13 best hooded blankets 2024 tried and tested; for staying warm this winter
WINTER has well and truly arrived and it’s freezing outside so it’s time to wrap up warmly – and what better way to wrap up than with one of the best hooded blankets around this season.
This relatively recent phenomenon is now everywhere and it has rapidly become a wardrobe must-have for everybody, no matter what their age. A hooded blanket is also a supplement to central heating – once you wear one of these you can afford to turn down your heating while still staying toasty warm.
As the name suggests, the best hooded blankets sit somewhere between a giant wearable hoodie and a cosy throw.
They’re typically made from thick, soft fleece and come in an almost ridiculously large size – think down to your knees, and wide enough to fit three of you comfortably inside.
Most usually have a front pocket for keeping hands warm (or holding snacks) and, unlike some actual blankets, they’re also machine-washable.
Today’s hooded blankets are a world away from embarrassingly old, greying loungewear you wouldn’t be seen dead in.
Now it’s perfectly acceptable – dare we say, almost cool – to snap a selfie swathed in fabric covered in pictures of avocados, cartoon kittens or Yoda (we admit that we haven’t built up the courage to wear them out past the front door yet though…)
Australian brand Oodie is perhaps the well-known brand, going viral on social media for its huge number of bold designs, from chicken nuggets to chihuahuas.
The high street soon clocked on to their appeal, and now you can find almost every major clothing retailer selling them, including , and .
They may also help to save you money on your heating bill this winter, as heating the body is always a cheaper option than heating the home; ideal if you work from home or spend long periods bingeing Netflix on the sofa.
To find out which are the best hooded blankets to buy, we put the most popular to the test, judging them on size, softness, warmth and what they look like – here are the ones that most impressed…
Best hooded blankets at a glance:
- Best overall:
- Best hooded blanket for warmth:
- Best budget hooded blanket:
- Best looking hooded blanket:
- Best heated wearable blanket:
Oodie
Pros: Extra large, big pocket, super soft, loads of designs to choose from, often has deals on
Cons: Not cheap when full price, quite bulky, can’t be tumble dried, not very stylish
Rating: 5/5
Arguably the original and most famous, the word ‘Oodie’ is now synonymous with hooded blankets – we even found ourselves telling people that we were “testing out Oodies” when talking about this feature.
It probably goes without saying that theirs is incredibly soft and cosy. The inner fleece is as soft as cotton wool while the outer feels silky, meaning that, despite its size, it didn’t feel as bulky to wear as some of the others.
We found that it kept our bodies at the perfect toasty temperature, and we didn’t overheat.
The long elasticated cuffs at the wrists are also useful, keeping your sleeves rolled up and well out of the way if you want to, say, type or cook.
Your biggest problem will probably be deciding which design to go for, as there are tens, if not hundreds to choose from (we lost count at 80), including animals, food, star signs – even ones from franchises like Harry Potter and Friends.
On the downside, it looks a bit silly, and – although we found that there are regular sales or ‘buy one, get one free’ deals – it is expensive at full price.
Size: One size (6XL) Material: Flannel fleece outer, sherpa fleece inner No. of designs: 80+
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Kudd.ly Hoodie Blanket
Pros: Very warm and snuggly, extra large size, front pocket, elasticated cuffs, can be tumble dried
Cons: Bulky, hood falls over eyes, can get very warm
Rating: 5/5
Extra large, extra warm and extra snuggly, Kudd.ly’s hoodie is like wearing a bear hug and is so big you’ll be able to curl your entire body up inside.
We picked the black sherpa design to test – one of the most ‘grown up’ of the 11 designs, we felt – and was immediately claimed by our tester’s boyfriend, who had previously scoffed at some of the sillier designs we tested.
It also got the ‘paws up’ from our feline tester, who couldn’t stop kneading into this super-soft fabric (on the downside this sherpa fabric does collect cat hair like a magnet…)
We found it to be the warmest out of all the ones we tested, even bordering on a little too warm at times.
It’s one for wearing while cosying up on the sofa rather than when trying to get anything productive done, as its size and weight make it a little cumbersome, and the large hood often falls over the eyes – great for napping, not so great for WFH.
Size: One size (6XL) Material: Teddy fleece outer, sherpa fleece inner No. of designs: 11
The White Company Snuggle Blanket Hoodie
Pros: Looks stylish, made from recycled fibres, front pocket, elasticated cuffs
Cons: Not the thickest, shows marks, only comes in one colour
Rating: 4/5
Cute ‘n’ cosy, this one looks so good you could probably wear it out of the house, and might even pass as an expensive throw when left on the sofa.
It’s got all the essentials – hood, big front pouch, long length – while this Sherpa fleece has a particularly fine knit, giving it a neat look.
It comes in just one colour, ivory, in keeping with The White Company’s typical neutral palette – very Cameron Diaz in The Holiday, we feel.
