We Found the Coziest Camping Blankets to Keep You Warm on Your Adventures

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Everyone deserves a comfy night around the campfire and sound sleep in nature. No matter where you plan to adventure, a warm camping blanket can make or break your time outside, especially when it starts to get chilly. Depending on where you’re going, the best camping blanket for your trip can vary quite a bit. From fill type and size to material and waterproofing, there’s more to consider than you might expect.

If you’re looking for a blanket to add to your camping checklist, we’re here to help you make your decision. Embrace your inner hygge and cozy up outside with this mix of ultra-packable, super comfy, kid and couple-friendly, and reliably warm camping blankets—designed for all kinds of adventure.

More Gear From Your Camping Checklist: Best Camping Tents ● Best Ultralight Sleeping Bags ● Best Ultralight Backpacks

Best Camping Blankets

• Best Overall: Rumpl Down Puffy Blanket

• Best Value: Get Out Gear Down Puffy Camping Blanket

• Best for Two: Stoic Basecamp Bivy Quilt Double

• Best for Kids: Therm-a-Rest Juno Blanket

• Best for Pets: Yeti Lowlands Blanket

What to Consider When Buying a Camping Blanket

Materials

Don’t sacrifice a comfortable sleep by choosing the wrong material for your camping blanket: Some will be warmer and cozier, while others may do a better job keeping you dry.

You can find camping blankets made from synthetic materials (like polyester, nylon, or taffeta), natural fibers (like cotton, wool, or down feathers), or a mix of both. Synthetic camping blankets, most often made from polyester and nylon, can keep you warm even when they’re wet. They typically cost less too. I also love using synthetic blankets if it’s too hot for a full sleeping bag, or as a light layer when hanging out around the campfire.

Fleece is another common synthetic fabric that’s more affordable. That said, fleece blankets won’t keep you as warm. A great cold-weather camping hack is to use a thin fleece blanket as a sleeping bag liner inside of your down or synthetic fill bag if you’re camping in frigid temps. Fleece liners can add upwards of 12 degrees, depending on the severity of external temps.

Some thicker blankets are also stuffed with a “fill” material inside the blanket. The best, more often than not, are stuffed with goose or duck down. While pricer, down camping blankets are usually warm, comfortable, and packable.

When looking at a down blanket, make sure to check its “fill power,” or “loft,” which indicates the volume of the down inside. A blanket with a higher fill power–ideally around 700 to 800–requires a lighter, fluffier layer of down than its lower-quality counterparts. These lofty blankets are lighter and easier to pack without sacrificing warmth. Down blankets typically range from 300 to 900 fill power but we recommend looking for down blankets with at least 500 fill power to make sure you’re getting something soft, comfortable, and adequately portable.

Warmth

To avoid shivering from the cold while camping (or sweating in the heat), you should look for a blanket to fit the type of climate at your campsite. Depending on the type and density of the fill, every camping blanket will provide its own level of warmth.

Down is nature’s best insulator. Blankets stuffed with soft goose or duck feathers provide the most warmth, without adding too much weight or bulk. In most cases, though, synthetic blankets will keep you warm too, especially if you use them as an extra layer. At a campsite, an unstuffed synthetic and natural fiber blanket should do the trick most of the time.

Packability

If you’re going camping, you need to make sure your blanket is easy to pack. If you’re car camping at a state park or local park, then you’ll likely be able to get away with a synthetic or natural fiber blanket. If you’re backpacking and need something that will both keep you warm while taking up as little room as possible, I’d recommend a down blanket or sleeping quilt instead. Keep an eye out for high fill-power down if you want to cut down on the weight and bulk of your blanket.

Water Resistance

Want to avoid a soggy, wet blanket? Us too. Some synthetic and down blankets come treated with durable water repellent (DWR), which makes them water-resistant, potentially verging on waterproof. Having a water-resistant blanket can make a huge difference on all kinds of outings, including car camping trips with rain in the forecast, music festivals, or even trips to the beach.

Once damp, camping blankets made from synthetic material tend to dry quicker and are even sometimes fire resistant. They tend to be heavier and less compact, though. You can also find down blankets with feathers treated with water repellant too, but you should expect to pay substantially more for the privilege.

