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Home is where your blankets are.
That's especially true in Oregon. It's practically our birthright—Pendleton Woolen Mills isn't just one of the state's foundational companies, it casts a wide shadow over the entire textile industry.
To that end, it'd almost be a dereliction of civic duty to do an issue dedicated to staying home and not review a bunch of locally made blankets. So we rounded up five samples from Portland-based manufacturers, called up some friends, and put the blankets to the test—and by that, we made hot toddies, wrapped ourselves up and took some notes.
Warmest
Pendleton Yakima Camp Blanket
$99.50-$219
pendleton-usa.com
Well, duh, right? What else could we choose here, lest we risk getting exiled from the state? Modeled after the coverings used by the region's early shepherds, Pendleton's best-selling Yakima Camp Blanket is heavy, hearty and seemingly lived in—even a brand-new one feels like it's been in your family for generations. That said, the scratchy skin-feel of virgin wool doesn't agree with everyone. The best use for it is really as a layering blanket above a soft comforter. But if you find yourself stranded on the prairie in the dead of winter, or if the heat just got cut off in your apartment, there's nothing that'll get the feeling back in your limbs quicker.
Tester comment: "It's worth any skin rash that might develop."
Prettiest
Seek & Swoon Envie Throw
$170
seekandswoon.com
Seek & Swoon's design credentials precede them—you can find their throws in the rooms of certain boutique hotels around Portland. It's no wonder: These things are gorgeous. Each cotton blanket is inspired by founder Jala Smith-Huys' travels abroad. The Envie, which lines the beds at Jupiter Next, is her "Paris blanket"—the name translates to "desire" in French—and while it's unclear how exactly the design evokes the City of Lights, the geometric melange of black, white and gold patterns is sure attractive.
Tester comments: "Not super soft, but would look gorge on top of a comforter."
Coziest
House of Castellon Lipstick Check
$185
houseofcastellon.com
All cozy blankets are warm, but not all warm blankets are cozy. Sure, those emergency blankets firefighters drape over people after their apartments burst into flames can help keep your core temperature up, but it's not really conducive to curling up on the couch with oolong tea and a Real Housewives marathon. Pulling on one of House of Castellon's throws, though, is like slipping into that baggy sweater you've had since college but never wear outside the house. Made from recycled cotton, the material almost seems to stretch to fit your dimensions, which ensures it'll be staying with you a while.
Tester comments: "Soft and comfy, but pretty thin. Would be good folded over a few times."
Lightest
Rumpl Nanoloft Puffy Blanket
$149
rumpl.com
Rumpl's tagline is "Blankets for Everywhere," but what they really mean is "everywhere outdoors." It looks and feels like a sleeping bag, and slips off easily—there's actually a warning on the tag advising "extreme caution" if using it to swaddle a baby. But its main drawback as a couch blanket is its volume: Shifting around in this thing is like wrestling with one of those compostable chip bags that sound like you're lighting a string of firecrackers every time you reach inside. Insulated with synthetic down, it traps heat effectively, and the standard single-person size weighs less than 2 pounds, making it ideal for carrying on a backpacking trip, but not necessarily for taking a gummy and watching Wild.
Tester comments: "Don't nobody want to cuddle with a sleeping bag. Pretty ombre, though." "How am I supposed to watch Coyote Ugly when I can't hear beyond the rustling?"
Most Cat Approved
Belmont Blanket Hellagood Adventure Blanket
$120
belmontblanket.com
Similar to Rumpl, Belmont Blanket's products are designed for "the modern urban adventurer," not so much the modern urban layabout. The Adventure Blanket is certainly practical—the outer face is waterproof, the other side is lined with fleece, and the promotional materials insist you could run it over with a truck without inflicting any damage. But unless your roof is in serious need of repairs, the tarplike design doesn't translate to the indoors. Our cats, however, might disagree. After our snuggle test, we laid out the five blankets to see what they'd choose, and this is where they both ended up. Makes sense—the plush inner face feels like a particularly smooth animal coat, even though the material is 100 percent vegan. Hey, can't argue with nature.
Tester comments: "This ain't no blanket, it's a Bigfoot merkin." "Maybe a soccer mom knows what to do with this, but I sure don't." "(contented purring)."
Bonus
The Comfy
$44.99
thecomfy.com
The answer to the prompt "a Snuggie, but make it fashion," the Comfy is a wearable blanket disguised as a hooded sweatshirt. Well, barely disguised—the boxy, oversized design isn't what you might call "stylish." Successfully funded into existence via Shark Tank, it sort of looks like you're wearing a skinned Teletubby. While the sherpa lining certainly provides a comforting "return to the womb" feeling, the cuffed sleeves don't leave a lot of breathing room, making it easy to start overheating. It also probably seems too ridiculous to wear outside, but baggy clothes are back in vogue—honestly, it's not hard to imagine Billie Eilish rocking one on the cover of Nylon soon.
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