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Most comfortable air mattress

The list of our picks for the most comfortable air mattress is based on firsthand experiences from both our in-house testing, that the far future that’s testers and statistical analysis of over 40,000 owner experiences from 6 separate sources.

It’s envisioned to separate the wheat from the chaff and spare you what will likely be days of research.

So far, we have analyzed over 130 products in this category. In this guide, we narrow it all down to 8 products with highest comfort ratings.

Most comfortable air mattress - top 8

Most comfortable air mattress overall - Cloud 9

The Cloud 9 has been dominating the comfort category for 8 updates now, which is an equivalent of 16 months since we update bi-monthly.

It’s fair to say that the company behind it (SoundAsleep) changed the landscape of the industry a few years ago by introducing their staple model, the Dream Series (which also made it to this list, you’ll see it as our 3rd pick).

They built on that success by taking the time to design a product that includes pretty much every feature that makes an air mattress comfortable. The one feature that changes the game is the smart pump.

Current comfort ratings: 98/100

What makes it more comfortable?

Comfort is a more intricate category with inflatables than regular mattresses.

It goes beyond how well the bed feels, and it’s more about the balance between core support, air retention and weight distribution of the top layer.

In our stats, we have seen a very low air leak incidence %s. More importantly, even if there is a pinhole leak, you would never notice it because of the smart pump equipped with pressure-drop sensors. It turns on automatically when the sensors are triggered.

In concept terms, this kind of pump is not revolutionary, there a few major manufacturers that use similar technology, but we found the smart pump of the cloud nine to be more efficient, quieter and overall more seamless.

This kind of comfort comes with a slightly higher price tag but, in our opinion, it’s worth every cent.

The owners club nine seem to agree with us since the owner satisfaction is an unparalleled 93%.

The small percentage of new owners who are not satisfied with the Cloud 9 can always claim the 1-year warranty - something you don’t commonly see in the industry.

See what owners are sharing about Cloud 9 on Amazon here

Runner-up - Lazery Sleep

In terms of design, the Lazery sleep is pretty similar to the two models from SoundAsleep.

The appearance similarities are not where it ends, we’ve also seen similar stats in a few other categories – from the thickness of the vinyl, the performance of the support core to the warranty terms.

We gave the Cloud 9 a slight edge because of the smart pump & the way the top layer distributes weight.

Pump aside, the design of the top with Lazery is akin to that of the Dream Series. The internal coils run top to bottom.

We feel that the side-to-side top chambers create a slightly more cradling for the sleeper.

On the other hand, there is the fact that Lazery costs a bit less and comes with a remote control with 7 firmness settings compared to 3 of the Cloud 9.

Dream Series

We already mentioned this product a few times, and it’s well-deserved. As we said, it’s the airbed that re-vamped the competition in the industry.

When it hit the market in 2013, it did so with a bang. It quickly became by far the most popular among new owners. Looking back to those days, we weren’t sure how well it would stand the test of time.

We had no doubts about that now, the consistency of high comfort ratings (among others) resulted in this bed steadily holding one of the top spots pretty much every quality category that matters.

Who will choose it?

The main difference between this bed and the upgraded Cloud 9 is the pump. This one comes one classic built-in vs. two pumps on Cloud 9 (the main one and the smart for pressure retention).

This would make it more of a difference if the number of air retention issues was significantly higher – this would compromise the overall quality.

Bottom line – the decision will come down to whether you think the smart pump of the Cloud 9 adds enough value to justify the higher price tag.

Comfortable air mattress for outdoors & camping - our 2 picks - Coleman Cot & Coleman SupportRest

For outdoors and camping, we have a tie between two Coleman models. Both rated at 90/100 in comfort.

The difference between the two is obvious. The cot is pretty much the closest you can get to the stable, yet snug feel of your home bed on a camping site, but it’s also bulkier and takes up more and more space in the trunk.

However, the inflatable part detaches from the cot, and the two can be used separately - you can decide whether to pack the whole thing for a camping trip or the inflatable part only.

The versatility is also a significant factor should you decide to take the inflatable out on the camping site carry it on a day-hike.

Among the classic high-rise designs, we're choosing the Coleman SupportRest. This airbed type is where the competition was the closest and subjectivity played a role - we’re giving the minor advantage to the time-tested classic.

A choice for those who prefer firmness and support

Comfort means different things to different people.

It’s a cliche, but we don’t shy away from it, because it’s true. Including this model might be counter-intuitive because a common complaint about it is that it’s too firm.

That’s precisely the reason why we decided to list it as an option for those whose sweet spot of comfort is different, like people with back pain problems.

It might be confusing so let’s take a moment to explain. The firmness comes from the sturdy layering of the vinyl (strengthened by a layer of nylon).

The included topper balances well with the firmness and keeps the spine of the sleeper aligned.

Comfort Anywhere

by Aerobed

If you’re not a fan of the look and feel of classic models, this headboard design might catch your eye.

It’s equipped a with powerful internal pump operated by and corded remote.

At first glance, one might expect a higher price tag, which is not the case. It’s conservatively priced product from a reputable company.

It also might seem more intricate to operate (inflate/deflate). Again, that’s not the case, especially deflation part. It features what’s known in the industry as a Woosh valve that deflates it in mere seconds.

King Koil

We said it a few times; the industry has seen some significant changes over the last few years. The good news is that the changes are for the better.

This comfy airbed is a part of that new wave of products we keep mentioning.

It’s earned its place here for 3 reasons:

Consistently high ratings over the past year

The percentage of owners who have nothing but praise for it

Being the only product here comes in California King

If we’re talking about popularity patterns and bank for your buck, it’s following the footsteps of the highly acclaimed Dream Series.

It’s fair to say that it’s a “young” product. Our stats include what we call a “maturity adjustment factor.” We have it in place so that only time-tested, proven products make it to our list of recommendations.

Based on everything we’ve seen so far, this competitively-priced bed has “arrived,” and it’s here to stay.

Recognizing comfort

The remaining part of this guide is dedicated to reference information about comfort. We’ll go over some reference information, starting from what comfort used in the industry to how it changed over the decades, especially in the last few years.

Superior comfort of air-coils vs. beams

Based on how the core is put together, one can crudely group all the models into two groups – those based on beams and those based on chambers.

It’s the evolution of the latter made of the difference. A chambered core is not new per se; it has been around for long. However, it did significantly change for the better.

It happened in a few aspects that improve on the comfort:

A higher number of chambers that to her better weight distribution and keep the sleeper more comfortable

Better craftsmanship and materials that resulted in lower numbers of air leaks

But first things first, let’s go back to the beam designs.

Today, majority of companies are moving away from this kind of inner structure in favor of chambers.

Beams are somewhat inferior in the way they distribute weight and support the sleeper.

A typical bed based on beams has one or two layers of long, one-piece air beams that run either top to bottom or side-to-side.

You’ll find these in the lower price range, which is only natural because they’re cheaper to make.

The downside comes to two things:

Sub-par support, and indirectly sub-par comfort they lack structural integrity. To be more explicit, it’s easier for these to give in under the weight of the sleeper’s shoulders and hips. The result is an arched spine.

A lower number of support points means more stress and pressure on the connections, which increases the risk of air loss. To put it simply, there’s a higher chance of waking up to a half-deflated bed.

Even the brands that still rely on this design have changed it to address these issues.

An excellent example of that is Intex with their new Durabeam fiber tech series. They kept the beams but connected beams by using high-tech fibers that don’t stretch – the company calls them fiber tech.

The primary role of these fiber connections is to minimize relative movement between the beams and stabilize the bed.

You’re probably noticing a pattern here - many of the improvements address the stability.

The 3 Ss of Comfort - sliding, swaying and sinking

From a layman’s perspective, improving the comfort would probably be limited to making the surface cozier and softer by adding a layer of foam.

We have seen this in the industry, but in the long term, it doesn’t do much if you don’t address the structural integrity.

The three Ss we mentioned above (sliding, swaying, sinking) all refer to the structural component of comfort.

Sliding used to be a common issue – the bed not staying in place because the bottom surface is too slippery. In other words, it’s the lack of friction between the bottom layer of the vinyl and the floor.

In modern products, sliding is addressed by using different kinds of material for the bottom – materials with higher friction that keep the bed and place. Different brands have different names for these materials (sure-grip, non-slip, etc.) but most of the time, it’s all based on the rubberized bottoms.

Swaying is the term that describes the sideways movements - relative position between the top and bottom.

If you’ve slept on an air mattress of inferior comfort, you might know what we’re talking about. It’s that wobbly feel that makes it difficult to switch positions because the chambers underneath you are not sturdy enough.

With modern inflatables, this comfort aspect is addressed in a few ways:

Strengthening the vinyl or even using a thicker material for the sides

Using vertical air coils instead of beams

Improving the connections in the core

Sinking is probably the paramount among the 3 Ss. Based on the polls that we’ve conducted over the years, it’s the one comfort aspect commonly mentioned is a difference between an inflatable and a classic mattress.

The term is pretty self-explanatory and has everything to do with spine alignment and sinking of the hip and shoulder area.

Apart from the direct connection to structural integrity, sinking is closely related to the ability of your bed to maintain your preferred firmness.

Even if everything else perfectly crafted, if the bed loses air, you or your guests are unlikely to sleep comfortably.

Apart from the improvements in the materials used, companies addressed the issue is by introducing smart pumps.

To be precise, these mattresses have a two-part inflation system. The main and the secondary pump that silently adds air through the night.

Type of vinyl as a comfort factor

With the new arrivals and an increasingly competitive market, we’ve also seen improvements in the kind of materials used.

Back in the day, the materials were similar to that of the beach Lilo, only thicker. Those days are gone.

Today, it’s hard to find the company or a product that hasn’t improved in this area. You can see straightforward approaches (like merely making the material thicker) to more elegant solutions, like multilayer materials. All of these have a significant impact on the 3 comfort aspects we analyzed.

Toppers and pillow tops

This is probably the most straightforward approach. In our opinion, just slapping a topper or a pillow top layer on a bed doesn’t do much on its own if the overall comfort isn’t there.

It is, however, a nice finishing touch to everything we talked about thus far.

Summary, updates and our giveaway

If you have experiences to share or questions to ask, you can do it either in the comment section at the bottom of this page or by directly emailing us.

We strive to address number one of those within a day.

Taking part in our giveaway

We are currently running a yearly giveaway of $1000 sleep products for our contributors. All you have to do to take part is contact us and share your thoughts.

If you’re already have something in mind, share away. Alternatively, if you want to some point in the future, just bookmark this page and get back to us.

Don’t be a stranger,

The Sleep Studies team

The following article Most comfortable air mattress was first published to www.thesleepstudies.com

[thesleepstudies]

Best RV mattress short queen

Our initial idea when we set out to put this guide together was to include all  shapes and sizes. In the process, we only got some feedback from "RVers" indicating that it would be too broad and confusing. So, we decided to narrow it all down to the most sought after-size and present a list of our picks and reviews of the best short Queen RV mattresses.

We made an effort to diversify and include products that will fit different preferences and budgets. When we say "preferences" we primarily mean memory-foam vs. innerspring.

The ratings you’ll see are a combination of our statistical model and apply some tips from bloggers living the road life, who tested the products first-hand.

To get to the top 5 we analyzed 42 products and rated them in five quality categories. From a statistical perspective, the analysis is intricate and includes quite a few subcategories but, for the sake of simplicity, we summed it all up into 5 ratings and one main number – the overall rating. Without much ado, let’s get right to it.

Best RV mattress short queen - Top 5

CoolBreeze Dynasty

Travel Happy by Premium Sleep

Zinus Deluxe Innerspring

Live and Sleep Resort

Zinus Ultima

Top-rated overall - CoolBreeze by DynastyMattress

Dynasty obviously made the CoolBreeze to be a competitor to the highly-praised I-comfort Genius by Serta.

They even say so in the advertising, by stressing that it delivers similar quality and comfort at a fraction of the price (at the time of the last update the price of the Serta Genius was well over $1,000).

The materials of the CoolBreeze top to bottom premium - from the 4 foam layers (the top layer is cooling open-cell foam) to the soft cover that features a fire barrier and luxurious brown suede.

In other words, it ticks all the boxes a top-tier RV mattress at a much lower price.

The most important part

The crucial part when investing in a product like this without going to a store and trying it yourself is the warranty and the trial.

The Dynasty CoolBreeze offers the longest warranty of all the products we listed. More importantly, they offer a 120 days trial, meaning that you can get the mattress and see if it’s a good fit for you. In that time span, you can return it no-questions-asked.

It’s the only mattress in our top five that offers a trial and warranty this long.

Runner up - Travel Happy by Premium Sleep Products

Compared to the other models on the list, the Travel Happy is a fairly young product. Hence the delay in including it in our top picks. Our statistical model includes what we call “a maturity factor”. In other words, when a product hits the market we wait for one year or hundred experiences shared by owners, whichever comes first.

It’s a way for us to separate the wheat from the chaff, because not to products with high ratings are the real deal.

So, the first time the Travel Happy made it to the list was about a year ago and it did it with a bang. It’s shut its way right to the top 5, with an unparalleled owner satisfaction of 97%. You can see all the ratings below.

Bottom line

The owners we talked to keep stressing one thing about the travel happy - how much of a bargain it is.

There are models that match the quality, but they come with a higher price tag. This is what makes the travel happy our top choice overall and a runner-up in value for money.

It’s the only product on the list with an owner satisfaction rating of over 95%.

Zinus Ultima Comfort review

Zinus dominates the category, with seven models on our broader list of 20. It’s also the only company represented with two products in the top 5.

The Ultima comfort is a classic and there is a high chance you already heard about it.

We mentioned that the travel happy is the runner-up in value for money – it’s the Zinus Ultima that holds the top spot in that category with a rating of 95/100.

Who will choose the Zinus Ultima?

Zinus will be the choice of a conservative buyer looking to buy a top-tier product from a reputable company without breaking the bank.

Currently, it’s both the most budget-friendly solution and most popular, with over 6,000 owner experiences shared on Amazon alone.

Zinus deluxe RV short Queen innerspring mattress

The Zinus Deluxe Innerspring is the only product here that’s not all-foam. It’s a hybrid with a 10 year limited warranty.

Obviously, the main difference between this Zinus Deluxe and the other products on the list is obviously the structure.

Comparison between an all-foam models and hybrid designs is borderline unfair, especially when it comes to prolonged use and shape retention.

Long-term, the support of springs can’t be compared to a foam core, no matter how firm it is.

Who’s it for?

The answer here is obvious, it will be the choice of people who prefer long-term stability and support of coils over memory foam.

We did analyze a few other products of this type, but the structure of this Zinus performs significantly better than other models in its price range.

The i-coil system consists of hundreds independently encased pocketed springs and stands tall, even when compared to products that cost two or three times more.

Live and sleep Resort - Classic & Ultra

The resort classic boasts a more intricate structure of the foam layers. The top layer is the one with the most significant impact on our ratings. The company calls it “the deluxe layer.”

It’s infused with air to make it more breathable and allow it to conform better to the body of the sleeper. On the other hand, the core is high density foam which balances while with the cradling of the soft top layer.

The important part here is the balance between the two – it’s fairly common to see a thick comfort foam used for the top layer, especially in this price range. But, what we often see in models like this is the core lacking in support. As a result in the long run, the surface can become too soft and lumpy without enough bounce for a comfortable night’s sleep.

Who will choose it?

If you’re a hot sleeper, you’ll probably find it to be worth every cent of the hefty price tag.

The breathability of the air infused top foam will make all the difference.

Going by the owner satisfaction as an indicator, it delivers on the bold promises made by the manufacturer.

It comes in two versions - the Classic (10 inch thick) and the upgraded Ultra (12 inches thick).

The Classic currently has over 2,000 reviews shared on Amazon, and the Resort Ultra has 700+.

RV short queen mattress size

Most of the products are approximately of the same size, and when there is a difference it comes down to one or 2 inches in length.

To be specific, three out of five recommendations we listed above are 75 inches long and two of them are an inch shorter.

When it comes to the thickness, most of the better ones are in the range of 10 to 12 inches. Obviously, the thicker ones cost more. There are two products we listed here with the thickness of 12 “ and one of them is the highest-rated overall - the Cool Breeze by Dynasty. As we mentioned, this kind of comfort is only comparable to the Serta Genius.

Classic vs. short Queen

The difference between these two sizes is one of the most common questions. Again, the answer comes down to length – the former is 80 inches long and the latter is, obviously shorter – 74-75 “.

Materials typically used – memory foam vs. innerspring

Majority of the models with highest ratings are entirely made of foam. There’s only one RV short Queen innerspring mattress that made it to our top 5 - the Zinus deluxe.

People who are privy to the manufacturing processes can probably guess the reason – it’s more intricate (read: more expensive) to manufacture the innerspring models, which amps up the price.

If we take a broader look and consider the models that made it to our list of 20 products labeled as best RV mattress short queen, there were only two candidates in the group. The Zinus deluxe is significantly more budget-friendly.

Update policy for our reviews and ratings

We regularly update the ratings and reviews to reflect any changes on the market.

Sharon questions or thoughts you might have in the comment section at the bottom. We strive to respond within 24 hours.

If you are from the RV arena, drop us a line you can become our contributor/tester and qualify for our $1000 yearly giveaway.

Stay smart,

The Sleep Studies reviews team

Best RV mattress short queen Read more on: https://thesleepstudies.com

[thesleepstudies]

Best floor mattress

We'll cover a lot of ground about floor sleeping in this guide (pun-intended), but let us be very specific from the get-go. The first thing we'll do is present the results based on research gathered from 4 separate sources and look at our recommendations among floor mattresses.

5 picks among 44 we looked at

On our side, getting to the ratings involved some serious elbow grease - from consulting our panel of sleep and material experts (it's how we made the 44 picks for further analysis) to processing the data using our proprietary rating system.

On your side, it's all boils down to a single number - the total rating. Long story short - what you'll see is envisioned to replace hours or days of research and eliminate any subjectivity in the process. So, let us get right to it.

Best floor mattress - Top 6

Milliard Tri Fold

6-Inch Memory Foam Mattress by Best Price

EMOOR Traditional Japanese

Leewadee Thai Mattress

Zinus floor mat

SleepReady floor sleeping mat

Best floor mattress overall - Milliard Tri Fold 6-inch

The user satisfaction stats of this Milliard are not something you commonly see. You can trust us on that, we've been analyzing and testing mattresses for over a decade now and the better part of our team has been a of of industry for much longer than that. So, we know the ins and outs and we still find the stats impressive - the satisfaction of floor-sleepers with this mattress has never dropped below 93 %.

To put it in perspective, this is equivalent of 93 out of 100 owners either rating it as a 5 or 4-star product. Some of our data sources have rating system not presented with stars, that's why we're saying "equivalent."

It's just as thick and comfortable as some classic foam mattresses but specifically designed for sleeping on the floor (non-slip bottom and soft jacquard top). What you typically see in floor-dedicated mats and pads is 3-4 inch of foam - this Milliard boasts 3.5 inches of high-density in the support layer alone. That paints a pretty clear picture of what's better about it.

Our rating: 96 /100

6-Inch Mattress by Best Price

This is not your classic floor models, yet, with all things considered, it keeps finding its way to the very top because of the ratio between value, "floor-ability" (a word we made up just for the purposes of this guide) and price. With all other things equal, size vs. size, it's even more budget-friendly than most floor mats (including the ones that made it to our Top 5). It's also the only model on the list available larger sizes (including King size and California King).

We tweaked our ratings to include this type of mattress for two reasons:

The feedback we got from our readers - it seems that many people make the mistake of over-estimating how prepared they are for sleeping on the floor

A common long-term issue with floor mats and pads is maintenance. As time goes by, the classic models tend to hold on to smells and dust. In the long run, it's a common reason for spending more.

Enter active charcoal

The first question that likely pops to mind is what makes this mattress different (better suited for floor use) compared to other classics. The answer lies is that this one is infused with active charcoal to minimize odor, moisture and dust-retention and keep the mattress "fresh". The company calls the technology ActiveFRESH.

On top of that, if chemicals are a concern, it's CertiPUR certified, which means that it adheres to strict safety standards of manufacturing and traces of chemicals.

On their own, the factors we described above are not a big deal because it's not the only mattress to boast them, which brings us back to the price. It's what sets it apart - you don't commonly see a combination of features we mentioned in its price range.

It's one of the most popular mattresses among people who want to place their mattress directly on the floor but are not into sacrificing comfort along the way. The main upside of getting a mattress like this one is that, should you decide to use it with a platform of any kind, take a break from floor-sleep or give it up all-together, you won't need an additional investment. It comes in 6 sizes and 4 thickness versions (6, 8, 10 or 12 inch).

The popularity is an objective category, since it has over 5,000 experienced shared (just on Amazon) with many of the owners talking about comfortably using it for floor sleeping.

Our rating: 94 /100

EMOOR floor sleeping mat

(Traditional Japanese)

From the get-go, we were somewhat surprised with the lack of top-tier products of this type available for online shopping of an American buyer. We had the growing popularity of this type of floor mats in mind and expected at least a dozen of similar products battling it out for the top spots.

Instead, when all said and done, the competition came down to the Emoor and only one runner-up. We gave the Emoor an edge for two reasons: the versatility of sizes and colors available and the fact that it's actually made in Japan.

