Trip Planning Tech & Gear The 11 Best Travel Blankets of 2023 Bundle up in the Cocoon Coolmax Blanket wherever you go By Nathan Borchelt Nathan Borchelt LinkedIn American University Nathan Borchelt has been working in the travel industry for more than 15 years as a writer, photographer, editor, and product manager. He covers everything from trail cameras to ski equipment. TripSavvy's editorial guidelines Updated on 03/23/23 Share Pin Email We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Despite what airlines and those little air-conditioning ports positioned far above your seat might suggest, an airplane's temperature lies pretty much beyond the passengers' control. However, a travel blanket lets you take back control, offering an easy, comforting extra layer of warmth when you're cold. And we're not talking about those horrible, sometimes-gratis airline blankets awkwardly shoved into the overhead. The best travel blankets offer plush comfort and tech-forward fabrics to keep you at the optimal temperature and provide a bit of much-needed privacy from your encroaching seatmate. Even beyond flying, they're great for everything from waiting out long layovers to avoiding scratchy hotel comforters to being a much-needed additional layer of warmth when camping. In evaluating travel blankets, consider your typical travel experience. Frequent fliers who stay in nice hotels should gravitate to those that are specific to the seated position, while backpackers may want something compact, so they're easy to pack. Car campers can go bigger, exploring blankets made of heavier, more durable fabrics. The Rundown Best Overall: Cocoon CoolMax Blanket at Amazon Jump to Review Best Budget: World's Best Microfleece Travel Blanket at Amazon Jump to Review Best Ultralight: Matador Pocket Blanket at Amazon Jump to Review Best for Camping: Rumpl Original Puffy Blanket at Amazon Jump to Review Best for the Beach: Kammok Field Blanket at Amazon Jump to Review Best for Air Travel: BlueHills Premium Travel Blanket at Amazon Jump to Review Best Print: forestfish Fleece Throw Blanket at Amazon Jump to Review Best Cashmere: Sofia Cashmere Emilia Travel Set at Saks Fifth Avenue Jump to Review Best Compact: Rumpl NanoLoft Travel Blanket at Dick's Jump to Review Most Comfortable: Cabeau Fold ‘n Go Travel and Throw Blanket at Cabeau.com Jump to Review Table of contents Expand Our Picks What to Look For FAQ Why Trust TripSavvy Best Overall Cocoon CoolMax Blanket Amazon View On Amazon View On Cocoon.at View On Tradeinn.com What We Like Facilitates thermal regulation Easy to stow away Versatile What We Don't Like Not suitable for true cold Constructed of 100 percent mid-weight CoolMax fabric, Cocoon’s Travel Blanket is soft and warm, breathable, dries extremely fast, and packs down to a compact size that’ll fit inside the stingiest of carry-on luggage. Unfurled it measures 180 x 140 centimeters, with a packed size of only 15 x 9 centimeters when folded and stashed in the included stuff sack. It comes in a variety of solid colors and is machine-wash-friendly, another bonus for the frequent traveler. Most importantly, the CoolMax fabric employs four-channel fiber construction to wick moisture away from your skin, so you stay comfortable even if things start to heat up while sleeping, a welcome feature while flying, camping, and surviving a long layover. Price at time of publication: $44 Dimensions: 71 x 55 inches | Packed Dimensions: 6 x 3.5 inches | Weight: 11.3 ounces | Materials: Polyester CoolMax EcoMade Best Budget World's Best Cozy-Soft Microfleece Travel Blanket in Black Amazon View On Amazon View On Walmart What We Like Good value Colors and patterns for all Easy to clean What We Don't Like Not as compact when rolled up The brand name may lean heavily on superlatives, but the World’s Best Cozy Soft Microfleece Blanket boasts a legion of positive reviews. The price certainly helps that rating, but you get a lot of features for such a small price tag. The 50 x 60-inch blanket is constructed of plush polyester fleece knit, which is soft and comfortable against your skin. It’s not the most compressible travel blanket out there, but at only 14.2 ounces, it should be easy to haul around. It’s