The escalating cost-of-living crisis and spike in energy bills has rapidly altered our shopping habits. From heated clothes airers to air fryers, energy efficiency is top of the agenda for 2023 – and one product in particular is has proved to be winter’s most coveted buy: wearable blankets.

Pioneered by Australian brand Oodie, these hooded and sleeved throws grew in popularity during the pandemic when loungewear became the new daywear. Now, they’re hot property once again as a means to hold off turning the central heating on for as long as possible – with everyone from TikTokers (#theoodie has 96.6 million views, and counting) to money expert Martin Lewis making a compelling case for the blankets.

A cost-effective way to keep cosy without causing your household bills to soar, most of the blankets are complete with hoods, sleeves or armholes and are usually finished in a plush fleece fabric.

While Oodie remains the market leader, plenty more brands and retailers have launched their own takes on the wearable blanket recently, from M&S (yes, we’re talking about that Percy Pig design) and Silentnight to New Look, John Lewis and The White Company.

As the March cold snap continues, a hooded blanket should be top of the chilly-wardrobe wish list. To help you decide which to invest in, we’ve tried and tested all the industry heavyweights, from Oodie to Onesnug.

How we tested

With some versions costing less than £20 and others pushing £80, we included ones from both ends of the spectrum, considering quality, warmth, eco-credentials, value for money and aesthetic (some are more chic than you’d think). These are your hooded blanket companions for this winter and beyond.

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The best hooded blankets for 2023 are:

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