The chill of winter is upon us, and like many others, I’m trying to keep my energy bills in check by being mindful about when to turn on the heating. Money-saving expert Martin Lewis often advocates for ‘heating the human not the home’ as a strategy to cut costs, suggesting alternatives such as hot water bottles and wearable hoodies to stay warm without having to heat the entire house.
With this advice in mind, I was intrigued when I discovered the Silentnight Heat Genie Self Heating Giant Blanket. While there are numerous electric blankets available that are relatively inexpensive to operate, the Heat Genie, priced at £37.99, claims to cost nothing to run as it requires ‘no electric power’.
Described as ‘comfortable and cosy’, the blanket uses a heat-reflecting foil layer to bounce your body heat back onto you, providing an additional layer of warmth without the need for electricity. Available from Amazon,Sleepy People or Argos, I was eager to try it out and see if it could compete with its electric counterparts.
Given that it has already sold out multiple times at various retailers, my expectations were high. My first observation of the Heat Genie Blanket is its impressive size. With dimensions of 180cm x 240cm, it’s large enough for multiple people or pets to cosy up under, reports the Mirror.
The blanket boasts a plush fabric exterior and a sherpa fleece interior that feels incredibly soft. It comes in an appealing grey and white colour scheme. While I would have appreciated more colour options, this neutral shade should blend well with most home decor.
Despite knowing about the blanket’s foiled inner layer, I was pleasantly surprised to find that it didn’t affect the blanket’s softness, flexibility, or silence. There was no discernible sign of the foil layer working beneath the fabric.
The real question was whether it could provide more warmth than a blanket without a self-heating feature? After draping the blanket over myself for several hours, I discovered that it effectively traps heat. When I lifted the blanket and placed my arms and hands underneath, I felt a comforting warmth that surpassed that of my regular non-self-heating blanket.
Although you can’t adjust the temperature like an electric blanket, it’s important to remember that the Heat Genie operates at no cost. The Silentnight Heat Genie Self Heating Giant Blanket quickly became a favourite for both me heat-loving cat, who has now made it his own by either laying on top of it when folded or snuggling into it. The blanket’s machine washable feature is a relief as it doesn’t hold onto fur or dirt and dries relatively fast after washing.
I’ve now since replaced my regular blanket with the Silentnight Heat Genie, enjoying its ability to provide warmth without any additional cost. While it doesn’t offer the immediate warmth of an electric blanket, as it relies on body heat to become warm, it’s a great option for those who prefer not to deal with wires and controllers.
As the only product of its kind on the market that heats using clever technology without electricity, the Silentnight Heat Genie stands out. However, for those looking for something different, The Lyndon Company Supersoft Heavyweight Large Plush Throw Windsor is a highly praised alternative.
Currently discounted to £30.16 from £100 at Debenhams, one customer raved: “Initially bought two of these throws for my sofa, just ordered three more because now everyone wants one! The throws are lovely and soft, don’t shed and don’t have the annoying shine of cheaper throws.”
For those interested in trying an electric blanket, the StaySnug Sherpa Electric Heated Throw Grey, available at Lakeland, is a well-liked choice on sale for £59.99. Customers have praised it for its warmth, with comments such as ‘snug as a bug’ and ‘even without the heat on you keep warm under the sherpa layer’.