Wool Blanket

[johnnytheboy]

Some help knowledgeable people please, I known to take a sleep in the van from time to time (young kids) if I’m out and about, I was looking for a wool blanket to keep in the van for this reason and part of a 24 hour bug out kit.

I guess you only buy one wool blanket in your life so I don’t want to get it wrong, what do you folks recommend?

Thanks in advance

John

 

[Woody girl]

I've bought 3 blankets from charity shops, one is a Witney, that I often use on its own, doubled over. Its realy warm, and I love it. The other two are merino /wool mix. Currently in a storage bag, so can't give details atm. I don't think you can go far wrong with a traditional Witney blanket.
I love my wool duvet. That could be an option as I think they are even warmer. Baavat or Woolroom do them and also at least one of these firms does blankets too. I forget which. Worth a look perhaps.
New Wool blankets cost a small fortune, but should be a lifetime investment if looked after. My charity shop buys were £6.50 each, so I've only spent about £20 for 3 good blankets.

 

[Tengu]

Wool blankets these days can be expensive.

Merino is soft and warm.

Ask your charity shops.

 

[johnnytheboy]

I've bought 3 blankets from charity shops, one is a Witney, that I often use on its own, doubled over. Its realy warm, and I love it. The other two are merino /wool mix. Currently in a storage bag, so can't give details atm. I don't think you can go far wrong with a traditional Witney blanket.
I love my wool duvet. That could be an option as I think they are even warmer. Baavat or Woolroom do them and also at least one of these firms does blankets too. I forget which. Worth a look perhaps.
New Wool blankets cost a small fortune, but should be a lifetime investment if looked after. My charity shop buys were £6.50 each, so I've only spent about £20 for 3 good blankets.

Thank you for this, I do have a wool duvet funnily and love it but it’s really for a quick 40 winks rather than camping out and packable in a 24 hour bug out box, I think the Whitney is exactly what I’m after, thank you for this, I really appreciate it!

 

[Laurentius]

I have wool blankets from my childhood, Dutch blankets which were a thing back in the 60s and quite clearly last forever. These days though you should look for army surplus as even though you will be hard pressed to find 100% wool you will likely get something good enough.

 

[Barney Rubble]

I think you have a few good options to consider. I can recommend the merino wool blankets sold by Outhaus. They're useful because they're relatively compact and also a decent size (approx 160x240cm), ideal for when you want to wrap up. Reasonably expensive though at £60. Tough and dependable.

A cheaper alternative are the wool blankets made here in the UK by Tweedmill, you can pick them up in a variety of sizes, colours and types of wool (merino or lambswool). Available from Amazon and other outlets as well as the National Trust store. I have a small (120x150cm) recycled wool picnic blanket from them which I have used as a liner to boost the warmth in my sleeping bag.

Surplus products are good and probably your chepest bet. British army blankets are thin but good. The eastern European blankets are very thick and consequently very bulky.

Witney blankets are the creme de la creme of wool blankets. Unfortunately, unless you're lucky enough to pick one up in a charity shop, they cost an absolute fortune!

 

[Toddy]

I have 'household' woollen blankets that are beautiful and warm, but they're very 'clean', very pale coloured, easily stained (Himself spilled coffee....) and I wouldn't recommend unless you really don't mind grubbiness in short order if used outdoors or in a van.

I also have an utterly superb Dutch army blanket it's thick, it's really warm, it dark green and it has had a lot of use and still looks pretty new

You might contact Kev at Endicott's and ask what he has available ? It'll probably say out of stock on the website, but folks who know, know to phone and ask.

About Us | Endicotts Army Surplus l The Best Military Surplus

With more than 80 years experience as a family run business buying and selling army surplus and associated products, we have established a system for (almost!) getting it right. Working with trusted suppliers - some for over 50 years - we can typically include discounts of 5% to 25% (off RRP)...

www.endicotts.co.uk

 

[ijohnson]

I'm a big fan of these guys.

British-Made Wool Blankets | The British Blanket Co

Shop naturally cosy blankets made in the British Isles. Wool and cotton blankets, merino lambswool throws, luxury picnic rugs and baby blankets. Free UK delivery & returns.

thebritishblanketcompany.com

Not cheap but they have a wide variety of sizes, colours, weaves etc and it's supporting a British company.
We currently have 3 of their blankets and also 3 of their scarves. As the old saying goes, you'll love the quality long after the price is forgotten.

 

[GreyCat]

Many years ago when I was a young Venture Scout, my mam gave me an old blanket to make into a campfire blanket. It was one she'd had from her dad so didn't want to offend him by chucking it away, but it wasn't really "suitable" for household use (in her view).

It was an old army surplus blanket- war department stamp from 1942, made from scratchy grey wool.... extremely warm and robust, just the job both for a campfire blanket and on top of my cheap and not-very-warm sleeping bag! I made it into a poncho with stitching around the neck, a multi-colour fringe and I did some "embriodery" with sequins on the shoulders and back.

I still have it, it's in the loft, has all my swapped badges on so I kept it (along with a pile of swapped/camp-specific scarfs), hoping that it reappears when we pack up for moving to the new place... lots of memories in that blanket.

They don't make 'em like they used to!

GC

 

[Watch-keeper]

El Consulado (Spanish) merino blankets are outstanding and are one of the warmest available also Roros Tweed heavy weight blankets are extremely good. Unfortunately, both are quite expensive and produced in Europe so the Import tax makes them even more expensive.
The El Consulado blanket is the "better" thicker blanket and in the large size means you can fold it to give a double layer. The Roros blankets only come in smaller single bed sizes but they are very thick.

I bought my Roros blankets years ago and they have stood the test of time, they have lost a bit of the nap, but this can be restored fairly easily.
If you can spare the money, I think either of these wont disappoint .

 

[Brizzlebush]

I've got an Witney blanket from my parent's house and it's enormous. Really warm though.
Some years ago we picked up a Welsh recycled wool blanket. There's lots of them about, nice patterns and not silly money iirc

 

[ONE]

I have two of the old grey British army blankets, anyone who's ever made a bedroll will be familiar. They're thinner/lighter than most and it really does take two for anything other than summer. The price was right though.

 

[RonW]

You can buy as many as you want, judging by my closet... And when buying one, go for the thicker fluffy ones. The tight and thin ones are perhaps easier to maintain, but keep warmth a lot less well.
But when keeping a wool blanket in car or van, remember to air and dry it regularly! They will get damp and thus musty.

 

[Silverclaws2]

If it's 100% wool yer after, they're not so easy to find in charity shops these days at least not arround the Garrison town I live in, where when they do appear they tend to be wool/synthetic blends, to have to take to the auction sites to find them.

I keep a couple in the car and there is one around here somewhere waiting to be made into a Capote.

 

[Watch-keeper]

Totally unscientific but my 100% wool blankets seem to perform better than my wool blend blanket.
My single wool blend blanket seems to feel damp in humid conditions, but my 100% wool ones do not. I don't know what the blend is, % or material but it does take on a damp feeling in humid conditions.

Sort of related but I spent a few nights out using just blankets in cold conditions with the lowest temperature dipping to -13c. I used approximately 8kg of blankets with a cotton canvas cover on top which gave me 6 layers of blanket on top, I also had a good kipmat was warm enough to sleep.