Today’s hooded blankets are a world away from embarrassingly old, greying loungewear you wouldn’t be seen dead in. It plugs into the wall like a traditional heated throw, with a remote to control the power, heat intensity and amount of time it stays on for. And it also has an auto-shut-off function. Hooded blankets have become so popular that they’re now widely available across the high street, from upmarket lifestyle stores like The White Company to your local supermarket.

We can’t guarantee that these will save you money on your heating bill this winter, but you know what they say – “heat your body, not your home” – and these hooded blankets can certainly help with that. We did find this one to be ever so slightly looser around the bottom, letting the odd autumnal draft in – but on the plus side Snuggly says theirs can be tumble dried on a low heat, unlike Oodie’s. Size: One size Material: Fleece exterior, sherpa fleece interior No. of designs: 15 Where to buy hooded blankets in the UK verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ WITH temperatures dropping and heating costs rising, an oversized hooded blanket should be an essential item of loungewear this autumn and winter.

What is a blanket hoodie?

Arguably the original and most famous, the word ‘Oodie’ is now synonymous with hooded blankets – we even found ourselves telling people that we were “testing out Oodies” when talking about this feature. They may also help to save you money on your heating bill this winter too, as heating the body is always a cheaper option than heating the home; ideal if you work from home or spend long periods of time bingeing Netflix on the sofa. Extra large, extra warm and extra snuggly, Kudd.ly’s hoodie is like wearing a bear hug and is so big you’ll be able to curl your entire body up inside. This hoodie is, of course, oversized, but not so big around the hood or sleeves that you can’t see, eat or type – we could comfortably wear this at our WFH desk or walking around the house without it getting in the way.

It probably goes without saying that theirs is incredibly soft and cosy. The inner fleece is as soft as cotton wool while the outer feels silky, meaning that, despite its size, it didn’t actually feel as bulky to wear as some of the others.

How we tested

This poncho’s shape means that your hands remain free for typing, drinking, reading etc (although does mean that they miss out on the heat), and we found this perfect for keeping the upper body warm when working from home on chilly days. Longer than most, cushiony soft and cosy without being too bulky, this one from UK-made brand Onesnug gets a big thumbs up from us.

If you’re after that fluffier, soft-as-clouds style of fleece rather than the denser type of, say, Oodie, this is the best one we tested. We did try hooded blankets that kept us slightly warmer, but thanks to Onesnug’s ‘MicroCool’ fabric, this won’t leave you feeling uncomfortably hot and sweaty. We especially loved the long, snug-fitting elasticated cuffs – perfect for keeping heat in and sleeves out of food – and the protective bag it comes in, for storing it neatly away in warmer months. The long elasticated cuffs at the wrists are also useful, keeping your sleeves rolled up and well out of the way if you want to, say, type or cook. There are a few different styles – and prices – on the market, but the hoodies from specialist retailers like Oodie, Kudd.ly, Onesnug and Snuggly are all very similar, if we’re being honest.As the name suggests, the best hooded blankets sit somewhere between a giant wearable hoodie and a cosy throw.

Part poncho and part blanket, it can be fastened together at the front, swung over your shoulder, or simply laid flat over your body, and it heats up gently to warm the top half of your body. It also got the ‘paws up’ from our feline tester, who couldn’t stop kneading into this super-soft fabric (on the downside this sherpa fabric does collect cat hair like a magnet…)

Tatty Teddy Hooded Blanket

For us, though, Oodie just takes the top spot for keeping the body at the perfect temperature and for its vast range of designs and viral fame. Are hooded blankets worth it? Your biggest problem will probably be deciding which design to go for, as there are tens, if not hundreds to choose from (we lost count at 80), including animals, food, star signs – even ones from franchises like Harry Potter and Friends. It’s definitely one for wearing while cosying up on the sofa rather than when trying to get anything productive done, as its size and weight make it a little cumbersome, and the large hood often falls over the eyes – great for napping, not so great for WFH. There are also now lots of online-only brands that specialise in these hoodies, like Oodie, Kudd.ly and Snuggly.