The 10 Best Wool Blankets for Winter

Home BY August 2, 2018

Winter can be harsh. Like, really, really harsh. An army of pillows and a cup of hot chocolate every hour won’t be enough to keep you warm while you struggle to catch up with all the movies and television shows you missed. You need something more, something that can make your winter downtime as comfortable as relaxing on the beach during summer.

No, we’re not talking about alcohol, although that might make your winter more interesting, depending on who you’re spending your time with. We’re talking about the best wool blankets for winter. These are the types of blankets that can make you actually look forward to chilly nights. Forget about down or cotton blankets. When it comes to providing warmth, wool blankets are one of the best in the world.

Wool blankets are made of wool sourced from animals that are a lot better at surviving harsh winters than humans, and that includes sheep, alpacas, and yaks. Some wool blankets are crafted with a mix of wool and other materials. A wool blanket made of 100 percent wool provides the most warmth while a wool blanket made with a mix of wool and synthetic materials – like nylon and polyester – offer a bit more durability.

There are hundreds of wool blankets on the market, ranging from cheap blankets only made of 50 percent wool to blankets made of 100 percent Peruvian alpaca wool. It’ll take you days just to narrow down your choices to 20 or 30. To make the shopping experience a lot easier for you, we’ve created a list composed of the best products currently available on the market.

Wool blankets are more expensive than most other types of blankets. In general, the higher the percentage of wool used and the more luxurious the material, the heftier the price tag. All of the products included here are made of at least 80 percent wool, so don’t expect to see any cheap $20 wool blankets here.

Faribault Pure & Simple Wool BlanketFaribault Pure & Simple Wool Blanket

Based in Minnesota, the Faribault Woolen Mill Company is one of the most trusted and well-known manufacturers of wool blankets. Originally a family-owned business, the company has been producing top-class woolen products for decades.

Faribault offers a wide selection of wool blankets, with the Pure & Simple Wool Blanket being one of the longest-running product lines. Introduced in the ‘50s, this blanket is exactly what its name implies. It’s made of 100 percent virgin wool (the “pure” part) and comes in a solid color (the “simple” part). Made in the US, the Pure & Simple Wool Blanket is available in different sizes and colors.

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John Hanly Plaid Wool ThrowJohn Hanly Plaid Wool Throw

Established in 1893, John Hanly & Company is an Ireland-based manufacturer specializing in fabrics made of wool and other natural fibers. Crafted out of 100 percent wool, the John Hanly Plaid Wool Throw is a cozy and durable blanket that will look good on the bed and on the couch.

Whether you live in Ireland or in Maine, this warm blanket makes for an excellent companion during winter, especially when curled up on the couch while playing video games or watching Netflix shows. The John Hanly Plaid Wool Throw has a simple but attractive design with fringed edges and comes in different colors.

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Woolrich Cavalry BlanketWoolrich Cavalry Blanket

Founded in 1830, Woolrich, Inc. is one of the oldest clothing companies in the US. From sweaters and pajamas to socks and coats, the Pennsylvania-based company offers an extensive collection of products, and that includes wool blankets for winter.

A part of the US Heritage Collection, the Woolrich Cavalry Blanket is a navy-colored wool blanket with selvage edges and overseamed ends. Along with the Gettysburg Blanket, the Artillery Blanket, and the Fort Sumter Blanket, the Cavalry Blanket is a recreation of the original blankets that Woolrich provided to troops during the American Civil War. It’s made of 85 percent wool and 15 percent nylon.

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Faribault Foot Soldier Military Wool Blanket – Army MedicFaribault Foot Soldier Military Wool Blanket – Army Medic

Like the Woolrich Cavalry Blanket, the [inhales] Faribault Foot Soldier Military Wool Blanket [exhales] is a product based on blankets supplied to US troops in the past. Based on its history, you can trust this wool blanket to keep you warm and comfortable even during the chilliest of nights.

A recreation of the original blankets created for the US Army Medical Corps, this cozy blanket is made of 100 percent wool and is made in the US. It’s durable and can be machine-washed. As with other wool blankets based on blankets made for military use, you can never go wrong with this Army Medic-themed Foot Soldier Blanket.

