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Our camping experts researched over 50 of the best camping blankets before purchasing 14 to snuggle into or set up a picnic on. We spent months traveling and camping in the warmth of summer and the chill and bluster of winter. For each adventure, we trucked along our cadre of camping blankets to test side-by-side. In addition to assessing how each performed on cold nights, we measured insulative properties and packed size. Our thorough testing and research are designed to help you find the best camping blanket for your needs, while our recommendations are unbiased and can help you find a cozy option that will fit your budget.
The Kammok Firebelly is a versatile all-star. It's great enough as a regular blanket, with generous dimensions, a high loft, and compressibility. However, it's all of the other modes that take this blanket to the next level. The bottom can be snapped and cinched closed to create a cozy foot box for keeping warm while sitting around a fire. A full set of snaps on each side can also convert this blanket into a full-on camping quilt when paired with the included sleeping pad straps. It triples as a hammock underquilt and quadruples as a poncho with a zipper opening in the middle of the blanket. As a bonus, it also comes with a watertight stuff sack and a large long-term storage sack.
For an otherwise exceptional blanket, the Kammock Firebelly has a couple of features we wish were different. For instance, we noticed during testing that the inner liner is the same ripstop nylon as the rest of the exterior. It's soft but not exceptionally comfortable, as it can get quite sticky against bare skin. The Firebelly's excellent features also come with a hefty price tag, making this quilt best for those who know they will benefit from its versatility. Check out the Therm-a-Rest Stellar or the super budget-friendly Kelty Biggie or single-sized Kelty Bestie for cozy options at a more affordable price. Even with these critiques, the Kammock Firebelly is one of our absolute favorites as a basic blanket and a multi-purpose insulator.
The Kammok Firebelly is ultra-versatile, lightweight, and one of our favorites for taking into the backcountry.
The Kelty Biggie lives up to its name. Its extra-long and extra-wide dimensions are designed to keep two people comfortably covered while making for a luxurious wrap for one. It has a soft underside that doesn't get sticky-feeling like other blankets. The square baffles keep the insulation in place, and it's a nice weight for snugglers or sleepers who like this feature. Best of all, it's very inexpensive relative to the rest of the pack.
The generous dimensions of the Kelty Biggie make it one of the heaviest and bulkiest blankets we tested, which slightly limits its versatility. We like that Kelty Biggie is available in various fun and playful patterns, but this is a personal preference. It also does not offer any meaningful water resistance and takes on a damp feel in heavy humidity. Drawbacks aside, the Kelty Biggie is an excellent blanket to have on hand for backyard cookouts or a kids' sleepover, and the value really can't be beaten.
The soft underside of the Kelty Biggie is cozy to wrap up in, but it is also durable enough to be tossed on the ground for a picnic
We love the Nomadix Festival for lots of reasons, but mostly, we love how easy it is to take places. Simply fold it up, throw it in your bag, and get moving. The lightweight blanket is constructed with a soft microsuede top, which is comfortable enough to wrap up in or set up a picnic on top of. The bottom is a durable polyester that can handle a pokey twig or pointy rock. Both sides are durable enough to withstand a dog walking across, and the microsuede top is resistant to water, sand, and dirt. Each corner has a small loop for staking the blanket down, so no need to worry about a big wind gust. The Nomadix Festival is available in a handful of fun prints and colors, so choose what works best for your liking.
The Festival has no insulation, so it isn't the warmest if you choose to wrap up in it. With its polyester bottom, it isn't all that breathable either. And though we love how lightweight it is, we wish it came with some sort of storage bag to keep it from unfolding. The Zaze Extra Large Picnic is another great picnic blanket. This option isn't as versatile but is inexpensive and durable.
The Nomadix Festival is light, airy, and quick to pack up for your next picnic in the park.
Over and over, we kept reaching for the Yeti Lowlands when we headed to the beach, park, or campsite. This premium blanket is the ultimate ground pad, sturdy enough to handle pretty much anything you throw at it. We were impressed to see how well this blanket repelled water as it beaded up and rolled off. Sand and dirt were no match either, simply being able to brush off. Our dogs ran over it, wrestling on top, with no claw punctures or rips. Yet, the top of the blanket is soft to the touch and squishes down. One of our testers stated, “I even felt comfortable letting my baby roll around on the soft, padded top.” Meanwhile, the bottom is a rugged polyester layer. It has six utility hooks to keep it staked to the ground when the winds pick up.
