There are a lot of cool things out there that make us wonder — do they really work? In our I Tried It series, we set out to use them in the real world and have determined that, in fact, they really do.
The Product on Trial
The Sunbeam Heated Throw Blanket
The Tester
Zarah Kavarana, a year-round blanket-user who requires extra warmth in the winter
The Brief
I'm the type of person who prefers being wrapped in a snuggly sherpa blanket, no matter the weather. It could be 95 degrees outside, and I'd still be sitting on the couch in shorts with the AC blasting, fully engulfed in a blanket that's big enough for two. I don't necessarily feel cold — in fact, my body tends to run hot, but it's something about being all bundled up in a blanket that makes me feel infinitely more comforted and cozy.
But in the winter, I do crave extra warmth, and sometimes sporting multiple layers just won't cut it. Sunbeam's Heated Throw Blanket is the ultimate cold-weather solution, featuring three heat settings (low, medium, and high) that warm up within just a few minutes, plus a light-up remote control for easy adjustability.
The high setting delivers a delightfully soothing wave of warmth that takes the chill off your bones, but even the low setting can get pretty intense after a while. My advice: Cool it with the clicker unless you want to be sweltering in your sweats.
The brand's ThermoFine warming technology automatically senses and adjusts to ensure consistent comforting warmth, while an internal wiring system delivers even heat throughout the whole blanket. Though you can feel the wires inside the fabric, they're fine enough to prevent poke-age or any inflexible feel. In fact, I was pleased to find that the blanket didn't mold to my body any differently than a regular one.
The blanket itself is incredibly warm, offering reversible functionality with snuggly sherpa on one side and silky faux-mink material on the other. Even without the heat on, it's hefty enough to warm you up, and soft enough to give you an ultra-cozy feel.
For safety, its 3-hour auto-shut-off function offers total peace of mind, so you never have to worry if you fall asleep with it on (a frequent occurrence for me), or walk away and get distracted.
Also great, it's machine-washable and dryer-safe — a feature that many heated blankets on the market don't offer, so crumbs, stains, and spillage can be sanitarily taken care of.
The Closing Argument
Whether you're always cold, or can't stand piling on the layers in the winter, this cozy dual-sided sherpa throw offers powerful, adjustable heat levels, so you can conveniently crank it up to your comfort level. Even without the heat on, its weight and snugly material make for a sweet accompaniment to your Sunday afternoon couch nap, while automatic shut-off features provide necessary safety after 3 hours of use.
