I Tried the Internet’s Favorite Heated Blanket Under $40 and I’m Never Flying Without It Again

I am someone who identifies as a year-round blanket person. My natural state is submerged beneath a pile of comfy cloth. In the winter, I scurry from the unforgiving chill; come summer, I seek shelter from my husband’s air-conditioner use.

Perhaps nowhere is this more true than on an airplane, on which you are hurling through the atmosphere at -65 degrees while being blasted with recycled air conditioning. Plus, on many commercial airlines in the U.S., blankets are no longer available for free — or even for purchase — forcing us to BYOB (bring your own blanket).

I was excited, then, to try this Sunbeam Red Plaid Oversized Throw ($39.99) on a recent redeye flight.

Why Sunbeam’s Heated Throw Is the Best Reviewed Electric Blanket

If you check out almost any list of the best heated blankets at major review sites, you’ll find one from Sunbeam at (or near) the top.

Sunbeam tends to score well because it hits the value-for-money sweet spot while offering consistent heating, easy controls, wide sizes (including dual-zone kings/queens), machine-washable designs, long warranties, and even Wi-Fi/voice control on some models. Sunbeam is the budget-friendly way to get lots of heat settings, fast preheat, and auto-shutoff without feeling “cheap."

My Sunbeam Heated Throw In-Flight Experience

I’d never tried an electric blanket on a plane before, and traveling is all about opening your eyes to new life experiences. The blanket shipped in a fabric case, which made it very compact and easy to put into my carry-on. (I think even a large backpack could fit the blanket when rolled up.)

Once I made it to my seat, I was maybe a little too excited to unfurl this bad boy and commence my toasty flying experience. The microplush fabric did not disappoint. It’s very fuzzy and soft, and exactly the kind of thing I want to be enveloped in.

And enveloped, I was. The oversized throw is big enough to fit a twin bed; I was able to keep it contained to just my seat, but just barely. I did feel a bit silly plugging into the plane’s electric sockets, but not silly enough to let that prevent me from going for it.

The blanket comes with four heat settings, and I started on the highest, because I know myself. (Blankets are right up there with dogs and pizza on my list of the most essential and wonderful things on earth.) This was an ideal heat setting for a frigid environment like seat 17C. I doubled up some of the soft microplush and got as comfortable as I could, given my standard 2 inches of legroom.

Almost immediately, I knew I had discovered a new travel hack. Snuggled up in my warm cocoon, I almost felt jealous of myself. Ah, my poor fellow passengers, stuck out in the elements with only their hoodies to protect them. I conked out almost immediately, lulled to sleep by my comfort and smugness.

I woke up at my destination without needing to watch even a single episode of Shark Tank to soothe myself. I will be doing this again.

Sunbeam Electric Blanket Care & Cleaning

When I arrived at my hotel, I considered adding the Sunbeam blanket to my bed for the evening. However, I’m a bit of a germaphobe, especially when it comes to planes, so I wanted to wash it after the flight.

Fortunately, washing this throw is very simple — the power cord is detachable, and the rest of the blanket can just go into the washing machine.

Per the care instructions, I pulled the blanket out of the washer as soon as it was done, and hung the blanket out flat to dry. This required a decent amount of surface area, but the microplush dried quickly. The blanket easily returned to its dry state, ready to keep me warm both at home and wherever my wanderlust takes me.

Add cozy to cart — browse all Sunbeam heated electric blankets at Walmart.