also machine wash-friendly and comes in a host of color options, from traditional solids to funky, cool patterns such as polka dots, aqua-blue zig-zags, pink checkerboards, and a cheetah or zebra print—so if you’re en route to an African safari, you’ve got options. Price at time of publication: $15 Dimensions: 60 x 50 inches | Packed Dimensions: Not listed | Weight: 12.2 ounces | Materials: Polyester Best Ultralight Matador Water-resistant Pocket Blanket Amazon View On Amazon View On Campsaver.com View On Matadorup.com What We Like Super compact Ideal for rugged travelers Durable What We Don't Like Won't hold up to extreme cold Marketed as an ultralight clean, dry place to sit, the Matador Pocket Blanket can also double as an airplane blanket in a pinch. You’ll certainly want something warmer in colder climates, but the HyperLyte Nylon fabric will add a bit of warmth, with a satin fabric finish to prevent sticking to the skin. And it’s also water and puncture resistant. Folded out, it covers 63 x 44 inches—enough space for two to four adults—and has built-in rust-proof metal corner stakes that also serve as weights. Those stakes, paired with the sand pockets, help tie things down on windy days. The pattern on the unfolded blanket is designed to help you re-fold the blanket and stash it in the integrated carrying pouch. Admittedly, it won’t deliver the cozy refuge you may desire to fight off aggressive air conditioning, but for outdoor travel activities—music festivals, picnics, camping and backpacking, the beach—it’s perfect. It won’t swallow up much space in your pack (or cargo pocket) and weighs only 3.8 ounces. Price at time of publication: $30 Dimensions: 63 x 44 inches | Packed Dimensions: 4.5 x 2.7 x 1.1 inches | Weight: 3.8 ounces | Materials: Nylon with waterproof PU coating Best for Camping Rumpl Original Puffy Blanket Nordstrom View On Amazon View On Zappos View On Annscottage.com What We Like Provides cushioning Easy to maintain Warm What We Don't Like Slippery against other fabrics When Rumpl brought the puffy coat craze to blankets, it set off a new gear-centric arms race in outdoor-friendly blankets. And Rumpl still rules the roost. Take the Original Puffy Blanket, which uses the tech materials typically found in sleeping bags and puffy jackets to make a blanket durable enough for extensive outside use and stylish (and comfortable) enough to be used at home. The exterior is made of weather-resistant 30D ripstop nylon with DWR treatment to shrug off water, dirt, odor, pet hair, and other debris, while the internal baffles utilize synthetic down insulation for warmth and a bit of welcome padding from the hard surfaces of the Earth. Better still (at least from an aesthetic perspective), the baffle stitching follows a very design-forward approach that takes its inspiration from the graphics of a topographical map. It comes with a stuff sack, and its smallest version (30 x 40 inches) weighs only 2.1 pounds. Sizes vary from a 30 x 40-inch Junior to a two-person blanket that measures a whopping 88 x 84 inches. Price at time of publication: $110 Dimensions: 75 x 52 inches | Packed Dimensions: Not listed | Weight: 2 pounds, 1.6 ounces | Materials: 30-denier ripstop polyester shell with synthetic insulation Best for the Beach Kammok Field Blanket REI View On Amazon View On Kammok.com The Field Blanket from Kammok pulls off the seemingly impossible: it combines the water-resistant protection you need in a beach-ready travel blanket with the plush comfort and warmth of microfleece by backing one side of the banket with a ripstop shell. The insulated main layer is DWR-treated to help repel moisture while warming the weary swimmer—but it’s not too much microfleece and is plenty comfortable on hot days. Modular snaps also let you wear the blanket as a poncho or attach one to another Field Blanket to create a wide carpet of protection from the sand. You can even flip the microfleece-lined stuff sack inside out, push in the blanket, and use it as a pillow. It unfolds into a generous 84 x 50-inch footprint, weighing 2 pounds and 13 ounces. Price at time of publication: $95 Dimensions: 84 x 50 inches | Packed Dimensions: 7.9 x 7.9 x 14.5 inches | Weight: 2 