Obviously, that alone doesn't a product is worth your buck, the rest of story about it's quality can be boiled down to how well-liked it is by owners and the user satisfaction with the Emoor paints a similar picture.

Our rating: 94 /100

Zinus floor mattress

In terms of design, this Zinus is similar to the Milliard. Both are tri-folds and made of safety and durability-certified premium foam.

But there are significant difference, from the thickness (6 inches of the Milliard vs. 4 of the Zinus), through the fact that Zinus only comes in one size (Twin) to the price (Zinus costs less).

Our rating: 82 /100

With all that in mind, the choice between the two is clear - this Zinus might be your choice if you want to save, you're no stranger to sleeping on the floor  & your body is already used to a thinner mattress. In other scenarios, like a transition to floor sleeping or welcoming guests, you might find it too thin.

SleepReady floor sleeping mat by Better Habitat

The SleepReady floor mat is in a category of its own and the comparison of floor mattresses don't really apply.

The foam is 2.75 inches thick and the design is focused on balancing comfort, portability, ease of use and weight capacity. It's a fine balance to aim and what we've seen with most similar products is significantly higher number of foam breakage. This type of structural issues can form indentations with prolonged use and, ultimately, render the mattress useless.

That especially goes for sleepers on the heavier side and most floor mats of this type don't even list the recommended weight capacity. For the Better Habitat mat, the capacity is listed as "up to 230 lbs."

Finally, Better Habitat stands behind their floor mat with a 12-month warranty on all manufacturing defects.

Reference info - history, trivia & choosing the best floor mattress for your needs

In the rest of this guide, we’ll go over some reference information about four mattresses, their history, some interesting trivia and some specific tips on choosing right (if none of the products we listed above your eye).

History - from straw mats & pads to the cushy floor model mattress

Digging into the history presents a bit of a challenge, primarily because of the very definition.

Where does one start?

Should we go all the way back to the Paleolithic times or start with the first instances in history where a mattresses we know it today was described. Instead of dwelling between the two, let’s the both.

First floor sleeping mats go back to 25 centuries ago

It goes without saying that these were primitive and can be only described as “mats” in a historic context.

The first is instances we found of people covering the cave floor go back Paleolithic times. These coverings were made using tree bark to craft a more comfortable sleep surface.

Granted, it wasn’t hard to put together a surface that would be more comfortable than a rock. To be precise, the coverings we’re talking about here were not even weaved - there were just a pile of bark in cave corners that are predecessors used to rest after long days of mastodon hunting.

First instances of weaving

It wasn’t long after that people started weaving plants. This made life easier in many ways, but we’d say that the 3 most heavily impacted of Paleolithic life were clothes, gathering and sleep. Clothes and gathering are pretty self-explanatory - the Neanderthal started crafting rugs for clothing and baskets for gathering.

In terms of sleep, this meant weaving plants into mats. On the timeline of human history, the Paleolithic times qualify as pre-history – so, long story short, a sleeping floor mat goes way back.

To be precise, the first description that would fit that awful floor mat as we know it today goes 6,000 years back to ancient Mesopotamia.

Biblical times

If you say “floor mat” without context today, you’d have to explain yourself further - are we talking about mats for cleaning footwear?

In this context, that would be a ,”no.”

Since the floor was still just dirt, the mats we’re talking about here refer to sleeping pads.

No significant change for 15,000 years

In the time range between 6,000 BC and 9,000 AC, these mats and pads have not evolved significantly.

The 9000 AC mark is a milestone because that’s when the nobility of Japan introduced sitting and sleeping on pad made of rice and rush straw.

Based on historic data, these were aristocrat-only for about eight centuries. One has to skip forward to the 17th century to see these mats were widely available to a “commoner.”

Thrum as a material for floor sleeping pads

Fast-forward about 1000 years and we see historic data a new material for floor mats known as “thrum.” It was made from the discarded parts used in fine clothes-weaving and straw base.

The discarded fiber was not only a smart use for the leftovers but, because it wasn’t so fine, it sturdier and more durable.

These fibers were interwoven into a strong base to craft a mat (rug) that retains shape well (because of the sturdy base) and yet has a soft finish of thrum. It became widely popular in England.

Buying a floor model mattress

The products we recommended above have a wide appeal, meaning that whatever your body type is, one of the mattresses is likely to be a good fit for you.

With that said, if none of these catches your eye, let’s take the time here to go over some paramount factors of choosing well.

First things first - are you an experienced floor sleeper?

Most people simply skip this step which is, if you ask us, a huge mistake. For a newbie, the transition should involve a mid-step, like a floor sleeping pad.

If you’ve never slept on the floor, you don’t just dive in and opt for a thin pad. It takes a while for your body to adjust and for you to find the sweet spots and positions, especially if you have back problems.

A lot of misleading information out there

While researching all aspects of choosing a good floor model mattress, we’ve seen a lot of shallow information. We’ve seen articles talking about floor sleep as “getting back to our roots,” with little regard for the fact that our bodies evolved and adjusted to modern mattresses.

If you make a leap of faith based on information like this, you might end up giving up the “project” of transitioning to floor sleep altogether.

Instead, the choice should be made with due diligence and factor in the specifics of your body type and how experienced (or not) you are.

To make it all clear and precise, we’ll go over some questions that you need to ask yourself before choosing.

After each question, we’ll mention a specific product that could be our recommendation in the different scenarios.

Have you ever slept on the floor before?

This is an important one. If you’re starting out, chances are that you’ll find most floor sleeping pads too thin for long-term comfort.

This is one of the reasons that we included mattresses that are, strictly speaking, neither here nor there.

What we mean by this?

When we say “neither here nor there,” we’re referring to the type that’s not floor-dedicated.

In this class, our top pick is the overall runner-up.

It’s a mattress that can be used on the floor or on a platform.

To sum it up, if you’re just making the transition or you want to be as comfortable as possible, we’d go with the second product in the list - the Best Price.

We did mention it being budget friendly as one of its main upsides but, just so that we’re clear, this is the actual name of the product and not our commentary.

Comfort-wise, the thinnest version is on-par with the top-rated Milliard Tri-fold foldable floor mattress and performs just as well in most aspects and even better in others.

One caveat would be that it’s not portable, since it’s primarily intended for home use.

Click here to skip back to the best choice mattress.

How often do you plan to use it?

Another important question to ask yourself is the intended use.

Are you getting a floor mattress for guests / occasional use or daily use?

This is also where portability/storage comes into play.

Scenario one: you have no plans to store it away on daily basis.

For long-term use, our recommendation would (again) be the second product on the list.

Scenario two: floor mattress for guests

(or occasional use)

The choice in this scenario is pretty clear since the Milliard tri fold roll up floor mattress is the product that ticks all the boxes. It’s portable, relatively cheap, comes in three sizes (Twin, Full & Queen), the cover is soft, retains shape (made of bamboo fiber, with a similar feel to that of cotton) & resistant to mold.

Scenario three: floor sleeping mat for outdoor use

For outdoor use, our recommendation is the SleepReady mat/bad by better habitat.

Side note: we already mentioned that we excluded inflatables from this guide on purpose, since we already have an existing guide in that arena (both classic and self inflatable).

Do you have back problems?

Another question that we rarely see addressed and research papers and articles.

Making general statements about a floor sleeping mat or pad being good or bad for people with back problems is misleading at best and downright wrong at worst.

That’s why we had to dig deeper and look into available large-scale studies on the topic. Some of our findings were surprising.

If you talk to people about back pain, the conversation is likely to touch on the matter of sleeping on a hard surface.

The evidence for this are mostly rooted in pop-culture and quasi-science.

If the pain is acute, you probably want to stay away from thin pads and mats. In most cases, the pain comes from nerve pressure. If this is the case, you won’t be doing your back and favors by sleeping on surfaces that don’t allow your shoulders and hips to sink in enough so that your spine is aligned.

There’s no widely accepted consensus among professionals when it comes to chronic back pain and the firmness of the surface you're sleeping on. Most of the data we found in our research suggests that a mattress of medium firmness offers more relief in the long run.

To quote a study we found to be most specific (published in the Lancet magazine, 2003 issue, PMID: 14630439):

“A mattress of medium firmness improves pain and disability among patients with chronic non-specific low-back pain”

You can see the full study here.

What it means applied to choosing the best floor mattress

Our top 2 picks qualify as “medium” firmness. There are floor models of similar foam density and structure, but it’s the thickness that makes a difference here. Anything under 6 inches cannot be taken at face value because the floor surface underneath becomes a significant factor. Compared to thinner mats, these are not as cheap, but are well worth it in the long run.

Summary and updates

To keep the ratings of the floor mattresses relevant, we do your best to stick to bimonthly or quarterly updates. Those include both new data and new arrivals to the market.

You can always use the comment section below for any questions, either about specific products or general. We aim to respond to all correspondence within 24 hours.

Become our contributor

If you have the time to share your experience, feel free to contact us and contribute with personal impressions.

This would qualify you for our annual giveaway sleep products ($1000). To do that, you can drop us a line right now or bookmark this page and do it at your convenience.

The Sleep Studies review team

The blog post Best floor mattress was first published on TheSleepStudies

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Warmest Blanket

Top 12 out of 75

If you’re looking for the best / warmest blanket for winter, this guide is likely where your search ends. Since we initially published it, we tweaked the types and price ranges to fit a wide range of needs, preferences & budgets.

Most of these (11 out of 12) are for home use, but the latest update includes one recommendation for the outdoors (5th on the list).

The ratings you'll see are fruit of over 2,000 work hours & 75 products analyzed based on data from 6 separate sources - we update the ratings monthly to keep the information fresh and relevant at all times.

We’ll go through it all – from types of winter blankets to choose from, through the quality analysis to the ever-so-important satisfaction of the owners.

Warmest blanket - Top 12

Poyet Motte

Biddeford Micro Sherpa Electric

Barber Velvet

BEIZLSS Luxury

Zefabak outdoors

Shavel reversible

Creswick wool

Warmzone

Super Warm Freelife

Qbedding Extra

Langria Ribbed

Fishers Finery throw

Best blanket for winter overall

Poyett Motte Aubisque

If you’re looking for a regular blanket (without added heat sources), nothing beats natural wool and, within that category, in our opinion and based on the stats, no blankets we looked at beats the time-tested quality of Poyet Motte.

It’s hard to choose where to start and what quality aspects to stress when talking about this blanket. The tradition of the company probably deserves an article of its own, since we are 10 years away from Poyet Motte celebrating their 200th anniversary. Currently, they are the leading European blankets manufacturer.

But let’s get back to things that can directly affect your decision.

First of all, it’s one of the few blankets that are consistently above the rating of 92% in user satisfaction. That’s no small thing if you have in mind fact that there are similar blankets with a lower price tag.

As we said, we simplify the results by boiling down the ratings to a few simple numbers but, on our side of things, getting to that number is anything but simple. With objective ratings we go into the nitty-gritty like craftsmanship, both general and imperfections on arrival and developed with prolonged use. This includes things like loose stitches, changes in shape, pilling (when applicable).

On the subjective side, we analyze how satisfied the users are with specific aspects. For this guide, we adjusted our statistical model to put more emphasis on aspects that the more important for winter blankets.

Long story short, in most of the categories above, Poyet Motte was either dominant or in the top 3 in each update.

In terms of Temperature regulation for the winter, this blanket is at the sweet spot between the nature of the fabric (virgin wool), the density of the weave (warmth) and breathability.

If you look at other similar blankets, 9 out of 10 times, you won’t even see the 3 most important aspects mentioned – density (thickness of the fibers used), weight per square meter and whether it’s recycled.

There’s a reason for that - most of the times, the reason is that these aspects of blankets are nothing to write home about. Poyet Motte is an exception.

The fibers are so fine (33 microns) that they can be we weaved into a blanket of 500 g/m² (GSM). Also, it’s important to mention that the company uses Woolmark licensed Virgin wool.

What it all means for you

Most of us shut that conversation about how products are made these days. There are two sides typically involved in this kind of conversation. You are either on the more experienced side talking about “the good old days” or on the other side that shrugs it off and saying that “it’s just the way things are today.”

Poyet Motte taste type of product that would satisfy the criteria of both sides. In terms of longevity it’s fair to say that this is an heirloom blanket that’s likely to be in your family for decades.

In terms of value for money, in our opinion, it’s worth every cent.

One downside could be the fact that it’s not always available in all sizes and color combinations. Over the course of the last 3 years (since we first published this guide), we have seen it go in and out of stock in some sizes and colors.The bottom line is that if Poyet Motte is available in your preferred size-color combo, our advice would be not to over think. Chances of being disappointed by this blanket are slim to none.

You can see what the owners are saying about it, current price and size-color combos currently available by following the link below.

Warmest electric blanket

Subeam Luxurious Velvet

The competition among the independently heated winter blankets is fierce. For the potential buyer, this is a good thing because it means higher quality products at lower prices.

In this category, we’re choosing the Sunbeam Luxurious as the best blanket for winter.

What gave it an edge over similar products is the category of value for money. This chunk of the market has made significant leaps over the past decade or so, primarily in terms of safety and seamlessness/versatility of the controls.

The difference in those paramount quality aspects is not as significant as it was when we talked about wool. A few products from top companies have been locking horns for the top spots in pretty much every update.

This is one of the blankets that kept its place in the top 5 - it’s been there since we first published the guide and all subsequent updates, both in this guide and in the top 10 heated blankets with you can see here.

Rating this type of blanket is slightly different than simply rating the quality. We included a slight adjustment to account for the balance between the weight and the warmth.

Initially, this adjustment wasn’t a part for statistical analysis and we only included it based on the feedback from our featured testers and readers. The reason is that it’s not only about the warmth. The soothing effect of thicker blanket is now a part of our statistical analysis. Granted, it is a secondary factor, but it is there as means to adjust the ratings to what people are looking for in a good winter blanket.

If it wasn’t there, there would be a number of blankets with an independent heat source that could be practically rated the same. We’re including this explanation to make the ratings clearer.

Let’s get back to the quality analysis

We mentioned that these blankets have seen some significant improvements. Two that stand out are the auto shutoff function and preheating. Initially, the products that included both were more expensive, but things leveled down with time and this sunbeam is the perfect example. It comes with both features and yet, it’s in the same price range as blankets that include only one (and in some cases none) of the two.

It’s also worth noting that the blanket is covered by a 5-year warranty.

You can see what owners are saying as well as all color options by following the link on the red button below.

Velvet Berber Premium Soft

We have been reviewing blankets for years now and it's only once in a blue moon that you see a product with the kind of stats the Velvet Berber has in user satisfaction.

To be specific, we have seen overall rating in this category this high, but almost never see a blanket with a 5-star rating from 9 out of 10 people.

That's what makes the Velvet Berber unique.

It might not be the warmest per se, but in the bigger picture (balance between all quality aspects), the fact that it has been among the Top 5 winter blankets for 12 consecutive updates now is well-deserved.

BEIZLSS Luxury

If there is a blanket on the list that made us subjective, it's the Beilzss. It's significantly more expensive than any other on this list, but, well...look at it.

On the downside, we have seen the Beilzss go in and out of stock with various suppliers. So, if you really need to treat yourself and do find the Beilzss available, it might the indulgence you need. Also, the data volume that we have is not big enough to rate it in the category of owner satisfaction - that's why you'll see that rating ommited below.

There is no blanket on the list that can transform the look of a bedroom more than this luxurious piece.

It's also one of two products we listed as "exceptions" because we don't have the data volume to rate it. With this one, we just couldn't help ourselves.

You can check whether its currently available below.

Warm outdoor blanket

Our pick - ZEFABAK duck down

Our top pick for warm outdoor blanket is the ZEFABAK duck down, with one caveat - since the ZEFABAK is filled with natural down, it might not be your best bet for humid conditions.

For that scenario, we'd reccomend the Rumpl (you can see the complete review of the Rumpl blanket here - https://thesleepstudies.com/rumpl-blanket-review/).

The competition in this category was close - between the ZEFABAK and a few other products. Without getting into the nitty-gritty of it all, what made the difference is the power (density vs. weight) of the natural fill.

In other words, blankets that would be as warm for the outdoors cost more and those in its price range or lower don't really come close to the heat-retention & reflection properties.

Warmest electric blanket among reversibles

Shavel Micro Plush

This Shavel is one of the blankets that made us make an exception in terms of our rules for the statistical analysis. When we say that we’re referring to the fact that it’s yet to meet the volume standards for the data we have, which is why we don’t yet have a rating for it.

The reason for making an exception are the numbers in user satisfaction category that we have seen so far. We’ve been reviewing blankets for over a decade now and, in the that time, one develops a “nose” for patterns.

Unless Shavel changes something significant about this blanket, we’re confident that this product “arrived” and is here to stay.

Another reason that made us include it in the group of best winter blankets is the reversible construction.

As we mentioned previously, it’s our opinion that a good winter blanket is not simply warmest, it’s more about the balance between all of its properties.

To be more specific, a thicker, cozier blanket like this will be warmer at a lower heat setting.

Again, we rarely make exceptions, and the fact that we did for this Shavel speaks volumes.

Creswick Luxurious by Australian Mills

The runner-up in the wool category is the Creswick Luxurious by Creswick Australian Mills.

In many ways, it’s similar to the Poyet Motte above with the main difference being the weave.

The fibers are even finer (23 micron) which means that it feels somewhat lighter. With the fibers being fine as they are, the finish of the Creswick feels less rugged. Since it initially appeared on Amazon, its popularity grew to the point where counterfeit products started appearing.

At one point, the company itself pointed this out in their listing of the product, warning about the counterfeits.

Our stats

We made sure to only closely follow the original blanket and base our stats on that.

If wool is your choice, the decision will come down to the fact that Creswick is a bit lighter and thinner than Poyet Motte, which is only natural if you have the fine fibers in mind.

It’s also worth noting that, typically, the finer the fibers the more luxurious the blanket feels and the price usually follows.

What this means for you

It means that the blankets made of fibers this fine are not cheap. With that said, we did look at other blankets in the same micron range and most of them were significantly expensive than the Creswick.

That’s why one of our ratings is “value for money” instead of simply price.

It also means that the blanket is not as heavy and not as a warm as those of “sturdier weave”. On the other hand, it’s better in terms of adjusting to the shape of the sleeper’s body - a category we like to call “hug.”

The bottom line is that if you’re looking for a moderate winter blanket that won’t be heavy, the Creswick Luxurious might be just right for you.

To get a full understanding the type of winter blanket this is, follow the link below and read the reviews of people who currently own the Creswick.

Warmest blanket among poly-fiber products - WarmZone

You might have already heard about the WarmZone.

Apart from the electric models, it's the only blanket on the list designed specifically with warmth in mind.

"Designed" means that it's heat-reflecting - in other words, the polyester surface is coated with extra insulation layer that reflects back the heat dissipated by your body.

Granted, this also means that it's not as breathable or versatile as wool, but it's crafted to do one job - be warm.

And it does the job well - especially with the price range in mind. So, if you need a budget-friendly throw to curl up under and watch re-runs of Friends, Warmzone might be the blanket for you.

Warmest blanket among fleeces

FreeLife Super Warm

If you prefer a minky blanket to wool and if you’re not interested in the self-heating products, our top choice among classics is the FreeLife Super Warm.

You would think that choosing a good, warm fleece blankets is simpler.

Not really, understanding a few aspects of micro-fabrics is a must if you don’t want to end up with a blanket that will lose the delicate texture you initially got it for. It’s all about the type of polyester / polyamide combo.

Indications of quality

The type of machines used to make good microfiber are not cheap (especially if it’s split microfiber), so there are many companies out there that compromise in the manufacturing process.

The tricky part here is that, while new, you won’t be able to tell the difference between the types of blankets. That’s why microfiber earned the label of cheap fabric. In reality, a well-made blanket of this type can last just as long as any other. More importantly, it won’t be prone to losing the “feel”, shape or look.

If you look at things that way, choosing right becomes just as intricate as with any other type.

Let’s cut the long story short: go with a blanket that’s rated both for the dryer and the machine (if the instructions list “hand-wash” only, it can be an indicator of the low-quality blend)

go with blankets that include a warranty that pertains to shrinking and fading (if that’s not mentioned, most of the time, you’re looking at a product that will do just that – change shape or not be as soft and warm)

go with the blanket that offers a full refund (if there’s an all-in-one indication of quality it’s this – if the company uses a sub-par blend, it doesn’t make financial sense for them to offer a warranty)

Freelife Super Warm ticks all the boxes

If you compare the price of the free life to other blankets of this type (all-fleece), it might seem expensive. That’s why the analysis above is important – because not all fleece or microfiber is created equal.

This is a premium 330 GSM blanket with a price tag to match. More importantly, it’s time-tested product with 100s of user reviews. You can see them all at the link below.

Qbedding Extra Big - Warm Fuzzy Faux Fur

This Qbedding blanket is one of those products that you either fall in love with at first sight or be confused about why people like it. The part comes down to taste and what you think about faux fur.

That’s one part of the story - the arguable part.

What’s not arguable about this Qbedding is the impressive owner satisfaction numbers.

What this means for you

We did look at other warm fleece blankets, but none of them was even close in the owners stats. For you this means that what you see is what you get. This part is important because faux fur is probably the one material that can be misleading in the pictures.

