Travel can be stressful. Flight times, possible delays, security protocols, and that’s all before you board. You want your flight to go as smoothly as possible, but tight seats don’t leave much room for comfort—and even less room for comfort items. A soft covering that keeps you warm can be a great stress reliever, which is why you need to choose the best travel blanket.
Why You Need a Travel Size Blanket
If you are fortunate enough to fly in first or business class, you may have access to a nice blanket, perhaps even a warm one. But for the majority of plane passengers, blankets are thin and sometimes unavailable.
Due to costs and cleanliness, airlines have transitioned to either charging for blankets (albeit pretty flimsy ones) that are new and wrapped safely in plastic or just not providing them at all. In the age of COVID, not providing blankets and pillows has become the norm. This can make for a long uncomfortable flight.
Do not succumb to the temptation of just bringing any old blanket from home. The last thing you need is to wrestle with a bulky uncooperative mass of material as you are trying to collect your things from the overhead compartment and being rushed down the aisle to deplane.
Why You Need a Travel Size Blanket: Part 2
Even if an airline does provide free blankets, you may want to reconsider using them—especially if they appear to be reused. Almost 3 million passengers fly every day. In addition to the germ potential, reused blankets can also unknowingly spread other unpleasant things, and you do not want to deal with that on a vacation or business trip.
Benefits of Using a Travel Blanket
A cozy blanket may seem like a luxury item and just one more thing to carry on an already harried trip. However, a travel blanket makes a comfortable flight much easier to come by. Sweaters, sweatshirts, and jackets are hard to take off and put on, but a travel blanket is:
- Easy to pull up and easy to take off.
- Adjustable to the area of your body that needs warmth.
- Able to cover your legs and feet.
Criteria to Consider
When choosing a travel size blanket, for the sake of practicality, you want to make sure that it is:
- Compact
- Lightweight
- Easily packable (while in the confines of your airline seat)
- Durable
- Machine washable
- Quicky drying
Size Appropriately
You don’t want to add bulk or make it difficult to use the blanket off and on, so make sure you choose the appropriate size for an infant, child, or adult.
Pros and Cons of the Most Common Materials
The most common materials used for blankets are polyester and down. The weight of down is comforting, and it is great for staying dry but not so great for packing and carrying when flying.
Fleece is a lightweight polyester fabric that provides a good cover at an affordable price, but it can sometimes be too thin.
Minky costs a little more, but it is totally worth it! It is a 100% polyester fabric known for its softness. You know how soft a brand new sweatshirt feels the very first time you wear it? Minky is that soft but amplified. And unlike the cotton blend that loses its softness over time, with its proper simple care, the softness of minky lasts.
Business or Pleasure?
Your purpose of travel can also influence your choice of airplane travel blanket. Think about how often you travel, how long your flight is, and where you are flying.
How Often Do I Travel?
If you have a short flight to visit family or get to your dream vacation, an inexpensive, lightweight blanket may be all you need. But if you often travel for business or vacation frequently, a higher-quality blanket is a good investment.
How Long Is My Flight?
Any flight over a couple of hours, and that plane can get COLD. So, you want to make sure you are ready! A soft, warm adult blanket can turn a 12-hour international flight into the ideal sleep experience, leaving you refreshed when you arrive at your destination.
Where Am I Flying?
A travel blanket is for more than just flying. If you have a northern destination, it will make a nice lap blanket as you sip coffee in the rocker at your Alaskan cabin.
If you share a resort or hotel room with someone who likes the AC cranked high for a super-chilled sleep, you can use your blanket for extra warmth.
Taking a trip to the Caribbean? The nights can feel chilly, especially for skin that has been kissed by the sun after a day at the beach, so an extra blanket is always a good idea.
Travel Blankets: Varied and Versatile
With colors from apricot to zucchini, patterns from frosted shaggy mallad to zebra stripe, and fabric from fabulous fleece to marvelous minky, don’t be surprised if your minky blanket is constantly at your side. These swatches of soft and smooth solace can:
- Get you through those unexpected delays and long layovers.
- Be used as pillows anywhere, anytime.
- Be used in the car for road trips.
- Keep you warm and bring you comfort during hospital stays or ER visits.
It’s “Sew” Easy to Order the Perfect Packable Blanket
Look no further for the best travel blanket. Shop Sew Sweet Minky Designs now for the airplane travel blanket of your dreams. If you don’t see what you’re looking for or have questions, contact us, and we will do our very best to assist you!