How We Selected The Best Camping Blankets

To pick the best camping blankets, I considered cost, material, size, durability, and other features like water resistance and warmth. During camping trips and outdoor gear tests over the past few years, I’ve tested at least half a dozen camping blankets across the US in both warm and cold weather, including places like northern Wisconsin, Arizona, and Montana.

For those I haven’t used personally, I researched my selections extensively, checking product information and reading user reviews at REI and other retailers. No matter your camping forté, we’re confident there’s a blanket you’ll love on this list.

Down Puffy Blanket

This camp blanket reigns supreme. The blanket gurus at Rumpl designed this puffy down layer to meet any adventurers’ needs, whether you’re car camping or hanging out around the campfire.

Stuffed with 600 fill power down, you’ll stay cozy and warm when the chill sets in. Its water-resistant treatment protects against wet weather and stains too. The icing on the cake, though, comes in a series of thoughtful design flourishes for campers, including corner loops for staking the blanket down, built-in compression straps, and an emergency whistle.

Lightweight, versatile, comfortable, and warm—this tried and true down blanket has it all.

Down Puffy Camping Blanket

You don’t have to break the bank to buy a quality blanket. The Get Out Gear’s durable puffy blanket is impressively small and ready for anything. It’s spill-, stain-, and water-resistant thanks to its DWR coating and nylon shell. It even packs down into a 12- by- 5-inch bag, which is impressively small for how puffy it gets once you take it out.

Speaking of puff, you’ll love this blanket for its fluff too. It’s stuffed with a significant amount of 650 fill power down that’ll keep you warm through the Spring and Fall shoulder camping seasons. That’s a lot of puff and performance for a great price, if you ask me.

Basecamp Bivy Quilt Double

Camping’s better with a buddy. Take the Stoic with you outdoors if you want to keep warm with friends, a partner, or get extra cuddly on your own. This sizable blanket is treated with a water-repellent finish that defends against moisture and dirt. At under $50, it’s a total steal too.

One thing to keep in mind: Its thin synthetic fill isn’t quite as warm as our other, down-filled picks, so it isn’t the best fit for camping in cold weather. But as a top layer or a light layer around the campfire or in the backyard, this blanket fits the bill.

Juno Blanket

Camping with kids? The Juno’s smaller size, ability to quickly dry, and machine-washable synthetic fabric make it a top pick for kids who love to get outdoors. A soft-touch polyester lining makes this blanket super comfortable and a DWR-treated polyester shell helps repel water.

Caring for the Juno is as simple as throwing it in the washing machine, so don’t worry about unexpected car messes and or days in the dirt.

Lowlands Blanket

Pamper your pet (and yourself) with a durable, waterproof blanket that’s built for adventure. Yeti’s Lowlands blanket is perfect for exploring the great outdoors, especially with a pet, on camping weekends, trips to the park, or even in your backyard.

The Lowdown features a rugged, waterproof exterior, but feels incredibly soft on the inside. Best of all, it sheds hair with ease, and is machine-washable, so it’s easy to clean after even your furry friend’s messiest outdoor romps.

While it’s a bit expensive, a lot of folks find its features are worth the cost. Some REI customers even called this blanket “indispensable” and capable of holding up even “after hundreds of uses and many washes.”

Camp Blanket

A go-to camping blanket for all kinds of campers, REI Co-op’s outdoor blanket is a cozy camping companion that works for both cool and warm weather. Its taffeta outer layer has a buttery-soft feel, which makes this blanket comfy to cuddle up in. It’s also affordable, making it a great option for those looking to save money when building out their camping checklist.

It’s not for winter weather, but rather when you want a reliable blanket for around the campfire or an extra layer to cozy-up with in the tent on a chilly night.

Festival Blanket

Going to a festival? Chilling with some friends at the park? Headed to the beach? Nomadix’s thin festival blanket is a versatile ground cover for all kinds of outdoor hangs. It’s slip-resistant, quick drying, and stands up to wear and tear from rocks and sand.

The microsuede top layer is soft, making it a great blanket for families with little ones too. Since the Nomadix festival blanket is thin, it’s best used as a layer on the ground, rather than as a cover. Constructed with certified post-consumer recycled plastic, you can rest assured this blanket treads lightly on the planet too.

