You might think all weighted blankets are pretty much the same. They’re just blankets with stuff in them to make them heavy, right?

Kinda. But there’s a lot more behind weighted blankets than that though.

Plus, there is a heck of a lot of difference between the weighted blankets you buy at a discount department store and the quality blankets you get from the manufacturer. Sure, it’s easy to walk into your local big-named store and drop a $20 or two on a cheap weighted blanket. But then you won’t get an authentic weighted blanket experience. You’ll just get a lumpy, bulky, too-hot-to-sleep-under blanket.

No thanks.

So what makes direct-to-the-consumer weighted blankets better than those you buy at McCheapo-R-Us? It all has to do with what is in a weighted blanket. Each element needs to be high quality:

• The weighted blanket weights. (Don’t think dumbbells, think more like weighted blanket filling - sorta like a Twinkie’s cream filling, but not as tasty.)

• The cover.
• The inner blanket.

That’s it?

Well, yeah. But, again, not all weighted blankets are the same. Not only do the materials have to be comfortable and breathable, but the construction has to be high-quality to keep the weighted blanket weights inside (or weighted blanket filling) in place.

Okay, so what is in a weighted blanket that makes it “the best”?

Glad you asked. Let’s look at the three weighted blanket layers and go over what makes a crummy one and what makes a weighted blanket that’ll give you the best sleep of your life.

Let’s start with the biggest mystery first: the weighted blanket filling. This magical stuff is what gives your weighted blanket it’s, well, it’s weight. (Duh.) But not all weighted blankets have the same kind. In the lower quality weighted blankets, you’ll typically find one of three different fillings:

• Plastic poly pellets: Small plastic bead-like pellets made of polypropylene. Typically, they are about the size of peppercorns and are non-toxic.

Pros:

• • Non-toxic (so they say)

Cons:

• • Poly pellets aren’t very smooth and can make your weighted blanket feel lumpy and uncomfortable.
  • Some poly pellets stink. Literally, they smell funny.
  • They may not be up to the washer and dryer challenge. You know, plastic tends to melt at high temperatures.

• Sand: It’s the cheapest weighted blanket filling. And a terrible idea.

Pros:

• • Um, we can’t think of any.

Cons:

• • Despite what you may think, sand-filled weighted blankets don’t conform that well to your body because sand doesn’t spread out easily inside the weight pockets. That makes for a very lumpy blanket.
  • Sand expands in water. So the washing machine? No bueno.
  • Cheap weighted blanket filler + cheap construction = A BIG, FAT, MESS

If you’re looking to get the full weighted blanket benefits, then you’ve got to look for high-quality filling and construction. The best weighted blankets on the market are filled with microglass beads.

Glass? Really? Sounds dangerous!

Au contraire, mon frère. Microglass beads are super tiny and have a sugar-like texture.

Pros:

• • Microglass beads are both non-stinky and non-toxic.
  • They lie densely within the weight pockets and move smoothly and evenly. (No lumps!)
  • These teensy-tiny beads make for a thinner weighted-blanket construction meaning the blanket sits closer to your skin, providing effective Deep Pressure Stimulation (DPS).
  • Because they are so small and lightweight, they allow for excellent airflow. Breathability is a must with weighted blankets.

Cons:

• • We’ve got nothin’.

That means, if you’re looking at what is in a weighted blanket before you buy it, make sure it has the best of the best in terms of filling. Go with the microglass beads.

When you’re shopping for weighted blankets, you’ll come across some with removable covers and some without. The most common materials making up the outer shell of weighted blankets include,

• Faux fur
• Polyester
• Cotton
• Bamboo

Each of these fabrics has their pluses and minuses and which is the best for you may depend on your geographical location. Ya know, if you live in a desert locale, faux fur might not be your best option.

What you want in a weighted blanket cover is breathability, especially if you live in a warmer climate. It may seem a little counterintuitive thinking about heavy blankets and airflow, but some high-quality weighted blankets actually allow for excllent breathability.

The best materials for optimal breathability while sleeping? That would be bamboo.

Depending on the manufacturer, what is in a weighted blanket in terms of insulation and layers varies. Some weighted blanket companies include one or two layers of insulation to keep you warm and make the blanket fluffier.

That sounds good, but in reality, a thinner, breathable weighted blanket is better. For one, you don’t want to get too hot when you sleep   because that’ll keep you from deep, restorative Stage 3 (N3) sleep. And secondly, a thinner weighted blanket means it’ll conform to your body easier, given gyou that wonderful, sleep-enducing DPS.

The inner blanket, which is the part that has holds the weighted blanket filling, should be made of breathable material like cotton or microfiber. Because if you have a breathable cover and filling, why would you detract from that with a non-breathable inner fabric?

1. Filling: Microglass beads
2. Cover: Bamboo
3. Inner Blanket: Thin material like microfiber.

We happen to know of a weighted blanket enigma that meets all three points: the Weighted Evolution Original Bamboo . But it doesn’t just meet these standards, it exceeds them.

The Weighted Evolution Original Bamboo weighted blanket won’t make you sweat for many reasons. The filling, the bamboo cover, and the thin, yet strong, inner blanket. There’s no unnecessary amount of poly-insulation that’ll just leave you sweaty and uncomfortable. The microfiber and minimal poly-fill allows for a higher level of DPS to help you sleep better.

And the stitching? Unlike any other weighted blanket on the market. Each little pocket holding the Sensory Sand is double-stitched. So no breakage. And no leakage.

At least that’s the case with the Weighted Evolution Original Bamboo weighted blanket. Don’t waste your time and money on cheaply-made weighted blankets made of low-grade materials and construction. Go with a weighted blanket that meets all the necessary requirements to deliver the best night of sleep you’ve ever had.

Go with Weighted Evolution.