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In the photo above, I’m using my 20 lb queen sized Baloo weighted blanket without the cover on. The internal section looks elegant and feels very soft, so you can use it without the linen cover if you prefer.
Summary
The Baloo is a high-quality weighted blanket that gets the balance just right between aesthetic appeal, breathability, and robust design. It has a versatile look and feel, so you can use it when relaxing on the sofa or while sleeping.
Baloo is one of the more eco-minded weighted blanket companies, opting to make the blanket with cotton instead of polyester or other synthetic fabric.
It is relatively expensive compared to other brands of weighted blankets, so it might not suit those on a tight budget. Otherwise, the Baloo is one of my top choices if you’d like to see if a weighted blanket can help you relax.
Pros
- Breathable material: Lightweight cotton for breathability and comfort.
- Stylish design: Both blanket and cover look elegant and modern.
- Durable construction: Double-stitched pockets for longevity.
- Eco-friendly: Lead-free microbeads, 100% cotton, Oeko-Tex certified.
- Easy care: Machine washable.
- Warranty and returns: Lifetime craftsmanship warranty and a 30-day return period.
Cons
- Price: High end of the weighted blanket price range.
- Limited size options: Available in only four sizes, which might not suit all beds or preferences.
- One cover style: Only French flax linen.
- Extra cost for cover: Cover sold separately, increasing the cost.
Full review
In my ongoing weighted blankets comparison, the Baloo has been one of my top recommendations for the last three years, so I wanted to do it justice with a separate article. There’s always more information than I can squeeze into the lengthy comparison articles without landing on the boring side of epic!
So, let’s take a closer look at why I rated the Baloo so highly, along with one or two criticisms that are important to keep in mind if you’re thinking of trying a weighted blanket.
Baloo’s sustainable approach
In the photo below, you can see the Oeko-Tex certified label that was on my Baloo weighted blanket.
Baloo Living is a New York based company that was founded by Elizabeth Grojean in 2018. They also sell a handful of other sleep accessories now, but the focus still seems to be on producing weighted blankets made from eco-friendly materials.
In my experience, while many weighted blankets look similar from a distance, the design and materials don’t always match the glossy photos. Simply put, they aren’t always so impressive when you actually have them in your hands.
For example, several of the lower-cost weighted blankets I bought online have external minky covers that feel soft, but the cotton fabric used for the insert feels coarse. Others had areas of loose stitching, especially around the loops and ties, which is where they really need to be strong.
Moreover, there’s often little to no information about where the materials are sourced, or limited reference to the manufacturing process. Baloo is one of the exceptions, which is one of the reasons I rate it highly.
Baloo Living appears to match its eco-friendly words with actions. The company is carbon-neutral, the materials used are all Oeko-Tex certified, they donate a portion of their profit to the pajama program, and they are a member of the NYC Fair Trade Coalition and Ethical Brand Directory.
If you shop with sustainability in mind then, Baloo is one to consider.
Internal blanket design
The first point to note is that the internal section, which is where all the weight is, has a white cotton casing. There’s a separate detachable cover you can buy that I’ll discuss later, but I’m referring here to the weighted blanket itself.
Some brands offer different colors for the actual weighted blanket as well as the covers. The Baloo only comes in white, which looks elegant and modern. However, I can see how it might feel like it belongs more in the bedroom than on the sofa in more colorfully decorated homes.
The cover of the internal blanket is described as a ‘premium cotton’, though I couldn’t find any information about the exact thread count. It feels very soft, smooth, and comfortable, so I think you can use it on its own without a duvet cover if you want to.
Forgoing the additional cover and only buying the weighted insert also means you can save money. You just need to like white bedding, or be happy to put your own cover on top, which works well as long as it doesn’t add too much extra weight.
Glass microbeads to create the weight
As with most weighted blankets these days, the fill that creates the weight is glass microbeads rather than plastic. Baloo says they are lead-free glass microbeads, though I couldn’t tell you how many companies use glass microbeads that are not lead free.
The beads are contained in small double-stitched pockets, which is good as it means they are more evenly distributed across the blanket, and less likely to spill from one pocket into another.
Each pocket contains only a minimal amount of cotton batting. It’s the only weighted blanket I know of that uses 100% cotton for both the internal cover and fill, with zero polyester.
Even though the beads can move around in their pockets because there isn’t so much padding, I find this helps the blanket conform well to your body as you change position. Those that contain a lot of padding sometimes end up trapping the beads in one corner or edge of each pocket over time. And since the pockets are relatively small, a bit of movement from the beads is fine.
The use of cotton also makes it more breathable than most other weighted blankets I’ve used, especially those that have a lot of polyester (see the section on cooling below).
