WITH temperatures dropping and heating costs rising, an oversized hooded blanket should be an essential item of loungewear this autumn and winter. We did try hooded blankets that kept us slightly warmer, but thanks to Onesnug’s ‘MicroCool’ fabric, this won’t leave you feeling uncomfortably hot and sweaty.

Extra large, extra warm and extra snuggly, Kudd.ly’s hoodie is like wearing a bear hug and is so big you’ll be able to curl your entire body up inside. They may also help to save you money on your heating bill this winter too, as heating the body is always a cheaper option than heating the home; ideal if you work from home or spend long periods of time bingeing Netflix on the sofa. It’s not the warmest one we tried (think late autumn chills rather than depths-of-winter, below-freezing temperatures) but we’d probably say this was the most practical, while this pale pink colour we chose (prettier in real life than our phone camera could capture) is about as ‘feminine’ as one of these items could get.

The verdict: Blanket hoodies

More of a poncho than a hoodie, this has short sleeves and open sides that can be popped together at a couple of points for a slightly snugglier fit. It comes in five colours and two sizes for both men and women, with a version for children also available. This poncho’s shape means that your hands remain free for typing, drinking, reading etc (although does mean that they miss out on the heat), and we found this perfect for keeping the upper body warm when working from home on chilly days.

It's one of the lightest and softest ones we tested, feeling baby-soft against the skin, and it’s handy to be able to open it up if you get too hot, although it’s not as chill-proof as a regular hoodie. Part poncho and part blanket, it can be fastened together at the front, swung over your shoulder, or simply laid flat over your body, and it heats up gently to warm the top half of your body. We can’t guarantee that these will save you money on your heating bill this winter, but you know what they say – “heat your body, not your home” – and these hooded blankets can certainly help with that. There are a few different styles – and prices – on the market, but the hoodies from specialist retailers like Oodie, Kudd.ly, Onesnug and Snuggly are all very similar, if we’re being honest.

Why you should trust us

It’s got all the essentials – hood, big front pouch, long length – while this Sherpa fleece has a particularly fine knit, giving it a neat look. This hoodie is, of course, oversized, but not so big around the hood or sleeves that you can’t see, eat or type – we could comfortably wear this at our WFH desk or walking around the house without it getting in the way. It probably goes without saying that theirs is incredibly soft and cosy. The inner fleece is as soft as cotton wool while the outer feels silky, meaning that, despite its size, it didn’t actually feel as bulky to wear as some of the others. For us, though, Oodie just takes the top spot for keeping the body at the perfect temperature and for its vast range of designs and viral fame. Are hooded blankets worth it?