The Yeti Lowlands isn't perfect. The burly blanket doesn't have the largest dimensions but manages to take up a significant amount of space when packed. We love that the case includes a shoulder strap and the blanket is easy to repack, but it's simply bulky and heavy. In our tests, we found it will work in a pinch, but it isn't the coziest to curl up in. The Yeti Lowlands is also one of the priciest models we tested. If you're looking for something more affordable, the ALPS Mountaineering Wavelength is an excellent option. While you may not want to throw it on the ground as a picnic blanket, it excels at keeping you warm and comfortable. Overall, our testing gave us no concerns about the Yeti's longevity, and we believe it will last for many years of picnics in the park, camping, concerts, and beach trips.
The Yeti Lowlands is one of our favorite picks for lounging around the park thanks to its thick, durable materials.
Credit: Rebecca Glades
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Not only does the Biggie make an excellent option to use inside your tent, but it is also rugged enough to be a picnic blanket.
Credit: Becca Glades
How We Test Camping Blankets
This review began by researching 50+ camping blankets and choosing the most promising options. We purchased every model and put them to the test both in the lab and in the real world. We pushed these blankets to their limits by measuring insulation prowess and wind resistance in the lab and by taking each model outside in the wind and snow. We considered the comfort of their material, size, and weight, and we poured water on them to test their water resistance. Numerous dogs were also enlisted to test each model's warmth on cold winter days and their ability to withstand teeth and claws during playtime. We treated these blankets worse than we thought any “normal” blanket-lover would, so you don't have to guess about it before you choose your ideal cover. For more on our testing process, see our full How We Test article.
Our testing of camping blankets is divided across five rating metrics:
Comfort tests (30% of overall score weighting)
Warmth tests (25% weighting)
Versatility tests (20% weighting)
Packed size tests (15% weighting)
Features and design tests (10% weighting)
We tested lots of camping blankets, measuring and weighing them along the way to ensure they are the best of the best.
Credit: Rebecca Glades
Why Trust GearLab
This review is headed up by Senior Review Editors, Maggie Nichols and Rebecca Glades and supported by Ben Applebaum-Bauch. An avid outdoorswoman, Maggie has guided backcountry adventures in all four seasons for over 15 years. She's spent a significant part of her life living outside on the trail, on the water, and in the true wilderness. As a global adventurer, she knows what to look for when seeking a piece of gear to bring along and isn't willing to sacrifice comfort or functionality when it comes to staying warm. Living with poor circulation while still adventuring to some of the coldest places around, like the Canadian Rockies, Midwestern plains, and snow-covered Iceland, Maggie has dedicated years of her life to chasing that warm feeling no matter where she roams. Rebecca travels to destinations far and wide but is based in the chilly Rockies. She values a versatile blanket that can go the distance on cool nights but provide some ground protection at a warm-weather picnic or beach day. Ben is an avid backpacker who has hiked several of America's iconic long trails, snuggling up under a variety of bags and quilts over thousands of trail miles. Having spent almost two decades in northern New England, he knows a thing or two about staying warm in the cold.
We poured water on every blanket at let it sit for a prolonged period of time to see how water resistant they really are.
Time to play in the park? A picnic blanket can come in handy as a place to rest and find some snacks.
Don't let the cold stop you from enjoying your favorite spot to relax outdoors.
We tested these blankets in various ways to ensure they could hold up to the rigors of the outdoors.
Analysis and Test Results
We chose a variety of different camping blankets designed for the outdoors. These range from options that can easily pack into a backpack to bulkier models to keep in the trunk of the car. We score each based on five crucial metrics to assess each contender, including comfort, warmth, versatility, packed size, and features. This article compares and explores the nuances of each to help you find the best for your needs. You can also check out our Buying Advice article on what to look for when you're shopping for a camping blanket.
We enjoy a cup of coffee while looking out on a mountain vista next to the river. The Pendelton Yakima offers nice protection in this sandy environment.
Credit: Maggie Brandenburg
What's the Best Value?
Camping blankets range in usage from luxurious extravagance to necessary bedding, and their spread of prices shares a similar breadth. While many types of gear often correlate a higher price with better performance, we found no such relationship in these camping blankets. Some of our favorite blankets are among the least expensive and most expensive options we tested, and several fall right in the middle.