Stitching
It’s worth talking about the stitching a bit more, as it’s important that a heavy weighted blanket is robust and durable. You really don’t want the microbeads to spill from one pocket into the neighboring one, which affects the overall feel and weight distribution.
In the photo below, I’m pushing the beads very firmly from the other side to make them visible. Normally, you don’t see or notice them this way.
As you can see in the photo above, the Baloo has a double stitch design to the pockets. The main pockets are roughly 5 x 5 inches, with 1 x 5 inch sides, and 1 inch corners. It means there’s a double layer of protection should any stitching come undone.
The only other brand I’ve seen recently with this high level of stitching is the Weighted Evolution. For example, the YnM, Quility, Luxome, and Layla all just have single stitching between the pockets.
The stitching on the sides and the loops is also very neatly finished. No loose cotton and no mistakes. Perhaps that helps explain why my Baloo weighted blanket is still in good condition several years after I bought it.
For me then, the Baloo weighted blanket is visibly manufactured to a high standard. The internal section in particular looks and feels better than any of the others of this style that I’ve tried; the soft cotton, breathable fill, and attention to detail with the stitching really impressed me.
Weight and size options
The Baloo blanket comes in three main bed sizes: throw, full/queen, and king. Note that if you visit the UK version of their website, the sizes are described as throw, king, and super king because of the different bed size terminology in the US and the UK.
They don’t have multiple weight options for every bed size, as some companies offer. Whether that’s a good thing or not will depend on whether you value the simplicity of choice or being able to specify the exact weight you feel you want. Personally, I would have liked to see a few more size options included.
The throw is only available in 12 lb weight, and the king in 25 lb. The full/queen has two weight options – 15 lb and 20 lb.
Personally, I use the 20 lb queen and find the weight distribution is good for my body size as it’s around 12% of my own weight. Interestingly, my partner weighs a lot less than me and also finds the weight to be comfortable.
There is some debate around the method you should use to calculate the appropriate weight of a weighted blanket for you personally. Some companies suggest selecting one based on 10% to 12% of your body weight. Others say that doesn’t make sense because the blanket dimensions and your body shape will also play a role in how the weight is distributed.
I’ve tried many different weights and sizes of different blankets, and come to one perhaps oversimplified conclusion: as long as it’s not really heavy (30-35 lb) or really light (10 lb or less) it usually feels fine. I often can’t even tell whether it’s 15 lb or 20 lb once I’m under it. However, some people might find they prefer a much lighter, or even heavier blanket. It’s quite a subjective choice I think.
Baloo also now make weighted comforters, which are even larger in width and length and will drape over the sides of the bed. Personally, I’m not a fan of that style as I think the weight gets spread out over too large a surface area, which diminishes the effect.
Having said that, if you’re concerned about feeling too claustrophobic, perhaps the lighter comforter might be worth trying. And if you don’t like the visual effect of having a single blanket over the top of just one side of the bed, perhaps a comforter will look more harmonious.
Baloo weighted blanket sizes
| Size | Weight | Dimensions |
|---|---|---|
| Throw | 5.4 kg / 12 lb | 42 x 72 inches / 107 x 183 cm |
| Full/Queen | 6.8 kg / 15 lb | 60 x 80 inches / 152 x 203 cm |
| Full/Queen | 9 kg / 20 lb | 60 x 80 inches / 152 x 203 cm |
| King | 11.3 kg / 25 lb | 80 x 87 inches / 203 x 221 cm |
Cover
The Baloo only has one cover choice – French flax linen. I personally like the rustic feel of it, but my partner isn’t such a fan and prefers cotton or Minky. It’s fastened with wooden buttons rather than a zip, which is uncommon for weighted blankets, but does look stylish.
It’s a shame they don’t have other cover choices, and it’s also quite expensive for what it is. This is probably my main criticism of the Baloo, as I think the cover adds too much to the overall price (see below). Having said that, this is a pretty enough weighted blanket that you could use it without the cover, as I’m doing in the photos.
In the photo below, you can see how the cover attaches to the insert. It’s very similar to a duvet cover, which also sometimes has loops and ties to hold it together.
The Baloo blanket has six loops and six corresponding ties on the cover. It’s very easy to attach and remove the cover as the loops are big enough to easily thread the ties.
I think having eight ties would have been more secure even for smaller sizes. I recommend tying them all well to avoid damaging them when moving the blanket around, as shaking it into place can put a lot of strain on individual ties.
How breathable is the Baloo?
The idea of a weighted blanket being ‘cooling’ is one I have strong opinions about. I just don’t think you can put a blanket on top of you – especially one that weighs 15 lbs or more – and expect it to cool you.
However, some marketing departments still use the word ‘cooling’ to describe their bedding when there’s no evidence to back it up as far as I’m aware.
