Buying guide for Best heated travel blankets
If you spend time in your car in the winter, you know that road trips and long commutes can be chilly, drafty affairs, even with the heat cranked. A heated travel blanket can help alleviate some of the colder aspects of winter driving, and it does so at a fraction of the cost of heated seats. Heated travel blankets are also a great way to let passengers choose their own comfort level. They’re a lifesaver if you find yourself stranded on a remote winter road waiting for help to arrive.
Before you choose the right one for you, consider factors such as construction materials and how these blankets are powered, in addition to features such as timers, temperature controls, and safety elements like auto shut-off.
Key considerations
Construction material
Fleece is the standard construction material for heated travel blankets, although the type of fleece can vary considerably. Thick polar fleece and water-resistant polyester fleece are the two common types of fleece used, and both offer soft and comfortable surfaces that can help to keep you warm even when the blanket is not plugged in.
Whatever type of fleece you settle on, the material — and the electronic elements inside it — should be rugged enough to hold up to constant road travel.
Power source
Since they are designed largely for automotive travel, heated travel blankets are almost universally powered via a cord that plugs into your car or truck’s 12V (or cigarette lighter) socket. These used to be standard in nearly all vehicles and still largely are, but some car manufacturers no longer include them in select vehicle models. Be sure that your car has a standard 12V socket before getting one of these blankets.
Battery use
Overall, heated travel blankets don’t draw a sizable amount of power from your battery, but some manufacturers specifically note that their blankets are low-amperage. This shouldn’t be a huge issue when the car is running, but if you plan to use a heated travel blanket with the vehicle off, be sure that it draws minimal amperage so you won’t be draining your battery every time you use it.
Temperature
Heated travel blankets usually only become warm, not hot, so you shouldn’t have any issues with them becoming too hot. Some blankets have actually been criticized for not becoming warm enough, which kind of undercuts the whole point of paying up for a powered blanket. Make sure there aren’t any problems with your heated travel blanket under-heating.
Size
The size of the heated travel blanket that you choose is important: too small and the blanket can’t wrap around you and keep you warm, too large and it may feel like it’s taking over the interior of your car. The majority of heated travel blankets are just under 60 inches long, with a width that varies between 30 and 45 inches. Note the size carefully and test out a similarly-sized blanket from your house to verify that such a size will work for you.
A general rule of thumb is to go larger if the blanket is for adults and smaller if it’s for children or pets.
Features
Cord length
The length of the cord that runs from the heated travel blanket to the 12V socket can vary from blanket to blanket and is usually from five to eight feet in length. Get the blanket with the longest cord you can find — with a longer cord, the blanket can be used by anyone in the vehicle, regardless of where they’re sitting.
Temperature settings
Unlike electric blankets for your bed, the ability to select your own temperature with a heated travel blanket is not standard. Some heated travel blankets have a variable settings option, however. This is usually in the form of a switch where you can opt for “high” or “low” temperatures. Rarer still are heated travel blankets with a variable knob you can use to set the temperature across a range of temperatures.
Indicator light
Another non-standard feature you may run across is an LED indicator light. This shows you at a glance when the blanket is running (light on) and when it is not (light off).
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Auto shut-off
While you won’t find many safety features in heated travel blankets, one that some blankets incorporate is an auto shut-off feature. This automatically shuts the blanket down when it becomes too hot.
Timer
Some heated travel blankets offer a timer feature, which allows you to select when the blanket shuts off, so you don’t have to remember to do it yourself. These timers are usually limited to two or three intervals, ranging from a half-hour to an hour and a half.
Appearance
Select a heated travel blanket you find attractive. Heated travel blankets are manufactured in a variety of solid colors and patterns, with plaid being quite common. If you want more options in terms of style, choose a blanket that offers a variety of colors and patterns to choose from.
Heated travel blanket prices
Heated travel blankets start out at under $20 and can reach up to around $40.
Inexpensive: The majority of heated travel blankets are in the $25 to $30 range. At $20, you can find simple blankets with little in the way of controls — you plug them in, they work.
Expensive: At higher prices, blanket quality increases, both in terms of the fleece and the inner electronics. Here you can find larger blankets with longer cords and additional features such as temperature controls, auto shut-off features, and timers.
Tips
- When looking for a heated travel blanket, try to avoid ones with too much white in it, as you may have a harder time keeping it looking clean on the road.
- If you hang your electric blanket to dry over a clothesline, don’t use clothespins to secure it, as this can damage the internal wiring of the blanket.
- So long as your car’s 12V cigarette lighter works when the car is off, so will your heated travel blanket. 12V adapters on some vehicles are not wired directly to the battery, so they cannot power a blanket when the car is off.
- While it can take a car up to 10 minutes or more to produce enough heat to warm the vehicle’s interior, the majority of heated travel blankets are warm within a minute or two.
- For ease of storage, seek out a heated travel blanket that ships with a zippered carry bag.
- If you need more than one heated travel blanket, search for one that ships in packs containing multiple blankets. This is a great way to save a few dollars instead.
- If you find yourself a 12V socket short when trying to run your heated travel blanket and other car accessories, consider picking up a 12V splitter.
FAQ
Q. What is polar fleece?
A. Heated travel blankets are usually constructed from fleece, a knit fabric that features one side that has been brushed out for a softer feel. Fleece is available in a variety of different types, and one popular type is polar fleece. Used largely in winter jackets and blankets, polar fleece is thicker than regular fleece, making it warmer for cold weather use.
Q. How should heated travel blankets be cleaned?
A. You would think with the wiring inside that you would not be able to machine wash a heated travel blanket, but this is not necessarily the case. Some manufacturers recommend that you wash your heated travel blanket by hand, while others claim that you can use a machine to wash their blankets if you take the proper care.
If a heated travel blanket can be machine washed, you should first remove any cords or controllers, then soak the blanket in cold, soapy water for 15 minutes to loosen any dirt. After soaking, run the blanket through your machine using cold water on the delicate or gentle cycle and let it spin at the end.
To dry the blanket, tumble dry it on low, or stretch it out over a clothesline or frame to air-dry it. The heated travel blanket should be completely dry before you plug it in and attempt to use it.