The Kelty Biggie, Kelty Bestie, and Alps Mountaineering Wavelength all score well across our tests, with price tags that are easier on the wallet, making them high-value commodities. On the other hand, the Kammok Firebelly performs very well and is extremely handy in specific situations that call for low weight and high compressibility, making it well worth the hefty investment. The Yeti Lowlands is also pricey but durable enough to last years to come.
Getting cozy! Even our furry friends were enjoying these blankets at the campsite.
Credit: Rebecca Glades
Comfort
An uncomfortable blanket probably won't get a lot of use; thus, we weighted this metric more than any other. We considered fabric feel and weight, blanket dimensions, and coverage for various-sized people while sitting, standing, and lying down. We tested these blankets in various conditions, gathering opinions and input while camping, tailgating, watching movies, and hanging out in the great outdoors.
Our favorite blankets for sheer comfort are the Therm-a-Rest Stellar, Kelty Biggie, and Kelty Bestie. While most camping blankets are made of slippery, swishy material to repel dirt, hair, and water, the Kelty models have a soft underside that's pleasant to put right against your skin. This softer side also keeps the blanket on your lap, rather than letting it slide right off with the slightest movement, like some we tested. It's great for hanging out on a crisp evening or napping in a shady hammock; we love how comfortable these blankets are.
Credit: Rebecca Glades
If you're a blanket user on the move, you'll likely appreciate the comfort of a blanket-turned-cape/poncho. The Rumpl snaps around you at the neck, leaving your hands free, while the Horizon Hound Down can be further snapped to keep you bundled even as you wander. The Kammok Firebelly is unique with a zipper opening mid-blanket that facilitates the poncho conversion.
Credit: Becca Glades
The Yeti Lowlands has a plush and soft top that is comfortable to lounge around on. While it is best used for laying on top of, it is still comfortable to wrap up in a pinch. Wool options like the Ektos and Pendleton also provide a durable yet soft layer between you and the earth.
Credit: Maggie Brandenburg
Warmth
The second most important part of a blanket is how well it keeps you warm. We employed several tests to discern which models are better for your temperature than others. We started in the lab, using hot water to test the insulation capabilities of each blanket. Then we took them all into the real world to see how they perform. We laid on snow, stood in blustery winds, cooked winter camping meals, and nestled into chairs and couches.
The warmest blanket we tested was the Alps Mountaineering Wavelength. In our insulation testing, it consistently performed near the top of the pack in heat retention. It's filled with a remarkably thick polyester fiber batting. The down-filled Kammok Firebelly also kept us toasty warm. It traps heat but not at the cost of weight or compressibility. Some of the synthetic puffy blankets, like the Therm-a-Rest Stellar, Kelty Biggie, and Rumpl Original, are also warm options, though not as packable.
Not every blanket is up to the task of keeping you warm when the temperatures are truly cold, but the Alps Wavelength is!
Credit: Maggie Brandenburg
Versatility
As is true of many types of gear, a good camping blanket is one you can happily use in many conditions. We tested how each one performs in the wind, against rain, and in the face of dog claws and rocky grounds. We also did everything from reading books to tailgating to cooking meals (particularly the ones that can be clipped or buttoned to become a poncho) to figure out which ones can really do it all.
The Kammok Firebelly is the most versatile option we tested. It has several distinct 'modes', from regular blanket, to hammock underquilt, camping quilt, and poncho. It has good loft and decent light water resistance.
The Kammok Firebelly transforms from a normal blanket into a warm poncho.
Credit: Rebecca Glades
The Horizon Hound Down also turns into a poncho, snapping all the way down the front. When fully buttoned up, we felt a bit penned in, which could become problematic when you inevitably rip the snaps open. When unsnapping the Horizon Hound, our testing model ripped during this exact situation. The Rumpl, on the other hand, features a loop and clip design that is opened by pressing the clip release, so there's no worry of ripping the blanket in your hurry to pull it off.
Being able to wear a blanket hands-free is a great perk for tailgating! The Horizon Hound Down (left), Rumpl (center), and Zefabak Down (right, previously tested) all snap or clip into ponchos.
Credit: Maggie Brandenburg
Many of the camping blankets we tested come with claims about DWR treatment to repel water, wind-blocking technologies, and the power to shed every speck of dirt and hair that comes in contact with it. However, not all of them lived up to their claims or our expectations. The Yeti Lowlands repelled all spilled water during our testing. The REI Co-op Camp very nearly repelled all of our spillages but took up a little bit of water at the seams.
Brushing sand and water off the Yeti is no problem thanks to its waterproof surface.
