Newsflash - it's getting cold. But you didn't need me to tell you that, since its been chillier this week and the forecast looks like winter. I've already brought my cosy items out of hibernation, and that includes my snuggle hooded blanket. Nothing's cosier on a cold autumn day when I'm working from home, and it saves on heating bills too.
The original, the Oodie, is a constant bestseller and has been lauded for its cosiness, with reviewers waxing lyrical about how they can skip putting on the central heating when wearing one. Their designs are fun, silly and brighten up a dreary day. An Oodie itself can cost around £59 for an adult Oodie, and the same for a kids’ Oodie - but there is a Black Friday clearance section worth checking - then the high street and its array of Oodie alternatives is your friend.
- The high street bestseller: M&S Fleece Hoodie, £35
- The personalised hooded blanket: Etsy Personalised Hooded Blanket, from £24.99
- The hooded blanket under £20: Dunelm teddy oversized hooded blanket, £16
- The extra long hooded blanket: Wowcher Hooded Blanket, from £8.99
- The fun hooded blanket: Online Home Shop Fast Food Hooded Blanket, £10
With energy bills still high, and the general cost of living, not to mention a schlep until the next payday, an oversized, wearable blanket is perfect for popping on while working from home or as an alternative to wearing your dressing gown at 5pm.
I own an Oodie, and even bought a matching one for my five-year-old (the avocado print, if you were wondering). They're incredibly warm - and I mean incredibly - extremely oversized (no bad thing!) and comfortable. The soft material is literally dressing gown worthy but less embarrassing to answer the door in, and I love that it has a hood for extra cosiness. It is true what they say, you don't need the heating on wearing one, you really don't.
There are children’s versions too, which parents praise as an after-school saviour for kids to stay warm in while relaxing before bedtime or to throw on for a chilly school run. There’s even versions for dogs too. It’s worth reading the reviews of the high street hooded blankets; Dunelm’s version was rated as “less stiff and boxy than the original” and M&S’ lookalike has had over 190 reviews with “incredibly warm” and “cosy” as some of the most common descriptions.
How I chose the best Oodie alternatives
- Trusted and personal reviews: This is where reviews really shine! I've searched through online reviews to find the Oodie alternatives that actually deliver in terms of warmth and comfort. And if I've tried one, you'll find my own personal review in there too.
- Price: All of the hooded blankets listed cost less than the original version.
- Design: Hooded blankets come in all sorts of styles, from block colours to bold patterns. I've found as many different versions as possible, but it's always worth checking if the style you like comes in an alternative print to the one I've listed.
- Warmth: As much as I'd love to, I haven't tried all of the products listed but where possible, I've called out the ones that seem to win for warmth in reviews and again, if I've tried it, I've made it clear just how warm it is (or isn't).
So save your heating and invest in one of these warm, hooded fleece blankets for you and your family instead.
Shop the best Oodie alternatives
1/11
kudd:ly Hooded Blanket
- Sizes: One size (equivalent to 6XL)
- Colours: 11 to choose from, including plain and patterned
HELLO Tried and Tested:
"I was sent the tie-dye print to try and on first impressions, I'm really into the print - it feels cooler and more feminine than some of the other designs.
"Compared to my original Oodie, it's a lot less thick but I actually quite like that - the Oodie can feel heavy and almost a bit much sometimes. It's very soft, big and roomy (I'm a size 12, and wore it with a hooded sweatshirt underneath with plenty of room to spare). And at 5ft3ish, it comes to my knees like the Oodie does.
"I'd say if you want something very warm, stick to the Oodie but I found this a lighter way to keep warm enough. The Oodie offers almost instant warmth but this kept me toasty, without overheating, all day long. I love that the hood is big too!"
Carla Challis, Commerce Partnerships Editor
2/11
M&S Supersoft Faux Fur Hooded Blanket
- Sizes: Medium and large
- Colours: Natural or pink
I always turn to M&S for my dressing gowns and will be snapping up one of these hooded blankets too! It's made from a soft, snuggly faux fur material and should be worn oversize, just the way we like it.
3/11
Boux Avenue Fluffy Heart Oversized Cosy Hoodie
- Sizes: Small to large
- Colours: Grey
HELLO! Tried & Tested:
"I was sent this hooded blanket to test out, and at first glance, I love the subtle heart print and light grey look. It feels silky soft, and lightweight (as opposed to the heavy Oodie). Warmth wise, it provided a certain amount of warmth but I have to admit I do have a few warmer sweatshirts, but over a hoodie, it was perfectly cosy enough.
"I was sent the Medium/Large and it felt very oversized as you can see from the picture. And because it's a thinner, lighter material than others sat a little awkwardly. Obviously not expecting to win best dressed wearing one of these, but it didn't fit quite the same as the others. It was also quite static on my WFH uniform of leggings and hoodie.
"I think for the price, it's a great buy and definitely is less garish than other designs. I'd actually wear this one instead of a dressing gown over PJS, it had that sort of feel."
By Carla Challis, Commerce Partnerships Editor
4/11
Wowcher Matching Family Snuggle Hooded Blankets
- Sizes: Young child 1-5 yrs, Older child 5-15 yrs, Adult 90cm, Longer adult 140cm.
- Colours: 9 designs to choose from
Wowcher's got a matching hooded blanket for the whole family in nine fun designs, ranging from avocado print to teddy bear. Warmth wise, this is huge - long enough to curl up and cover your legs with.
5/11
Loungeable Lilac Faux Fur Oversized Blanket Hoodie
- Sizes: One size
- Colours: Beige
Super big and super snuggly is the key to this fluffy hooded blanket, which comes in a neutral shade. Crafted from a luxe faux fur and finished with a large kangaroo pocket, its ideal for cosying up in while watching Netflix.
6/11
OHS Adults Cat Print Hoodie Blanket
- Sizes: One size
- Colours: Two designs - cat print or dog print
Team cat or team dog? Pledge your allegiance with your oversized hooded blanket design! This comes in one size, and can chosen with a beige cat covered print or a black doggy print.
7/11
Dunelm Hooded Blanket
- Sizes: One size
- Colours: 11 to choose from
Dunelm's cornered the market on snuggly, with their fluffy oversized hooded blanket. It comes in one size, is unisex and available in an impressive 11 colours, from black to light pink.
8/11
Etsy Personalised Hooded Blanket
- Sizes: One size
- Colours: 7 available, including brights and neutrals
Who doesn't love something personalised? This would make a fab present for a loved one, or of course yourself. There's a few colours to choose from too, including neutrals like black and grey and a bright pink or blue.
9/11
Gentlewarm Store Oversize Hooded Blanket
- Sizes: One size
- Colours: 30 to choose from
Spanning 30 colours, including prints, Amazon's hooded blanket gets almost five star reviews across the board for being warm, cosy and comfy.
10/11
Hugzee Harry Potter Oversized Fleece Hooded Blanket
- Sizes: One size, to fit 7-12 year old
- Colours: Harry Potter print
Got a mini Harry Potter fan? They'll surely adore this HP-printed cosy hoodie, with flannel fleece on the outside and a cuddly, Sherpa fleece lining. It also includes a supersoft cushion cover to stuff the Hugzee inside.
11/11
Bluey Hooded Blanket
- Sizes: 2-4 years or 4-6 years
- Colours: Bluey-design
Wannabe Bluey's will adore this themed hooded blanket, complete with Bluey print and doggy hood with ears. Cute!
The soft fleece design is perfect for Bluey's number one fans.
