I cosied up with the Slumberdown Elegantly Warm Heated Throw to find out just how hot faux fur could get. The answer is very, very toasty.
I’ve been making my way through all of the best electric blankets and heated throws on the market and there are some seriously cosy options out there. If you like the faux fur feel, this is the only one to buy.
I’ve been testing the temperature of this, timing it, working out whether electric blankets are a good way to save money, and comparing it to other warming throws on the market. How does it compare? You’ll have to find out.
Specifications
Unboxing the Slumberdown Elegantly Warm Heated Blanket
Slumberdown sends all of their heated throws in zip plastic bags. This makes them easy to see, but also easy to store. As soon as I took this out and spread it over my bed, I folded it back up to check how nearly it could tuck into the bag again. It fits in very easily.
The Slumberdown Elegantly Warm Heated Blanket remote control comes pre-fitted with ten different heat settings and an adjustable shut-off timer too. You can navigate between these using the buttons — it’s really, very easy. Whilst the cord offers a little length, if you want to be able to move around with complete freedom, you'll probably want to invest in an extension cord too.
Who would the Slumberdown Elegantly Warm Heated Blanket suit?
There aren’t many heated throws that are al faux fur. That’s probably because these get extremely warm in next to no time. If you’re a cold person or you like the feel of faux fur, that won’t be a problem.
As the name suggests, the Slumberdown Elegantly Warm Heated Blanket looks chic. Draped across a sofa, it exhudes a kind of sophisticated simplicity that lots of people aspire to. Behind its gorgeous aesthetic is, of course, a today electric wire.
You can’t actually feel this when you’re wrapped up in the blanket, all you’ll spot is that you’re warm, which is lovely. That makes this a great gift and a nice sofa accessory. It might be a bit slippy to sit on your lap when you’re working from home, but it’s great for cosying up under on the sofa.
What is the Slumberdown Elegantly Warm Heated Blanket like to use?
Spread out, the Slumberdown Elegantly Warm Heated Blanket covered the whole of the end of my king-size bed, so it’s got the capacity to wrap up one person completely, or to offer some cover for a couple. It’s generously sized and lovely to touch.
I wanted to work through all ten temperature settings and I thought, what better place to start than at full temperature?
Wrapping myself up in this and turning it to full heat was hot. Within five minutes, I could feel warmth all over my body. Of course, the blanket is naturally warm anyway: the faux fur is cosy, but this was next level. I couldn’t stand the heat for much longer than five minutes, which I didn’t expect, because I’m quite a cold person. However, I think the fact that this is faux fur (made from polyester) really enhanced how hot this got.
The next day, I thought I’d try the opposite. I set the temperature to a cool 1, wrapped myself back up? And waited to see what would happen. Naturally the blanket warmed me up quickly. After half an hour, I was a nice temperature. If you get really cold, you could set it to anything up to five. The others are really too hot, even for a cold person like me. They’re good for a blast of heat if you’re freezing though.
How do you clean the Slumberdown Elegantly Warm Heated Blanket?
The Slumberdown Elegantly Warm Heated Blanket remote clicks apart from the blanket, meaning the main material can go in the washing machine. This is great news, because the faux fur has a tendency both to show and pick up bits of dust. I have a woven carpet and this looked like it had little bits of straw on, which isn’t ideal.
Once you’ve clipped the different bits apart, I would recommend running this through the wash at thirty degrees. If you can, use Ecover Laundry Detergent or the brand's laundry capsules because it is a lot more gentle on your fabric fibres, meaning they stay in better condition for longer.
How does the Slumberdown Elegantly Warm Heated Blanket compare?
As far as full faux fur goes, this is the best blanket on the market. It’s great value and is by far the most powerful heater, and yet it’s still energy efficient too. If you love the idea of a faux fur blanket, but you want to know what else is out there, I’d recommend taking a look at Beurer’s XXL Nordic Throw. This has only one side of faux fur and the other is fleece, which is nice if you want to switch up the texture that you’re snuggling up under.
The only downside of the Beurer is that it takes about 30-45 minutes to reach max temperature. Compared to Slumberdown’s speedy ten-minute warm-up, it’s slow. The Beurer is also double the price, so there’s not really any reason to opt for an alternative to the Slumberdown, except if you wanted a bit of choice between the faux fur and fleece. This might be if you work from home, as the fleece can be much more grippy if you sit it on your lap.
Should you buy the Slumberdown Elegantly Warm Heated Blanket?
If you like the idea of some elegant faux fur, the Slumberdown Elegantly Warm Heated Blanket is the blanket for you. It’s one of the best value models on the market. Whilst I think it feels a little cheaper than the fleece of Slumberdown’s Comfy Hugs, it’s a great choice for making your home cosier.
How we test
I really enjoy testing electric blankets. Since I’m someone who’s always cold and deals with Reynaud’s, a condition that affects circulation, I’m constantly searching for ways to stay warm at home without making the entire house feel like a sauna. Electric blankets and throws have proven to be one of the best solutions for me.
I’ve created a thorough testing method that I follow for every electric blanket, and my colleagues do the same. I’m always on the lookout for the latest releases, and when I come across one that seems cozy, practical, or innovative, I get it in for testing. Once it’s in my home, I spend weeks or even months using it, evaluating it from various perspectives.
The first thing I take note of is the packaging. I prefer sustainable, recyclable materials that keep the blanket neatly packed for shipping. Ideally, the blanket is ready to use right out of the box. If there’s any setup or programming involved, I’ll be sure to mention that.
Next, I’ll test all the temperature settings, usually in five- or two-and-a-half-minute intervals. If it’s a wearable blanket or poncho, I’ll wear it the whole time. If it’s a mattress cover, I’ll stay in bed while testing it. Not the toughest job in the world!
I pay attention to how evenly it heats, whether there are cold spots, if there’s a cooler area for the pillows, and how energy efficient it is. If there are dual controls or different heating zones, I’ll test those thoroughly, sometimes with the help of a partner to make sure everything works properly.
After I’ve gotten a good sense of how it performs, I’ll check how easy it is to wash. Some blankets require hand-washing, while others are machine-washable, and a few can even be tumble dried. It’s good to know this before purchasing, especially if a complicated washing routine could be a dealbreaker.
During the testing process, I’m always comparing the blanket to others I’ve reviewed, looking at its performance, texture, value for money, energy efficiency, and overall versatility. I’ll also point out similar models, doing the legwork for you. Finally, I’ll offer my thoughts on who this blanket is best suited for and whether it’s a worthwhile buy. All my reviews are completely unbiased, so if I recommend something, it’s because I genuinely believe it’s a great product.
