn that gives a similar warmth and feel as cashmere but at a much more affordable price point.
For travels that take you outdoors (camping, backpacking, etc.) consider a travel blanket that has insulation, like the Eddie Bauer Packable Synthetic Throw, which is made with synthetic insulation to keep you warm on cold nights.
Weight
Consider a travel blanket that won’t weigh down your luggage or carry-on bag or take up too much space. Away’s The Travel Blanket is super lightweight, weighing in at just over a pound and featuring snaps that allow you to attach it to other Away products and backpacks. The last thing you want to worry about while on the go is trying to meet airline luggage weight requirements, and you don’t want to be lugging around a heavy blanket that’s attached to your backpack or purse.
Additional Features
If a travel blanket has additional features such as an included carrying bag, straps and snaps to attach it to a suitcase or backpack, and loops and handles that make it easy to hang and carry, consider it a win. L.L. Bean’s Puffer Blanket comes with snaps that make it easy to throw it over your shoulders and wear as a cape, as well as loops so you can hang it for easy drying. Parker-Magyar also loves the L.L. Bean Puffer Blanket for this feature and its included carry sack that makes it easy to transport.
Our Testing Process
Over a two-week period, we tested 22 blankets, bringing them with us on flights, road trips, train rides, and even in the car while running errands. For each blanket, we examined the fabric, fasteners, and construction. We looked at how comfortable the blankets were to the touch, how durable the fabric and construction were, and how heavy or lightweight each one felt. We also looked to see if each had any special design features and how easy they were to use.
Additionally, we evaluated how warm each blanket kept us, how cozy and breathable it was, and how much it covered us while sitting and lying down. We took note of how easy it was to fold the blanket back into its carrying case (if it came with one), and how much space each took up in our bags. We also noted any signs of wear and tear over time as well.
Finally, we put each blanket through the wash at least once, noting how convenient it was to clean and if there were any changes in the fabric after washing.
More Travel Blankets to Consider
BlueHills Premium Soft Travel Blanket Pillow:This blanket folded up nicely into its included carrying bag, and it is super soft and covered us well during a flight. The carrying strap on the case is also a nice touch, as is the carabiner to hook it on a backpack. However, it is thinner than other blankets on this list and didn’t keep us quite as warm as others.
Pavilia Premium Fleece Travel Blanket Pillow:This blanket comes with a travel case as well, and we like the luggage strap on it that makes it easy to slide over your suitcase handles. It doesn’t take a lot of effort to get it back into the travel case, but we did find that other blankets on this list had better quality case zippers, linings, and straps.
Questions and Answers
What is the best blanket to take on a plane?
A great plane blanket will give you enough coverage while seated without being so large that it falls into the seat next to you. You’ll want something that’s not too complicated to put back into its carrying case as well. Parker-Magyar says she’s always cold on planes and looking to snuggle up, even in the middle seat in economy. “At the very least, I carry with me a huge scarf. I love taking the L.L. Bean Puffer Blanket.”
Can you travel with a weighted blanket?
If you have the space in your carry-on bag, or enough room in a car or train seat, you can use a weighted blanket if you wish. However, it’s not something we recommend, because you don’t want to be weighed down while traveling or deal with excessive weight restraints.
How do you fold a blanket for travel?
If there are specific instructions on how to fold your travel blanket back into its case, follow those instructions. If not, fold it up as tightly as possible, or you can roll your blanket back up. “I love blankets that roll up into a smaller size,” says Parker-Magyar. “I also channel my inner Stevie Nicks by wrapping myself in a blanket-sized scarf, and wear it as a shawl in the airport. It can look chic, or exceedingly shabby, depending on the rest of the outfit—I’ve personally been both at various departure gates.”
Why Trust Southern Living?
Amanda Ogle is a freelance writer and editor with seven years of experience covering food and drink, travel, and general lifestyle topics. For this list, we tested 22 travel blankets, evaluating portability, material, weight, and ease of use. For expert insight, Amanda consulted with travel expert Katherine Parker-Magyar, who has visited all seven continents, all 50 states, and 84 countries. She’s been a professional travel writer since 2018 and has taken hundreds of long-haul flights.