Baloo doesn’t quite fall into that trap, fortunately, carefully choosing these words for their website:
We use premium cotton chosen for its softness, breathability, and durability. The blanket doesn’t trap heat, so it’s cool enough to use year-round in all climates.
Now, I do agree that it’s more breathable than most other weighted blankets I’ve tried. One notable exception is the Bearaby Cotton Napper, which has large holes in it that allow your body heat to escape more easily.
Is it cool enough to use in all climates? I think that depends. I don’t find it overheats most of the time. But in New York when it’s still 90 degrees at night and I don’t turn the air conditioning on, the last thing I want on top of me is a blanket, no matter how breathable it is.
So to put it bluntly, although this is one of the more breathable weighted blankets I’ve tested, don’t expect miracles if your bedroom is roasting hot at night.
How good is it for relaxing on the sofa?
When I review weighted blankets, I try not to wade too deeply into the debate about how well they actually work. You can easily get lost examining the research that’s been done, as well as trying to decide how well the effect found in clinical settings might apply to your own home.
So here’s my personal experience and viewpoint: I like using the Baloo when I’m chilling on the sofa reading, watching a movie, or just whiling away the hours on my phone. I do think there’s something relaxing about having that weight on top of you. When I’m feeling particularly stressed, there’s something calming about it.
Whether it’s psychological because I know it’s supposed to be calming, or whether it’s having a real effect on my happy or stress hormones is something I just can’t say though.
How good is the Baloo weighted blanket for sleep?
Okay, here’s the thing. I love using a weighted blanket in the bedroom during the cooler months of the year. I put it on top of my duvet, and it creates a cozy little cocoon to snuggle under.
In the summer, I tend to opt for less bedding than more. When it’s really hot, I sleep with just a cotton sheet over me. Yes, I’ve used the Baloo for naps in the summer months with the air conditioning going. But to use all night long in very hot weather, you either need to love the heat or have good air con to feel comfortable under any weighted blanket – no matter how breathable it is.
In terms of aesthetic appeal, the Baloo definitely looks like it belongs in the bedroom. In some ways, it has a more serious, minimalist bedding look to it than brands that come in funky colors and patterns. So for me, the Baloo is arguably better suited to the bedroom than the living room.
Will it help you sleep? This is an impossible question to answer really because everyone is different, as are the root causes of our sleep problems. If you feel you sometimes can’t sleep because you’re stressed or struggling to relax, then it might be worth trying.
Cleaning
Conveniently, you can machine wash and dry both parts of the Baloo weighted blanket. I’ve washed mine several times over the last few years and it comes out fine.
Some brands need to be spot cleaned or dry cleaned. And although it’s true that you can just machine wash the cover in those cases, I think it’s a bonus to have the option to machine wash both the weighted blanket and the duvet cover.
Warranty
Baloo has a 30 day returns window, which is quite common for weighted blanket companies. However, they also offer a lifetime craftsmanship warranty. I don’t know of any other company that offers that kind of warranty for their weighted blankets. It doesn’t include damage that’s caused by you, but does include manufacturing defects.
Price
The Baloo is one of the more expensive weighted blankets I’ve seen, even without the cover. Here are the current US and UK prices at the time of writing (January 26, 2024):
| Size | USD | GBP |
|---|---|---|
| Throw | $179 | £179 |
| Full/Queen 15 lb (King UK) | $199 | £199 |
| Full/Queen 20 lb (King UK) | $199 | £199 |
| King (Super king UK) | $249 | £249 |
Optional cover prices
As you can see from the prices below, if you also want the optional linen duvet cover, the complete package of insert + duvet cover bumps the price up significantly.
| Cover size | USD | GBP |
|---|---|---|
| Throw | $99 | £99 |
| Full/Queen US (King UK) | $149 | £189 |
| Full/Queen 20 lbs (King UK) | $149 | £189 |
| King (Super king UK) | $189 | £269 |
Verdict
The Baloo weighted blanket looks great, feels soft, hugs your body nicely due to the even weight distribution, and has a robust design.
Because I’m able to compare it to many different weighted blankets, I can see that a lot of thought has gone into the craftsmanship. Perhaps that’s why the company is confident enough to offer a lifetime warranty.
A key feature I look out for is breathability. Although I wouldn’t say the Baloo feels ‘cool’ in the summer, it’s more breathable than most because they use lightweight premium cotton rather than polyester.
My main criticism is the high price. This is a luxury weighted blanket and one of the most expensive out there. If you’re on a tight budget, you can find others for less than half the price. If you really want it, but it’s a bit of a stretch, consider getting the insert and not the additional cover.
Overall, if you’d like a high-quality weighted blanket that will look great aesthetically and last the test of time, the Baloo is one I can recommend trying though.
