Our favorite blankets to bring max coziness to your crew

A comfy blanket can be a key part to getting cozy on your couch or staying warm on the sidelines of a soccer game. Since they protect against the elements and provide those fuzzy feelings, we love leveraging blankets for gifting (and hygge). Most blankets have a certain connotation of relaxation and luxury that goes well with corporate gifting, especially holiday gifts (which also come at the time of year when seeking coziness is at a high). 

After countless hours of snuggling, I mean testing, 14 blankets during weekly movie nights, outside in the cold, on flights to fend off those airplane chills, through lots of wash cycles, and trying to constantly heat up my icy feet (I’m thyroidless which means I’m always freezing, normally that’s not a good thing, but when it comes to blanket testing it’s a win), we think the Sackcloth & Ashes blanket is the best for gifting to your people. We also picked our favorites in categories like outdoor, puffy, wool, weighted ,and more. For us, the snuggle is real.

Whether you’re looking for a client gift or one for your crew, a blanket brings many benefits. Here‘s why you should consider a blanket for your next project.

• Longevity: How long has your go-to blanket been around? Our testers still have blankets they formed connections with as kids (too long?). The point is, a high-quality blanket will stand the test of time. Your people could be using it for years (dare we say decades?). 

• Utility: According to a recent ASI Global Ad Impressions Study, utility is the 2nd highest reason recipients hold on to promotional items, proving that swag with a purpose is kept longer. A well-made blanket is indeed useful, making it a great gift.

• Cozy factor: Branded merch isn’t often cozy. I mean, what promo product comes close to a blanket for cozy factor? There’s something to be said for a piece of swag that gets used for warmth and snuggles... your gift and brand could be there in those moments.

We tested 14 blankets for over 8 months. Each tester washed and wore them regularly to get a sense of the look, feel, functionality, coziness, and more.

• Material/Construction: We’re always seeking high-quality swag. In fact, our core value is “fight for better”, which also relates to product choice. The first question when testing these blankets was “Will this hold up for the long haul?”.

• Washing/Drying: Do the blankets maintain their shape and color after many wash cycles? Does the quality hold up? Our top 3 choices all exceeded our expectations after consecutive washes and actually felt even cozier. Note, the Pendleton Yakima Camp Blanket is made of pure virgin wool fabric, so it should be dry-cleaned.

• Aesthetics/Colors: If we were shopping, which blankets would we be most drawn to? You may not hear blankets being described as beautiful very often; however, that’s exactly what our testers said about the Sackcloth & Ashes blanket with its fringe detail and variety of colorful patterns.

• Affordability: We know affordability is subjective, so we included products in a range of prices to fit everyone’s budget. If our top picks are too much, a great budget-friendly choice is the Port Authority Flannel Sherpa Blanket.

• Sustainability: The interest in sustainability within our industry continues to rise, which is exciting to see. A part of sustainability is making quality products that people keep, and therefore won’t end up in the landfill. We love to partner with eco-friendly brands like Marine Layer, who uses low-impact materials in their products, offers a great recycling program, and gives back to the community through numerous donations. As we make positive strides of our own, we continue to highlight and use Marine Layer in our own projects.

The first known instances of blankets date back to ancient Egypt around 3000 BC, although animal skins have been used as blankets since prehistoric times. The name itself is believed to come from Thomas Blankquette, a Flemish weaver in the 14th century who became famous for making wool blankets for the royal family.  

Today, the market is full of blankets in all kinds of categories. The Snuggie morphed the blanket into a wearable, while Rumpl more recently riffed on the sleeping bag to bring a new puffy blanket category. We've also seen the weighted blanket regain popularity. Even comforters and quilts can be considered part of the blanket family. Blankets have evolved, but the goal remains the same: to provide comfort and warmth.

A blanket can make a great corner piece of a kit. It also has the added bonus of being a soft layer to protect other items you’re kitting (no air pillows needed). So, add in a few items, put some custom tissue paper around it, place a card on top (did you know we have handwriting machines?) and voila, kit magic! We put together a guide for curated holiday kits and one on how to make awesome kits if this topic gets you excited, like it clearly does for us. 

If you’re looking to send out your blanket, we can help there too. Our redemption page can automate the collecting of addresses. We kit everything together at one of our in-house distribution facilities and send your swag box out into the world. That’s spreading some cozy.

Most blankets do well with a simple woven label, patch or embroidery. It keeps your branding noticeable, yet subtle so it doesn’t take away from the fabric or coziness.

Our puffy pick is the only option that has a full front imprint area (and a drawstring bag). That’s an enticing option, but one that should be taken with care to create a graphic that will last and look great on the side of a sofa. Get inspo from the Sackcloth & Ashes designs or other retail blankets and consider how elements of your brand could be used in pattern form. Remember, our in-house designers are always here to help create and mockup different options for your project.

Embroidery, the flip side: One thing to note with embroidery, is that you’ll see the thread and embroidery backing on the other side of the blanket. Labels or patches will have much less on the flip side, but will still show the thread from sewing on your label. However, some blankets made specifically for our industry have an embroidery access pocket to hide the back of the embroidery. Both the Eddie Bauer Quilted Insulated Fleece Blanket and the Flannel Sherpa Blanket have this nifty feature.

Over the years, we’ve distributed thousands of blankets. We use the feedback from our clients, combined with our testing over many months to create these recommendations. They are not endorsed by any supplier; we simply want to help make your life easier when choosing swag for your people.

Our goal has always been to create better merch for our clients, and we’re always excited to work with you in that endeavor. Let’s do swag together.