Stay Warm on Your Patio With an Outdoor Heated Blanket

Move over hot water bottles, hand warmers and earmuffs: The outdoor heated blanket is here. As the cold weather approaches, wouldn’t it be nice to be able to spend more time dining or socializing alfresco — especially during COVID-19? An outdoor heated blanket is a real outdoor patio game-changer that takes the chill off when there’s a nip in the air.

What Is An Outdoor Heated Blanket?

Similar to an old-fashioned indoor electric blanket, outdoor heated blankets (sometimes called stadium blankets) are portable and untethered by cords. They usually come with an outer layer of insulating material and an inner lining of plush microfleece or other soft fabric for comfort.

Heated blankets are perfect for chilly evenings around the patio fire pit, at social-distanced tailgate parties or on an airplane — virtually anywhere a jacket and hat just won’t cut it. Great for indoor use as well, a heated blanket is portable, making it a godsend for those enduring lengthy medical procedures like dialysis or chemotherapy.

How Do Heated Blankets Keep You Warm?

Cordless outdoor heated blankets keep you warm by delivering penetrating heat through thin wires embedded within the layers of material. Designed to heat up quickly, these lightweight, battery-powered blankets give off warmth that lasts from one-and-a-half to eight hours on a single charge. Some models use a USB cord to plug into mobile devices, car consoles or rechargeable power packs for longer warming life.

Best Heated Blanket Options

Before deciding which outdoor heated blanket to purchase, think about how you will be using it. Ice fishing? Attending your kid’s soccer games? Something else?

For camping in the woods, we like the Sojoy 12-Volt Smart Heated Blanket that you can plug into your car or RV’s cigarette lighter socket. If you’re looking for one that is water-resistant, the battery-operated Cozee Electric Blanket will keep you warm and dry.

Most outdoor heating blankets on the market come with:

• Cozy linings that trap heat close to the body;
• Quick heat-up;
• One to 10 temperature settings;
• Rechargeable batteries or a USB power cord.

Some also feature:

• Pockets for your hands;
• A power bank to recharge devices and even jump-start your car.

Outdoor Heated Blanket Safety and Considerations

There are fairly strict regulations on household electrical equipment, so your outdoor heated blanket should be safe to use as long as you follow manufacturer’s instructions.

To decrease the likelihood of overheating or malfunctioning, choose a blanket with an automatic shut-off, and be sure it operates on low voltage (no more than 12 volts). If your blanket is machine washable, remove the USB port and/or battery pack before immersing in water.

Pro Tip: Include an outdoor heated blanket in your home and car winter survival kits, preventing the risk of hypothermia should your home lose power or you get stranded roadside.

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