Looking to extend your camping season? Or perhaps you’re planning to chase the best powder this winter and are looking to stay warm at your basecamp. Either way, here are some of the best blankets for any budget that will keep you warm whether you’re in a tent, car, van, or lodge.

I will start by saying that I’m not receiving any endorsements from any of the following companies for this article. I’m just someone who is passionate about being prepared for any adventure and hates being cold! I also want to mention that my partner is allergic to down so this list is mainly synthetic options. If you are looking to buy a camping blanket, hopefully I’ve provided an option that fits your budget and needs. Without further ado, in no particular ranking or order, here are some of my favorite camping blankets.

The List:

• Rumpl: The Gold Standard
• Nemo Puffin: The Innovator [Discontinued]
• Kelty Bestie: The Budget Contender
• Wool: The Classic
• Final Thoughts

Rumpl: The Gold Standard

If you’ve done any sort of research on cold weather camping blankets then you’ve probably seen Rumpl blankets. Available in a huge variety of colors and designs, made from 100% recycled post-consumer materials, and starting at $99. Rumpl blankets are the gold standard in outdoor blankets.

Since they launched via a Kickstarter in 2019, Rumpl has expanded to offer 1 person and 2 person blankets available with synthetic or down filled options. The Original Puffy is a synthetic fill blanket that is ready for any adventure. I recently got one of these blankets for a great deal and I’ve used it for a music festival, sitting around a camp fire, and sleeping in my Tahoe.

Rumpl blankets pack small and their synthetic fill blankets are easily machine washable so they can be taken anywhere. Although they’re a bit pricey, Rumpl blankets are worth the money especially if you find one secondhand or on sale.

Nemo Puffin: The Innovator [Discontinued]

The Nemo Puffin is very similar to the aforementioned Rumpl. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, right? But this camping blanket does more than just imitate the competition. Nemo adds some seemingly small innovations with this blanket that I think could set it ahead of it’s competition.

The main difference you will notice right away is the shape. This blanket has curved edges unlike most blankets that are just a flat rectangle. Along with this, the bottom portion of the blanket connects together to stay wrapped around your feet. Both of these differences combine to keep you extra warm!

Like the previous blanket, the Puffin comes in a variety of colors (though not nearly as many as Rumpl), has a 1 or 2 person option, and starts at just $99! And just like the Rumpl, the Nemo Puffin is filled with synthetic fill and is machine washable. My only complaint about the Puffin is that it doesn’t feature any recycled materials but if they can fix that, this might become the new gold standard of camping blankets.

UPDATE 6/12/22: Unfortunately, it seems Nemo has discontinued this blanket. Perhaps you can find this great blanket second hand somewhere!

Kelty Bestie: The Budget Contender

Maybe you’ve read this far and thought “$99+ for a blanket, that’s absurd!” to which I say, the Kelty Bestie might be the camping blanket for you! The Bestie comes in a handful of color choices and features synthetic fill which makes this blanket easily machine washable like it’s competitors. But what sets the Bestie apart is its low price of just $30 or even less depending on where you find it.

I’ve actually had a Kelty Bestie for about 2 or 3 years now and I pretty much bring it on every camping trip even if I don’t end up using it. I will admit, it’s not as nice as the Rumpl or the Puffin and it’s bit small if you plan on sleeping with it. But for a picnic blanket or sitting around the campfire, the Bestie can’t be beat!

Wool: The Classic

As I mentioned earlier, one of the things I like about the Rumpl blanket is that it’s made from 100% recycled post-consumer materials. That’s a good thing to see in a new product but even better than recycling is reusing something that already exists. That is where a good old-fashioned wool blanket comes into play. You might be able to find one of these at an army surplus store, a thrift store, or maybe even your grandpa’s attic! And they are going to be incredibly warm.

The main downsides of going with a wool blanket is that they won’t be as water or stain resistant and they might not be the most comfortable to sleep with. Wool can be itchy depending on the blanket. But I have a thick wool blanket I found for $8 at a local shop and I always put it on the floor of my tent for added warmth between the ground and my sleeping pad. It really makes a difference!

If you’re looking to maximize warmth for the lowest price, I think a wool blanket is the way to go. Some people keep a wool blanket on hand for emergencies too. If wool is what you want, shop locally or check out this Arcturus wool blanket rated highly on Amazon:

Final Thoughts and Ideas

If you’ve made it this far, thanks for reading my article! These are just a few of the options available in the camping blanket market that I think are worth considering. It is certainly not meant to be exhaustive. I also have a couple last thoughts I think are worth mentioning.

Ikea is well known for affordable home goods but you might not consider other applications for their products. For example, Ikea sells a variety of synthetic and down comforters, in a range of warmth levels, that are fairly affordable and easily washable. If you’re someone who tends to spend extended time in their RV during the cooler months, or you live in a van full time, I think this might be a good way to go. You can opt for one of Ikea’s warmest comforters and get it in any color or design you choose.

Another thing about this list is that it is intended for people who need a versatile warmth solution. If you tend to backpack in snowshoes, you probably want to look for high quality, lightweight, warm, sleeping bags and liners. A good winter sleeping bag with an added liner is going to beat anything on this list in almost every way.

Have you had an experience with a good blanket or an awful one while camping? Tell me in the comments!