Camping blankets used to be treated like an optional extra, but there are seriously so many scenarios where they come in handy that camping blankets are now a must-have.Use it to define your space at a concert in the park, to keep sand out of your snacks at the beach, to layer-up while roasting marshmallows by the campfire, or to add some extra warmth to your tent setup when your sleeping bag falls short.
Camping blankets come in a variety of sizes, they're constructed of simple wool or filled with lightweight insulation (synthetic or down), and are built to endure outdoor use. Whatever your intended use, keep one in your car at all times, because a camping blanket may just become a staple in your packing list for all future outdoor endeavors.
Camping blankets come in all shapes and sizes. We think it's most important to consider the intended use first, type of insulation (if any) second, and style third.
Intended use: Will you use this blanket to keep warm by the fire or as an extra layer in your sleeping bag for added warmth at night? If you want it for warmth, an insulated blanket is probably your best bet. Will you use it as a picnic blanket, a utility blanket, and keep it in your car for emergency situations? A non-insulated blanket with a tougher exterior is more appropriate.
Insulation: Synthetic filling is a fiber that insulates well (even when wet), compresses well, and is relatively affordable. Down fibers are typically supreme to synthetics, with better warmth and compressibility, but at a premium price. Non-insulated blankets tend to be more utility-like, and we inevitably get more use out of these blankets because we aren't afraid to use them and get them dirty.
Style: Looks are obviously important when you are festival-hopping. Insulated blankets now have some pretty fun prints, but who can argue with the look and feel of a classic wool Pendleton?
How We Chose
We have been taking a synthetic or down camping blanket with us on every trip into the wilderness since they became a fad a few years back, and we have had classic wool or yoga blankets in the rotation since long before that time. So we've gathered our thoughts based on years of testing these blankets in all types of situations, and feel pretty confident that you will appreciate the utility and comfort that a new camping blanket will add to your life.
If you want lightweight construction, packability, and warmth all at an affordable price, this is your blanket. Its soft shell is water repellant and its quilted construction keeps insulation evenly distributed.
Not only is this blanket wind-resistant, but the synthetic filling is lofty, just like your comforter at home. Our favorite feature is the stuff sack, making it easy to pack and travel with.
Once again, Kelty has delivered with some high-quality, budget-friendly camping gear that rivals and undercuts the competition. Their new Galactic down-filled camping blanket is much warmer than other synthetic-filled camping blankets, and at $100, it’s priced to sell.
The Galactic is just the right size for one person to drape around their shoulders or lay over their lap when the sun goes down and the temperatures do, too. It's stuffed with 550-fill traceable down, which provides more warmth and is more compressible than synthetic filling. And it packs down into the included stuff sack, making this blanket the perfect packable addition to your cold-weather sleeping setup.
But perhaps our favorite thing about these camping blankets is the space-inspired design — the Galactic make every tent and campsite feel like you're chillin' in another galaxy.
Pendleton is known for making high-quality blankets and selling them at a premium. They've also developed a reputation as a sort of fashion accessory, making statements at concerts, beaches, and everywhere else you go to be seen (or to disappear).
The Yakima is a heavy-duty wool that will do everything you need for a camping trip: It minimizes dog mess in the backseat, keeps you and a loved one warm by the fire, and guarantees you'll be nice and toasty in the tent.
It's pretty darn soft for something so resilient, and it will last you for years and years, no matter how often it's used. You get what you pay for.
All-purpose to the core, this heavy-duty wool option is your go-anywhere, do-anything blanket. And that's why it's used by military and emergency personnel for survival scenarios.
This 80% wool blanket weighs 4 pounds and stretches to more than 8x6 feet wide, so it's built for frequent use in harsh environments — like covering a bed of pine cones and rocks in the woods. And at the end of a long weekend, throw this blanket into the washing machine — it will come out clean and even softer than before.
No matter how many blankets we have, the Mexican yoga blanket is by far the most used blanket in our collection. We have a handful of these, and use them just as much in the house as we do in the outdoors. They get softer with every wash, and the price means you'll never worry about damage.
This simple yoga blanket has so many uses on a camping trip. Lay it on the back seat to keep dog hair at bay. Use it as an entryway mat to your tent to keep dirt outside. Flip it over and use it as a picnic table cover before meal time. Lay it out in a field for stargazing. Cover up by the fire and roast some ’mallows. You get the idea, right?
If you like the premium feel and warmth of down, Horizon Hound's super plush and puffy down comforter is plenty capable of keeping you toasty by the campfire or as an extra layer of insulation in the tent.
This blanket has all the features you'd expect from an expensive sleeping bag — its ripstop nylon fabric resists tears, it weighs just over 1 pound and compresses down to a small stuff sack, it's DWR-treated to fight off water, stains, and odors, and it's machine-washable.
If you firmly believe that life is better outdoors (like we do), but you're also the coldest one in your friend group no matter the scenario, a Rumpl is a lifesaver.
The Original Rumpl has a synthetic filling that packs a lot of warmth on chilly evenings by the fire, or when you need to add an extra layer to your sleeping bag. Meanwhile, it packs down small enough to fit in the hidden compartment of your trunk, and weighs just over 2 pounds total (single).
Rumpl's Original Puffy blanket is made with a strong ripstop nylon that won't snag on your dog's toenails, and the DWR (Durable Water Repellent) finish won't get soaked on a damp morning in the hammock. It really is ready for every occasion.
Looking for something a little softer to the touch, more similar to a blanket from your basement? This blanket's sherpa fleece lining is softer than the coat on a newborn sheep.
Eddie Bauer's sherpa fleece blanket is heavier than most in this review, too, with a cotton blend that it gives you an instant snuggly feel. It's truly the perfect companion to curl up with next to a late-night fire, whether you're in a cozy cabin or by the backyard fire pit.
Rumpl is known to many as the industry leader in camping blankets, and they've just become the favorite of earth lovers everywhere. Their new NanoLoft blanket is made entirely of post-consumer recycled products, with each blanket converting at least 60 plastic bottles into tiny polyester fibers.
The NanoLoft has a synthetic filling that mimics what everyone loves about down — it packs down small, insulates when wet, and is pretty dang warm. And, of course, this “Crisp Fade” colorway is so fresh and so clean.
Festival much? Take this lightweight blanket with you to define your space. It's equipped with a battery-powered LED light strand around the edges, which will outline your dance floor perfectly so nobody crowds your space.
The Islander packs down super small, so you can toss it in your backpack and forget about it en route to and from the show. We've also used it for sunset picnics at the beach. Because it's (literally) lit.
Andrew BettlachAndrew has been contributing to the outdoors and fitness content on BestProducts.com since 2017; he's a nature lover, peak-bagger, skier, and general good-time haver who lives in Colorado, knows where all the fresh snow is, and what gear you should be wearing for staying warm or looking fresh.
This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io