pounds, 13 ounces | Materials: Diamond Shell 40D diamond weave ripstop nylon with PU waterproofing (exterior), 100 percent polyester microfleece with DWR waterproofing (interior) Best for Air Travel BlueHills Premium Soft Travel Blanket Amazon View On Amazon View On Walmart What We Like Doubles as a pillow Cozy material Travel-specific features What We Don't Like Carabiner could be sturdier Although most travel blankets are suited for flying, the BlueHills Premium Soft Travel Blanket takes things further with its included soft carrying case, which also functions as a pillow. Even more, when the blanket is stored in the 11.5 x 10-inch case, its hand luggage belt can attach to a suitcase handle for easy transportation throughout the airport. Its included carabiner backpack clip also allows you to attach it to a backpack, handbag, or any bag. Besides convenience, the travel blanket is made of soft, micro plush fabric to keep you comfy on long flights. It measures 60 x 43 inches when folded, also making it perfect as a throw blanket at home. Price at time of publication: $29 Dimensions: 60 x 43 inches | Packed Dimensions: 11.5 x 10 inches | Weight: 1.1 pounds | Materials: Not listed The Best Travel Pillows of 2023, Tested and Reviewed Best Print forestfish Fleece Throw Blanket Amazon View On Amazon View On Walmart What We Like Easy to transport and stow Cozy fabric Versatile What We Don't Like Quite thin With four different patterns to choose from, including floral, plaid, and geometric prints, this fleece throw blanket from Forestfish is a stylish, no-frills option. The 60 x 40-inch blanket is extremely lightweight at 0.68 pounds, making it the perfect companion for the office, car, or anywhere you might travel. Made of 100 percent polyester, it's soft and machine washable. Plus, with an included drawstring bag (that's anti-dust and waterproof), this airplane blanket also makes for a great gift. Price at time of publication: $20 Dimensions: 60 x 40 inches | Packed Dimensions: Not listed | Weight: 0.68 pounds | Materials: Polyester Best Cashmere Sofia Cashmere Emilia Travel Set Saks Fifth Avenue View On Saks Fifth Avenue View On Sofiacashmere.com Travelers uninitiated with cashmere may suffer sticker shock when they glimpse at the price of the Sleepy Aero Travel Set from Sofia Cashmere. But—as loyalists to that material will tell you—there’s a good reason to pay a high price for a high-quality product. The brand has been making some of the industry’s finest cashmere for more than 60 years, sourcing its materials from the grasslands of Mongolia and China to craft blankets and other wearables with the softest touch and long fiber lengths to resist piling—so it’s both an investment and a splurge. The 36 x 60-inch blanket in this travel kit comes in a plush Jersey knit and includes a zippered carrying bag and a whimsically-designed eye mask, providing plenty of warmth and comfort while flying. But it is cashmere and thus should be handled with care. Price at time of publication: $395 Dimensions: 60 x 36 inches | Packed Dimensions: 10 x 8 inches | Weight: 1.1 pounds | Materials: Cashmere Best Compact Rumpl NanoLoft Travel Blanket Rumpl View On Dick's View On REI View On Rumpl.com What We Like Recycled materials Practical cape mode Warm What We Don't Like Limited use Constructed of a 100 percent post-recycled polyester shell and NanoLoft insulation that mimics the warming qualities of down, the Travel Blanket from Rumpl provides a lot of warmth and comfort in a small package. The shell material has been treated with a DWR finish to block stains and water and includes a Cape Clip, which lets you wear your blanket hands-free by attaching twin straps after you’ve wrapped the blanket around your shoulders. It measures 38 x 52 inches, plenty for solo use, and collapses into a travel-friendly 3.5 x 11-inch package weighing only 0.7 pounds. There might be smaller travel blankets available, but the warmth-to-weight ratio of the NanoLoft Travel Blanket justifies the modestly larger size. Price at time of publication: $99 Dimensions: 52 x 38 inches | Packed Dimensions: 11 x 3.5 inches | Weight: 0,7 pounds | Materials: 100 percent recycled 30D ripstop polyester fabric, 100 