It’s available in two sizes and colors – you can see the details below.

Langria ribbed - soft, warm blanket for those on a budget

If you’re looking for a budget-friendly solution that still looks luxurious, there’s little chance that this line Langria won’t catch your eye.

It’s a classic polyester blanket with a modern twist in appearance. The chunky ribbed design gives it a glamorous look.

The flannel side is 300 GSM, while the Sherpa fabric is 200 GSM. That adds up to 500 grams per meter square which is the same as our top overall pick (The Poyet Motte).

To be fair, a combination of flannel and Sherpa fabric can’t really be compared to wool in terms of warmth and temperature isolation, but then again, the Poyet Motte costs significantly more.

Honorable mention - Fishers Finery thin throw

Let’s be clear from the get-go here - on its own, this is not the warmest blanket ever and does not qualify to be a good choice for winter as a standalone product -  it's too thin & light for that.

We’re including it because, since we first published our picks, we've been getting questions from people asking how to add a bit of balm without piling up weight.

Cashmere is the answer

Cashmere that would be thick enough to keep you cozy in the winter on its own would cost a small fortune. As reference, it takes two goat undercoats for just one sweater.

Note that we’re not saying wool but “undercoat” (which is the fine layer under the wool). The undercoat is hand-combed before it can be used in confectionery products - that's why these blankets are so thin.

It’s not realistically possible to compare heat-retention qualities of a throw like this to that of wool, let alone flannel or other materials. To do that, you’d have to have two products of same ply and yarn.

With that said, comparison of fiber-to-fiber can come as a shock - Cashmere is 7 to 8 times warmer than wool. The catch is that it is scarce and expensive, so it's not used for thick blankets - when it isused used in bedding, it's typically light throws like this.

So, the bottom line here is that this Fishers Finery blanket might be to choice of people looking to cozy up on the sofa with a thin and lightweight, yet soft, warm blanket throw for a nice winter nap.

Reference info & tips on choosing the best blanket for winter

If for some reason you didn’t like any of our top picks, the remainder of this guide we’ll go over some reference info on choosing right.

It also might be useful insight into why the blankets we mentioned are a good choice.

Warmest blanket material

It’s not simple to choose the material and describe it as "warmest" because some image the materials we mentioned are not used in the same way as others.

A good example of that is Cashmere. We already mentioned that, if you compared it to wool (same fiber thickness) cashmere can be up to 800% warmer.

That fact alone doesn’t qualify it as warmest when it comes to blankets because there are no blankets of this type that there as thick. The ones that are available are typically thin, lightweight throws.

So, cashmere aside, it’s fairly accurate to say that wool is the warmest material.

Warmth alone doesn’t mean much

In our testing and analysis (based in the owners we talked to and publicly available experiences), we would say that the title of “the warmest blanket for winter” typically goes to products with most well-balanced warmth/weight/hug properties.

In case you missed it, “hug” is a quality that we introduced to our testing and rating. To put it simply, it describes how well a blanket contours around your body.

The decision process

It’s easy to get lost in all the lingo that describes warmth when choosing the warmest blanket for winter. So let us take a step back and craft a system of sorts that outlines the steps a smart buyer will make.

Think about the size

Most people skip this step because it seems pretty straightforward. Nonetheless, when we analyzed the complaints of people who weren’t satisfied and had complaints, almost 7% of those were regarding the size.

In some cases, this is a result of companies using the descriptive sizing. In case you have your eye on a product that doesn’t release specific dimensions, let’s clarify what it typically means.

For example, a King size winter blanket would be 108×90 inches, while Double/full/Queen size will be 90 x 90 “. In some cases, the product listings might deviate from these standards. It’s rarely happens in the bigger sizes like King and when it does, it’s almost never smaller. What you might see is a king-size measuring 108 times x 108 “.

A good rule of thumb here is to go with a bed blanket that’s big enough to cover the top of your mattress and has a few extra inches on the sides.

The material

We don’t have a lot of ground to cover here because we mentioned the mist material aspect of the choice in pretty much every section of this guide.

So let’s is just reiterate:

Wool - we already labeled wool is the warmest material (with a few caveats about ply and yarn). It would be an oversimplification to label it as “top choice” because there are other factors at play (like the price and versatility). What we mean when we say versatility is whether you can use it in other seasons besides winter.

When it comes to price, it’s somewhat more expensive than fleece or microfiber. On the other hand, that ties into “seasonal value.” A thick warm fleece blanket that would be a good choice for winter will probably be too warm for other seasons.

That’s not the case with wool - it has a unique property to keep you warm on cold nights and isolate you from the heat come spring or autumn.

Fleece/microfiber - combination of microfiber and other synthetics that feel natural and plush are one of the most popular choices. Based on the conversations and, in some cases, full interviews with the owners, the appearance plays a big role here.

About 80% of the people we talked to sound the cozy, luxurious look of minky micro fabrics or fuzzy combinations to be visually more appealing.

We also mentioned that not all blankets of this type are created equal and that most of those that are on the cheaper side tend to be sub-par in retention, both in terms of weight and tactile qualities (the softness).

Knitted /crochet acrylic - not the most popular choice, but a viable one, especially for people allergic to wool.

How comfortable are you with added weight?

This should be an important step when choosing the best blanket for winter. We already said a few times that the warmer doesn’t necessarily mean superior.

Some people will be more comfortable with a thin, lightweight winter blanket while others find the added weight and thickness to be soothing. In our research, we found that the ratio between the two groups of people is approximately 2 to 8.

This means that 2 out of 10 people will be more comfortable with lightweight throws. If you belong to this group, you’ll probably be better off with a heated blanket. These allow you to get the extra warmth without the weight. You can see our complete guide and list of top-rated electric heated blankets here.

On the other hand, if you belong to the majority, you’re not likely to be disappointed by any of the products we listed as our top picks.

Is your skin sensitive?

The wool products we listed don’t have that scratchy quality that most people don’t like, both have a delicate finish with satin edges.

If you’re researching beyond that, do bear it in mind and.

Fabric strength

Strength of the fabric is the quality category for doesn’t make much sense on its own unless you’re planning a window escape.

In our ratings, strength is incorporated as a secondary factor into the shape retention and longevity ratings, because it does it play a part.

Fiber to fiber comparison between synthetics and wool will have an obvious winner every time – this synthetics fiber. So that’s not a discussion to be had.

If we’re talking wool, the rankings in terms of fiber strength would be the following (weakest to strongest):

South down

Lincoln

Merino

Mohair

Alpaca

So, since Mohair & Alpaca are typically used in smaller throws and cost much more, the conclusion is pretty much the same and leads us back to our Merino as the warmest material.

Choosing a warm outdoor blanket

If you're looking for a warm outdoor blanket, things get a bit trickier because you have to factor in the elements. For dry and cold weather, down is superior, but for humid conditions, you're better of with down alternative.

Winter blanket vs. all-season

Another thing to keep in mind is how you plan to use the blanket - is it a winter-dedicated or multi-season. Materials like wool are both warm and breathable. This type allow for multi-season use while others are primarily made to be warm and are likely to be stored come spring. On the other hand, you have the lightweight options that do offer warmth but are not very likely to be enough on their own for harsh winters.

If you ask us, we're always for simplifying life. In this case, it means getting a soft, warm blanket that will play one role. The more you get into the nitty-gritty of the balance between heat-isolation, weight, moisture wicking...the complicated the choice. That's just our 2 cents.

Share your thoughts & qualify for our giveaway

If you have questions or feel like there are aspects of choosing that we haven’t covered, drop us a comment below or email us directly. Do you have an opinion on what's the warmest blanket ever?

Sharing your experience with a specific product would make your contributor and qualify you for our $1000 worth annual giveaway in sleep products.

Don’t be shy, we love hearing from our readers and respond to all correspondence within one day.

The Sleep Studies team

The following article Warmest Blanket is republished from TheSleepStudies

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Best rollaway and folding beds

The top 10 picks you’ll see below as best rollaway / folding beds are fruit of 2700 work hours & 84 beds  we reviewed so far. Initial picks were made by our panel of expert contributors (material technology engineers and sleep experts) and the pool of data we have so far includes over 15,000 personal experiences from 5 independent sources.

This guide is updated either when the pool of data we’re using for the statistical analysis grows by type 10% or every three months, whichever comes first.

All types and sizes included

With each subsequent update, we adjusted our picks o make the list as well-rounded (based on reader feedback) as possible. We kept adding new types of roll away, foldable, portable and collapsible beds, cots and mattresses to cater to different needs and pocket-depths.

Not to toot our own horn but it’s fair to say that, whatever the type of foldable / portable beds for adults you’re looking for (including folding cots, which is our latest addition), you’ll find it represented among our picks.

Best rollaway bed – top 11

Best rollaway bed overall - Milliard Diplomat with extra-firm folding foam mattress

This guide has seen about two dozen updates so far and the milliard premium has been our top pick from the get-go.

Is about seven months to initially publish our picks and it’s been well over two years since then. So, that’s almost 3 years now of this milliard being the top dog in the category.

That almost never happens in home products

We’ve been reviewing sleep-related products for longer than we care to remember and we rarely see a product being the top pick for so long. It happened only a few times, but it’s almost a rule that we only see it in less competitive niches (typically outdoor sleep).

In a niche as competitive as guest beds for home use (excluding air mattresses), it’s a small miracle. We usually see at least 3 to 4 products locking horns for the top spot. If we exclude the milliard premium and look at our data, the longest we’ve seen a bed occupying the very top is 14 months.

In those terms, this milliard is an exception. It’s now closing in on 36 months of being the best rollaway bed, which is a phenomenon in its own right.

One main reason for the dominance

As we mentioned, both the formula and the product range are tweaked over time to paint a clearer picture. The tweaks in the statistical analysis are most frequent in the value for money category.

So, the explanation for the dominance of milliard premium can be summed up as being at the sweet spot between price and quality.

Simply put, there beds that are similar in quality cost much more than the beds in its price range are of sub-par quality in at least one aspect we rate.

With that in mind, it’s not a surprise that milliard premium is also one of the most popular models among users.

Hundreds of them shared their experience with the milliard on Amazon alone. It’s so popular, that we have seen products and new arrivals trying to mimic the look & design of the mechanism. None of them stood the test of time, primarily because of the foam quality.

You can copy a mechanism/design, but including high-quality foldable memory foam mattress with it is a whole different story. That’s why we see similar products hitting the market, having some initial success but not lasting, as the foam starts to break and lose shape. In our experience, the one year mark is typically when user complaints start pouring in and dramatically affect the rating.

The link to the original milliard premium is below.

Runner up - LUCID "Fold & Hide" folding bed

The runner-up in the category comes from a reputable company and it’s very similar in design and foam quality is the milliard. It’s also a time-tested product with a solid 10 year warranty backing by the manufacturer (on the foam).

Another thing that’s constant and similar to the milliard is the satisfaction of users.

With the warranty in mind, the social doesn’t come as a surprise because it’s the foam that makes or breaks a fold up bed in the long run. It’s rarely the frame.

Who will choose it?

At the time of the last update to this guide the lucid rollaway bed with folding memory foam mattress has a somewhat lower price tag compared to the milliard premium and diplomat.

So, if you’re a conservative buyer on a budget, this model from lucid might be your choice.

You can see the hundreds of user reviews it currently has an Amazon alone by following the link below.

Milliard Premium fold away bed

Milliard is the only manufacturer with two models in our top 10. If you have in mind the volume of roll away beds we reviewed so far, that fact alone speaks volume about the quality of their beds.

So, let’s take a moment here to explain the differences between the premium and the top-rated Diplomat. First of all (and possibly most important), the mattress of the premium version is not as thick (5 vs. 4 inches) and not as firm. Milliard describes the foam used for the month as “extra-firm,” while the foam of the premium as medium firm (the density of the foam is the same – 2.5 lbs).

Secondly, the premium comes on the cot size, one of the comment is available both as folding Cot and in twin size.

Lastly, there is a difference in the base material – the premium uses mesh and the Diplomat is wire lattice.

Zinus resort roll away bed with a folding memory foam mattress

The main difference between Zinus resort and other models that made it to the list our picks for the best roll away bed is obvious - it’s the design of the frame and the thickness of the foldable mattress.

The foldable bed frame is more intricate and includes side covers that hide the space under the bed and the mattress is 5 inches thick. Four inches out of five are high-density foam and one in which is memory foam.

Finally, it’s fair to mention that our statistical model includes what we call a “data volume adjustment factor”. It’s a fancy way of saying that we have less data to go on with this model than the Milliard Diplomat.

A caveat about price comparison

Granted, comparing the price without talking about sizes is not really fair. The Twin is 38 inches wide and the Milliard Diplomat is Cot size (3.05 inches wide).

If you go a size down (narrow Twin for guest room, 30 inches wide), this version of the Zinus is in the sun price range as the Milliard Diplomat or the lucid fold and hide.

Who will choose it?

At first glance, this Zinus doesn’t look like a rollaway bed at all. Add the fact that it boasts a 5-inch thick mattress and you get what can easily be best guest bed for you if you like the design with the covered sides. Without getting to the nitty-gritty of how we rate the foam quality, we can say that it’s every bit as good (if not better if you account for the thickness) as any.

Folding Bed (box-spring) - Edward Original

If we didn’t have the value for money rating, the original Edward guest folding bed with a box-spring mattress would probably be at the very top.

In terms of the word durability and longevity, comparing foam-only roll out beds to the Edward box-spring is not really an option.

We said that this would be our pick for the most comfortable and best guest bed overall, were it not for the price.

Who will choose the Edward?

Edward Original roll out bed is significantly costlier than any other option on the list.

The price is not a surprise if you have in mind the fact that the Edward original is the rollaway guest bed that combines foam and springs.

To put it differently - it’s the closest you can get to the longevity, durability & feel of a regular bed with rollaway models.

So, if price is not the primary decision point but rather the comfort of guests and long-term value, we’d say that your search can easily end with Edward Original.

Lucid fold up bed

Since we initially published this guide, we received at least a dozen of requests include Queen rollaway beds. The response to each of those emails was the same - they rarely come in queen-size and the ones that do are not foldable - they’re basically Queen or Full sized bed on wheels.

So, we did the next best thing – include a queen-size fold up bed that pairs well with a queen rollaway frame, but is collapsible / portable and can be used on its own (as a sofa) or stored away during the day.

A combo not many people think of

Our choice here comes from Lucid. It wasn’t a hard decision since the lucid also makes queen-size frames to go with it. As we mentioned, strictly speaking, there are no Queen or Full size rollaway bed that are of the same type we're analyzing here (fold up).

On top of that, if you get two of these in Twin XL size, you get a King. This combo is a great idea for guest rooms – two nice sofas for the days and a guest bed for 3 adults (76 x 80 inches).

Obviously, this is a unique product and list, which is why we have a separate more in depth review for it, you can see it here.

If you go by the number of reviews, this would be by far the most popular bed here, with over 1,200 reviews just on Amazon. To see what people are saying about it, follow the link to the original product below.

ibed in a box and ibed corner collapsible

There are two products for my ibed that we feel deserve a mention here - I ibed in a box fold up bed cot and the ibed corner.

The former is more of an honorary mention because we don’t have enough data to rate it. The fact that we are mentioning it here is a result of about 20 people emailing us with their experiences praising I bed in a box and asking us to review it.

The latter (ibed corner) is one of the most popular fold away bed for guests and the budget-friendly option. The foldable foam mattress of this ibed is 1 inch thinner compared to the top choices (3 inches thick), but the compactness (if that’s a word) is second to none.

If those two factors are crucial, this ibed will definitely catch your eye.

Folding ottoman bed

If you’re looking for a fold out ottoman bed, our top two choices are the milliard guest hideaway and the handy living sleeper.

The overall rating of two is the same (90/100). With that said, we give the handy living sleeper a slight edge, primarily because of the versatility in colors available and slight difference in the price.

On the other hand, the milliard is slightly bigger when folded into an ottoman.

The difference is other aspects like the material of the cover, sturdiness of the ottoman frame and the cushions are too small to report on. Finally, if company reputation is a concern, both companies are in good standings. The latter company is well-known for chairs and sectionals (like the Handy Living convert-a-couch).

Bottom line - both folding ottoman beds are top-tier and, ultimately, the choice comes down to personal preference.

Fold up cot by Coleman

The category of fold up cot beds was is the "youngest" here. We only added it 6 months ago but that doesn't take away from the reliability of our ratings.

In fact, it was the easiest to work with since we have many featured contributors in the outdoors arena. The process of choosing came down to emailing 16 of them and asking about their experiences with fold up cots over the years. Twelve of them gave their vote to the Coleman ComfortRest.

Granted, in the emails, we did mention that we're looking for a cot that would perform well for indoor use, as a folding cot bed. We then proceeded to gather the necessary data on this Coleman and two other products. We ended up with a significant gap in ratings between the top pick and the runner up.

References - testing and rating

The remainder of this guide is dedicated to two things:

explaining the process we went through to review the guest beds and get to the list of products we could label as best and stand behind our words

what to look for if you’re not shopping online or if none of our recommendations catches your eye

About our ratings of the fold up beds

As you stressed a few times, we received no free products or testing samples to review. It’s a way of ensuring that the process is fully objective and based on tangible data.

We started out by consulting our panel of experts for the initial picks. The way we see it, this has two upsides.

First of all, it eliminates many sub-par products that would otherwise, to be honest, waste a lot of our time and resources.

Secondly, it allows us to be thorough in the analysis

Whenever we can, we buy the products we review. In the interest of full disclosure, this wasn’t the case with roll away beds because we simply didn’t have the resources. So the ratings is so rely heavily on the statistical model we developed years ago and tweaked over time.

Today, the core the analytics remains the same (when we can’t to buy all the beds and test them personally), but it’s tweaked to the specifics of the product. It’s only natural, because the same quality categories don’t apply for all bed types.

Even when we could buy and personally test the fold up beds we review, the analytics would still play a major role in reaching the ratings, simply because nothing beats volume. In other words, what we like is not necessarily what most people will like, no matter how objective try to be.

Bottom line, the larger the data-volume, the more accurate the ratings. It also means that each subsequent update paints a better picture about the quality of the beds.

What it all means applied specifically to reviewing rollaway beds

Primarily, it meant clearly defining what qualifies as “high-quality.” With "classic products", things are not so intricate because there are more variables here.

Speaking in broad terms, all our ratings can be grouped into primary and secondary (by how much of an impact they have on the overall rating).

Just for reference, let’s take a moment here to look at a few.

On-arrival assembly

This is one of the quality categories that’s unique for rollaway beds. It doesn’t qualify as primary because it does this make much of a difference in the long run.

To be clear, but were talking about here is how easy/hard it is to put the bed together once it is on your doorstep (like frame and wheels assembly).

If there are on arrival problems with putting the bed together, those would be accounted for in the “on-arrival issues” along with any defects in the craftsmanship.

Stability

Stability is a primary factor with a few sub-factors. The crucial part is the stability of the bed frame and what qualifies as a sub-factor are ties (if any).

Plainly speaking, it’s meant to describe how well a bed performs in two aspects:

Subject feeling of frame stability (beds with a lower rating in this category would feel flimsy)

The "pieces" staying in place

Quality of the folding foam mattress

Another primary factor and possibly the most intricate one.

The grade of the foam used in fold up beds will not be as high as that used in classics.

That’s not a minus per se. Here’s why…

If the foam was of the same density and ILD (indentation load deflection) and thickness as that of a classic models, it would be much harder to fold and store the bed.

So, for a good guest bed, you’re aiming for density and ILD that would be at the sweet spot between comfort, support and malleability.

In terms of density, we found the sweet spot here to be around 2.5 lbs. The higher you go, the harder it becomes to collapse the bed away. This lowers the portability.

On this side note, this is one of the reasons we were so impressed with the Edwards original. If you know the manufacturing side of things, you know how hard it is to make portable bed for adults that includes springs.

To simplify it

Everything we said above might sound a bit too much to take in, so let us simplify it by summing it up into two factors of foam quality.

A great way to judge it are the warranty terms - it would make little financial sense for company to offer a long warranty if the foam in their products “breaks” after six months.

So if you don’t want to spend days researching, the shortcut would be looking at the warranty terms for the foam. Making a sturdy yet collapsible bed frame is not as hard as offering high-quality foldable memory foam mattress to go with the frame and base.

Sturdiness of the frame

Initially, we used durability and longevity of the frame as primary factors. That’s not the case anymore because there are too many products with similar frame quality.

Instead, sturdiness is a secondary factor included in all of the following ratings: stability, durability and longevity.

A side note

One of the more common questions we received pertains to the difference between durability and longevity. It’s pretty simple - durability describes the capacity of a bed to take on weight at one moment while longevity describes how well it performs long-term (without developing structural defects).

Customer service and Better Business Bureau rating

This is an important one - it goes beyond prompt replies to emails or return claims. Listing a warranty is one thing how efficient the company is when a customer wants to claim it paints a better picture.

It takes some elbow grease to get to this rating because we basically have to count every experience a customer had and how promptly it was addressed.

As we said, it goes beyond answering an email. To put it simply, what we like to see here is the company address them claims without giving you the runaround or avoiding your return request (if defined in their warranty policy).

To make it more accurate, we always take the time to look into the Better Business Bureau rating of the company that manufactures the foldaway beds we review.

