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This hand-knit weighted blanket looks beautiful—is it really worth it?

Not your average weighted blanket.

Woman wearing the Bearaby Napper blanket Credit: Bearaby

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Weighted blankets have become somewhat of a phenomenon in recent years. The iconic Gravity Blanket jumpstarted the hype with its viral Kickstarter campaign, and now, you can find these heavy blankets in just about every home goods store.

However, to date, most weighted blankets have looked fairly similar—they’re usually gray, blue, or another neutral color, and they’re typically pretty plain, focusing more on function than aesthetics. So when we saw the Bearaby Napper—which looks nothing like your average weighted blanket—we knew we had to test it out.

What is the Bearaby Napper?

The Bearaby Napper is a fashion-forward weighted blanket.
Credit: Reviewed / Camryn Rabideau

The Bearaby Napper is a fashion-forward weighted blanket.

As you’ve probably guessed, the Bearaby Napper is a weighted blanket. It comes in 15-, 20-, and 25-pound options (which is pretty standard) and its price starts at $249 for the lightest option.

This blanket is available in trendy seasonal colors—currently Driftwood, Amber, Elderberry, and Almond—and the lightest option measures 40-by-72-inches, which is just big enough for one person to use. The sizes do get a little bigger if you select one of the heavier weights, but it's still not large enough to share.

Like other weighted blankets, Bearaby claims the Napper provides “gentle tactile pressure” on your body for a soothing and calming effect. As someone who’s tested many weighted blankets, I can tell you that using a (good) weighted blanket feels like being wrapped up in a big bear hug. It’s a wonderful feeling, hence their popularity.

How is it different from other weighted blankets?

Bearaby blankets in a stack
Credit: Bearaby

The Bearaby Napper has a cool hand-knitted construction.

So far, the Napper might sound just like your average weighted blanket. However, there are several ways this blanket is different from every other weighted blanket we’ve tested.

The first key difference has to do with construction. Most weighted blankets are created by sewing two pieces of fabric together, typically with inner “channels” to keep the filling evenly distributed across the surface.

The Napper, on the other hand, is hand-knitted. The blanket is made from an incredibly thick yarn—each strand is around an inch in diameter—that gives it a super trendy chunky knit appearance. This sole differentiation makes it much more attractive than other weighted blankets, as it closely resembles a high-end fashion throw.

The other thing about the Napper that’s different from “regular” weighted blankets is the way it’s weighted. Typically, weighted blankets get their heft from tiny glass or plastic beads that are sewn into the inner chambers of the blanket. With the Napper, the weight comes solely from the fabric. The chunky strands of yarn are created by multiple layers of cotton fabric, and the sheer amount of material is all that’s needed to create a delightfully heavy blanket.

With all that in mind, we wanted to see if this blanket would perform as well as some of our favorite weighted blankets, including the Gravity Blanket.

The pros and cons of the Napper

To properly test out the Napper, I had the extremely challenging job of lounging, napping, and sleeping under it over the course of several weeks. Here’s what I liked—and didn’t like—about this blanket.

Pro: It looks trendy

Weighted blanket, but make it fashion.
Credit: Bearaby / Pottery Barn

Weighted blanket, but make it fashion.

Let’s just call it what it is: The main appeal of the Bearaby Napper is its trendy appearance. The blanket is quite stylish and modern, and it looks nice draped over your couch or bed—something that typically can’t be said for other weighted blankets.

Seriously, check out its resemblance to this non-weighted throw blanket from Pottery Barn. They're basically the same thing.

Con: It’s stiff and bulky

The blanket doesn't conform to your body nicely.
Credit: Reviewed / Camryn Rabideau

The blanket doesn't conform to your body nicely.

Most weighted blankets mold to your form, thanks to their inner beads, but the Bearaby Napper has a stiffer feel. Because the yarn is so thick, this blanket doesn’t have the “slinky” factor I’ve come to expect from weighted blankets, and as such, it didn't give me that “warm, comforting hug” vibe.

Additionally, the Napper is quite bulky because of its thick fabric, and it takes up more space than other weighted blankets when folded. As such, it's cumbersome to store.

Pro: It’s washable!

Credit: Reviewed / Camryn Rabideau

You can machine wash and dry the Napper.

One of the major downsides of weighted blankets is that they’re tough to wash. Many are spot-clean only, as you can’t very well put 20 pounds of glass beads into your washing machine. For that reason, I was extremely pleased to find that the Bearaby Napper can be machine-washed and dried! Because it doesn’t have any inner beads, there’s no threat to your appliances, so you can put “easy maintenance” as a major plus for the Napper.

Con: It’s not warm

My boyfriend didn't want to model the pink blanket, so my dog stepped up.
Credit: Reviewed / Camryn Rabideau

My boyfriend didn't want to model the pink blanket, so my dog stepped up.

I guess this might not be a negative if you’re always hot, but the Napper definitely isn’t going to keep you warm. Pretty much every time I slept under it, I had to find another blanket to put on top of the Napper, and the hole-y knitted construction does a poor job retaining heat.

Con: Your toes get stuck in it

Please excuse my lack of pedicure.
Credit: Reviewed / Camryn Rabideau

Please excuse my lack of pedicure.

This might just be a personal problem, but because of the Napper’s knitted construction, your toes tend to get stuck in it when you’re lounging. For some reason, this really bothered me, and it made it a pain to shift around.

Is the Bearaby Napper worth it?

The Napper's performance ultimately fell flat.
Credit: Reviewed / Camryn Rabideau

The Napper's performance ultimately fell flat.

With all that in mind, I have to say I don’t think the Bearaby Napper is worth $250. It’s disappointing, as I was hoping the product would successfully marry fashion and function, but in the end, it fell flat.

This blanket was clearly designed with aesthetics in mind—totally fine—but it doesn’t deliver the same experience as a traditional weighted blanket. If you’re looking for a product that will form to your body, wrapping you up in a warm, comforting, weighted hug, this product simply isn’t it. It’s awkward and bulky to lay under, and it delivers barely any warmth. We'd definitely recommend the Gravity Blanket instead, as it took home our award for best weighted blanket and is more affordable, to boot.

That said, if you’re looking for a stylish weighted blanket to use as an accent in your living room, the Bearaby Napper is by far one of the most modern and trendy options out there today. Still, I think $250 for a decorative blanket is steep.

Shop weighted blankets at Bearaby

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