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Best Summer Blankets for Warm Weather

Candace Osmond

The words “summer” and “blanket” don’t always mix well for some people, especially those living in regions where summer temperatures can be unbearable, even at night. If you are one of the lucky people who can enjoy cool summer nights or if you sleep with your windows/air conditioning unit on, then buying a summer blanket might be a good idea. But what exactly makes a summer blanket good and what are some of the best products that deserve your attention?

RankProductHighlights
#1Utopia Bedding Premium Blanket

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  • Available sizes: Twin, Full/Queen, King
  • Available colors: 6
  • Materials: cotton
#2KAWAHOME Blanket

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  • Available sizes: Throw, Twin, Queen, King
  • Available colors: 6
  • Materials: polyester
#3Elegear Cooling Blanket

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  • Available sizes: 51 x 67 inches, 59 x 79 inches, 78 x 86 inches
  • Available colors: 2
  • Materials: cotton, mica nylon
#4Bedsure Blanket

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  • Available sizes: Throw, Twin, Queen, King
  • Available colors: 22
  • Materials: microfiber polyester
#5Kingole Blanket

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  • Available sizes: Throw, Full, Queen, King
  • Available colors: 13
  • Materials: microfiber polyester

Choosing the Right Type of Summer Blanket

When it comes to bedding items, there are a lot of terms that are used interchangeably and people confuse blankets with duvets or comforters. This is why we wanted to review some of the characteristics of a summer blanket, so you’ll know what to look for the next time you plan on buying one:

  • First and foremost, a summer blanket is breathable. That means that air is allowed to pass through the material so that the heat of your body isn’t stuck beneath the blanket. For the most part, manufacturers who produce summer blankets will make them using looser weaves and avoid adding too much fill so that the blanket isn’t that good at insulation.
  • Summer blankets that are really good are made from fabrics that are also capable of wicking away moisture. That means that even if you sweat at night, the fabric will absorb the moisture instead of leaving you in a puddle.
  • Summer blankets are also lightweight because they are made with lighter materials and fabrics. Also, heavy blankets are better at trapping heat underneath, which is why a summer blanket can never be heavy.
  • Another thing that characterizes summer blankets is the use of less loft and insulation.
  • Since we spoke earlier about weave, let’s explain how this works. For the most part, you can recognize the type of weave of a blanket by looking at the cover. It’s important to remember that blankets that have a tight weave will retain more heat. There are a few terms that you need to learn. If you find a blanket with a percale weave, you should know that it’s made with a type of cotton whose fibers are woven horizontally and vertically. Percale weaves result in breathable fabrics. Twill is a type of weave that’s characterized by a diagonal pattern and it has a rougher fill. Knit weaves have larger holes in the surface of the fabric, resulting in enhanced breathability.

Looking for knitted blankets? check our list here.

Common Summer Blanket Materials

The materials that are used to make a summer blanket will have a say in the comfort, breathability, quality, and insulation properties of the product. Here is what you should know about the most common materials:

  • Cotton will always be a common choice in the bedding industry because it has had tremendous success in the clothing industry as well. When it comes to summer blankets, not only can cotton make them softer, but it also provides moisture-wicking properties. You can find cotton summer blankets with an airy weave, which makes them highly breathable.
  • Polyester is another common type of fabric that is used in the bedding industry, mostly because it’s a cost-advantageous choice. When used to make summer blankets, polyester isn’t the softest or the most moisture-wicking choice, but it is used as a fill material because it mimics the feel of down. Aside from being inexpensive, polyester is also machine-washable and lightweight.
  • Linen is a fabric derived from flax plants and the result is a heavier type of material. Linen summer blankets are excellent because the material is naturally cooling and it allows airflow through the surface of the fabric. It is often described as being rougher compared to cotton.
  • Silk is a great choice for a summer blanket. If you’ve ever owned something made from silk, then you know this material is naturally cooling and feels incredibly soft and smooth. However, silk is a rarer type of material because it’s more expensive to produce and often sold for higher prices, so there is little demand for summer blankets made from silk.
  • With wool, it’s kind of a two-way street. While wool is the best moisture-wicking materials and it can be highly breathable, it is also very insulating and can trap warmth. It is not the best choice for summer blankets, but it can be excellent as fill material for winter ones.
  • Down is another type of fill that’s not common to summer blankets, but rather used to make winter ones. That’s because natural down has really high insulation properties. You can, however, look for summer blankets made with natural down that have less fill and loft and could, therefore, be useful even in the summer.

Best Summer Blankets

With a little bit of knowledge related to what to look for in a summer blanket, let’s go over some of the models that really tickled our fancy and that we’d like to share with you in an effort to help you find a product that’s suitable to your needs and tastes.

Utopia Bedding Premium Blanket

Specs:

  • Available sizes: Twin, Full/Queen, King
  • Available colors: 6
  • Materials: cotton

Best cotton choice

Cotton will always be king when it comes to summer blankets, and this is a great product example that will give you high levels of breathability and comfort, without any heat retention that might cause discomfort. It is available in three different sizes and six colors that will surely match your current bedroom decor.

The blanket is made entirely out of cotton and it doesn’t have any fill. It is made using a waffle weave (with a pattern that has a very suggestive name) and it’s made with 100 percent pure cotton. It feels extremely soft and lightweight, which makes it ideal for covering yourself during warm summer nights, but it’s also a great choice for when you want to relax on your couch in front of the TV on a winter day.

