With so many on the market, it’s often hard to decipher: “What are the best camping blankets and the best waterproof blankets to use in the Great Outdoors?”
Best Camping Blankets and Waterproof Blankets
If you love camping, you know how important a good camping blanket is. We know the importance of a good night’s sleep during your camp experience to ensure you’re ready to take on your next-day adventures. We also know that camping exposes us to harsh outdoor conditions, so having good blankets to take on the elements are a crucial way of staying dry and warm at night. Having the right camping blanket truly helps to give you a good camping experience. That being said, there are so many blankets that are good for camping, depending on the environment, weather, portability and other factors.
When you go camping, you often face elements that you don’t typically need to face in your ordinary life. The need to defend yourself from extreme weather is more necessary when you’re exposed, as it might be extremely cold or extremely hot, making it necessary to be prepared. Your camping gear should be effective in helping you deal with the varying temperatures of your camping environment. You can easily access a camping blanket online or from a store, but we’re here to help you determine which one is right for your adventure. As you purchase your blanket, it’s important to remember that you’ll typically want to pack lightly, especially when your adventures require you to carry your belongings along the way – like backpacking or day hiking. You also need to get a blanket that won’t take up a ton of space, as packing a lot of camping necessities can be tedious and exhausting.
TYPES OF BLANKETS USED FOR CAMPING
Here are a number of different types of camping blankets sold that we recommend you look at:
SLEEPING BAGS
Sleeping bags are the most commonly used camping amenities, almost anywhere. They are easy to access and purchase. They are also the most reliable and safe route to go, especially since camping involves sleeping outdoors. Sleeping bags are especially recommended during cold or chilly weather. They are incredibly suitable as they often give you all you need for a good night’s sleep, in one sleeping bag.
So why are sleeping bags the true standard of camping blankets? The zippers are the main reason why sleeping bags are so common. Sleeping bag zippers completely cover you, meaning that they keep you safe from not only the cold, but pests and insects, too.
That being said, there are so many kinds of sleeping bags out there. There are sleeping bags of different sizes and types, with some being waterproof and durable, while some are lighter and more portable. Unless you’re camping in abominably freezing temperatures, we recommend utilizing lighter sleeping bags, as they’re far better for packing efficiently. When you go with a heavy camping bag, they’re far bulkier to carry around with you while you’re camping.
WOOL BLANKETS
Wool blankets are a viable option, especially if you are camping in an area with chilly weather. Wool blankets are also some of the most commonly used outdoor blankets on the market. They’re so durable that even the military uses them on missions. Because they’re so thick, these blankets cover you completely and keep you incredibly warm from during even cold storms. Wool blankets’ main selling point is how warm they are, but their biggest drawback can is their itchiness. Unless you’re buying incredibly high-quality wool (like alpaca or llama), often times these blankets can leave you feeling warm, but incredibly uncomfortable.
PUFFY DOWN BLANKETS
The puffy down blanket is actually incredibly similar to a sleeping bag and can be considered a replacement in the right circumstance (both are made of the same down material). The puffy blanket does not need a lot of packing space and it typically provides a decent thermal rating. Puffy packable blankets are suitable not only for camping but also for a hiking, picnic use and any other outdoor activities. This type of camping blanket is long-lasting, warm and quite comfy, giving you a similar experience to that of a sleeping bag. For people who are looking for a more versatile version of a sleeping bag, the puffy packable blanket is the most recommended camping blanket.
WATERPROOF FLEECE BLANKETS
These blankets are also commonly used for camping, picnics and hiking. They’re some of our most preferred blankets because they provide you with warmth, while also keeping you dry from a damp or wet campground during the night. The blankets are made using a waterproof polyester backing, and stitching them together with a soft polar fleece, making them nearly some of the most comfy and warm blankets on the market.
The Oceas waterproof fleece blankets also utilize a durable Polyurethane coating that completely eliminates water seeping as well. Thus, making it one of the most versatile blankets on this list. You can literally lay it down in a puddle without water seeping through or cover your body with it during a rainstorm, while remaining totally dry. It’s not only the ideal camping blanket, but also works incredibly well as a picnic blanket or even beach blanket – as it’s totally sand proof as well.
EMERGENCY BLANKETS
Emergency blankets are quite small, but maybe the most efficient – especially in a bind. While these blankets don’t typically last long, they’re necessary for anyone that’s adventuring in cold wilderness. If you want a light and easy way to ensure you’re protected while backpacking or even at camp, we highly recommend them. They are easy to carry, hardly require any packing space, and are incredibly light – like less than 4 oz, light – making them the perfect option to keep you protected during any emergency that might happen during an outdoor activity. Emergency blankets are also great wind barriers, and it’s highly advisable to carry more than one if you’re in a group. While they’re ideal for dire situations – and are even great as a sleeping bag liner in extra-cold weather – we don’t advise you to use an emergency blanket as a replacement for a camping blanket or sleeping bag.
THERMAL BLANKETS
Thermal blankets are like emergency blankets in terms of their use but are more durable and are better for multi-use. You can use thermal blankets more than once and they offer warmth especially when the conditions are quite extreme. Thermal blankets are, however, not as comfy as fleece or wool blankets.