I Tried Bearaby’s Weighted Blanket—Here’s What I Thought (And How I Slept)
Are Bearaby blankets worth the investment?
This review is not sponsored and contains the author’s personal experience.
The Good Trade was gifted this product.
The world seems to get a little heavier each day, so why I’ve been researching weighted blankets is beyond me—is it a metaphor? Don’t I feel like everything isn’t already heavy enough? Do I believe a weighted blanket being will fix *waves hand* all of this?
Weighted blankets, if you’re not familiar, come in a range of weights and implement deep pressure stimulation to relax your body, relieve pain, and reduce anxiety. They are also often touted as a way to fall asleep faster—and stay asleep longer. I had the opportunity to try a knitted weighted blanket from Bearaby recently. Curious what all the hype was about, I used the weight selecting tool on Bearaby’s website and decided that the 15-lb Tree Napper in the color “Rosemary” was right for me (that color has since become unavailable).
It arrived on a particularly stressful day and I tore it from the package like an unruly child ripping open a wrapped present. I leapt onto my mattress (only a few feet away from my desk) and pulled the thick blanket over me. I wanted it to be a calming wave over my overwhelmed body, washing away everything that was bothering me.
“While the blanket didn’t immediately solve my problems (like managing my inbox or cleaning the apartment), it did give me that feeling of being hugged.”
While the blanket didn’t immediately solve my problems (like managing my inbox or cleaning the apartment), it did give me that feeling of being hugged. Or, like in the old days of concerts and crowds, the feeling of a loved one’s hand pressed gently on your back as you navigated the masses to let you know I’m still here. All that to say, it felt nice right away, and more soothing the longer I sank into it (or it sank into me?).
I found the weight to be evenly distributed, and I actually wondered how they got the blanket to be so heavy. I sometimes find myself squeezing the yarn, looking for metallic chains or whatnot—nope. The website claims “No fillers, just plant-based TENCEL”. Although, upon further inspection, the cover materials do in fact include 48% tencel, 47% cotton and 5% spandex. The core is 95% cotton and 5% spandex, so I was a little confused about where the filler claim came from.
The blanket is a winner in both appearance and texture. The soft tencel of the Tree Napper really is cooling and quite silky feeling without being shiny (or sticky if I sweat). I’m obsessed with how calming and deep the green of the Rosemary color is, and honestly—if you take a moment to search Google images for weighted blankets—this is one of the most attractive ones on the market.
The packaging was interesting, too; the blanket was delivered in a cardboard box and wrapped up in a large canvas-y bag to forgo plastic. I love repurposing things (and don’t think I’ll ever store this blanket in that bag since I use it allll the time), so I’m going to use it as a laundry bag—a win-win in my book.
But—does it help me sleep? While I didn’t have too many sleeping issues before getting this blanket, I genuinely look forward to heaving the blanket over me every night. Importantly, my husband has trouble with waking up frequently throughout the night, and I (oh so generously 😂) let him use the blanket when he has to wake up at 5 a.m. for work. He enthuses about the blanket all the time, and he’s noticed a significant difference in how often he wakes up throughout the night. I catch him eyeing the blanket when we’re getting ready for bed, wondering if it’ll be his turn.
“While I didn’t have too many sleeping issues before getting this blanket, I genuinely look forward to heaving the blanket over me every night.”
Which brings me to the first drawback of the blanket—for the $269 price tag, it really only fully covers one person. We’ve tried sharing it by spreading it over our shoulders, but it doesn’t have the same effect. So, most certainly, note that the 15-lb blanket measures in at 40" x 72”, while heavier blankets maintain the length but go up to 48” wide. (Although, just before publish, I saw that Bearaby released a queen-sized blanket!)
Also, there are some downsides to the knit approach versus a quilted style. The blanket is pretty stretchy and can get a little unwieldy when you’re trying to move it around. But not enough to stop me from hauling it to the living room to wear like a cape while I play games or watch television—it helps keep my shoulders relaxed and my back a little active.
And this is such a specific tidbit for a specific type of person (like me), but if you don’t like wind on your skin while you’re trying to sleep, this can be a little drafty. My husband sleeps best with a fan (or two) blowing, so I can’t just use this blanket alone. Instead, I drape it over my comforter and cocoon that way. It’s a simple solution for me, but it might be more difficult if you tend to sleep hot and don’t want to feel breeze on your skin. Bonus: I don’t have to wash it as often because it’s not touching my skin as frequently.
“Overall, I see Bearaby’s Tree Napper as a great home investment piece that will look fabulous on your bed, couch, or office chair. Keyword: investment.”
I haven’t yet tried washing the blanket, but Bearaby assures that their blankets are machine-washable. I’ll look forward to seeing if my apartment building’s washer and dryer can handle the blanket with ease (I’m not too worried about it).
Overall, I see Bearaby’s Tree Napper as a great home investment piece that will look fabulous on your bed, couch, or office chair. Keyword: investment. If you can find a good deal or sale through the brand, that would make this sleepytime tool a bit more accessible! I plan on using mine every day for as long as it will last—and maybe my husband will be getting his own Bearaby over the upcoming holidays (so he can stop borrowing mine 😉).
Key Takeaways:
This is a gorgeous weighted blanket, and is one of the most aesthetically pleasing ones I’ve seen on the market. So many calming color options as well.
I sleep great when I’m snoozing under this blanket, and it’s not too hot or sweaty. It feels like a bear hug.
If you want to block out airflow completely, the knitted texture may not work for you—layer it with another blanket for ultimate coziness!
It’s expensive, but I can see it lasting a long time. Would love to get a second one so my husband will stop borrowing mine :)
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Emily Torres is the Editorial Director at The Good Trade. Born and raised in Indiana, she studied Creative Writing and Business at Indiana University. You can usually find her in her colorful Los Angeles apartment journaling, caring for her rabbits, or gaming.