Maintenance

The “ease of maintenance” is pretty self-explanatory. It comes down to a 2 things:

whether the bed comes with a cover and, if yes, whether it’s machine-washable and rated for the dryer

whether it comes with a bag/sack two-story the whole thing

Even the best folding beds often don’t include a storing bag for storing when not in use. You often have to get one separately.

Do the wheels lock in place?

Wheel-locks are not a must for a good rollaway bed for adults. If the frame is sturdy, the weight of an average adult will be enough to keep the construction stable.

With that said, if you’re an adult but on the lighter side, it’s probably a good idea to consider whether the wheels lock.

The blog post Best rollaway and folding beds was originally published to https://thesleepstudies.com/

[thesleepstudies]

Is it bad to sleep with wet hair?

One of the most common questions when it comes to the relationship between the way you sleep and the health of your hair is whether it’s bad to sleep with wet hair and if you’re already determined to do it how to do it properly.

In the guide below we address the issue from a few different angles, since the answers are not simple.

People who are asking the questions can be crudely separated into two groups – those who are concerned with damaging their precious locks and those who were concerned with the health related issues (like getting a cold).

That’s how will structure the guide – we’ll first address the issue of whether moist or wet here gets damaged during the eight hours of sleep, and then we’ll move on to the health implications. We’d love to be more straightforward, but we need to dig a bit deeper.

Is it bad to sleep with wet hair?

Yes, the simplified answer would be that there are reasons why it's considered a no-no. For two reasons - the damage to your hair maternal arises from the friction of interlocking follicles and the health-related concerns (colds, headaches and, in the worst scenarios, rare cases of brain inflammation and damage to the facialis nerve).

Opinions do vary and you might even find people saying that it poses no risk, a data-driven answer suggests otherwise. Let’s take a closer look.

Hair-damage concerns

Tossing and turning in bed will make your dry hair tangled, not to mention wet one.

The actual hair shaft looses its strength when it’s wet. Literally the core of your hair becomes weaker, and that’s why the wet hair is easier to stretch. Stretching and friction from pillowcase fabrics lead to damages. Breakages, split ends, frizz, knots… you name it. It’s not going to happen instantly, but in long terms, these are the real dangers.

Long periods of this can make your scalp prone to dandruff, or cause serious case of seborrhea and fungal infection.

Moisture that is being captured between the pillow and your head, made from oils and absorbed water from your hair, warmed by your body heat and in contact to bacteria, makes a really unhealthy environment for your scalp.

How to sleep with wet hair

Not exposing your hair to the high temperatures of a hair dryer and letting it dry naturally is one of the simplest, yet super-beneficial ways you can keep your hair healthy. This way your scalp doesn’t get dry and it keeps in all those nourishing oils that are feeding the follicles of hair.

This is easy to do on the hot summer days, but there are all other nights when you need to wash you hair and go to sleep quickly, leaving you with nothing else but letting it dry while you sleep.

If you really don’t have time to blow dry it and choose to go to bed with wet hair, please don’t ever do it with your hair being soaking wet. Below are some pointers on how to sleep with wet hair and minimize the potential damage and risks.

Protect your pillow and your hair

Use a towel to squeeze excess water without putting much pressure, gently comb it with a wide tooth comb, untangling any knots that you may find without pulling hard, and apply a bit of a leave-in conditioner.

You can also use heat protectants, anti-frizz products, or if your hair is curly try some smoothing serum, it will save you time fixing your locks in the morning.

If there is any time, try to blow dry your hair a little, just to move away from being completely wet to slightly wet. Focus on getting your scalp dry.

Consider putting clean towel over your pillow, so it can absorb the moisture from your hair. The wet pillows are perfect place for bacterial growth, which can cause acne (and a nasty smell).

Silk and satin pillowcases are also good alternative, since those fabrics cause less friction, regardless of your hair being wet or dry. Wrapping your hair in a silk scarf will also do the trick - you can see our guide on top silk pillowcases here - https://thesleepstudies.com/best-silk-pillowcases-sheets-comforter/

Let your hair down or tide it?

Braiding your hair slightly or putting it into a bun, may give you a nice, wavy look in the morning. You can even wrap your strands around pieces of cloth to take it to the next level of curly.

However, if you do this on hair that hasn't been dries at all, the chances of damaging it will get high.

If you really want to do something with it, choose a loose braid, and avoid any tight alternatives or high ponytail. Scrunchies will work better than elastic bands, so go with them.

Styling it after waking up

In most cases, you will have to re-do your hairstyle in the morning, because often it needs some tiding up and blow drying.

If you like what you see when you get up, go on with your day.

If not, you can shake it out to get volume, and add some styling product or diffuse it. You may even have to re-wet some part of your hair to get the look you want.

This can actually take more time than if you just wash it a bit earlier in the evening so you have the time to dry it out.

Health-related concerns

Some doctors say the practice has nothing to do with getting ill, other ones (and your mum) are strongly against it.

We are going to follow our common sense and say that it’s never wise to to it in a cold or windy place.

Sure it doesn’t mean you are going to get ill just because you are cold, but your body acts differently in these conditions.

Sleeping with wet hair and headaches

When sleeping in a cold climate, the blood vessels in your body and head, especially the ones in your nose and throat, will constrict. When that happens there is a less space for white blood cells (which are responsible for fighting the viruses), to come through and do their job. Having your head wet for number of hours in a cold environment, sure doesn’t help.

We don’t catch a cold, we catch a virus, but by getting our body in this state our immune system can become weaker, making our body an easy target. That can be a reason for an onset of headaches.

Our body temperature drops during the night, and because we are sleeping, we can’t control it by getting ourselves warmed. Since we loose our heat mostly through our head, it will cause some dehydration.

Any extreme change in temperature can be dangerous to our body and cause problems more serious than a fleeting headache.

If you choose to do it anyway, let it be damp instead of soaking wet, and keep your room warm and your pillow protected.

Share your thoughts

We did our best to address some of the most common concerns, but the more opinions and experiences the merrier.

What are your thoughts and experiences? Is it OK to sleep with wet hair? 

If you have any questions, or would like to share your experience, please do so in the comment section below.

Sleep tight and dry

Is it bad to sleep with wet hair? Read more on: www.thesleepstudies.com

[thesleepstudies]

Biting tongue in sleep?

"I'm biting my tongue in my sleep...," it's not something you can complain to a friend about and have a serious conversation. Spoken out-loud, the problem seems trivial and good basis for jokes and puns. But when you wake up to an irritated or even bloody mouth, it doesn't feel like a joke.

Feelings aside, it can be a real problem. In immediate terms, it can interfere with your sleep cycles because, even if you don't know about it, when you bite your tongue your brain receives a pain signal. The effects on sleep quality can range from mild to long-term deprivation of deep sleep, which is an essential sleep phase. On the other hand, it can indicate an underlying cause.

Today, we look at it all - from potential causes to what you can do to stop it.

Tongue-biting in sleep happens to more people than you might think

There are no precise stats, but the number of people suffering from common causes like teeth grinding or sleep apnea can be a good indicator. Over 30% of people grind their teeth excessively during sleep and over 20 million suffer from sleep apnea, in the USA alone. But, if you found your way here, chances are that you're not like most of them. You are probably biting your tongue beyond the point where you damage it and it feels sore in the mornings. That's the part of population we'll be focusing on.

The truth is, this happens to pretty much every one of us while we're awake. Remember how many times you accidentally bite your tongue or insides of your cheeks, while speaking or eating. It is true that it's more common in some people than others, it comes down to the size of your tongue and how your jaw is "put together." As we said, Some people are not even aware of doing it, only realizing that something happened when they feel their sore tongue in the morning.

It's fair to say that if you belong to the later group (people who commonly bite their tongue when they're awake) chances are that the same reasons are causing it when you're sleeping.

However, sometimes this little night accidents may do a serious damage, and in some cases be a sign of distinct health conditions.

Potential causes of biting tongue in sleep

If it happens once every few months, chances are it's accidents and can be attributed to you being a restless sleeper or "living up" your dreams more vividly. We toss and turn while sleeping; our arms and legs sometimes end up in uncomfortable positions, so the same thing can happen to the inside of our mouth. We sometimes grind our teeth, or bite our tongue.

If you have misaligned teeth or wear braces, this can easily be the reason why it happens. Elastics used on braces to set your jaw position can be especially uncomfortable. Unconsciously, while sleeping, you can try to find a better position for your jaw and bite your tongue in the process.

There is a possibility you just have a bigger tongue than it’s suited for your mouth. This disproportion will cause accidental biting to happen often and in other daily situations, for example: when you talk. Having a “big tongue” problem is not as rare as you might think. You can’t do much about the actual size of your tongue, really, but there are some ways you can address the problem of biting your tongue while you sleep, and we are going to discuss them later on.

Disorders and health conditions that may be causing it

Stress can cause all sorts of sleeping disturbances, among them teeth grinding, which can occur and lead to tongue biting. Stress can be caused by hormones, tight schedule at your work place or school, or any other problem bothering you. We often exclude it right away, but it can really be the number one cause. Whatever is the reason behind it, try to relax, and if you can’t do it by yourself, talk to your doctor about treatment that can help you. Once you sort out the cause of the stress and get it under control, you will stop biting your tongue during sleep.

Teeth grinding is a common disorder that is closely tied to the problem. Since it imitates chewing, you get how possible it is to hurt your tongue during these jaw movements while having no control in your sleep. In difference to occasionally grinding your teeth, if you have a disorder, it will need to be treated more serious. Teeth grinding or bruxism is usually a symptom of anxiety and stress, which can be treated with therapy and drugs.

Nocturnal or night seizure is basically a state when person makes uncontrollable jerking movements of limbs without conscious consent, while sleeping. All seizures are caused involuntarily, and can include stiffening of the muscles and losing control of bladder or bowels. Some seizures might manifest in calmer ways, without any movements, therefore be harder to notice. The traces of tongue biting might be noticed on the side of the tongue. A person may not have seizures during the day, so diagnose can only be done by doctors through the observation of brainwaves. To treat this condition, medication is prescribed. When taken, medication will stop the seizures and tongue biting.

Similar to that, there is a Rhythmic movement disorder. In this case, all the movements are usually restricted to the head and neck area. It includes sudden repeated shakes and banging of the head, while unconscious, and as a result can have severe injuries, including ones caused by strong bites. This can happen before or in the middle of sleep, and one seizure can last few minutes. It affects children the most, and although there is medical treatment, they usually stop completely as child gets older.

Sleep apnea is a condition that causes problems with breathing during sleep, including shallow breaths and long pauses between each breath. With that happening, a tongue tends to relax, so it can slip between the teeth, which can lead to injuries. Each episode of sleep apnea (and there can be many of them during the night) can bring new tongue injury, leaving you with bloody traces in the morning. There are effective treatments for this condition.

Lyme disease affects the nervous system and the brain itself, and with those two inflicted and not working properly, muscles receive wrong signals and they start to move involuntarily and unpredictably.

Other causes

If you have dentures and the fitting is not right, this can also be a cause behind the problem. If that’s the case, you will need to visit your dentist to make proper adjustments.

Taking psychoactive substances, often leads to people grinding their teeth, biting their tongues and inner cheeks. With their increased energy and changed state of perception, they can do this even for pleasure, since the receptors for pain are influenced by drug and are not working properly. This can cause to serious injuries.

Some antidepressants and other medications can cause night seizures and movements that may cause a problem. When the medication is changed, this usually stops.

Damages you may suffer from biting tongue in sleep

Although injuries from are usually not life threatening, they are painful. The situation gets trickier because of the fact that the injury is placed in our mouth, which is full of bacteria.

If you think the situation is serious, you should immediately visit a doctor, but usually there is no need to do that.

If it happens often, or you did it once, but with a lot of strength, you will probably notice some nasty results from it. Soreness and bleeding are most common, but there is also possibility of developing ulcers, that can take days to heal.

Morsication lingarum is a condition that affects borders of the tongue, when it’s being physically injured by chronic biting. In this case the sides of tongue are irritated and painful, and it needs to be treated.

"Biting my tongue in my sleep"

How to talk to your physician

As we said, it can be nothing but like with all problems that might seem trivial but persevere, you'll want to talk to your doctor. In these situations people tend to try and "steer" the opinion of the doctor by either diminishing or exaggerating the problem. The best practice here is to visit a doctor right after an episode so that they can see the damage and be very precise about how often it happens.

This can as simple as taking pictures after each episode. This will give them useful insight into how often it happens and the extent of the damage it causes - it's the frequency and the severity that tell the full story.

How to fix the damage?

There are ways to treat the injury or relieve the pain before going to the doctor’s.

Applying ice cubs or anything cold on your tongue will help with soreness and numb the pain. You would also want to rinse your mouth with salty water to clean the wound and protect from infection. Repeat the process few times or until you feel better.

Rest of the day avoid eating spicy and hot food, and restrain yourself from meals that require much chewing.

Can you prevent tongue biting?

We said that it can be caused by some disorders and illnesses, in which case the conclusion is that the cure for the tongue biting is the treatment for the initial cause/health issue.

Whatever is the reason behind the issue, you're probably wonder if there's something that can actually protect your tongue from being damaged?

The answer is yes.

There are several types of mouth guards or night guards.

Boil and bite guards, that you need to boil in water before using to soften the plastic they’re made from, and partially custom fit them to your mouth. They can be found in some stores.

Back to you

We hope that reading this guide helped you find useful advice and clarity on the matter.

If you are biting your tongue in sleep, or have any experience related to this issue, please do share with us and comment in the section below.

Sleep tight and don’t bite.

Biting tongue in sleep? Find more on: https://www.thesleepstudies.com/

[thesleepstudies]

Bookcase headboard – Top 10 Picks in Twin, Full, Queen & King size

This guide on bookcase headboards is planned to be a one-stop shop for all the information you’ll ever need to choose right.

What you’ll see

We are a month late with this update because we wanted to make sure that was covered everything. So, no matter what you’re looking for in terms of size and materials (mostly solid wood), we’re confident you’ll find it here.

It took us this long because we needed in our statistical data to make specific recommendations. That’s the first thing you’ll see - our top five picks among bookcase headboards in all styles, colors & sizes (twin, full, Queen and King). So let us get right to it.

Bookcase headboards with sizing details - Queen, King, Full and Twin

Kansas Solid wood bookcase headboard by Palace Imports

Most of the complaints we’ve seen while gathering data for this guide were about assembly, stability and longevity of the assembled headboard.

In those quality categories there is simply no comparison between composites and solid wood pieces like this one. It’s 100% solid wood (pine) available in 3 colors (mahogany, cherry and java) and two sizes (twin & full).

Between the sizes and colors, it’s hard to imagine a room that one of the versions one be a good fit for.

Bottom line – all the other solid wood pieces that we looked at cost way more and shed lower user satisfaction numbers.

In terms of value for money it’s worth noting that this solid piece is in the same price range as most composites.

You can read more about it and see what the users are saying below.

Bookcase headboard King

Prepac Sonoma

If you’re looking for clean, minimal look and value for money, this classic Prepac Sonoma might be where your search ends - especially if you're after a King size.

The doesn’t come as a surprise that it’s the most popular product on the list because it’s at the sweet spot between price, and versatility in both size and color.

The Prepac Sonoma is available as Twin, Queen and King size bookcase headboard. The twin is only available in white, one of the Queen and King are available in 5 colors: white, cherry, warm cherry, drifted gray and washed black.

We say that its popularity and high user satisfaction ratings are not a surprise because between the sizes, colors and minimal lines, it’s hard to imagine a room where one of the versions won’t be a good fit.

One caveat you should be aware of is that it’s a standalone, meaning that it doesn’t actually attached to the bed but is held in place by the weight of the bed. Some people we talked to find this to be a plus because it’s easier to clean around the bed while others prefer fixed models.

It’s just something to be aware of when it arrives without attachment hinges – it’s supposed to be like that.

The wood

It’s not a solid wood headboard bookcase and one doesn’t expect to be in this price range. It’s composite wood with a thick, solidly crafted laminate.

Most of the complaints we’ve seen about this Sonoma are regarding two aspects that go hand-in-hand - assembly and structural integrity over time.

Like most pieces like this (composite wood), a bit of extra care while putting together base dividends in the long run. If the screws are not properly aligned and angles are not right, it might affect how stable the final assembly is.

Based on our statistics, about 1 in 10 people have the complaint about the assembly or the longevity. In this price range, it’s fair to say that the percent of pieces are faulty on-arrival. So, the best practice here is to get someone experienced to put it together.

A trained eye will notice any on arrival issues with the angles or screws. In this scenario, it’s wise to replace the package instead of improvising.

Sauder County Line bookcase headboard Queen / Full

At the time of the last update to this guide, this Sauder County Line is one of the highest numbers in the category of user satisfaction. Granted, the number of reviews it had is currently nowhere near as high as, say, that of the Prepac Sonoma.

It’s only natural because this Sauder comes in only one color (salt oak) and it’s not as versatile as some of the other pieces of the list in terms of color scheme of the room.

It’s designed to be attached to pretty much and standard bed in full or queen-size. What do we especially liked about it is the thickness of the side boards in the frame and the minimal yet practical segmentation of the shelves.

If the salt oak finish works for your intended space, you can see all the details of this Sauder by following the link below.

Sauder Orchard Hills

Sauder Orchard Hills is one of the most popular pieces on the list.

The company stresses that the Orchard Hills have significantly lower return rate compared to similar headboards.

The design is minimal and can work with most spaces will, from modern to traditional. Of course, the fact that it only comes in Carolina Oak is a limiting factor.

Dimensions

It’s 62.75 inches long and 40 5/8 inches high. Total height of the shelves is 10 7/8 inches with the central shelf of 29.25 “.

Solid wood bookcase headboard Queen by Barrister

Finding a solid wood headboard bookcase in Queen size is proven to be a more difficult task than we anticipated. That’s why this Barrister is an amazing find.

We had to dig a bit deeper around carpentry forums, but once we stumbled upon it was a dear in headlights moment.

We were taken back by the price range first and foremost. Once we researched more, we found some answers. It’s made of plantation hardwood. This is a medium density hardwood that you typically find on rubber wood plantations.

This type of wood is also known as Malaysian Oak. Widespread use of Malaysian Oak in furniture is yet to enter the mainstream - that’s the most likely explanation for the low price of this piece.

If this was the ‘80s, we could talk about the susceptibility of Malaysian Oak to fungus or insects. It was in the 80s that manufacturing treatments were developed to protect the sensitive wood.

One would think that 30 years would be enough for the industry to catch up, but this piece is proof of sorts that it’s yet to happen.

But, talking about furniture industry trends is besides the point here. The point is that this Barrister offers the quality of solid wood at a price range of composites.

Prepac Espresso bookcase headboard Queen / Full

If you’re looking for a more intricate design (read: more shelf space) this slanted piece might be right for you.

Size

Total height adds up to 55.75 “. The width of 65.75 makes a good fit for Queen and the full beds.

The central storage space measures 29.75 x 16.75 inches, with three smaller separated shelves on top of it and some generous space on the sides.

As you can see in the images, it has more than enough space to organize both your books and smaller stuff like alarm clocks or boxes.

In terms of design, what separates this Prepac is the slanted front-end, the bottom shelf is 10.25 inches, while the highest self is 6.5.

Again, the limiting factor is the color since it only comes with an espresso finish. In the cold works for you, you can read more about it below.

Sauder Shoal Creek

The first thing that stands out about the Sauder Shoal Creek are the drawers. If you have any knick-knacks that belong in the bedroom but you don’t want them displayed this Sauder might be right for you.

While the width is similar to most bookcase headboards for Full and Queen beds (64 inches), the Sauder Shoal Creek is the lower and not as imposing.

Measured from the bottom to the top shelf, it’s 41 7/8 inches. In the central storage area is 11.5 inches high and 28.75 inches wide.

It comes in five colors: white and soft white, brown, diamond ash gray and Jamocha (the best we can describe the mocha that it somewhere between dark brown and black).

South Shore Summer Breeze Bookcase Headboard Full

The South Shore Summer breeze clearly stands out in terms of design, with the dominant top arch. One look at it and it should be clear enough whether it can work for your room.

It’s available in two colors – chocolate and vanilla cream.

Dimensions and weight

Height – 48 “, width – 56 “, depth 9.25 “. It weighs 58 lbs.

South Shore Little Treasures

The South Shore Little Treasures is one of the pieces on the list that will obviously work primarily with rustic spaces.

In the country pine finish with knotted patterns is what defines the look.

The design relies on straight lines and right angles, which gives it a simple and minimal “feel.”

Its 57 inches wide, 36 1/8 “ high and 9 inches deep. The biggest (central) shelf measures 23 x 9 1/8 “.

South Shore Step One headboard bookcase Twin

The South Shore step one is clearly designed to be a good fit for modern spaces.

The shelves separation is not as intricate, the total with 56 inches is simply separated into three shelves, each 17 3/4 inches wide and 14 5/8 inches high.

Total height is 40 1/8 inches.

In spite of being minimal, it doesn’t look boring – the top arch is a nice designer's touch.

Twin bookcase headboard

Sauder Beginnings

The Sauder Beginnings belongs to the top five pieces in terms of user satisfaction numbers.

Furthermore, Sauder goes out of their way to stress how much lower the return and replace numbers are.