NanoLoft Flame Blanket

We’ve all been there: A crackling piece of wood shoots a flaming-hot ember right onto your camping blanket. Well, sparks don’t stand a chance with this blanket. Rumpl designed the NanoLoft Flame to be the ultimate fireside blanket.

It’s made with a proprietary fire-resistant exterior material that fends off stray embers so you can cozy up to the flames without worrying about unwanted burn holes. We also love that it’s filled with 100% post-consumer recycled insulation. Make this your pick for car camping adventures or backyard hangs where you’ll keep a campfire blazing.

Featherlight Down Blanket

Weighing in at just 1 pound and packing down into a stuff sack that’s just slightly larger than a Nalgene water bottle, Rumpl’s ultralight puffy down blanket is impressively small and warm for its weight. Designed to keep rugged campers warm no matter if they’re in the backcountry or a local campground, it’s filled with 800 fill power down, keeping it as light and as warm as a blanket can be.

It’s also highly water-resistant, making it a good fit for roughing it in wet conditions. It comes with built-in compression straps for even smaller packing and a cape clip, which allows you to wear the blanket like a poncho when you really need to warm up fast.

Cinder II Down Quilt

If you want to stay comfy and very warm while camping, I highly recommend Sea to Summit’s Cinder II down quilt. Designed to maximize warmth on winter backcountry camping trips, the 750 fill power down provides light and warm insulation. On the coldest nights, you can use a drawcord to pull the bottom closed around your feet to keep warmth in.

A clip system allows you to attach it to a compatible sleeping bag or blanket. When it’s time to go, the blanket comes with a Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil compression sack, which helps you pack it down to just 3.5 liters. The Cinder II will keep you comfortable, even in less than comforting conditions.

Q+A With Our Camping Expert Erica Zazo

Do I need a camping blanket if I have a sleeping bag?

You don’t need one, but you might want one! In addition to covering up overnight, camping blankets come in handy when you’re sitting around the campfire or need an extra layer when bad weather rolls in. Blankets are a great alternative to sleeping bags, too, as you can easily move them on and off to regulate your temperature during the night.

You could also try a sleeping quilt, which has a more sleeping-bag-esque shape, but doesn’t have a backside or hood. It comes in handy when camping in warm weather or trips where you need to pack as light as possible. It also works when you want a blanket that acts more like a sleeping bag. For those especially cold camping trips, though, you also won’t regret bringing a camping blanket along with your sleeping bag.

How do I know if a blanket will keep me warm enough?

Some gear manufacturers rate their blankets and sleeping bags to keep you warm at specific temperatures, making it clear when your gear will and will not keep you warm. (The Sea to Summit Cinder II, for example, will keep you warm in temperatures as low as 35 degrees.)

That said, only the most technical camping blankets come with a temperature rating, so that often isn’t an option. We can give you some loose guidelines, though, based on REI’s guide for choosing a sleeping bag: Most synthetic, fleece and cotton blankets will work just fine in weather 45 degrees and above. In winter months, where the weather drops below 30 degrees down to 15 degrees, you’ll want to opt for a down and a wool throw blanket rated for those frigid temperatures.

Personally, I tend to pack a sleeping bag rated for those temperatures, a down camping blanket, and even a sleeping bag liner in really chilly conditions.

How do I wash my camping blanket?

In general, you should always read the care instruction label on your blanket before washing it. Some blankets may be machine-washable, but some may require a more meticulous process for washing and drying. (Wool and fleece often come with especially finicky cleaning instructions.)

Personally, I clean my camping blankets with specialty cleaner from a brand called Nikwax, which are PFC-free and restore water-resistant treatments while they clean. Specifically, I use Nikwax Direct Down Wash for my down camping blankets, and Nikwax Tech Wash works well on synthetic sleeping bags.

Are camping blankets, and specifically down, bad for the environment?

Personal preference, manufacturing processes, and certifications all come into play when thinking about sustainable and eco-friendly camping blankets. If you want to purchase a camping blanket made with environmentally-conscious down, look for blankets that are made of recycled materials and are Bluesign approved.

You can also buy from brands who’ve received Responsible Down Standard (RDS) or Global Traceable Down Standard (GTDS) certifications for their down. That means they’ve gone above and beyond to source materials (and down) in a way that treats animals with respect, while employing transparent and environmentally responsible manufacturing processes.

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