The Best Wool Blankets For Camping And Backpacking To Keep You Warm

Any seasoned camper will know that the best time to get out there is during the colder months. Not only is the weather beautifully crisp, but you’re also avoiding the crowds of other campers. However, before venturing out in the cold, it’s imperative to have the right gear with you.

That’s why we recommend going for the Arcturus Military Wool Blanket if you just want the best of the best.

Sleeping bags are your first shield from the cold, but often you’ll need something more. Today, we’re looking for the best wool blanket for camping.

In this article, we’re going to review the following wool blankets for camping:

The Best Wool Blankets for Camping

Why Wool Rocks

When it comes to camping blankets, the material that always seems to be the best is wool. Whether it’s a blend or pure, wool blankets provide a range of benefits to the camper:

Naturally Regulates Temperatures

One of wool’s many abilities is to regulate temperatures — you may notice that the blanket feels warm in the winter, yet still comfortable during summer. One study even showed that sleeping in wool clothes and bedding could potentially improve your sleep, as it kept a steady thermal environment.

Wool’s pretty amazing — it works to draw the heat from your body during warm weather and directs it to a cooler area. This, in turn, keeps you cool, even though it’s warm out. In the winter, wool does the opposite, as it now contains the heat around your body under the blanket.

You’ll notice that we’ve featured an alpaca blanket on our list. Alpaca wool is more efficient than sheep’s wool due to its better thermal capacity. So, do consider the Alpaca Warehouse product for this alone.

Hypoallergenic

Because wool is all-natural and, thus, chemical-free, it rarely causes any allergic reactions. Some studies have shown that most people who react to wool are actually sensitive toward lanolin and textile-processing additives.

Water-Resistant

If you’re wet from the rain, the wool blanket will work to absorb moisture before releasing it back into the air. The same happens if you sweat while you’re sleeping.

Because of this, there’s also only a small chance that a wool blanket develops mold or mildew.

How to Find the Best Wool Blankets for Camping

Blanket Weight

One drawback of wool blankets is that they tend to be heavy — some weigh more than 5 pounds, which isn’t ideal when hiking. Of course, this depends on personal preference, but it’s generally better to go with lighter ones. Less weight means they’re easier to carry, and you can always add layers underneath if needed.

Percentage of Wool

Even though there’s the word “wool” in the description, it doesn’t mean the blanket is 100 percent wool. In fact, most blankets are only 80 percent, where the rest will either be cotton or synthetic, such as polyester or nylon.

It’s not exactly a bad thing. Many times, those that are a blend are softer to touch and less itchy. However, you won’t get the full benefits of wool, including temperature regulations, fire-resistance and hypoallergenic material.

Size Does Matter

Before you begin your search, consider how big the blanket should be. This depends on your size and how many people will share it. Twin-sized blankets, around 66 inches by 90 inches, are very standard in wool camping blankets, but you can get the bigger queen and king-sized ones for ultimate coverage.

Itchiness

Itchiness is people’s biggest fear when they hear the word “wool.” Fortunately, most aren’t that itchy. It all depends on the blend of materials and how it’s woven together. High-quality wool blankets, like the Eco-Wise by Pendleton, are super soft, even though they’re 100 percent wool.

Cost

A good wool blanket can easily cost over $100. When it comes to the cost, it’s imperative to remember that it usually means better quality. And when out on the trail, you rely on your equipment, so quality is essential.

However, if you’re simply looking for a throw blanket for the camper, you can easily go with a less expensive choice. But we highly recommend doing your research to ensure it’s right for you.

Durability

In case something should happen, such as extreme weather changes or even just rough conditions, you need equipment you can trust. This will also ensure that the blanket will last for years to come.

Fire Retardant

Pure wool is a natural fire-retardant. The material requires a lot of oxygen to ignite, making it very difficult for it to catch flames. It’s also a lot less likely to melt when heated, as synthetic materials usually do.

However, because many wool blankets contain other materials and the wool has been stretched during production, their resistance to fire diminishes. Of course, they’re probably less flammable than a nylon blanket, but don’t cover yourself and consider it safe during a fire.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwPXEw8ew9o

How to Take Care of Your Wool Blanket

Although wool blankets are durable, their worst enemy (probably) is the washer. Not many are machine-washable, but fortunately, the material is quite stain-resistant.

Any good brand will give you thorough directions for cleaning and storing to ensure the blanket’s quality. Despite this, there are some general pointers to follow:

Conclusion

Finding the best wool blanket for camping is a guarantee of staying warm and cozy. Our winner today is the Military Wool Blanket by Arcturus; it’s a heavy-duty wool blanket without being too heavy, so it’s easy to transport. For our runner-up, we have the Pendleton Eco-Wise, notable for its eco-friendly creation while providing excellent warmth. It’s slightly larger than the Arcturus winner but just loses out based on it being slightly thinner.

Wool is one of the best materials to choose because it naturally regulates temperature and is less likely to give you an allergic reaction. Still, it’s essential to consider the weight, size and percentage of wool used to ensure you get the best blanket for you.