All the statistics we looked at do confirm the advertising claims about this Sauder. With that said, we’re not sure why the company is not offering it in more size and color choices.

It’s only available in dark cinnamon cherry color finish and twin size.

Reference info on bookcase headboards

In this section of our guide will offer some insights and tips about what to think about when choosing a bookcase headboard.

Composite or solid wood

As you saw in our analysis above, composite wood is more commonly used for headboard bookcases than solid. Our list of top 10 includes only 2 solid wood pieces and one of them is not classic wood but Malaysian Oak otherwise known as para wood.

The reason is that composite is much easier to work with and assemble. However, all composite’s are not created equal, so in the following section, we’ll take a look of the different types we saw used for the pieces.

Before we get talking about densities and the manufacturing process let us answer a basic question.

What is the wood composite in the first place?

We all know the type of “wood” but we don’t know much about how it’s made, where it comes from or how to judge its quality. So, we’ll try to simplify the definition, it to make the rest of this section easier to understand.

A composite derives from wood and it’s created from fibers, compressed boards, strands and other pieces pressed together and binded. Apart from wood-only, a composite can be WPC (WP stands for wood-plastic), this means that fibers and thermoplastics are mixed together.

It might sound strange, but this type of “wood” doesn’t have to include wood derivatives at all. It can be made using vegetable fibers like sugarcane, wheat straw or hemp stock. These fibers and are done pressed together by adding binding chemicals.

Roughly speaking, all composite wood belongs to four categories: plywood, fiberboard, oriented strand board and laminated timber.

Headboard bookcases are typically made from laminated timber

We did see some sub-par pieces made using fiberboard or strand board but, most of the time, companies use laminated timber to make headboard bookcases.

It’s at the sweet spot between malleability, density and sturdiness. In other words, it’s easier to work with and it assembled right, it holds shape pretty well…more on that in a minute.

The construction of headboard bookcases

If you look at the pieces and analyze the weak spots, the first thing to look at is the shelves (and drawers, if any). If we look at our statistics, most complaints about assembly are not regarding the frame but the shelves.

It’s only natural because the better pieces have a thicker frame that can withstand more force, both because the material is sturdier and more screws are applied to keep it in place. Shelves are a different story, they are much more sensitive.

Shelf sagging

Even if you don’t know much about woodworking, intuitively, you understand the issue were talking about when we say “shelf sagging”.

If the screws that go in the sides of the frame and through the shelf are not perfectly aligned, the assembly can quickly become rackety, sag or move.

Some of the pieces that we saw above have predrilled holes for the shelves. With these, the bookshelves lay on metal notches that go into the hopes. Some of the woodworking experts we talked to preferred this design because it minimizes the chances of the bookcase shelves becoming loose in the short run or sagging in the long run.

Dimensional factors of the bookcases

There’s nothing more important for the structural integrity of the bookcase frame than the thickness of the shelf.

Let’s try and explain bookcase sagging in plain terms

The two other dimensional factors (width and length) are directly proportional. This simply means that you if you had 5% of with the bookcase shelf gains 5% in rigidity.

The same directly proportionate math applies to length - the shorter it is, the more rigid it will be.

Thickness is not so straightforward

Thickness of a bookcase has, mathematically speaking, exponential connection with sagging. If you make a shelf 10% thicker, it becomes 21% stronger.

What this means for you

With all other factors equal, thickness of the wood will have more impact on bookcase sagging.

Simply put, if you’re looking for longevity from your bookcase headboard, choose thicker lumber.

“Creep” of the bookcases

What we talked about above (sagging) only applies in the long run as the woods changes shape. There’s another woodworking term that describes the small changes is in shape (arching) as you put on weight (books).

Creep is only a secondary factor with the pieces that we listed above because, typically, the bookcase shelves are not long enough for you to see significant creep. It can, however, become a factor in the composite is low-density and creep forces become a factor that pulls on the screw connections between the frame and the inner case.

For example, if you get a two-section headboard bookcase in King size, the length can be a factor if you substantially burden it.

Strength of the wood used for the bookcases

We’re only briefly address solid wood strength because the range of choices is limited and the detailed analysis would be futile.

But, if you’re making a DIY headboard bookcase, it might be worth having some basic knowledge when choosing the wood. For our purposes, the more important part is the comparison between solid wood (primarily pine), medium density fiberboard (MDF) and plywood.

Solid

The harder to wood the stiffer and stronger the bookcase. Naturally, a piece made of solid wood will cost more, whether you’re making it yourself or buying it.

Medium density fiberboard

Probably the most cost-effective option, MDF is not as strong and stiff, but it does a good job for a bookcase.

Plywood

Compared to pine, plywood is about 64.5% “weaker.” On the other hand, it’s about 67% stronger than MDF.

For reference purposes, we are including comparison table of wood strength for bookcases. The numbers below describe how much weight a 36 x 12 x 1 “shelf can take and not sag more than 0.25 “.

Pine: 200 pounds

Oak: 313 pounds

Plywood: 129 pounds

MDF: 87 pounds

Rigidity of composites versus solid bookcase headboards

Man-made wood is nowhere near as strong as solid pieces. Let’s take the example of plywood - the rigidity is about 50% lower than hardwood (on average).

MDFs and particleboards are not a great choice if they are not strengthened. On their own, and they are about 75% weaker than average wood. With this in mind, the thickness of the shelves that we analyzed previously and the quality of the laminate finish becomes crucial important.

This is where he to ties in – our top picks in the table at the very top of this guide are superior to similar products from competitors in most of these aspects, especially in the craftsmanship of the laminate. Granted, you won’t be burdening your headboard with heavy objects, but if there is space, they might fit a set of encyclopedias.

To that end, we’re including a reference table about maximum length between supports for moderate and heavy loads (25 & 50 pounds per running foot).

Talk to us and apply for our giveaway

If we haven't covered something in the guide, feel free to ask us about it. We respond to all comments and questions with 1 day.

If you do end up getting one of the pieces above or already have experiences you'd like to share, make a note to contact us and tell us about it. That would make you a contributor and qualify you for our annual 1K Amazon gift card giveaway.

Don't be a stranger,

The Sleep Studies Team

Bookcase headboard – Top 10 Picks in Twin, Full, Queen & King size See more on: thesleepstudies

[thesleepstudies]

Glass beads and plastic poly-pellets for a weighted blanket

We’ve received a few dozen questions about choosing and buying glass beads and plastic pellets in the last few months.

So, we decided to put together a guide that would give you all the information necessary chose right - from the type and size that would work well for this DIY project to the more specific questions like, “Where to buy glass beads?”

First things first

For those of you who like to get straight to the point, we’ll to just do just that - offer specific recommendations with links to the original products.

Where to buy glass beads for weighted blankets

If you’re looking for glass beads choice and you’re not the company that can import in bulk from China, the choice is very limited.

In fact, we only found one product that’s large enough in the amateur so that the beads don’t pass through the fabric or shift between the chambers.

You can see the details below:

[table id=69 /]

Plastic pellets for weighted blankets

[table id=70 /]

Reference info

We’ll do our best to simplify things here avoid technical lingo. As you stressed in the title of section were providing this information for reference purposes and all the products listed above meet the guidelines.

Weight properties

We could get into more depth here, but most of the weight aspects are not that important for our purposes.

Two weight properties that had an impact on our choices are density of the material itself and bulk density.

Here’s the difference between the two density properties:

Actual density refers to the material itself. To put it simply, if you took to pellets from different manufacturers and measured them, they’ll have different weight.

Bulk density is slightly different because it refers to how much a cup (or another measure for volume) will weigh. The unit measurements are the same (lbs per cube-inch, oz per cup, etc.) - it will, however, always be lower than the actual density. it's only natural because "bulk" includes the space between the tiny spheres.

If the pellets are of the same size, shape and plastic density, they’ll also have the same bulk density.

If they are of the same size and shape but the material density is higher, bulk will be higher too - 1 cup will weight more.

On the other hand, the finer the beads and pellets, the less space between them and, again, higher bulk.

Plastic pellets for blankets - bulk density rule of thumb

The rule of thumb when choosing poly pellets is 4-7 oz per cup. Practically, this means that the higher bulk density you go with, the lower the loft will be.

Let us explain this on an example of the top two products we listed above.

The first one (ReachTherapy) is 6 ounces per cup and second one (Victory) is 5.

This doesn’t change anything in terms of weight. It’s like that famous question, “Which is heavier, 1 pound of iron or 1 pound of cotton?”

Of course they weight the same.

But, if you make two blankets of, say, 15 lbs - the one filled with 5 oz/cup plastic will be loftier and slightly thicker. The higher the difference in density, the more difference you’ll see in loft and thickness.

When you should (or should not) think about this

If you go with any of the plastic filling we listed in the table above, it’s fair to say that you can forget about bulk density - the differences are minuscule and all of them are just right for weighted products.

When to consider it

The density analysis is more important if you’re still deciding whether to go with beads or pellets.

The former is much finer (smaller pieces, higher bulk density) and the end result will be different - you’ll need less volume to fill the blanket and it will be thinner (compared weight to weight).

How to choose between the two

Safety

As soon as someone mentions plastic, the first thing that comes to mind is safety from any potentially harmful chemicals. All the products we listed are completely safe. They are made of virgin plastic (meaning that it’s not recycled) and free of any toxins like BPAs, traces of fire retardants or phthalates.

So, if you go with any of them, this is a non-issue.

Texture and feel

Pellets have the texture and feel of miniature pebbles. They are, however, too small for most people to feel the pebbled-shapes when sleeping.

On the other hand, the beads are so fine that they practically feel like sand and look like sugar (if it was spherical).

Bottom line - for most people, the slight “bumpiness” of pellets will be a non-issue, especially if you plan to use your blanket with a cover.

If you’re particularly sensitive, beads are a great alternative. One caveat here is that beads call work well with dense materials like satin and close stitching. In other words, if you’re using them to make a blanket you’ll need to make sure that the stitches are crafted with precision (especially at the edges). Otherwise, you might see some movement and shifting between the chambers.

Polymers used for the pellets

There are two types polymers used to make pellets – thermoplastic and thermosetting. The classification is based on the forming of the bonds and flow properties.

A vast majority of products used for DIY projects (like blankets) belong to the group of thermoplastic. This is types plastic that will melt.

Thermosetting polymers form a much stronger bond and will not melt or “flow” when heated.

Thermoplastic vs. thermosetting plastic pellets for blankets

There’s not much to think about here and all the products in the table at the beginning of the guide thermoplastic.

The reason behind using them is simple – the price vs. the job they’re intended for.

The strong bonds in thermosetting plastics are formed through expensive manufacturing processes like electron beams, UV or chemical agents.

Using this type pellets for blanket filling would be like using bulletproof glass for your flower garden. You can do it, but it’s going to cost much more and there is no common sense reason to do it.

Ask, share and apply for our giveaway

If you do end up making a blanket, it would be great to share your experience. This should make you a contributor to our site and you’d qualify for our $1,000 yearly giveaway of sleep products.

All you need to do to apply is bookmark this page and contact us after you’ve made the blanket to share your thoughts.

Finally, if you have any questions or feel like we failed to mention something, use the comment section below to ask us anything.

The Sleep Studies team

The article Glass beads and plastic poly-pellets for a weighted blanket is courtesy of TheSleepStudies

[thesleepstudies]

Blanket Ladder

What you’ll see

This guide on blanket ladders is envisioned to be a one-stop-shop for all information you’ll ever need to get top value for your money.

It took about 10 months & 4,000 work hours to complete. Writing a general guide with shopping tips is not a big deal, but the specific recommendations you’ll see called for outside help.

Why we had to talk to experts

It’s because some quality aspects were out to our area of expertise. So, we talked to 8 experts. Most of them specialize in quality of materials used - from wood to metal.

In terms of design, we relied on the knowledge of one of our own - Katia Dadzis. Before joining us full-time, Katia was an award-winning interior decorator.

So, when two products of similar type (typically wooden rustic), it was her opinion that was the deciding factor.

That’s how we made our initial picks of 74 products. We also had to tweak our statistical model to reflect these specific quality aspects.

Bottom line - results and see below are a combination of a few factors: the expertise of our woodworking consultants, statistical modeling of user satisfaction with the products and a touch of our experience in the industry.

Blanket ladder - our top five picks

The Original Sula - top pick overall

If you’re into interior design, you might already know that the Sula Stand was featured in one of the issues on the Architectural Digest Magazine. When choosing a blanket ladder there’s a few quality aspects to think of. We’d group them into two categories: style and practicality.

The Sula is at the sweet spot. Stylish enough to work well with the range of space styles – from antique to modern and yet practical enough to eliminate any concerns that come with daily use. It’s easy to see stylish pictures from a photo shoot session and think,” I want that.” But daily use is a different story altogether, especially if you go with wood.

So, if you’re looking for a piece to use for years to come without sacrificing style and appearance the Original Sula Stand is, in our opinion, the obvious choice.

Sturdiness of the Sula is second to none – it’s the only item here made of solid Teak. All the hardware used is stainless and waterproof, so you won’t be seeing any corrosion issues.

AquaTeak might have made these with towels in mind, but the generous width works for blankets just as well.

With these, you don’t have to worry about leaning or placement. It stands independently and you can easily move it around your living room if you get bored with the placement.

To be overtly personal for a second, one of the authors of this guide has first-hand experience with the Sula. Our editor Bob has two of these - one for the living room and one for the bathroom. All of us make jokes about him paying the extra bucks for the Sula. To be honest, there might be a peg of home-jealousy involved.

Back to the object side of things

The Sula stand does cost more compared to any other item on this list, but it doesn’t cost as much in some of the ladders you might see in a Pottery Barn catalogue.

Our analysis here might read “teleshopy,” so, in case you’re wondering (which you probably are) let us just stress that we received no free products when compiling this guide.

We seem to find the Sula to be the best-rounded stand/ladder.

You can do your own reading and see some more first-hand experiences from the owners by following the two links below.

White rustic blanket ladder by BarnwoodUSA - top decorative choice

BarnwoodUSA was not in the top three when it comes to user satisfaction statistics, but it’s still our top pick in three consecutive updates. We gave this fact some thought over the past few months and analyzed the feedback.

The conclusion we reached is that most people who weren’t satisfied after spending money in this product talked about the craftsmanship and the fact that it is a peg more expensive than other similar products.

What this means for you

It means that you should be aware of what you’re buying if you do go with this piece. It’s right there in the name - this is a rustic blanket ladder and the wood does look distressed and unfinished.

Why we chose it as the top rustic piece

Because it does exactly what it’s meant to do and does it well. The part that was especially important here is the fact that it comes in three sizes in six colors, which means there’s little chance of ending up with a piece that doesn’t work with your space.

To be subjective for a second, our favorites (color-wise) are the white, black and turquoise. These three alone cover any “feel” you’re going for - the rustic white and black will complement pretty much any room style, while the turquoise makes for a great accent piece.

What this means for you

It means that if you’re looking for a product to be used daily, you’re probably better off with some of the products further down this list.

To be precise - if you own a wool blanket and you’re using it daily, you’ll want a smoother finish with zero splinters. On the other hand, if you are primarily looking for a decorative piece, you’ll love this Barnwood.

Is there are still questions in your mind about the kind product this is, you can see them all answered by following one of the two links below. When all said and done, there’s no better source of answers than those coming from owners.

Yamazaki Home Tower throw ladder rack – most practical

Among metal blanket ladders, our choice is the Yamazaki home Tower.

We wouldn’t expect anything less from a piece designed in Japan.

In the category of daily use we looked at 14 products and 3 of them stood out - this Yamazaki, the Umbra Freestanding Adjustable & Master Garden Bamboo.

The smooth finish of the Yamazaki eliminates any issues regarding blanket wear and tear; the minimalist retro design is still stylish. It comes with six thin steps (one more than any of the products we listed here).

If you combine the thin six-step design with the generous width (close to 18 inches) you get what’s probably the highest capacity and versatility item here, comparable only to the Umbra Freestanding.

The Yamazaki Tower is also too obvious choice if longevity is and kind of the factor for you. It’s only natural because it’s the only ladder here that’s top-to-bottom steel.

With user satisfaction of over 90% (people who gave it either four or five stars) put it in the top 3% off ladders we looked at.

You can see what people like or dislike about the Yamazaki by following the links below.

Umbra Freestanding - most versatile

The umbra is a whole different “beast” compared to any of the products on the list. We found it to be most versatile for two reasons - the width is adjustable (in the range between 16-24 “) and the protruding steps on one side of the ladder offer some extra space for hanging towels or throws.

Along with the Yamazaki Tower, the Umbra is one of the two pieces on the list with the modern design (versus the rustics).

Our rating: 90/100

Rustic Decor - runner-up in the “decorative” category

If you’re aiming for a minimal Barnwood or antique look, this might be your choice. Rustic Decor makes these from reclaimed wood and they look and feel primitive - that’s why we’re labeling them as “decorative.”

It’s rugged, unfinished with all the knots and splinters still there. This means it’s not the best idea to use it as storage ladders for your expenses blankets.

With that said, dollar for dollar, this is probably top value for money. Further down in this guide we explored the options you have if you want to make the ladders on your own.

Unless you have all the materials at hand, looking at the price of this slice of style will probably get you to think twice about whether it’s worth making one of your own.

Our top primitive pick - authentic weathered display

If you’re looking for a piece that looks like it’s been washed ashore, this 4-inch high weathered wood ladder might be your choice.

Buyer beware

It’s right there in the name, this is primarily a decorative display piece and it’s too distressed and unfinished to be used daily. You can see the knots and nail holes even in the images here.

They do look rustically charming but, make no mistake; daily use would take a toll on your blankets or throws.

The good part is that, for a decorative piece, it’s surprisingly sturdy and well made.

Our top pick in Bamboo ladders

If you like bamboo look, there is one piece we found that meets the quality standards.

It comes from Master Garden and stands at 60 inches high and it’s primarily designed for towels. However, it’s wider than most solid wood or metal blanket ladders – 16 inches wide.

In our research, we found that four out of five people were satisfied with the product they received and those who weren’t primarily talked about the imperfections in the making.

So, be aware that the bamboo doesn’t look as confectionery, run-of-the-mill perfectly finished ladders you might find in your local IKEA. It’s not crafted to be perfect and those who know bamboo note that this type (Calcutta or Tam Wong) is used when you want a piece that looks like it’s a present from your friend who just came back from traveling the Orient.

DIY blanket ladder

Although getting a nice set of blanket ladders at IKEA, on Amazon, Walmart or Target is fairly cheap, you can always go down the DIY route just because it’s fun.

On the other hand, you might have taken a look at the latest Pottery Barn catalog or a handmade piece on Etsy and your heart skipped a beat…they can be quite pricey.

The prices

The prices range anywhere from a few dozen dollars (all the leaders we listed are available on Amazon and belong to the lower price range) up to a few hundreds (we’ve seen some expense pieces in the Pottery Barn catalogs).

Whether you can relate to the former or a latter scenario, the DIY version is probably going to save you some money and cost you some time.

They do look simple enough to make, deceivingly simple even, but weight making one yourself does require a bit of experience in woodworking… especially to make a piece that will last.

How to make a blanket ladder

As we said, for a person experienced in woodworking, the project can be very simple and cheap.

We looked at what’s available out there, compared DIY sources and prices of the supplies and reached a conclusion that you can make one for as little as $10-$15.

The advantage here is that you can customize the end result to fit your needs. The important part here is the width and depth of the steps – choose one that will be just right for the blankets you have.

On the other hand, if you’re making a decorative piece, you can plant whole thing ahead and choose the decorative throws or blankets just for this purpose.

How to make it – the supplies

Here’s a list of what you’ll need

17-18 ft. of wood - we’d go with 2 2x2 boards - each of them 8-9 ft. long. Thicker wood pieces like this would be easier to work with (in terms of the assembly)

Wood screws - the number here will be and how many steps you want. For the purposes of this guide, let’s say that you’re making a 4-step ladder - this would require eight screws. In terms of size, ½ “screws will do just fine.

Wood finish for staining - you can always go with a completely unfinished look; this is an option for decorative ladders that want be used on daily basis. But if you want to make ladders that you’ll actually use or you want to specific color (rustic wood or white will work well with most spaces) we would advise using some type of wood finish.

Clear coating for the finish – this will prevent any color from getting on your blankets or splits damaging them.

Step-by-step

The first step would be to cut the boards - 5 feet for each of them is a good size

If you do go with 5 feet, after step one will be left with two 3 feet boards (36 inches) - this allows you to choose the width of 4 steps to be between 14 and 16 inches.

Before you use the screws, measure the boards again by laying them on the floor. Make sure that everything fits precisely.

Distance between the steps - measuring from the top, place the first step at about 5 to 6 inches. A good rule of thumb some for the distance between the steps is 11-13 inches. This will leave some more space between the bottom step and the floor and that’s what we’re aiming for. Otherwise, the bottom step would be unusable for most standard sizes of blankets and throws.

Precision when measuring and getting the wholes is crucial - we don’t want crooked ladders now, do we?

Use the screws to put it all together

Apply the wood finish and coating that you chose

Voila, after a day of drying the finish, you’ll have a modern or antique-style storage piece, the pride making it yourself and the few extra dollars in your wallet. We found some more precise tutorials and DIY plans on Shanty 2 Shic and Ana White.

