Rumpl Puffy Down Blanket Review
Puffy blankets, like puffy sleeping bags and coats, have gained popularity in the limelight among outdoor enthusiasts. They’re lightweight, extremely warm, and the style is frankly quite “in” at the moment. In fact, I’ve even seen puffy hats and skirts making appearances on the ski slopes lately.
So, what is a puffy blanket? How do you know if it’s a good one or if it’s right for you? There are a lot of questions that need to be answered when we try to decide on a puffy blanket.
We’re going to take a deep look at the Rumpl Puffy Blanket. I’m hoping to expose the good, the bad, and the ugly. All of this in the hopes that you’ll come away being able to make a final decision about the Rumpl Puffy Blanket to either buy it or forget it!
What is the Rumpl Puffy Blanket
To figure this out, we first need to understand what “puffy” means in the outdoor world.
Puffy essentially means a lightweight garment made of two layers of polyester or nylon with down feathers or synthetic insulation in between. This is the preferred method of construction for most garments and sleeping bags plus, in this case, a cool outdoor inspired blanket!
This blanket is made to be lighter and more portable than your standard couch blanket. Really the “performance” gains are only ideal if you plan to travel around with your blanket. If you just want to keep it on the couch at home, it will functionally become a fashion accessory that resembles an outdoor jacket.
For those who travel to hostels, enjoy skiing trips in varied locations, or just need a portable warm blanket on hand there are some gains to be had here. Unlike your bulky, heavy couch quilt the Rumpl Puffy Blanket, like the Montem Sneaky Snuggler Blanket is light enough and can be packed small enough to travel with you.
What the Rumpl Puffy Blanket is Not
This Rumpl blanket is not meant to be a backpacking quilt. It’s not a replacement for your sleeping bag on a winter ski touring trip.
Because of the heavy, bulky weight, this blanket does not make a good choice for backpackers. The sewn-through construction of the blanket itself makes it extremely inefficient compared to high-end quilts for thermal retention.
That’s not to bash the Rumpl Puffy Blanket though. Just remember it’s exactly what the title says – a blanket.
If you were hoping this blanket could replace your sleeping bag, you may be disappointed in the 3+ pound weight of the Rumple Puffy Blanket or the nearly 2L packed size. However, you’ll be happy to know that most advanced backpacking quilts wight a fraction of this, have far superior warmth efficiency, and pack down much smaller.
Unfortunately, these advanced backpacking quilts can cost 3x as much or more (well over $300 in many cases). So in the same stroke – don’t buy a backpacking quilt as an at-home blanket because it’ll break the bank! If you want better value check out the Montem Sneaky Snuggler or Kelty Bestie.
Should I Buy the Rumpl Puffy Blanket?
If you really love the look and feel of your puffy Patagonia Nano Puff jackets (as an example) and you would love to nestle into a pile of fluffy, warm, outdoor fabric on your evening couch then this blanket is for you.
The one person model is over 3 pounds of ripstop nylon with 3D Hollow Fiber Synthetic Insulation inside. It does compress small enough to be more portable than most home blankets, but not so much as to compete with high-end quilts and sleeping bags.
I have to point out that the DWR treated ripstop nylon seems like an odd choice. I can’t for the life of me figure out what anyone would get this blanket into a situation where water spray would be an issue. Perhaps if you’re sleeping out under a tarp or awning in the backyard and happen to get caught in a rainstorm?
There is one major advantage that might not be the first to pop into your mind.
If you live in a house with a ton of pets, the ripstop nylon won’t get loaded with animal hair. Many traditional blankets become gross with fuzz and animal hair after a while but those things won’t collect on the slippery surface of a nylon blanket.
On the flip side of that coin, the 20 denier ripstop nylon is much too fragile to withstand dog and cat claws stepping on it. So if you like to snuggle with the pets, don’t be surprised if their nails rip the blanket.
I have to admit, the colors and aesthetic of outdoor gear hold a warm place in my heart. If you’re like me, this blanket appeals to you simply for that reason. All technicality aside, it’s an appealing home aesthetic to the outdoor enthusiast, there’s no doubt.
I can see this blanket making the perfect companion to wrap around your shoulders on a cool morning while you sit on the porch sipping a coffee and watching the sunrise. Or maybe you’re traveling to the family cabin for the weekend and sleeping on the couch – you can rely on the Rumpl Puffy Blanket.
Conclusion
This attractive and functional outdoor blanket holds a special appeal I think. While it may not be the technical performance king of all outdoor gear it is pretty cool.
Just remember the drawbacks of lightweight 20D nylon – it isn’t bombproof. Keep it away from the fireplace or animal claws.
Whether you want it for weekend car camping trips, visiting the family cottage, or lounging around at home I think it makes a cool blanket companion. Besides, just think of how cool you’ll look wrapped up in that nylon blanket on your next ski trip!
Before you commit to purchasing, make sure to be realistic with your expectations. It is a blanket, after all. This is not a high end piece of backpacking gear. But it makes an awesome addition to your collection if you love the look and feel of sleeping bags and backpacking quilts!
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