Credit: Rebecca Glades
The Kelty Bestie initially resisted the water but ended up soaking the entire amount through several layers after a few minutes. Though both wool blankets, the Pendleton Yakima and Ektos Wool, obviously soaked up all the water we put on them, they both maintained a puddle for the amount of time it would take to grab a towel and clean it up. Wool also boasts the benefit of keeping its insulating powers even when wet.
The Bestie is smaller but still a comfortable blanket for the outdoors.
Credit: Ben Applebaum-Bauch
Some blankets are perfect for picnics or as a layering pad underneath you at the campsite. These include the Zaze Extra Large, Scuddles Extra Large Picnic, Yeti Lowlands, and Nomadix Festival. The inexpensive Zaze and Scuggles blankets are really only good for picnics. In a really tight pinch, they might work as traditional blankets, but they won't keep you very warm. The Yeti Lowlands and Nomadix Festival are quite a bit more versatile. Both make excellent ground pads, with utility hoops that can be used to stake down the blankets. Neither are our top choice for getting cozy by the fireplace as they have polyester undersides, but they are both reasonable options to wrap up in.
Credit: Rebecca Glades
Packed Size
Depending on what kind of use you're hoping to get out of your camping blanket, you might care about its packed size and portability. We weighed every model we tested. We also measured their sizes in the stuff sacks they came with and crammed each one into a compression sack to see how small we could make them. We considered the usability of each stuff sack and any features that might add to their versatility.
The frontrunner in this metric is the smallest down blanket we tested, the Horizon Hound Down. It weighs barely more than a pound and can be squeezed into tiny spaces, making it a solid contender for a winter backpacking trip. It comes with a narrow roll-top stuff sack that compresses to a reasonably small size, even without a separate compression sack. This portability is ideal for travel where space is at a premium. The Nomadix is also quick and easy to throw in a bag. It folds up into a small rectangle, though we wish it included some sort of carrying case.
This blanket is the lightest, most compressible option we tested - though it gives up some comfort and warmth to achieve that goal.
Credit: Maggie Brandenburg
The Yeti Lowlands is heavier than we'd generally like for a portable option. It's also significantly larger than any other one-person camping blanket we tested. It comes with a handy carrying case and shoulder strap, but it isn't nearly small enough to fit in a backpack.
The Yeti is large, but it includes a shoulder strap, which we appreciated.
Credit: Rebecca Glades
We appreciate the included stuff sack that some models came with. Though they all stuff to a different size, the stuff sack helps keep the blanket tidy in your car or bag.
The Kelty Biggie is rather large when packed up. However, it is easy to stuff in its sack, and we appreciate the organization.
Features & Design
Though we assigned this metric the lowest weight, each blanket's features and design elements still impact the overall performance. We considered extra features like pockets, loops, and tie-downs, as well as those little things we noticed during testing that don't fall into any other testing area, like warranties and washability.
The Kammok Firebelly has a host of snaps, zippers, and extra included straps that enable its spectacular versatility. It also comes with a waterproof rolltop stuff sack. The Rumpl models, Nomadix Festival, and Yeti Lowland have at least four corner loops for tying or staking down on a windy day or hanging up to dry. The Horizon Hound and REI Camp also have a loop for hanging your blanket.
The Nomadix Festival has utility hoops on each corner that come in handy if the wind picks up.
The Rumpl blankets include gear loops on each corner.
Utility hooks are helpful when staking down blankets or handing them up.
When it comes to cleaning them, each blanket differs in how you can treat it. Most models we tested can be washed at home in a front-loading washer on a delicate setting and air-dried. Down blankets can have their filling re-fluffed in your home dryer on a gentle, no-heat cycle with a few clean tennis balls. The Pendleton Yakima requires special care; it can only be dry cleaned. Probably the most alarming blanket we washed at home is the Ektos Wool blanket, which sheds lint and color like crazy for the first several washes. We think it will probably last longer if you can avoid washing it as much as possible.
The tough Yeti is capable of handling just about anything you throw at it, but its out material is still soft and cozy.
Credit: Rebecca Glades
Conclusion
Plenty of camping blankets out there cover a wide range of comfort and warmth. Some are easier to take care of, and some require special treatment. Some are small enough to take backpacking, while others are versatile enough for cold-weather camping or lazy Sundays on the couch. No matter what you want your camping blanket for, we hope our thorough testing has helped you find the best blankie for your needs.