The caveats of choosing

Ultimately, your choice should depend on the type of blanket you want to hang on the ladder.

In practical terms, it comes down to the friction between the two surfaces. Distressed, rustic wood with no finish might prove to be too much for sensitive materials like wool. Simply put, and fibers will catch the splinters and even if you don’t pull out a thread, you’ll probably soon see some wear.

The same goes, probably even more so, for knitted or crochet blankets. On the other hand, wood of this type is not likely to be sturdy enough for heavier throws.

If this is your scenario, you’re better off with a fine finish.

Flat steps vs. round dowels

The first step should probably be the deciding on the shape of the steps (no pun intended).

You can go with a wide and flat wooden steps or rounded dowels which typically see in bamboo, metal and iron.

The right way to look at things here would be a combination between the material, finish and shape of the steps.

If it’s fancy DIY project, it can be as simple as nailing peaces of pallet together.

If there’s one take away here it would be not falling into the trap of saving money on the front-end (by making it cheap) and losing it on the back-end (by damaging your blanket).

Where to buy a blanket ladder?

Most major retailers and store chains (like Amazon, Target, Walmart, Farmhouse, Pottery Barn, Wayfair, Magnolia etc.) carry a wide range of choices – from white and to black and from wood to metal.

Choosing where to buy the ladder comes down to two things - your budget and how well you can research before buying one. Get it online will give you the advantage of reading experiences of other owners.

If you want a handmade one but would like to skip the trouble of making it yourself, you can always a blanket ladder for sale on Etsy.

How tall?

From what we’ve seen, 5ft and 6ft are the sweet spot when it comes to height. This size range allows for proper distancing of the steps or dowels.

For specific purposes (like baby nursery), we’d say that 5ft or smaller would be a better fit.

Ask us anything or work with us

Typically, we update this every four months to reflect any changes on the market.

As we said in the beginning, a year ago, this topic was new to us but we learned a lot since. We also have a panel of good people with expertise in the field, so we’re confident we can answer any question that pops to mind.

If we don’t know, we’ll find out. So, feel free to reach out or share your comments about our picks.

If you already own one or get it after reading this guide, do come back and contact us – we can always use the contribution and firsthand experiences and we are running a yearly 1K of sleep products giveaway for all our contributors.

Don’t be a stranger,

The Sleep Studies team

The following blog post Blanket Ladder See more on: thesleepstudies

[thesleepstudies]

Couple Sleep Positions Meaning

Most of our communication is actually based on non-verbal gestures. Body language is something we are familiar with in everyday life, but it doesn’t stop when we fall asleep.

The position of our body while sleeping can tell a lot about person’s character and emotional state. In terms of love, the way we sleep with our partner can indicate the state of our relationship.

Subconsciously, we choose the position in which we are sleeping. Since we can’t control it, it can be a great way to shed a light on feelings that may not be spoken while we are awake.

Let’s take a look at some of the most common positions couples sleep in their meaning.

1. Tangled, honeymoon hug

We’re starting with the one that is very rare, because it’s not really comfortable to stay in this position all through the night. It usually happens when the emotions are running high (after sex) or at the beginning of relationship, when partners want to be physically close to each other as much as possible. If this is a regular sleeping position for couple, or if you spend all night in this tight knot, it can indicate a lack of independence in relationship.

2. The unraveling knot

It starts like honeymoon hug, but later partners untangle. This is actually a good thing, it shows that love and intimacy are definitely there, but independence is present as well. It usually happens (although not often) when couple has been together for a while

3. Spooning

We are all familiar with this one. Spooning indicates intimacy, trust and closeness in relationship. Although there is a lot of physical contact in this position and it’s very sensual, the erotic vibe of it is not as important as the feeling of comfort that it provides. Person who takes the role of “big spoon” feels protective of his partner and this way he/she is trying to create a safe zone for a loved one.

4. Loose spoon

This is a more popular variation of classic spooning. Couples who like to sleep in spoon position will choose this one after some time, simply because it’s more comfortable. On psychological level, this doesn’t mean something is going wrong between the two of you, it actually shows you trust each other and are comfortable to have some space between you, in bed and in life.

5. The Chase

It looks like spooning, but in this position one partner has turned back and moved away to the side of the bed, and the other one is playing the role of “chaser”. There are two ways to interpret this: this person needs more space in bed, or wants to be pursued by his partner.

6. Head on chest aka. the nuzzle

At the start of relationship or when the passions are rekindled, couples will sleep in this snuggling position. Partner who rests hand or head on the chest of other, shows healthy independence in relationship, but is still willing to be dependent on their partner. Usually this partner will place their leg on the body of the other, or they’ll intertwine their legs. Person who sleeps on back and hugs his partner is confident and offers protection. This position is open and is saying that partners are companions who trust each other.

7. The Shingles

When both partners sleep on their back, but one is placing their head on the other’s shoulder, this shows confidence and understanding in relationship.

8. The leg hug

This position can be interpreted in few ways. If just one partner is “hugging” it can mean that he/she needs attention from the other. If both of partners participate in this “hug” that’s a sign of balanced and comfortable relationship. In casual relationships, this often can be confusing, since some people don’t show their affection openly, so this can be either just a random contact or a “call” for closeness.

9. Back to back - touching

If you sleep back to back, but the butts are touching, don’t worry, you are good. This is very popular sleep position, especially among established couples. Each partner has its space, but there is a contact which speaks about closeness and sexual connection.

10. Back to back- no touching

If you and your partner usually hug when sleeping, this could be a red flag. With all that space between the two of you maybe it’s time for a conversation. On the other hand, maybe you cuddle in bed, but it’s just too warm to sleep skin on skin. Some couples don’t need much contact during the night, just a good rest, and there’s nothing wrong in their relationship.

Keep in mind that if you toss and turn a lot throughout the night, its natural if other person wants to keep more space between the two of you. This doesn’t indicate you have an underlying problem in relationship, instead it says you have bad sleeping manners.

11. Face to face - touching

If your heads are at the same level and touching, and your arms are tangled, this speaks about closeness, like-mindedness and general good atmosphere in relationship.

12. Face to face - not touching

This can be a sign of high emotional demands from both sides. Both partners are craving attention and intimacy, and both are doing nothing about it. You should listen to one another and talk about your feelings.

13. Sleeping on your stomach

When we sleep on our stomach we hide the front of our body, and that may be a sign of vulnerability, lack of sexual trust and anxiety. You should speak with your partner and if he is the one sleeping this way, use hugs to make them feel protected.

14. One partner dominates the bed

This is a classic case of power play. If one partner sleeps in a starfish position, and even pushes the other to the side of the mattress, it’s a cause for concern and honest conversation. This selfish position tells which partner is dominant in relationship. Also, take a look if your heads are at the same level. Partner whose head is closer to headboard is usually the one who feels like he is in control and has more confidence, while the partner whose head is positioned lower plays a submissive role and probably has a lack of confidence.

Couple Sleep Positions Meaning is available on https://www.thesleepstudies.com

[thesleepstudies]

Sleep Dread aka. Fear Of Going To or Dying in Sleep – We Asked Experts About It

Sleep dread is real and nothing to be shrugged of. Over the past few years, we interviewed a few dozen of of sleep therapists and one of the questions was always regarding sleep dread - its causes, whether it's a phobia or not, the forms it can take and finally, what you can do if you can relate to what you'll read you'll see below.

Having a good night’s sleep is vital for our overall health and daily functioning. During the 7, 8 or 9 hours, our brain process information gathered during the day and helps our body heal and re-energize.

Disturbance of this process night after night, leads to chronic discomfort, panic attacks, sleep disorders and it can develop into a sleep phobia known as "sleep dread."

What’s causing the fear of going to sleep?

Sleep dread can be caused by number of reasons, including come conditions like PTSD, depression, anxiety disorders or fear of sleep paralysis - https://thesleepstudies.com/sleep-paralysis/ (if you already experienced episodes).

Most commonly, however, it’s a side effect of insomnia.

However, in most cases the main trigger is one simple, everyday thing- fear, irrational and exaggerated fear, to be precise.

How our body reacts to this

When we are scared, our body’s natural reaction is to activate the “flight or fight” mode. This is normal and necessary human reaction, and when it’s reasonable we can benefit from it.

But our sleep is time when we need to go completely opposite from it. Having this mode on when you need to rest is counterproductive. And that’s an understatement. When your mind is telling that you need to be prepared to run from a threat, you can’t rest.

If you do manage to fall asleep at some point, the brain will stay highly alerted during whole time, making the quality of sleep low. Because of the hyper arousal of your nervous system, you will feel more aware of your surroundings, and will probably have nightmares. In this case it’s common to wake up few times during the night, which breaks sleep cycle, so don’t be surprise when you get up in the morning feeling like you worked the graveyard shift.

When mornings feel everything but good

After sleeping in this state you wake up feeling less rested and refreshed. The brain not only didn’t get the chance to store all the data from previous day, but was infused with new information throughout the night.

This leaves you feeling tired, forgetful, and with weakened state of awareness, prone to injuries and accidents during the day. It’s easier to break a glass or cut yourself feeling this way, not to mention more serious stuff.

Bad quality of sleep is often a main reason for the poor performance at job or school, and it also affects our emotional state.

In the long term, disturbance of sleep can play a significant role in causing the variety of health problems, from mood disorders to heart diseases and stroke.

What causes sleep dread

Think about the quality of your life. If you are often isolated and your social life is close to non-existing, this can make you more subjective to influence of bad news. We are social beings; we need to be in touch with each others and share our thoughts and experiences. When a lot of ordinary good things are happening to you on a daily basis, you feel happier and calmer.

If you watch TV and read newspapers, you are probably up to date with all sorts of bad and disturbing news out there. It’s hard to avoid them, to be honest. The world is definitely not a rosy place these days.

This is not something that can be tossed aside. Remember, our brain process information, and the source of information is everywhere. If you think that doesn’t have any effect on you, think again.

Beside that, try to remember all of the movies and TV shows with violent and aggressive scenes in them. Personally, I’ve lost count. And if you are highly sensitive person, or have a wild imagination that likes to visit dark places, even worse. It can take you further and the dread can turn into fear of dying in sleep.

So, even if you’re not suffering from anxiety, or any other mental disorder per se, if you are scared to fall asleep for no real reason, that’s a problem that needs to be taken care of.

The fear of sleeping alone

If you are scared of sleeping because you have bad dreams, that’s one thing, but in most cases, sleep dread gets triggered when sleeping alone.

It’s proven that women are battling this problem more often than man. They usually don’t have trouble sleeping when their family members or partner are in the house. My friend once told me that she feels safer sleeping when “man is in the house”, and I am talking here about the girl that trained martial arts for years.

This irrational fear comes from the idea that we might get attacked during the night, and staying awake will keep us safe. When there are no men to protect us, we must rely on ourselves. This feeling of vulnerability makes our primal fears alive.

We can talk about the century’s old roll of women being a “weaker sex” embedded in our minds, but it’s not just that. For this we can also thank a huge number of movies with highly aggressive scenes that include women getting attacked in the middle of the night in their beds. We are not accusing anyone, this is a simple fact.

How to threat sleep dread and stop it from happening again

Bear in mind that even if you get rid of your fear for a night, or week, the feeling itself casts a very long shadow that can affect you for months or even years, and can make sleep dread episodes reoccur at any time.

This problem needs to be approached directly and systematically. You really need to work on this, by yourself or with doctor’s help.

It takes time, but it’s worth it.

Let’s start simple, small steps

Minimize the flow of violent images and stories that comes to your mind. If you watch a lot of horror movies or crime shows, stop doing that, or at least don’t watch them right before you go to bed. You don’t need to have a sleep phobia to feel frightened to fall asleep after watching some of those, so think logically. Good idea is to move the TV from your bedroom, if you have one there. If you really can’t stop watching movies at night, switch to something relaxing and funny.

Restrain yourself from short-term solutions, like sleeping with your TV on, or lights on, or asking your friend to stay the night. It may help you once, but not in the long run. You can’t erase the fear this way, it will keep coming back.

If you don’t exercise, this is something you really need to consider doing. Not just because of obvious health benefits, but as they say “make your body tired and the brain will follow”. When we exercise, our bodies release serotonin and dopamine, hormones that are responsible for feeling of happiness. With tired body and happy mind it’s a lot easier to hit the bed.

Meditation, positive affirmations and mindfulness have a strong positive influence on our mind. If you think that’s a bit silly, let’s talk about how silly it is to deprive yourself from sleep due to irrational thoughts.

Fight the bad thoughts with positive ones. You already know that the sleep dread is caused by fears that are not justified, that negative state of mind didn’t come from nowhere. Change the way you talk to yourself, and you will change the way you see the world. Practicing yoga, keeping a journal in which you can write down things you are grateful for every day, or just saying positive phrases few times a day like “I am safe in my home”, can be really helpful.

You should also work on your bedtime routine. Your sleep time should be sacred, literally. In general, your bedroom should be dark, well aired and peaceful, so that vibe can be transferred to you. Make your bedroom as cozy as possible, and avoid using computer or telephone before going to bed. Take a bath, or read a nice, relaxing book, or play some of your favorite music. There is even music for sleeping; tracks with calming sounds that help you fall asleep. If you like to sleep with radio on, you should do it, but because you are enjoying it, not because you are terrified of sleeping in silent room.

A more serious approach to sleep dread

In cases of anxiety disorders that affect sleeping and cause insomnia, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has proven to have great results. In sessions with the therapist the focus is on indentifying the fear and getting over it. Your doctor will lead you to confront the actual cause of the problem and together you will work on establishing a healthy sleeping routine. The key thing is to stick to the therapy even if it’s hard to handle in the beginning.

In some cases, medications like alpha-blockers are prescribed to keep the sympathetic nervous system under control.

We believe that consulting with your doctor is the way to go, and that with a right treatment you can overcome sleep dread. This is something it should be discussed with psychologist, especially if you are already battling some type of mental disorder. It can be solved and there is no need to panic.

If the situation is less serious, natural ways we talked about are proven to be effective (even doctors agree on this), and you should try at least one of them.

One step at a time...

We understand how troubling sleep dread can be, and that’s why we worked very carefully on this guide. We hope you will find it useful and follow the advices.

If you are experiencing the fear of sleep, or have a story related to it, please share it with us in the section below.

Don’t be scared to go to bed. Good night

The article Sleep Dread aka. Fear Of Going To or Dying in Sleep – We Asked Experts About It was originally published to www.thesleepstudies.com

[thesleepstudies]

Sleep Innovations Shiloh Review

The review of the Sleep Innovations Shiloh 12-inch memory foam mattress has been “in the pipe” for over 8 months now.

We took our time because we wanted to make sure that the analysis is the most complete it can possibly be.

We consulted experts (both of memory foam and sleep therapists), we gathered a large pool of information from owner feedback and we directly contacted people already sleeping on the Shiloh - as many of them as we could.

It took about 4000 work hours, but we believe that the detailed analysis you’ll see below is a one-stop shop on all the information you’ll ever meet about the Shiloh.

On the other hand, we made an effort to present the results in simple and concise way. The bottom line is that it should only take a few minutes of your time to get a good feel on whether the Shiloh might be the right mattress for you.

[toc]

Sleep Innovations Shiloh Review - all quality ratings

[wp-review id="211161"]

It was clear from the get-go that the Sleep Innovations Shiloh is a top-tier mattress. We say that because for a product of this type (layered all-foam), there is one aspect that’s critically important and that’s the quality of the foam.

For an average buyer, a typical fact sheet can be confusing, misleading even. It’s easy to say that the foam is “high-quality.” But what does that mean to a person that’s not particularly savvy when it comes to the industry lingo?

Foam quality goes well beyond the density and firmness. That’s why the fact that we know the type of foam Sleep Innovation uses was an important factor.

Top to bottom US-made

Outsourcing is not a minus on its own but, based on what we’ve seen when it comes to memory foam, there is a pattern. The quality ratings of the foam with the same density and firmness start to vary with prolonged use.

We revisit and update the quality ratings at 1, 2 and 5-year marks. Based on what we’ve seen, the gap in ratings (shape retention and structural integrity) appears at these time milestones.

Statistically speaking, those ratings speak in favor of US-made foam. To be clear, we don’t want to make and blanket statements, and there are companies out there that import foam that stands its ground when compared to a US-made product.

To simplify - all we want to say here is that an average buyer can be more comfortable with spending money on US-made foam that passed all the rigorous testing and obtained the staple quality certificates.

That’s what the Shiloh is made of and, if you ask us, it’s a big plus.

What we expected to see

Having in mind that sleep innovations are making an effort in their advertising to stand out from the crowd by stressing that there is no one-size-fits-all mattress, we expected the Shiloh to be top-tier.

Why?

Because a company like this wouldn’t risk their reputation by putting a product on the market that’s sub-par compared to the manufacturers they’re trying to distinguish themselves from.

What do we mean by that?

The Shiloh is designed to be a good fit for most people. In a market where many companies simply make one mattress and advertise it as one-size-fits-all, Sleep Innovations is an exception.

They make a range of mattresses for different body frames. The Shiloh is their flagship product with the widest appeal - average to large person.

In other words - it’s designed to find the sweet spot between comfort and support.

Airflow and heat dissipation of the Sleep Innovations Shiloh 12-inch

The foam used to make the Shiloh is patented, with cell structure designed to improve airflow and heat dissipation.

We wouldn’t go as far as describing it as “cooling”, but the heat dissipation numbers we’ve seen do justify the claims the company makes. In that quality aspect, it belongs to the top 5% of mattresses we ever analyzed.

Firmness vs. support

If you prefer an extra soft feel, this mattress might not be right for you. In terms of firmness, we would describe it as medium.

That doesn’t mean much in its own

When you’re looking to buy a mattress, the proper analysis should include “firmness versus support” rather than each of these separately.

Based on the pool of numbers we have, we’d say that 8 out of 10 people will find this mattress to be “just right.”

Here’s why

Shiloh is not just a lump of foam. The layers work together to balance between firmness and support.

This means that the top layer (2.5 inches thick SureTemp foam) is there to allow your shoulders and hips to sink just enough for proper spinal alignment. The SureTemp foam is trademarked by Sleep Innovations and 3rd-party tested to do what the company claims in the advertising.

The base layer is denser and thicker (9.5 inches). It’s the base that’s “responsible” for the structural integrity, shape retention and support.

To be more precise

Putting it simply - for body frames ranging from medium to large, the Shiloh is at the sweet spot. The base is just firm enough so that your spine doesn’t arch downwards, while the top has enough “give” to prevent the spine arching upwards.

That especially goes for side and back sleepers.

Hot versus cold sleepers

In terms of heat dissipation, the only scenario where Shiloh might not feel right is if you’re an especially cold sleeper and the temperature of your bedroom is also low.

In all other scenarios, the mattress does a solid job of both dissipating heat and not trapping the cold. The user satisfaction numbers we’ve seen were slightly higher with people more concerned about heat retention.

Sagging and edge support

Before we get into this, let us this mention that we have separate statistical model when we rate this quality aspect in all-foam models (different formulas from those we use for innerspring and hybrids).

Why?

It’s because you can’t reasonably expect the same level of edge support from foam and mattresses that have a thick wire encircling the edges.

To put it simply - it only makes sense to compare apples to apples.

With that said, this mattress belongs in the top 10% in its category.

What this means for you

It means that the edge support is nothing to write home about, but we also don’t see it as a red flag. It’s solid enough to sit on the edges as you preparing for sleep, but you might find it too soft to read a book or watch TV show while seated on the very edge.

Motion isolation of the – only a secondary factor

This is where Shiloh truly shines. With the layered structure in mind, this doesn’t come as a surprise.

To be honest, the motion isolation properties contribute less towards our final ratings than other quality factors. We all remember those commercials with a bowling ball dropping on a mattress without spilling a glass of wine.

It is impressive when you see it, but how many times did you actually wake up because your sleep partner was moving too much. Our guess is – not many.

The bottom line here is that Shiloh has excellent motion isolation properties, but we wanted to be clear that we find other quality aspects more important.

Durability and longevity of the Sleep Innovations Shiloh 12-inch

There’s confusion with the terminology here and we want to address that first. You might see a Sleep Innovations Shiloh review on other sites lumping these two aspects together, which is not the way to go about it.

Here’s difference

Durability describes how much pressure and weight a mattress can take without compromising the structural integrity.

Longevity describes, as the word itself indicates, how long the mattress is expected to live.

As we mentioned, our ratings reflect 1, 2 and 5-year milestones.

Rating a mattress in these two categories is tricky because we don’t have enough clear-cut data and it comes down to the warranty terms.

Let’s try to be as precise as we can

Typically, this type of mattress from other brands is covered by a 10 year warranty (even the ones that cost much more).

We’re stressing that because Shiloh comes with a 20-year warranty. Sleep Innovations estimates the serviceability the last as long as 15 years (given that you sleep on it every night).

Off-gassing, smell and safety certification

This is an important one because it’s not only about the smell. It’s more about long-term safety.

This is where the fact that the foam is US-made following strict safety standards is a big plus for the Shiloh.

The crucial part here is that it carries the Centripur label, which means that it’s tested to be free of:

Traces of heavy metals (mercury, lead, etc.)

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers or PBDEs – these are flame retardant chemicals and while Shiloh is flame-retardant, none of these are used in manufacturing.