Size: One size Material: Fleece (recycled polyester) No. of designs: 1
M&S Teddy Fleece Hooded Blanket
Pros: Very soft, less bulky than some, available in two sizes, front pocket
Cons: Short, open sides, hood is quite tight
Rating: 3/5
More of a poncho than a hoodie, this has short sleeves and open sides that can be popped together at a couple of points for a slightly snugglier fit. It comes in five colours and two sizes for both men and women, with a version for children also available.
It's one of the lightest and softest ones we tested, feeling baby-soft against the skin, and it’s handy to be able to open it up if you get too hot, although it’s not as chill-proof as a regular hoodie.
The shorter, boxy style means that it does flap around a bit, so one for when you plan on doing absolutely nothing except relaxing.
Size: Medium & Large Material: Fleece (recycled polyester) Colours: 5 Machine washable?: Yes
John Lewis Hi-Pile Oversized Lounge Hoodie
Pros: Lightweight, just warm enough, not too bulky, nice colour, good price
Cons: There are warmer ones on the market, only available in four pastel colours
Rating: 5/5
If you’re after that fluffier, soft-as-clouds style of fleece rather than the denser type of, say, Oodie, this is the best one we tested.
This hoodie is, of course, oversized, but not so big around the hood or sleeves that you can’t see, eat or type – we could comfortably wear this at our WFH desk or walking around the house without it getting in the way.
It’s not the warmest one we tried (think late autumn chills rather than depths-of-winter, below-freezing temperatures) but we’d probably say this was the most practical, while this pale pink colour we chose (prettier in real life than our phone camera could capture) is about as ‘feminine’ as one of these items could get.
Size: One size Material: Fleece (100% polyester) No. of designs: 4
Catalonia Classy Hooded Blanket
Pros: Soft fabric, can also be used as a blanket, has pockets
Cons: Not as cosy as a hoodie, a bit awkward to tie up
Rating: 3/5
It’s not really a hoodie blanket like the others but – if you don’t mind the strong Little Red Riding Hood/Game Of Thrones vibes – this cape is certainly useful for cuddling up on the sofa. It also has two inner pockets, ideal for holding phones or keeping hands warm.
It’s not quite as comfy as the pull-on designs, and the ribbon neck ties pull a little, but it’s handy that it can also be used like a regular blanket and doesn’t require pulling over the head.
Size: One size Material: Polyester No. of designs: 5
Lakeland Electric Heated Poncho
Pros: 9 heat and time settings, overheating protection, can be worn several ways, machine washable
Cons: Doesn’t cover arms and lower half, has to remain plugged into the mains
Rating: 5/5
OK, so it hasn't got a hood, but we couldn't include this indulgent wearable.
Part poncho and part blanket, it can be fastened together at the front, swung over your shoulder, or simply laid flat over your body, and it heats up gently to warm the top half of your body.
It plugs into the wall like a traditional heated throw, with a remote to control the power, heat intensity and amount of time it stays on for. And it also has an auto-shut-off function.
This poncho’s shape means that your hands remain free for typing, drinking, reading etc (although does mean that they miss out on the heat), and we found this perfect for keeping the upper body warm when working from home on chilly days.
Size: One size Material: Fleece No. of designs: 1
JD Williams Pretty Secrets Fleece Lined Blanket Hoodie
Pros: Thick fabric, cute design, drawstring hood, front pocket, inclusive size range
Cons: Very oversized, long sleeves
Rating: 4/5
Looking for a hooded blanket with a pretty print? We think this one ticks all the boxes.
We loved how thick the material was, keeping us warm while working from home, and the pom pom drawstring neckline was a nice addition.
This comes in two different sizes, to fit up to a UK size 34, but even the smaller of the two was ginormous – the largest we tested – and may swamp smaller frames.
Size: 8-18 and 20-34 Material: Borg fleece (polyester) No. of designs: 3
Tu Borg Fleece Hooded Blanket
Pros: Very long, good price, front pocket
Cons: Short and non-elasticated sleeves
Rating: 4/5
Long and luxurious, we love this one’s teddy fabric, which is very lightweight and soft as air but surprisingly very warm and toasty, and we like that this one comes in multiple sizes.
The open sleeves do let in a little cold air, but it’s made up for with a longer-than-average shape. It’s also great value, and will certainly keep you warm this winter.
Size: S-XL Material: Borg fleece (75% recycled polyester, 25% polyester) No. of designs: 1
Snuggly Oversized Blanket Hoodie
Pros: Extra large, huge pocket, super soft, can be tumble dried, Snuggly often has deals on
Cons: Not cheap when full price, quite bulky, not very stylish
Rating: 4/5
We found this one to be very similar in design to the Oodie: extremely large (down to our knees), soft and cosy, with a big hood, spacious pocket, smooth outer fabric and soft fleecy inner.
We did find this one to be ever so slightly looser around the bottom, letting the odd autumnal draft in – but on the plus side, Snuggly says theirs can be tumble-dried on a low heat, unlike Oodie’s.
