During a flight or train ride, circulating air can simply get too cold, prompting you to reach for that extra layer. A travel blanket—which typically packs down smaller and weighs less than a jacket—is a great solution for these chilly situations. After researching the best travel blankets, we determined that the Away Travel Blanket is our top recommendation, but we also found a variety of great options to keep you cozy, like a weighted blanket and a cashmere blanket.
Aside from being lightweight and easy to pack in your carry-on luggage or personal item, the best travel blankets are made in a flat shape that makes them easier to maneuver in cramped spaces. Some, like Barefoot Dreams’ Travel Shawl, are versatile enough to be worn both on your flight and off it, and others, like Litume’s Lightweight Travel Blanket, come with a handy pouch. Below, our selections for the best travel blankets of 2024 to keep you warm while on the go.
Away may be beloved for its popular suitcases, which we named some of the best luggage on the market. Today, the brand also sells travel accessories like packing cubes, toiletry bags, and this handy blanket. The Travel Blanket is built with a unique thermoregulating technology that adapts to your temperature needs, keeping you warm—or cool—when you need it. It also has an antimicrobial finish to ward off germs, an interior pouch to keep your essentials close and a foot pocket for extra warmth. Bonus points for how the snaps smartly attach to another blanket or can be used as a closure device when you fold it into itself for packing, eliminating the need for a separate pouch to keep track of.
This sizable blanket from Pavilia comes in 10 colors, folds into a pouch that doubles as a pillow and, better yet, won’t break the bank. It’s so light it won’t weigh you down, but thanks to the 260 GSM fleece it’s made out of, you’ll stay warm and cozy during your travels. It fits into a convenient 12 x 11-inch pouch that can be unzipped on the sides to become a hand warmer and the adjustable back strap attaches to your suitcase or backpack.
Barefoot Dreams CozyChic Lite Travel Shawl
Dimensions: 72 x 28 inches | Weight: N/A (not listed) | Materials: 80% nylon, 20% rayon | Care: Machine wash cold, lay flat to dry or tumble dry low
Savvy travelers love accessories that do double duty and this travel shawl from Barefoot Dreams does just that. The versatile scarf elegantly drapes over your shoulders, giving a cardigan-like look that’s equally chic and cozy. The nylon-rayon blend fabric is breathable and smooth to the touch, plus there’s two generous pockets for keeping your hands worn, or for rolling the shawl into to create a pillow. Once you reach your destination, it also functions as a cute layer for chilly dinners or the theater, or, as one reviewer aptly says, “it has also saved me many times in a cold hotel room.”
Gravel Travel Layover Travel Blanket
Dimensions: 66 x 40 inches | Weight: 12.43 ounces | Materials: Nylon, recycled PET | Care: Machine wash cold, hang dry
With a waterproof fabric and a 50-degree warmth rating, the Gravel Travel’s blanket is made for just about any adventuring you throw at it. It weighs less than a pound and impressively packs into a pouch the size of a large soda can, so it won’t take up too much space in your luggage or camping gear. The microfleece-lined kangaroo pocket is a cozy nook for your hands, plus the zippered pocket can flip inside out to create a travel pillow. It also comes with leg pockets that protect against any chilly drafts that might try to creep in. For hands-free warmth—if you’re building a fire or if you just want to nap without the blanket slipping off—you can snap the top corners together for a cape-like layer.
Dimensions: 38 x 72 inches | Weight: 0.7 pounds | Materials: 100% recycled polyester | Care: Machine wash cold, hang dry or tumble dry low
Weighing in at less than half a pound, this pick from Rumpl is made of Nanoloft, a down-inspired insulation that’s incredibly packable—the entire blanket compresses to fit into a Nalgene bottle-sized stuff sack. The recycled polyester ripstop fabric is made from 20 plastic bottles with a DWR finish that protects against stains and water. If this Rocky Mountain sunset-inspired print is a little too loud for you, there’s also solid color options available to choose from.
Dimensions: 50 x 60 inches | Weight: N/A (not listed) | Materials: 100% cashmere | Care: Hand wash in cold water and neutral soap, lay flat to dry, iron on low using pressing cloth
This two-tone throw from Quince has one of the best prices we’ve seen for a 100% cashmere blanket. Cashmere tends to be warmer and lighter weight than other types of wool, making this ultrasoft jacquard-weave throw a multi-purpose travel staple that easily transitions from your sofa at home to the plane to a freezing-cold hotel room. While it doesn’t have its own pouch like some of our other picks, it’s thin enough to store in your carryon for easy access when you need it.
UnHide Lil Marsh Traveler Faux Fur Blanket
Dimensions: 50 x 60 inches | Weight: 1.7 pounds | Materials: Polyester | Care: Machine wash cold, hang dry
UnHide, a brand devoted to sustainable and ultra-soft faux fur blankets, took its bestselling Lil Marsh and gave it a travel mini-makeover. The Lil Marsh Traveler only weighs about a pound-and-a-half, so it’s easy to pack up when you’re on the go. The single layer chinchilla-like faux fur provides cozy comfort and lightweight warmth everywhere from the plane to the couch.
Dimensions: 67 x 48 inches | Weight: 8.8 ounces | Materials: Velvet or fleece | Care: Machine wash
Many of our top travel blanket picks come with a carrying pouch, but none pack into as small a package as the Litume Travel Blanket. Available in fleece or velvet options, this blanket fits into a 6 x 4-inch stuff sack, making it easy to grab and go without crowding your precious luggage space. The fabric is lightweight and soft, and the built-in Humidity Management Tech encourages air flow so you don’t feel sweaty or muggy when you’re getting cozy.
For anxious travelers who need extra help to feel relaxed, this lap blanket from Baloo Living is a great solution. It delivers gentle weighted comfort in a mini, easy-to-carry size. Its cotton fabric is free of harmful chemicals while the lead-free glass beads are sewn into pockets for strategic weight distribution, contouring to your body to promote ultimate relaxation and sleep. It weighs more than our other picks—it is a weighted blanket, after all—but thanks to it’s smaller size, it can roll or fold up to fit into your carry-on, no problem. To take your travel nap to the next level, pair it with Baloo Living’s weighted silk sleep mask for light-blocking, calming rest.
Rather than mix and match your travel accessories, why not keep things streamlined with a matching set? This travel blanket combo from Zesst Organics comes with an eye mask and a handy pouch that doubles as as pillow, so you can keep everything in place and look stylish while doing it. The certified organic cotton throw is fine knit for softness and we love that the pouch has a minimal strap that easily attaches to your roller bag handle.
Why Trust Forbes Vetted
Forbes Vetted’s team of editors loves to travel, which naturally means we’re also fans of well-designed travel products. We spend hours researching, assessing and testing everything travel, from the best travel money belts to the best neck pillows for travel to the best travel backpacks for women. We approach our research with a critical, discerning eye, picking products for their high customer ratings, quality, style and value. This story was written by contributor Becky Eaton, who regularly writes fashion, accessory and travel product guides for Forbes Vetted.