Phthalates

Ozone depleting chemicals

Volatile Organic Compounds (these are typically responsible for significant off-gassing)

Even the manufacturing process is environment-friendly. For the finished product that will arrive at your doorstep, this is not a big deal. But if you like the idea of sleeping on a mattress that was made with minimal footprint on the environment, this does deserve a mention.

Mandatory factory air out

With most foam products, there will be an initial smell that lingers around your bedroom. It can take anywhere from a few days to a few months to dissipate.

None of that here

This is one of the few mattresses we’ve seen with a mandatory factory airing out.

For you, this means that there is no initial smell and no need to wait or air out the mattress on your own. That part is taken care of in the factory and the product is shipped with zero smell.

No need for add-ons

We see this one way to often - you get the mattress and your enthusiasm about it is quickly curbed because you feel you need an extra topper or pad for it (most often because it feels too hot).

Here, the top layer is designed to eliminate the need for a topper. In fact, the company advises against using any add-ons because they can interfere with the breathability.

Maintenance

Since the structure is not symmetrical, the mattress should not be flipped.

Many of us are still trapped and the perception that flipping a mattress will prolong the lifespan. With modern mattress technologies and materials, it’s not so simple.

Here’s why

With mattresses that shouldn’t be flipped, the manufacturer has to be extra careful, especially when they offer a 20-year warranty.

This means that they have to make sure that the structure can take the prolonged use and maintain shape. Otherwise, they would be faced with people claiming their warranties too often, which would affect their bottom line.

The important part here is that the numbers we’ve seen when it comes to foam breaking or develop indentations with prolonged every-night use are low.

Rotation

The mattress is symmetrical (top to bottom) which means that you can rotate it but, based on what we’ve seen, the number of people who feel the need to do it is very low with the Shiloh.

This ties into the analysis above and means that the number of people who saw structural issues is also low.

To put it simply - there are no indentations or the uneven surfaces forming over time that would call for the mattress to be rotated.

What does the warranty cover?

When you see a long warranty like this, you should be careful and make sure that you read the fine print. In some cases, a company can “dilute” the warranty terms and you might end up with additional cost when making the claim.

We looked closely and saw no red lights here, the company does what it promises - covering the full cost related to any warranty claim (replacing or repairing the bed).

These terms cover any issues with the fabric, stitching and, most importantly, potential structural defects.

Bounce-back - secondary

What we mean by “bounce-back” is the time it takes for the surface to get back to its original shape when you get up.

There are two ways to look at this:

The first one is absolute (comparing it to every mattress out there) and the second one is comparing it to mattresses in its price range.

If you do the former, it’s fair to say that there are products out there with higher bounce-back ratings. They do, however, cost much more.

If you do the latter, this puts the Shiloh in the top five products in its price range.

Similar to the motion isolation, we don’t see the bounce back is a crucial factor simply because nobody ever said, “I got up to go to the bathroom and when I got back my mattress wasn’t completely flat.”

That’s why our statistical model includes the bounce-back only as a secondary factor.

The “history”

The mattress hit the market back in 2010 (May 15, to be more precise) and was initially known as the Sleep Innovations SureTemp. So if you see it under that name, don’t get confused, it’s the same mattress.

The name SureTemp was a way for Sleep Innovations to stress the trademarked foam used for the top layer.

Cover quality

Wear and tear at the seams - testing the stitches

The number of garment issues reported by the owners we talked to was lower than those we’ve seen in 93% of other mattresses.

To be subjective for a moment, we prefer the quilted cover over the smooth one. It feels more rugged and durable and looks more luxurious. But when it comes to the numbers, we’ve seen no substantial difference in abrasion %s or stitching.

We rate the quilted cover at 92/100 and the smooth one at 90/100. These numbers are based more on our experience than the actual testing (the data pool we had here wasn’t big enough to do that). Apart from the aesthetic appeal, we find that the rugged covers are typically superior in terms of stain release.

Value for money

When all said and done, this is the category that probably does the best job of reflecting overall quality.

If you didn’t take the time to read the full analysis, let’s reiterate.

In most quality aspects, the Shiloh 12-inch performed superiorly compared to mattresses in its price range and, most of the time, it tested just as well as mattresses that cost anywhere from the 200 to 400% more.

Our rating of “value for money” is 95/100, which puts it in the top 6%.

We have five descriptive categories that we use to rank mattresses in terms of value and the Shiloh belongs to the top one “Worth every penny and then some.”

Updates to our Sleep Innovations Shiloh review

As per our regular schedule, we update the ratings quarterly, unless we see an indication of a significant quality change or learn about a change in the manufacturing practices.

We do it to make sure that our ratings always reflect the actual situation on the market. This means that you can be confident that the information you're seeing is fresh and relevant.

If you have questions or an experience you'd like to share (if you already own this mattress or if you get it after reading this), do get in touch, we have a $1000 yearly giveaway of sleep product for all interviewees who contribute to making our ratings more accurate.

To join it, all you have to do is contact us and we'll take it from there.

Stay smart,

The Sleep Studies team

Sleep Innovations Shiloh Review was first published to https://thesleepstudies.com

[thesleepstudies]

How to sleep with long hair – Best way to win the “tangled battle”

Each person with long hair knows this problem very well. You go to bed and every night you are “attacked” by your own hair. Or you have a peaceful night, but in the morning your hair looks flat and lifeless, your locks are squashed and you desperately want to call your hairdresser, but usually there is no time.

Here, we're going to present you with some solutions that might help you win this tangled battle.

How to sleep with long hair - our list of 7 tips

Her majesty- the bun

I have long hair and this is my personal favorite. It’s the easiest and quickest method to keep my hair tamed during the night, and it doesn’t change the shape much. It also looks really cute when I wake up (Brigitte Bardot style).

Of course, some people find it uncomfortable, and it can be, especially if you have a really long hair. Good solution for that can be putting the bun really high or maybe even leaning in front of your head. Also, bedtime hairstyles are probably the only fashion approved opportunity to use scrunchies and not elastic bands, since they are a lot less damaging to your hair.

Braid it all the way

If your hair is very long and it’s not layered this could work great for you. It takes more time to make, and some time to practice if you are not familiar with it, but it gets easier and faster after the first couple of times.

Do it on dry hair, leave some of it upbraided in the bottom and make it loose to avoid adding stress to your hair and split ends. This is also a great way to get a waved hairdo if you want to, and if you have locks it might get them tamed and more defined.

Some of my friends do have a problem sleeping with braids on, because it can make hair frizzy, but that depends of quality and type of your hair. It would be best if you can try braiding for one night and see if it works out for you. Also, think about using some anti-frizz hair product, especially if you have a problem with that in general.

Keep it low

If your hair is medium length, you could probably benefit the most from this quick solution. Just tie your hair into a low ponytail, it will keep it from your face and it will be less tangled in the morning.

It doesn’t really do much in comparison to the “magic of the braid” and your hair might loose its volume, especially in the roots, due to all of the hair weight just falling down flat. In all the scenarios above, it’s best to use scrunchies, or elastic bands with no metal parts on it (very important), because they can damage the hair.

Keep it high or bring some pineapple

A great option if you want volume especially at your roots. High ponytail keeps your locks from being squashed, your hair is out of your way and, as mentioned, volume won’t be something you should worry about.

The downside is that it can put pressure on your roots so they might ache.

The pineapple is a great alternative. You need a clip with a big grip to loosely grasp the hair at the top of your head. This way you’ll avoid the stress that binding inflicts on your hair and you’ll have a nice hairstyle the next day.

Stick with the loose hair

If you don’t have a problem tossing around much in your sleep, this could actually work out nice for you.

If you manage to sleep with your hair falling from the side of your bed, you will keep you locks intact. You won’t have to tie up anything, it’s very comfortable, but you hair is surely going to get tangled, at least a bit. This might help if you have oily scalp, because it let’s your hair breathe.

Cover it

This is maybe the best option for layered hair that refuses to stay in ponytails. It’s best if you use satin cap or a big scarf.

If you go for the cap, fold the edge of the cap all the way so you don’t have an imprint of the elastic band on your forehead. It might be a problem finding one that won’t slip off your head during the night.

If you go for the scarf, there are a lot of YouTube tutorials teaching you ways to tie it. It looks very fashionable actually, so you might want to bring that look outside of your bedroom. The nightcap, however, will make you look silly, for sure, but if it’s comfortable who cares, right?

Nights in white (or any) satin

Speaking of satin, no matter how long your hair is, satin or silk pillowcases are the best to sleep on. They are the least damaging materials for your hair and, let’s be honest, satin does give a touch of luxury to your bedroom, and a little luxury never hurt nobody.

Think about investing in one.

You can see our recommendations here - https://thesleepstudies.com/best-silk-pillowcases-sheets-comforter/

Back to you

Maybe you’ll choose to stick with one style that you are most comfortable with, or you’ll decide to change between the styles and that way you’ll end up with different hairdos each morning.

Personally, I’m all about diversity.

Whatever works the best for you is the way to go, but try some of these and have fun with it.

How to sleep with long hair – Best way to win the “tangled battle” was originally seen on TheSleepStudies

[thesleepstudies]

Vellux blanket

If you’re in the market for a Vellux blanket, your search ends here.

The quality analysis you’re about to see is fruit of over 6, 000 work hours.

It took us about 7 months to put this guide together – we interviewed material technology engineers and analyzed over 3000 user experiences.

We also made an effort to include different types and sizes (from the Original Vellux to the premium plush designs in all sizes - Twin, Queen and King).

Vellux blankets – info of Top 5

Vellux Original blanket

This is the blanket that most people have in mind when they mention Vellux. It’s the staple product from the company and by far the most popular.

The most likely reason for that is the balance between price and quality.

The company advertises this blanket as “America’s most trusted.” While we’re not sure about the statistics they used to make the claim, it definitely seems to have a solid backing user satisfaction numbers we’ve seen in our analysis.

Current user satisfaction rating of the Vellux Plush blanket is 87%. This means that nine out of 10 people who get it found it to be worth the money.

The shape retention, durability and longevity put it in the top 5% of all blankets we reviewed (respectively rated at 92, 93 and 90 out of 100).

You can see what owners are saying about the Original Vellux below.

Vellux plush blanket

The runner-up in popularity among users is the Vellux Plush.

The difference between the plush and the Original comes down to the weight and loft. The plush is a bit heavier per square inch and extra cozy.

The density of the Plush is a bit higher - 330 GSM (grams per square meter). This makes it about 50% heavier than the Original.

Who will choose it?

The answer to that is in the analysis above – it will be the choice of people who prefer the safe and calming feel of a heavy weight blanket.

The difference in all other quality aspects, including price, is nothing to write home about. It costs a peg more, but we don’t see the slightest difference being any kind of an influence to a purchase decision.

The user satisfaction is practically the same as that of the Original.

Vellux Micro - the lightest

The only Vellux labeled as “lightweight” is the Micro.

It weighs 2 pounds (full/queen size), which is slightly lighter than the Original and about 60% lighter than the Plush.

Both sides are brushed, making it extra soft and resistant to pilling.

Who will choose it?

It will be the choice of people who prefer light blankets.

Let us also mention that the price point is the lowest of all the blankets we listed here.

Vellux Lux blanket – heaviest & currently rated highest by owners

The Plush Lux is the heaviest product on the list. The Queen size weighs 5.2 pounds.

The added weight comes from the extra loft filled with premium poly fibers.

The finish velvet -like finish is not compromised by the extra weight.

Who will choose it?

The Vellux Plush Lux is currently the highest-rated product on the list (by the users) - 96/100, in spite of the fact that the cost a bit more than the standard Plush or the Original.

We have been reviewing sleep products for more depth than a decade now and we only seen user satisfaction this high in a handful of them. That’s probably all you need to know about the Plush Lux.

Read more:

Vellux Sheared Mink

In terms of weight, this blanket is somewhere between the Plush and the Plush Lux.

The Queen weighs 4.35 pounds and the King size weighs 5.25 lbs.

To density (GSM) is also somewhere in-between – 378 grams per square meter.

Bottom line

The user satisfaction numbers of Sheared Mink are second only to the Plush Lux (95 vs. 96 %).

Size per size, the price point is slightly lower than the Lux.

Reference info

What is it made of?

Vellux is made of polyurethane.

In the manufacturing process, two layers of polyurethane are reinforced with webbing layer or scrim bonded between them. After that, an adhesive is added, which gives the base color of the blanket & nylon fibers, that are passed trough the electrostatic field, are added to the adhesive. The electrostatic field binds the fibers. This is the reason why these blankets are so soft.

Featuring a 1 inch two needle self hem way of sewing, these blankets do not come in bound or stitched alternatives.

The best thing about these blankets is their durability. They can be machined washed many times, and there will be no shrinking, pilling or any other problem, that we often have with blankets made from other fabrics.

Vellux Original blanket – frequently asked questions

There was a problem with chemical smell when you first open the blanket? What to do about it?

Machine washing and airing it out should remove any odor your blanket may have. They also become even softer after wash.

Will this blanket be enough to keep you warm in below zero temperatures?

This usually depends on the heating in your house. My wife is always cold, so she uses another cover on top of the blanket.

Is this blanket dust mite proof?

Yes. As we said, the these blankets are hypoallergenic, there for it’s perfect if you have allergies.

Does this blanket fit the king size bed?

The one in king size does.

Can I use this blanket through all seasons?

Yes, absolutely, you can use it all year long. It’s warm, but really light weighted, so using it in the spring won’t keep you over heated.

Is this blanket water resistant?

No. Fabric is not treated for water resistance.

Where is it made?

It’s imported (outsourced to China). This is not a negative per se. Over the past decade we’ve been monitoring the manufacturing practices of different companies, especially the outsourcing facilities and quality control. We know the facilities the company uses and we don’t have any negatives to report about the manufacturing.

Repair

You should try to stitch it together using a needle and a matching thread. If that doesn’t help, take it to the tailor’s.

Would this blanket work as a rug, if I include a rug pad underneath it?

We'd definitely say "no".

Is there a possibility for the blanket to be destroyed in the washing machine?

They are made to be machine washed. Although, there is a possibility that something might happen to it, but that has more to do with a washing machine. If you have a machine that tends to make some problems, try using a laundry bag. Just put a blanket in it and wash it that way.

Vellux blanket King size

Since we first published the guide, one of the most common questions we’ve been receiving is about the size available - especially the King. The short answer is that all the products that we listed are available in three sizes: Twin, Full /Queen and King.

Vellux blanket on Amazon

Another common question is where to get to the listed products and be sure that you’re getting the real deal.

Most major online retailers (like Amazon) and store chains like Walmart, Bed, Bath and Beyond, Target, Kohl’s etc carry the whole Vellux line.

Storage

The important part about storage is avoiding the use of vacuum bags. We have seen user experiences reporting that, if left without air or in a hot space for prolonged periods of time can damage them (even de-laminate the whole thing).

So avoid airtight bags and hot-area storage.

Ask us anything

If you still have question or feel like there's information we haven't covered in the guide above, feel free to ask us anything that pops to mind. To do it, either use the comment section or email us directly.

You'll hear back from us within a day.

The Sleep Studies Team

Vellux blanket is available on TheSleepStudies

[thesleepstudies]

Wool blanket

Wool blanket choices that you’ll see in this guide are a result of over 4,000 work hours.

We started the work about 18 months ago by consulting three material technology engineers and combined their expertise on wool quality with statistical analysis of user satisfaction with the products. We looked at over 110 blankets and rated them in five quality categories.

We made an effort to include different types of products, so no matter what kind of blanket you’re looking for, we’re confident that you find it among our top picks.

Best wool blanket – top 16 by type, intended use, design and size

Premium 100% wool blanket for home use - our top pick

If you're  looking for a classic design for your bed, the search begins and ends with Poyet Motte.

It is company with tradition dating back to 1839 and it’s the leading European manufacturer of premium blankets, including wool. If you don’t know much about interpreting the label, it’s easy for company to engage in imprecise advertising (at best) and misleading at worst.

Typically, the more precise the fact sheet is, the higher the quality.

There are 4 key aspects to look for here:

how fine the wool fibers are

what’s the density (GSM - grams per square meter)

whether the wool is virgin or recycled

tightness of the weave - you can judge it by comparing the GSM and the thickness of the fibers

Poyet Motte is very precise about all 4 quality aspects:

Fine fibers – 33 micron

Weight and density – 500 GSM

Virgin wool

All the reputable companies will typically list the latter two, but it’s rare to see a precise listing of how fine the wool fibers are. In that aspect, Poyet Motte is an exception the most positive sense of the word.

The one downside that we can think of here is the scarcity of Poyet Motte – we’ve seen them go out of stock a few times while compiling this guide.

It goes without saying that this kind of work quality is more expensive than competing products but, in our opinion, if you end up being a proud owner of a Poyet Motte, it won’t take long to forget the few extra dollars invested.

You can see whether your preferred color and size is currently available and read what owners are saying about Poyet Motte by following the links below.

Merino wool blanket - Woolly Mammoth Stargazer

Woolly Mammoth is a company specializing in wool-products and the Stargazer is one of the most popular items.

We rarely see user satisfaction this high and we’ve been reviewing and testing sleep-related products and blankets for over a decade now.

The Stargazer is a 80% Merino wool (virgin), meaning that the wool used is not recycled. This is an important point to make any to see a company not explicitly listing that the wool is a virgin, it probably means that it’s been recycled.

The fact that it’s not 100% Merino wool blanket is not a minus in this case, because the small amount of weft and acrylic added is there so that the blanket can better retain shape and be easier to clean. The Stargazer belongs to the Farmhouse collection, which is a premium series of Woolly Mammoth products. Each of the blankets from the series is brushed which adds a soft, lofty finish.

Bottom line

As mentioned above, blankets with user satisfaction this high (currently 93%) are scarce, and when you do find one, the cost much more than the stargazer.

That’s why the blanket is rated at 95/100 in the value for money category and 94/100 overall.

It measures 66 x 90 “and it’s available in six colors / plaid designs.

Military Merino wool blanket - our choice - the Company Explorer

Before we get to the quality analysis, let’s define what we mean by “military” here.

Further down in the guide you’ll find blankets from the military surplus – this is not one of them. The Company Explorer is a premium product designed in military style and it’s meant to be used for and outdoor activities - from camping and hiking to bush craft. That’s why it is especially popular among camping and preparedness enthusiasts.

Similarly to the Stargazer, the idea behind the composition of this blanket is shape retention and durability. It’s 80% Virgin Merino wool with the remaining 20% being the combo of warp, weft and acrylic. Because it’s intended for outdoor use, the texture has a milled finish with a hefty double stitching. This kind of structure doesn’t take away from the warmth, but makes it thinner and smaller to pack.

Who will choose the Company Explorer?

Among the outdoors and camping wool blankets, the Company Explorer stands alone with a user satisfaction rating of 92% and an overall rating of 91/100.

You can see what’s owners are saying about it by following the links below.

EKTOS 100 % military wool blanket for camping, emergency preparedness & survival (big)

The runner-up in the category of outdoor use is EKTOS.

The main difference between the Ektos and the Company Explorer we talked about above is that Ektos is 100% wool and the finish is a bit more rugged. It’s large, thick and heavy, but to with a soft finish (66 x 90 “, 5.5 pounds).

Finally, this heavy military wool blanket is washable (hand or machine).

Along with the Company Explorer, Ektos is one of the most popular blankets for outdoor use. You can see the experiences of the owners by clicking on one of the two links below.

Military wool blanket (surplus) – Arcturus

When we labeled the Company Explorer as “military”, we also explained that it doesn’t come from the surplus and promised to recommend one that does.

Our top pick here is the Arcturus. Being a surplus means that the price point of this military wool blanket is lower compared to similar products.

It goes without saying that surplus grade wool is second to none in terms of wool quality (550 GSM density), but what stands out about the Arcturus is the appearance and the soft finish.

This is what makes it a great choice for both home and camping use. It’s 88 inches long , 64 inches wide and weighs slightly over 4 pounds.

Wool throw blanket - the Highland tartar

Our top pick among wool throw blankets is the premium Highland Tartar (100% sheep wool).

The company making it (Prince of Scots) advertises the Highland Tartar as a blanket made to be a family heirloom. It’s made and imported from England. All the designs currently available are checkered (plaid), ranging from vibrant color combos of red, yellow and green to calming grays and browns.

If you’re looking for a picnic blanket or an accent throw for your sofa, your search probably ends here. We found no better quality to price ratio.

The runner-up in the wool throw blanket category

The second best wool blanket among throw designs comes from well known manufacturer – Pendleton.

The Pendleton Eco-wise wool throw is similar to the Highland tartar in many ways. It is 100% sheep wool, woven and shipped from the USA.

The plaid designs and fringes are a bit more adjusted compared to the Highland tartar, which means that it will work better with minimalist interiors.

Our overall rating of the Pendleton Eco-wise wool throw blanket are 90/100.

Alpaca wool blanket and throw recommendations – Putuco & AndeanSun

If you’re looking for genuine alpaca wool blanket, you should be especially careful because there are many counterfeits out there.

A company may advertise their blanket as “alpaca wool” but include other (cheaper) fabrics. That’s why you should read the fine print.

It’s also the reason why we had a hard time in this category and found very few products that we can recommend with a straight face. Among them, the AndeanSun stands out both in price to quality ratio and user satisfaction.