There is a decent number of designs to pick from (the crazy cat lady in us couldn’t resist this cute feline print, but also had our eye on ) plus seemingly regular sales, although it’s worth noting that the Snuggly website says that sale items cannot be returned.
Size: One size Material: Flannel fleece exterior, sherpa fleece interior No. of designs: 23
Onesnug Hoodie Blanket
Pros: Soft and silky feel, front pocket, elasticated cuffs, long length
Cons: Not cheap when full price, others are warmer, not loads of different designs
Rating: 4/5
Longer than most, cushiony soft and cosy without being too bulky, this one from UK-made brand Onesnug gets a big thumbs up from us.
We especially loved the long, snug-fitting elasticated cuffs – perfect for keeping heat in and sleeves out of food – and the protective bag it comes in, for storing it neatly away in warmer months.
We did try hooded blankets that kept us slightly warmer, but thanks to Onesnug’s ‘MicroCool’ fabric, this won’t leave you feeling uncomfortably hot and sweaty.
Size: One size Material: Fleece exterior, sherpa fleece interior No. of designs: 15
Travel Oodie
Pros: In-built travel pillow, zip pockets, cosy and comfy
Cons: Expensive, one size only
Rating: 4/5
Based on the original Oodie (basically a humongous, oversized fleece hoodie), the Travel Oodie is possibly the comfiest thing you’ll ever wear.
Hidden inside the hood is a pocket containing a neck pillow, which inflates through a hand pump. It has an enormous front pocket which zips up from both sides and is ideal for storing snacks as well as valuables such as your phone, wallet and passport. The Travel Oodie also all folds up into its hood and becomes one portable carry bundle.
It comes in two colours; plain dark navy and a blue and white tie-dye design
As soon as you pull the Travel Oodie on you start to feel comforted. The fabric is cosy, but it isn’t too stifling so you won’t immediately start to overheat.
We tested our Travel Oodie on a car journey, but we think it would come into its own on a long-haul flight. Read our full Travel Oodie review here.
Size: One size, Material: ToastyTek fleece with sherpa-lined hood, No. of designs: 2
Beach Oodie
Pros: Extremely comfortable, quick drying, UPF 50+, machine washable
Cons: Expensive, one size
Rating: 4/5
The Beach Oodie is made from cotton towelling and although it packs up quite small, once unfolded you realise it is enormous.
Thankfully, despite its size, the Beach Oodie is surprisingly lightweight and easy enough to sling in a beach bag, or simply wear over your swimmers.
Once you’re on the sand, it is ideal for popping on if the weather turns chilly. It can also be used like a towel for sitting either on sand or cushioning you against hard pebbles.
We loved the big front pocket where you can easily store suncream or your phone/wallet if you’re off on an ice cream run. The three-quarter length sleeves are also ideal for beach games or rock pooling as you don’t have massive droopy sleeves getting in the way.
However, it’s once you’ve swum that the Oodie really comes into its own. As soon as you get out of the sea you can pop it on for an instant layer of warmth.
The Oodie is also UP50+ so helps protect you from the sun. Read our full Beach Oodie review here.
Size: One size, Material: 100% cotton towelling, No. of designs: 4
Where to buy hooded blankets in the UK?
Thanks to Oodies, hooded blankets are everywhere. They have become so popular, especially for the colder months, that you can now even find them in supermarkets such as Tesco, Asda and Sainsbury’s as well as in departments and chain stores like John Lewis and Argos.
There are also now lots of online-only brands that specialise in these hoodies, like Oodie, Kudd.ly and Snuggly.
Plus, of course, you can find them on Amazon – along with pretty much everything else you need to stay warm this winter.
We found the hooded blankets our reviewers tested at:
How much are hooded blankets?
The hooded blankets we tested ranged from £22-£90, so there can be quite a price difference.
It’s worth noting that a lot of the hoodie brands regularly have offers on, with most falling around the £50 mark at the time we tested them.
What is the best hooded blanket?
There are a few different styles – and prices – on the market, but the hoodies from specialist retailers like Oodie, Kudd.ly, Onesnug and Snuggly are all very similar if we’re being honest.
For us, though, just takes the top spot for keeping the body at the perfect temperature and for its vast range of designs and viral fame.
Are hooded blankets worth it?
We can’t guarantee that these will save you money on your heating bill this winter, but you know what they say – “heat your body, not your home” – and these hooded blankets can certainly help with that.
They can seem an expensive buy for something you’re almost certainly not going to wear outside of the house, but if you spend a lot of time at home – whether working or relaxing – they could be a good investment, especially as they wash well in the washing machine.
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If you’re interested in buying one, we recommend keeping your eyes open for deals, as a lot of these are often half-price or ‘buy one, get one at a reduced price’ offers.
Of course, you can also always add one to your Christmas wishlist and let someone else treat you to a cosy winter.
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