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Pendleton Yakima Camp BlanketPendleton Yakima Camp Blanket

Pendleton Woolen Mills is another American textile manufacturing company with a long history of producing top-class wool blankets and other woolen products. With its extensive lineup of blankets and throws, from simple plaid blankets to Native American-inspired blankets, Pendleton is one of the first brands you should check out when shopping for the best wool blankets for winter.

Crafted with 86 percent wool and 14 percent cotton, the Pendleton Yakima Camp Blanket is a popular wool blanket among campers and outdoor enthusiasts. It’s based on blankets early shepherds used to survive harsh weather conditions in the Pacific Northwest. The Yakima Camp Blanket comes in several sizes, with multiple color options.

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Pendleton Yellowstone National Park BlanketPendleton Yellowstone National Park Blanket

The Yellowstone National Park Blanket is a part of Pendleton’s National Park Collection, a series of blankets based on America’s national parks, hence the product line’s name. The collection includes more than 10 different blankets, including the Grand Canyon National Park Blanket, the Crater Lake National Park Blanket, and the Yosemite National Park Blanket.

Each blanket in the product line incorporates patterns and colors associated with the national park it is named after. And with each purchase of a National Park blanket, the National Park Foundation receives a cut, so don’t hesitate to buy a complete set for your family.

A wool blanket made of 100 percent virgin wool, the marigold-colored Yellowstone National Park Blanket is a large and cozy blanket designed to keep you warm when winter descends in full force. It’s easy to clean and is extremely durable, which makes it a reliable all-around blanket for camping, curling up on the couch, and traveling.

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Pendleton Eco-Wise Wool BlanketPendleton Eco-Wise Wool Blanket

So far, all the products mentioned on this list have been limited when it comes to design and color options, not counting the Pendleton Yellowstone National Park Blanket. The Eco-Wise Wool Blanket, also from Pendleton, breaks that trend.

Crafted with 100 percent virgin wool, the Eco-Wise Wool Blanket comes in both solid and plaid, with each variant offering at least 10 color options. That’s at least 20 color options, according to our brain calculator. In the Eco-Wise Wool Blanket, you get a durable and supremely comfortable blanket made with naturally renewable wool. It’s machine-washable and is made in the US.

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Lake Superior Woolen Company Woolen BlanketLake Superior Woolen Company Woolen Blanket

Composed of a group of small family farms, Lake Superior Woolen Company is a Michigan-based outfit who produces blankets made of wool sourced from its own flock of sheep. That means the company gets its most important material from homegrown resources, so to speak. The American company raises its sheep in Northern Michigan.

Lake Superior Woolen Company offers blankets of different sizes, including a lap size blanket and a queen size blanket. All products have multiple color options, similar to the Pendleton Eco-Wise Wool Blanket, giving you the chance to pick up a wool blanket that matches well with your personality or your home furniture. Crafted with 100 percent virgin wool, Lake Superior Woolen Company blankets are extremely durable and offer excellent warmth, making them perfect for winter.

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Johnstons of Elgin Loch Oire Double Face Check Lambswool ThrowJohnstons of Elgin Loch Oire Double Face Check Lambswool Throw

Johnstons of Elgin is a privately owned company based in Scotland. Founded in 1797, the company has over two centuries of experience in the business, which is the only assurance you need about the quality of its products. Most of the wool blankets it offers are on the expensive side, though, with some products selling for over $1,000.

The [inhales deeply] Johnstons of Elgin Loch Oire Double Face Check Lambswool Throw [faints] is one of the more affordable products in the catalog. It’s a luxurious wool blanket with understated colors and fringed edges. A part of the company’s Heritage Collection, this blanket is made of 100 percent lambswool and is woven in Elgin, Scotland.

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Fells Andes Sill ThrowFells Andes Sill Throw

Out of all the products listed here in our guide to the best wool blankets for winter, the Fells Andes Sill Throw is definitely the most luxurious. So, naturally, it checks in as the most expensive of the bunch. In the Sill Throw, the California-based company has created a blanket designed to provide unparalleled comfort during wintertime.

Crafted with 100 percent Peruvian baby alpaca wool, which is one of the most luxurious materials on earth, the Sill Throw not only keeps you warm, it also makes you feel like royalty every time you have it draped over your mortal body. It’s ridiculously soft and lightweight and is easy to clean.

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