Our top pick among full-size alpaca wool blankets (Twin, Queen and King) is that the genuine Peru-made Putuco, while our recommendation among alpaca throws is the AndeanSun.

You can see the designs below, followed by links to the original products.

Swiss Army and Italian – NOS surplus military wool blanket

The category of Italian wool gave us a bit of a hard time since the weren't many high-quality products available. There were blankets with the words “Italian” in the name, but as soon as you did a bit deeper you'd find that the products are not the real deal.

Out the blankets that turned out to be genuine Italian wool, our top pick is a product coming from a company counter-intuitively named “Swiss Link”. It might sound odd while it’s anything but. Swiss Link specializes in products of this type (army-related).

For us, it doesn't come as a surprise since we know the company from the time we researched ghillie pants and jackets. They only sell a handful of products and their staples are a few Swiss Army wool blankets and this Italian military surplus.

This blanket is imported, it’s super heavy and 100% wool. The current user satisfaction percentage is 88, and our overall rating is 89/100.

You shouldn’t take our word for it, but do your own rereading on it. You can do so by clicking on one of two links below and reading more about what the owners are saying (we’re also providing doing to their Swiss army style blanket).

Icelandic wool – ICEWEAR Astros blanket & LakeMono throw

In the category of Icelandic wool, two products stand out.

One of them is 100% Icelandic wool (manufactured and shipped from Iceland) - ICEWEAR Astros, and the other one is a stylish throw knit t from acrylic microfiber Iceland wool – the LakeMono. The latter comes in two styles (chenille and corrugated).

It’s only natural that the ICEWEAR Astros costs more since it’s a premium product. You can read more about the two below.

Wool saddle pad & blanket

The category of wool saddle blankets & pads gave us a bit of a hard time, because we weren’t sure how to present our top picks and cover the variety of styles available (from the western felt styles similar to the diamond wool saddle pads to traditional Navajo patterns).

Without relying too much on our guesswork, we decided to simply ask for the feedback of our readers and did a few email interviews with horse-riding and equine experts.

We believe that allowed us to present exactly the types of several blankets that the majority of our readers will be interested in. You can see the details in the table below.

Irish wool

This category was pretty straightforward because there was one product that obviously stood out from the get-go. It’s the John Hanly Irish wool blanket.

We say “obvious” because none of the other Irish wool products we looked at were even close in terms of the user satisfaction percentage - 97 %. The John Hanly plaid is Ireland-made and it’s as genuine as they come.

The five color combos are designed to fit any color scheme that you might have going in your space.

Chunky & heavy wool blanket

Our top pick among chunky designs is the Acarpo HandWoven.

The competition here was pretty stiff with a few products being praised by the owners. What gave Acarpo an edge is selection of colors and sizes and, most importantly, the value for money.

Big and heavy wool blankets and throws from chunky yarn, have been all the rage in the interior design arena for the past couple of years. When a frenzy like that happens, the market becomes confusing, primarily in terms of prices.

In those circumstances, you can easily find yourself paying for the label or a brand. That’s why we decided to ignore brands and look for the best balance between quality and price. We found it in the Acarpo.

Types of wool and quality aspects

Sheep Wool

As you know, there are many breeds of sheep and ways to classify wool fibers (fine, down, medium, long, double-coated).

In general, this is a traditional fiber, made from wool of any sheep, and on clothes labels marked simply as wool. It is more available and less expensive than other types. It goes without saying that merino wool blankets are by far the most popular.

The main characteristics are:

Great resilience. It can last longer than synthetic materials.

Ability to absorb dye without using chemicals.

Works as a great thermal insulator, perfect for the winter. It absorbs the moisture, but repels liquid.

Wide range of usage (anything from clothes to decorative fabrics).

Unless we are talking about huge flame, the wool naturally resists fire and self-extinguishes.

It can cause itchiness, depending on the thickness of the fibers, but that can be solved using chemicals to treat the wool or mixing it with other fibers.

It can shrink and pill, so it needs to be taken care of properly.

Type of sheep wool fibers:

Fine

Due to its softness, it’s used to make clothes that will be in a direct contact with our skin. If you are into knitting, this is the yarn you will probably use.

Fleece is very refined, elastic and consistent, and has a great felting ability and memory. The downside is that is not as strong as other ones, so not much stress is needed to tear a fabric.

Down

Matte to appearance, this type of wool is very resilient and elastic. Used to make fine knitted or woven fabrics.

Medium

It stands on a halfway between finer and stronger types of wool. The memory and elasticity are average, which makes it perfect for producing a wide range of woolen things. It is used for everything, from scarves to tweeds.

Long

The fibers of this type of wool are long, draped, strong and often silky to touch. They are very easy to dye, although sheep breeds with this type of wool have exceptional range of natural colors.

Long wool is not as elastic as the previous types we mentioned, but it has a nice memory.

Primitive or Double-coated

The strongest type of fleece, used to make outerwear, rugs, carpets... Usually, these breed of sheep have this bulky, strong outer part of wool to protect themselves from the weather, and underneath a finer undercoat. It’s often blended with other types of wool for better texture.

Lamb

This is the wool obtained from the first shearing of sheep, usually around the age of 7 months. The length of this virgin hair fleece is around 50mm.

This wool is one of the softest and finest, very resilient and silky to touch. The price for it is higher than for the regular sheep wool, since you can only once shear a lamb’s baby hair.

Merino wool blanket

Originating from Spain, now mainly produced in Australia and New Zealand, this is the most popular type of sheep wool in the world.

Since the wool of Merino sheep contains lanolin (which is used in cosmetics industry), it needs to be washed and rinsed in cycles to get rid of it. At the end of that long process, end result is a half of the initial fleece, which makes this wool expensive.

Nevertheless, the 4.5 inches staples of wool are so fine (superfine Merino wool goes even down to 17 microns) and soft to touch, that this wool is used for making some of the most luxurious pieces of clothing and bedding, which always has their buyers.

It is an excellent thermo-regulator, so you can wear garments made from this wool when it’s hot or cold, even in the gym, due to its moisture-repellent properties. It is known to be fire-resistant and anti-static. Today, most of the 100 % merino wool blankets are imported (the same goes for alpaca).

Cashmere

This luxurious, super-fine material (around 18 microns in diameter) owes its high price to the painstaking process of obtaining the wool from cashmere goats. The cashmere used comes from the undercoat in the neck region of the goat and it has to be combed over regularly.

The wool itself has lightness and resilience and the fibers are very delicate and soft. It provides amazing insulation, so you can wear cashmere cardigans in the spring, and you won’t get overheated.

Mohair

Mohair is obtained from Angora goat (don’t confuse it with angora wool) and it’s stronger and smoother than sheep wool, but not as soft and delicate like cashmere, for example. It’s easy to wash, which is a huge plus, of course.

This wool has a specific sheen to it, and it’s considered to be a luxurious material. Although it absorbs dye really well, the natural shades can be extremely beautiful. It’s often blended with sheep or other types of wool to make light-weight but warm pieces of clothes.

As mentioned, it’s not the softest of the wool fabrics, but it is one of the warmest, so mixing it with other materials can balance the flaws.

It’s used in producing anything from scarves and hats to carpets and decorative things for homes.

Angora

The finest (10-15 microns) and softest of the wool fibers comes from the Angora rabbit, to be precise, his undercoat. The most popular types of Angora rabbits come from Europe, but they are domesticated and grown all over the world.

The production of angora is small and very demanding in terms of time and money. There are, also, ethical questions raised around it, since sometimes the rabbits have to be kept alone, in darkness, to protect their undercoat.

The rabbits have to be combed regularly, and the hair is obtained by plucking or shearing. Plucking takes more time and energy, but the end result is finer wool. Angora rabbits grow hair quickly, but due to their small size they can’t produce much wool (around 400 grams and below, a year)

The yarn itself is soft, fluffy and silky. The fibers are hollow, which makes the wool lighter and warmer, but with a low resilience.

To get more stability to the fabric, angora wool is usually blended with other materials (cashmere wool or nylon). The 100% angora garment would be too warm to wear, so blending it is a great option, and it also lowers the price of the angora wool products.

Alpaca wool blanket

This fabric comes from Alpaca, animal originating from South America, although it can be made from similar wool, like mohair. Fibers can range from 15 to 40 microns and that effect the levels of softness and itchiness.

The finer, silky fibers (like baby alpaca wool) are used to make clothes. Alpaca wool is often mixed with Merino, to get more draping quality, due to its stiffness.

Naturally, the Alpacas exist in very wide range of beautiful colors and shades, although the wool can be dyed. This wool is hypoallergenic, because it contains no lanolin, and is baby and kids friendly.

Updates to the guide on best wool blankets

It's our policy to regularly update all our guide that recommend products. To stay on top of things, we do it quarterly, unless we see a "red light" that can trigger an unscheduled update (typically a significant change in ratings of a specific product).

Finally, feel free to reach out with any questions you might have - you can do it by commenting below or dropping us an email. You can expect a response within a day.

Stay smart,

The Sleep Studies team

Wool blanket was first published to The Sleep Studies Research

[thesleepstudies]

Best Toddler Travel Bed – Top 5 Kids & Toddler Air Mattresses

Over the past few years (since we first published the guide on our top picks among kids and toddler air mattresses) we have seen very little change at the very top.

The sample of data that the ratings you’re about to see are based on did significantly grow, making the ratings more reliable, but we are yet to see significant shifts in the top 5 picks.

The ratings below are a result of over 2000 work hours (just counting our in-house work on analyzing the user reviews), so it’s fair to say that our top picks are a pretty accurate representation of the products out there. We hope you find the analysis helpful in making the right choice.

Best toddler travel beds – Top 5

Aerobed for kids

Shrunks Tuckaire

Hiccapop

Intex kids inflatable travel bed set

Coleman Kids EasyStay

Aerobed for kids

This update marks two years of the Aerobed for kids dominating this category.

With the user satisfaction rating of 91% and an overall rating of 92 out of 100, Aerobed for kids is currently in a comfortable lead with a gap of hefty 2 points in the overall ratings over the runner-up - Shrunks Tuckaire.

As you can see in the ratings below, it’s the quality (durability and longevity) of the material used that primarily stand out. The market of toddler air mattresses is not a huge one & most of the bigger companies have chosen not to dabble in it, which is probably what gave Aerobed (being the well-known and trusted company it is) an extra edge over the closest competitors.

Details:

Age range – 4+ years Dimensions of the slip surface measured side-to-side – 50×25 inches Height of the safety cushion – 4 inches Type of pump – electric, included Inflation time – under one minute

Who will choose Aerobed for kids?

This bed is by far the most popular among parents in spite of the fact that there are cheaper options out there. It only makes sense because, when it comes to any product that will be in direct contact with your kids, nothing trumps safety and 10 or 20 dollars don't make much of a difference for most parents.

The doesn’t mean that the other inflatables we have chosen for the top five are not safe (the safety standards are particularly strict when it comes to kids), but there is something comforting in knowing that a bed comes from a reputable company like Aerobed.

All-in-one package

It would be hard to find a person who likes shopping for extra things to make their purchase complete. In this case, we’re referring to the thick, fitted pad/sheets that come included with this Aerobed.

It means that you don’t have to worry about purchasing extra sheets, which is a huge plus because finding the right fit can be a headache.

It’s also important to stress that the included sheets are not a flimsy piece of cloth but made of thick materials with significant padding on the sleep surface. Also, they make for a practical add-on because they're washable, and the material of the mattress itself (unlike most others) does not stain and can be easily cleaned.

In our opinion, all of the above makes the Aerobed for kids the most complete and practical product in the category.

The Shrunks toddler travel bed

With a user satisfaction rating of 89% and an overall rating of 90 out of 100, the Shrunks Tuckaire toddler travel airbed with raised side rails has been a close runner-up to Aerobed for 4 updates now.

What stands out about it is the fact that comes from a company dedicated to products for kids (most of the other air beds on the list come from companies whose primary focus airbeds for adults).

As you see the ratings below, the ratings in the main quality categories are pretty close to the Aerobed.

Who will choose the Shrunks Tuckaire?

If you want more versatility, you might choose the Shrunks over the Aerobed. If you compare the two beds (size to size), the Shrunks packs down significantly smaller and lighter.

The smallest size of the Shrunks is the Junior toddler (ages 2+, 52 x 27 “, weight capacity up to 150 pounds) which packs down to a roll of approximately 16 x 7 inches and weighs just over 2.6 pounds.

On the other hand, if you go a size up the Shrunks is available in Twin Family size which inflates to a significantly bigger sleep surface than the Aerobed (78×43, measured side-to-side).

Bottom line – the Shrunks Tuckaire is the more versatile option and, for most people, the most practical choice when it comes to kids travel beds (opposed to indoor use).

Hiccapop Inflatable Toddler Travel Bed with Safety Bumpers - honorary mention and an exciting new arrival to the market

Hiccapop is a refreshing new addition to this guide – this is the second update that finds the Hiccapop in the top three choices.

It currently has the highest user satisfaction rating of all the toddler air mattresses on the list – 96%. Just to make things clear we'd like to disclose that are rating algorithms include what we call a “maturity coefficient." To avoid confusion, this has nothing to do with the bed being age-appropriate for toddlers - the “maturity coefficient” is just part of how we calculate the ratings.

In other words, it’s our way to make the ratings more reliable by adjusting them to the period of time the product has been on the market. The Hiccapop arrived to the market in the beginning of 2017 and has been gaining momentum ever since. This also means that each new update brings the Hiccapop closer to the very top because the high user satisfaction ratings have been consistent.

That’s the reason why we currently don’t have all the quality ratings for this bed - it will take about six extra months for the bed to reach full “maturity” and for us to report on all the quality ratings.

Frequently asked questions about our top picks in the toddler travel bed category

FAQs about the Aerobed for kids

Does it come in the other size?

No, the 50×25 size of the sleep surface is currently the only one available.

What’s the total size measured side-to-side (including the rails)?

We measured the dimensions of the further-most points of the Aerobed for kids and toddlers to be approximately that of a regular twin bed.

What’s the height of the side bumpers?

Side bumpers (or safety cushion as Aerobed calls them) measures 4 inches in height.

What’s the total height and length?

Measured from the floor to the top of the side bumpers, the Aerobed for kids is about 10 inches high. Measured from side-to-side, it is approximately 60 inches long.

What’s the weight capacity?

The listed weight capacity is 150 pounds.

How does the pump work? Can it be battery-operated?

The bed comes with a standard external Aerobed pump that needs to be plugged in to work (standard outlet). That’s why we stressed that some of the other kid airbeds are a more practical choice for travel.

Is there an option to use a different pump (length or manual)?

No, the pump is specific and the nozzles of other pumps typically don’t work with Aerobed. So if you need a replacement, you would have to get one either from their site, Amazon or an Aerobed store.

Is there any significant off-gassing?

This is one of the most common questions we have been receiving since we first published guide and it only makes sense because, as was said, safety comes first when choosing an airbed for kids and toddlers.

There is a slight PVC smell out-of-the-box, but it quickly dissipates. In practice, we would advise leaving the airbed outside for a few hours to air out.

Can I take it abroad?

As was said, the pump works with a standard US outlet (110 V). This means that, to use it abroad (with outlets of typically 220 V), you would need a power adapter.

Is the issue of cold air present?

This is another common question with toddler airbeds since the air circulating inside can result in cold rushes on the sleep surface. In this quality aspect, we found this toddler inflatable to be superior because of thicker PVC and, more importantly, the hefty padding on the included fitted sheets.

What are the dimensions one deflated?

Once deflated and rolled, we measured the roll to be about 15 inches long and 7 inches in circumference.

Can be used for camping?

If you have access to power, the answer is a definitive yes, especially because the thick PVC fares pretty well and is not prone to punctures.

How to patch it if it develops a leak?

Based on what we’ve seen, the incidence of air leaks is very low, but if it does happen, it holds a patch very well since the surface is not flocked. It comes with a patch kit included and precise instructions on how to do it.

How portable is it?

It comes with a carry case for travel which we found to perfectly fit the deflated bed and be durable in the long run. This was a bit of a surprise because this is primarily an indoor inflatable bed for kids.

Is the good fit for a Pack n’ Play?

Probably not, since it’s too large.

Does it make squeaking noises?

This is a reasonable question since the surface is not flocked. If used without the fitted sheets, you’ll definitely hear some squeaking, but we don’t see a reason to use it without its dedicated pad. In this setup, the noises become a non-issue.

Frequently asked questions about the Shrunks Tuckaire portable travel bed for kids

Is there a warranty?

The Shrunks Tuckaire is known for its unparalleled warranty terms – lifetime.

Noises

The Shrunks Tuckaire is probably the single least noisy product on this list because of the combination of flocked materials and how well the two separate parts (the foundation and sleep surface) fit together. The movement between the two is minimized, and it’s one of the reasons why the design of the Shrunks Tuckaire has received many awards over the years.

Safety

It’s third-party tested to be free of any chemicals like BPAs, phthalates or lead. We haven’t noticed any significant off-gassing and lasting smells. Much like the Aerobed we mentioned above, there is a slight initial smell, but it quickly goes away once unpacked.

Does it come with sheets included?

The two smaller sizes (Junior Toddler and Youth Sleepover) do come with a soft striped fitted sheet (gray and white) while the Twin family size does not.

The pumps and inflation time

The included pump is manual (leg) for the toddler size and typical inflation time is about one minute. If you go with the medium size, the included pump is called Maxaire (also manual) while the Twin size comes with an electric pump that inflates the bed in about half a minute.

How much do the different sizes weigh?

The weight ranges from 2.65 LBS (for the Junior toddler), through 7.94 LBS (the Youth Sleepover size) to 10.8 LBS (for the Twin family size).

Packing size when deflated

The biggest size of the Shrunks Tuckaire (Twin Family) packs down to approximately 16×16 inches (when flat) and 16×7 inches (when rolled).

The two smaller sizes back down to a roll of approximately 40×18 cm (16×7 inches).

The side rails of the Shrunks Tuckaire

Measured from the flat surface of the side foundation to the top of the rail curvature, the security rails are 3.5-4.5 inches high, depending on the size.

Shipping

We have received a few questions about the shipping. We can’t precisely pinpoint the confusion here since Shrunks explicitly lists their shipping policy to be within 2 business days.

What are the sheets made of?

The fitted sheets are 100% brushed cotton.

Frequently asked questions about the Hiccapop kids air mattress

Size of the sleeping surface

Measured from rail to rail, the Hiccapop is approximately the size of a crib mattress. The security bumpers are 11 inches high and 49 inches long.

Maximum capacity

The listed maximum capacity is 300 LBS.

Age range

As per the official listing of the product, the age range is 2+ years. There is no official upper limit.

Using it with a different outlet

Strictly speaking, the manufacturer explicitly lists in that the pump is meant to be used with standard 110V outlets, but it can be adapted to a different current and used abroad if you can find the right converter for the power of the pump.

Deflation

The pump is not a two-way meaning that it doesn’t suck the air out and you would need to deflate the bed manually by pulling the plug out. Based on our experience, about half of the air goes out on its own and you would have to press and roll the bed to fully deflate it.

Can it be used with a universal pump?

As long as you have a pump with nozzles that are a good fit for the Hiccapop valve, you should have no problem using a universal pump for this kids air mattress. This also means that if the nozzles of an inflating machine are a good fit, you can use them to deflate the bed by putting the machine in reverse mode.

Safety

It's completely free of harmful chemicals like lead, BPAs and Phthalates.

The construction

The sides (foundation) you can see in the images are separate from the middle part of the bed. We’re specifically mentioning this because it makes the cleaning easier.

Intex toddler air mattress – honorary mentions

We feel that it would be unfair to exclude Intex toddler air mattresses from this guide since Intex had at least one representative in the top five since we first compiled the guide on best toddler travel beds for camping and indoor use.

The two most prominent models that have been in and out of our top picks are the budget-friendly Intex Kidz anbd the more advanced Intex travel bed set with side rails.

The user satisfaction ratings of the two portable inflatable beds for kids are respectively 78 and 85%.

Kid and toddler camping bed (inflatable)

Since we received quite a few questions about whether the travel beds for toddlers listing this guide are suitable to be used as kid camping beds, it’s only logical that we addressed the questions.

When it comes to camping, your choice will depend on the circumstances with the most important one being whether you have access to power. If you do, you can easily use even the beds that come with an external electric pump and if you don’t, you’ll be better off with some of the listed models that use a manual or a leg pump.

Updates policy & new ratings

We typically update the ratings in guide on quarterly basis and do a complete overhaul once a year (one that includes new products that have hit the market).

To make sure that the information presented are reliable at all times, we screen the user satisfaction ratings once a month and if we do notice a significant fluctuation (especially lowered ratings) we do an unscheduled update to see if it's only a statistical aberration or a real issue. We call these "red light" updates because their purpose is to find any indication that something about the products has changed (like materials or manufacturing practices).

The bottom line is that you can rest assured that the information you see here are up-do-date with what's currently happening on the market.

Finally, if you have any questions, dilemmas or simply quality aspects you feel we haven't covered, do drop us a comment below or contact us directly. It usually takes us no more than 24 hours to respond to all correspondence.

Best Toddler Travel Bed – Top 5 Kids & Toddler Air Mattresses Find more on: TheSleepStudies