percent recycled synthetic down The 7 Best Camping Blankets of 2023 Most Comfortable Cabeau Fold ‘n Go Travel and Throw Blanket Cabeau View On Cabeau.com What We Like Easy to clean Travel-friendly size What We Don't Like Limited color options Most of those provided airline blankets can get scratchy and irritating on the skin. Opt for this super plush Cabeau Fold 'n Go Travel and Throw Blanket for the most comfortable flying experience yet. To get that luxurious feel, this blanket is made from high-quality French microfiber to keep you warm in a cold airplane. It measures 60 x 36 inches for full coverage and folds down to a compact, 12 x 6-inch travel case (included) with a handle that can attach to your luggage. Better yet, the case can be used as a pillow, seat cushion, or back support. Both the case and the airplane blanket are machine washable. Price at time of publication: $25 Dimensions: 60 x 36 inches | Packed Dimensions: Not listed | Weight: Not listed | Materials: Microfiber The 8 Best Earplugs for Sleeping of 2023 TripSavvy's Picks Thanks to the versatility of its fabric, which dries quickly, feels soft, provides warmth, wicks away sweat, and packs down to a travel-friendly size, Cocoon’s Travel Blanket will work in almost all scenarios. But if you’re looking for something more rugged—say, to use at the beach or outdoors— go with weatherproof technology like the Rumpl Original Puffy Blanket, which mirrors the insulation properties of down to provide serious warmth. What to Look for in a Travel Blanket Material How you plan to use a travel blanket should be your first consideration. If you’re looking for a plush extra layer of warmth while flying, blankets made of microfleece or proprietary materials like Coolmax will suffice. Merino wool or cashmere can make you feel even cozier. But if you’re planning to use the blanket as ground cover, look for travel blankets with waterproof or water-resistant materials and DRW-treated fabrics to help shrug off the elements and resist stains. Size Size is also an important consideration. All the blankets in this round-up work for solo adventures, but if you plan on hosting a few fellow travelers at the beach or while picnicking, go for ones with larger footprints. For two people, look for a blanket around 80 inches in length and width. Extras Nice add-on features like clips or snaps that let you wear the blanket like a poncho increases the product's applications and avoids sagging corners, while others come with stuff sacks with straps and handles so you can clip them onto your luggage rather than sacrificing space inside your carry-on or backpack. Some even come with hoods and neck pillows, making them a welcome blanket/jacket hybrid. Frequently Asked Questions Where should I pack my travel blanket? If you are planning on using your blanket while on a plane, store it in your carry-on bag or personal item. If you are not, feel free to pack it in your checked bag. Using a blanket that comes in a carrying case also makes it easy to transport. How should I fold my travel blanket? To fold your blanket in a way that optimizes space, start by laying it flat on the floor. Fold the top foot of the blanket under, then without flipping it over, fold the entire blanket in half vertically. After that, fold the blanket equally into three sections. Once complete, flip the blanket over and tuck the edge into the pocket that was created from the first fold. This will keep your blanket compact and in place while traveling. Are electric travel blankets allowed on planes? Many airlines allow electric blankets onboard planes, but be sure to double-check the rules before packing. These blankets can be stored in a carry-on or checked bag, depending on when you plan to use them. Why Trust TripSavvy Nathan Borchelt is a freelance contributor to TripSavvy. He has worked in the travel and outdoor industry for over 15 years as a writer, photographer, editor, and product manager. Nathan's work has appeared in National Geographic Traveler, The Washington Post, and Outside. The 10 Best Sleep Masks of 2023 Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Share Pin Email Tell us why! Submit Continue to 5 of 10 below. Continue to 9 of 10 below.