Bearaby's Tree Napper weighted blanket promises to keep you cozy and cool at the same time — I put it to the test
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The best weighted blankets use Deep Touch Pressure to reduce stress — it's the same thing that makes a hug, or a cat napping on your lap, so relaxing. But this heavy hug also makes weighted blankets hot to sleep under, a problem Bearaby's Tree Napper attempts to avoid.
So can the Tree Napper provide the coziness of a hug but without the heat build-up? I put a 15lb Tree Napper to the test. (A weighted blanket should weigh roughly 10% of your overall body weight.)
Its chunky knit design makes the Tree Napper one of the most attractive weighted blankets on the market. And it's practical, not just pretty, giving the Bearaby blanket completely even pressure distribution. That means you enjoy the same soothing hug from the shoulders down. Wrapped up in its knitted folds, I felt my stress slip away.
The Tencel and cotton fabric, alongside the airflow from the knit, effectively keep the Tree Napper breathable. It's not going to feel chilly all night long but hot sleepers don't have to worry about becoming stuck in a cocoon of trapped body heat.
It's the price that's the big sticking point. Starting from $249, this is a premium buy. But it's also an eco-friendly choice that avoids the common failures of many weighted blankets, so it might be worth the investment.
Bearaby's weighted blankets are a luxury choice and the Tree Napper, which uses cooling Tencel fibers, is the most expensive of the current line-up. Prices start at $249 for the 10lb model and there are four weights available. At MSRP, these are:
Sales are rare from Bearaby but if you're going to save, it'll be around a major holiday. With the Black Friday mattress and sleep sales on the horizon. I'll be keeping a close eye on the Bearaby deals.
Bearaby's Cotton Weighted Blanket is a more affordable option with a comparable design — swapping Tencel for cotton — although it's still not cheap, with a 10lb option $199 at Bearaby .
The YnM blanket ( from $44.99 at Amazon ) is a more affordable choice, while the dual-sided Layla Weighted Blanket offers anxiety relief from $114 in the year-round Layla sale ($204 MSRP.)
Bearaby offers a 30-day returns period, although the care label must still be attached. There's also a 1-year warranty, in case of defects or manufacturing errors. These extras are fairly average for a weighted blanket, but I might expect slightly more for the luxury price.
While price is always important, weight is the most important factor when choosing a weighted blanket. To make the most of the pressure relieving properties without discomfort, your blanket should weigh roughly 10% of your overall body weight.
Tree Napper Weighted Blanket (10lbs): $249 The Tree Napper is a luxurious hand-knitted weighted blanket from Bearaby, made using breathable Tencel fabrics. There are four weights available (10lb, 15lb, 20lb and 25lb) with prices starting at $249. Sales are rare but if you shop carefully, you might get lucky around the holidays. View Deal
There are two defining features to the Bearaby Tree Napper Weighted Blanket. The first is the chunky, hand-knit design. The cottagecore finish looks like something your (super talented) Grandma might make as a 'new home' gift.
The second notable feature is the material. Weighted blankets are often heat-trapping. To avoid this, the Tree Napper is made from breathable TENCEL ™ eucalyptus fibers and cotton.
There are four standard weights available, each with slightly different measurements. These are:
Bearaby offers an impressive 11 color options in each size. However, shop outside Bearaby (the Tree Napper is sold from retailers such as Nordstrum and West Elm) and you'll find a more limited choice.
I was impressed by the Tree Napper Weighted Blanket straight from the box. In a Driftwood finish, it looked classy and luxurious. It even smelt nice (faintly sweet). I wanted to drape it over my couch so everyone could see it.
But you can't use a pricey weighted blanket as a simple piece of home decor. I started off wrapping it around my legs as I read in the evening , and then snuggled up under it to sleep when I'd grown used to the weight.
The knitted design gives the Tree Napper the most even distribution of pressure I've ever enjoyed from a weighted blanket. Most use 'pockets' filled with beads to create weight and some bunching is typical. But by eschewing beads for fabric, the Napper ensures every inch of the blanket feels the same.
And the chunky knit means the blanket doesn't just rest on top of you, it wraps around every part of the body. The result is a calming 'hug' that might not have completely cured my anxiety, but gave me the same feeling I get when a cat sleeps on my lap. It's like a deep breath in and out.
Under the Tree Napper I also found myself tossing and turning less. That's partly because the weight makes it harder to move but also because I was so cozy I didn't want to.
The knit does have some small disadvantages. It doesn't have the same immediate 'cozy' of weighted blankets with plush fabric finishes. And I've had to use mine with a top sheet , as I'm paranoid I'll pull the stitches in my sleep.
When it comes to weighted blankets, you almost expect to sleep hot. But Bearaby believes you shouldn't trade sleep temperature for stress relief. The Tree Napper feels cool to the touch and the knitted design allows for air to flow through it.
As a result, it's significantly cooler than your average weighted blanket. And even during the night it didn't hold much heat. For very hot sleepers, combining the Tree Napper with one of the best cooling mattresses should help minimize night sweats.
When I found out my 15lb Tree Napper was machine washable, I was excited to give it a go. But I'll be honest, I've yet to work up the courage. While I'm sure my washing machine could handle the weight, I don't think my dehumidifier could handle the drying process.
If you're wondering how to wash a weighted blanket , Bearaby recommends tumble drying your fresh-washed blanket on a low heat, and doing it twice if necessary. They warn you against hanging it to dry (you'll stretch out the knit) or laying it flat (it'll take too long). I don't have a dryer, and I live in a rainy part of the world, so I don't want to risk a moldy weighted blanket.
So while I appreciate the convenience of machine washing, in this case, I'll stick with spot cleaning. This is relatively easy to do and doesn't leave me with a sopping blanket.
Weighted blankets often feel like a compromise. Yes, you get a weighted 'hug' to soothe away stress during the night. But in turn, you have to expect a sweaty wake up.
But the Tree Napper Weighted Blanket from Bearaby ensures you don't have to sacrifice any comfort. The chunky knit gives even pressure distribution from head-to-toe, while the breathable design prevents heat from building up. The natural Tencel and cotton construction further ramp up the cooling.
In the Tree Napper, the compromise is felt in the price tag. With a starting MSRP of $249, this is investment bedding. Although at least it looks as luxurious as it costs.
For that reason, I recommend Bearaby's cheaper Cotton Napper to most sleepers, and the Tree Napper to hot sleepers who want one of the coolest weighted blankets on the market.
Bearaby's flagship weighted blanket has the same knitted hug as the Tree Napper but lacks its cooling prowess. However, it's still a more breathable design than most weighted blankets and with prices starting at $199, it's significantly cheaper than the Tree Napper.
The affordable YnM is your traditional weighted blanket design, using pockets and microbeads to create more even pressure distribution. Don't expect it to sleep as cool as the Tree Napper and our tester model had some slight snags in the fabric but you can often find it for under $50 on Amazon.
The honeycomb pockets of the Layla Weighted Blanket contain glass microbeads for deep touch relief. But the most exciting design feature of the Layla is its double-sided finish. One side has a smooth touch fabric, the other a furry sotness. That's almost 2-in-1, with prices starting at $114.