You may be interested in: Best Fuzzy Blankets

Pros:

  • Lightweight.
  • Soft.
  • Easy to clean.
  • 100% cotton.
  • Six color choices.
  • Breathable.

Cons:

  • Might shrink after repeated washings.

Who Should Buy This?

This Utopia Bedding blanket is a great choice for people looking for a thin and lightweight product designed for summer use, and especially for sleepers who prefer the feel of cotton over other types of fabrics.

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KAWAHOME Blanket

Specs:

  • Available sizes: Throw, Twin, Queen, King
  • Available colors: 6
  • Materials: polyester

Editor’s choice

There are so many things that we love about this blanket, but it all comes down to the construction. Made from polyester that imitates jersey fabric, the blanket is knit, which ensures a higher level of breathability due to the fact that this type of weave will generally allow air to pass through the surface of the blanket. In translation, it doesn’t trap heat underneath and won’t make you sleep hot.

The blanket is available in six very pale and soft colors that you’re absolutely going to love. You will find that it’s also available in a throw size, but also the standard Twin, Queen, and King sizes that you will find in most blankets. The blanket is very soft and pleasant to the touch and you will probably want to use it without a cover because it feels so soft against the skin.

Pros:

  • 6 soft colors.
  • Very soft to the touch.
  • Easy to clean.
  • Dual-sided product.

Cons:

  • Complaints about small sizes.

Who Should Buy This?

The Kawahome blanket is a great summer option for people who love a material that feels very soft to the touch, for those who want a throw blanket, and also for those looking for a product at a convenient price.

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Elegear Cooling Blanket

Specs:

  • Available sizes: 51 x 67 inches, 59 x 79 inches, 78 x 86 inches
  • Available colors: 2
  • Materials: cotton, mica nylon

Best cooling blanket

Time for a blanket that’s a little different compared to the other ones that you’ve seen and are about to see in today’s list. It’s a product made entirely out of cotton but which brings forth a type of construction and a concept that’s looking to do more than just allow the skin to breathe. The product is a double-sided blanket that uses an 80/20 combination of mica nylon and cool fabric on the top side to make it highly breathable.

The bottom side of the blanket is made entirely out of cotton and it feels very soft to the touch, while also providing you with moisture-wicking capabilities. The blanket is available in different sizes, but the first two are more suitable for children and teens, while the larger option is basically the equivalent of Queen-size bedding.

The blanket is also easy to care for, as it is fully machine washable. You might want to use a special laundry bag when washing because it helps prevent damage and scuffing.

Pros:

  • Innovative construction.
  • Dual-side blanket.
  • Highly breathable.
  • Available in children’s size.
  • Easy to care for.

Cons:

  • Complaints about being too small.

Who Should Buy This?

Because of its interesting construction, the Elegear blanket is designed for shoppers that are willing to go the extra mile and purchase a more expensive product with an innovative dual-sided design that keeps them cool at night.

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Bedsure Blanket

Specs:

  • Available sizes: Throw, Twin, Queen, King
  • Available colors: 22
  • Materials: microfiber polyester

Customer’s choice

With tens of thousands of positive responses from people who used it and loved it, the Bedsure blanket has made its way into this list because customers have fallen head over heels with the price, quality, and feel of this summer blanket. Available in no less than 22 different colors, there’s bound to be one in here that matches your bedroom setup.

It is made entirely out of microfiber polyester and the fleece-like feel is incredibly soft to the touch. Because it is lightweight and moisture-wicking, the blanket makes an excellent summertime companion, whether you’re looking to sleep under something soft or want to cozy on up into the couch and enjoy some quality time alone or with the family.

Pros:

  • 22 color options.
  • Soft and fluffy.
  • Lightweight.
  • Durable.

Cons:

  • Problems with lint.

Who Should Buy This?

The Bedsure product is a great choice for customers to trust the experience of other customers. It is also a wonderful choice for sleepers who love the soft and fluffy feel of fleece and those who want more versatility in choosing different colors.

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Kingole Blanket

Specs:

  • Available sizes: Throw, Full, Queen, King
  • Available colors: 13
  • Materials: microfiber polyester

Best overall

Not going to lie, finding the best 5 summer blankets is not easy because you would not believe how many above-average products there are out there. But we eventually settled for the Kingole blanket for three reasons: it’s suitable for summer and some of the other seasons, it’s available in a wide range of colors, and the fleece construction makes it soft and fluffy, this will surely become your new best friend throughout the entire year.

The blanket is manufactured with 350 GSM of microfiber polyester that provides a soft and cuddly surface that kind of makes you feel like you’ve got a blanket and a fluffy teddy bear in bed with you. It is available in four different sizes, including a throw size. Aside from being super comfortable, it offers a decent level of breathability and moisture-wicking abilities.

Pros:

  • Very soft.
  • Lightweight.
  • Available in a throw size.
  • 13 color options.

Cons:

  • Not true to its color.

Who Should Buy This?

The Kingole blanket is clearly designed for people who love soft and value fluffiness above everything else. It’s also for sleepers who want variety in color options and for those who want a product that might be suitable for more than just summer use.

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Bottom Line

As long as you have the time and patience to look for a summer blanket, the market won’t fail to deliver because of the multitude of different brands and products that it has to offer. With summer blankets, you are most interested in a product that’s made from materials that allow the skin to breathe, materials that can wick away moisture, and products that are lightweight enough as not to cause too much body heat to be trapped underneath.