Baloo Weighted Blanket Review: Pros, Cons & Verdict

If you are considering the Baloo weighted blanket, you are probably looking for deep, steady pressure that helps you switch off at night without overheating.

For anxious, restless, or sensory sensitive sleepers, a breathable cotton weighted blanket often becomes the next step after cheaper polyester options that trap heat or supplements that never quite work. With the holiday season here, Baloo can also be a thoughtful gift for someone in your life who is exhausted, stressed, or struggling to sleep.

In this review I share what I learned from months of use and comparing hundreds of user experiences so you can see how Baloo handles the big questions about heat, weight, sizing, and whether it fits the way you sleep or the person you are buying it for.

Disclosure: This article is reader-supported and contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn on qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support.

Baloo Weighted Blanket At A Glance

Feature	Details
Price	Check Today’s Deal
Sizes Available	Throw (12 lb), Full/Queen (15 lb or 20 lb), King (25 lb)
Materials	OEKO-TEX certified cotton shell, lead-free glass microbeads, no synthetic fill
Weight Distribution	Double-stitched small pockets prevent bead shifting
Care	Machine washable (cold cycle with gentle detergent). Use commercial machines for king size
Trial Period	30 days
Warranty	Lifetime craftsmanship warranty

What Is the Baloo Weighted Blanket, Exactly?

close look at the baloo weighted blanket in a bedroom

The Baloo weighted blanket comes from Baloo Living, a company focused on quality bedding made with certified non-toxic materials.

The outer shell is made from cotton that’s been OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified, which means it’s been tested and verified free from harmful chemicals like pesticides, heavy metals, and formaldehyde. This is important for something that touches your skin for eight hours a night.

The fill is made of lead-free glass microbeads—really small ones, smaller than what you’ll find in cheaper weighted blankets. They’re distributed across a quilted grid pattern with small pockets about 4×4 inches each.

Everything’s double-stitched to keep those beads from shifting around over time, which is one of the most annoying things with lower-quality weighted blankets.

The feel of the cotton used in the Baloo weighted blanket has a natural softness and weight to it, nothing slippery or synthetic. And because the beads are so small, you don’t get that lumpy “bag of sand” sensation some weighted blankets have. Just an evenly distributed weight that feels comforting right away.

One thing to know upfront is that the blanket itself doesn’t come with a cover. Baloo sells separate duvet covers in cotton or linen for about $70. I highly recommend grabbing one just so you don’t have to worry about washing the blanket so often. You can take a look at Baloo’s covers here.

Baloo Weighted Blanket Sizes, Weight Options And Pricing

Baloo offers three main options:

Throw (12 lbs, 42″ x 72″): This is the personal-sized one for curling up on the couch or just covering your body in bed, not the whole mattress. Great if you want to try a weighted blanket without committing to a full bed-size one just yet.

Full/Queen (15 lbs or 20 lbs, 60″ x 80″): Covers the sleeping surface of a queen bed but won’t drape over the sides. Works for one person or a couple.

King (25 lbs, 80″ x 87″): Big coverage for larger individuals or couples who both want weight, though many couples end up wanting their own separate blankets with their own weight preferences.

The standard guideline is to choose about 10% of your body weight, but some people prefer lighter (7-8%) or heavier (12-15%) depending on how much pressure they’re after.

What Does it Feel Like to Sleep Under a Baloo Weighted Blanket?

Falling Asleep and Staying Asleep

Deep pressure from a weighted blanket can do more than feel cozy.

Research on deep pressure touch (or DTP) suggests it can help the body move out of fight and flight and into a calmer state so it becomes easier to drift off, especially if your mind tends to race at night.

A lot of Baloo owners notice it the moment they settle in and let the weight sink around them. The cotton cover feels cool against your skin, the glass beads settle around your shoulders and hips, and the weight spreads out instead of pooling in one spot.

Within a short time breathing slows, muscles loosen and that noisy bedtime mind has less space to run.

For me, the result was fewer middle-of-the-night wake ups and more of that deep, restorative sleep that helps with feeling truly refreshed the next morning. Pulling the blanket over myself creates an almost instant sense of safety and signals that it is time to switch off.

Weighted blankets still do not suit everyone. Some people simply do not enjoy the pressure. If you are unsure how you will respond, starting with a lighter weight is a safer way to test the feel before you commit to a heavier option.

>> See Baloo Living’s weighted blanket options here

Anxiety, Stress, and Sensory Needs

For a lot of people, the biggest change with a weighted blanket shows up in how their body handles stress. Deep, even pressure has been studied for its calming effect on the nervous system, especially in people living with anxiety, ADHD, autism or sensory processing differences.

Instead of feeling jittery on top of the covers, that steady weight can feel a bit like someone holding you in place, helping to ground and relax the body.

If you know you relax more easily with a firm hug or when you tuck yourself snugly under the covers, a weighted blanket can bring that same grounded feeling at bedtime and make it easier to unwind.

However if pressure makes you feel trapped or claustrophobic then you may want to start with a lighter version or skipping weighted blankets entirely.

Temperature And Hot Sleeper Comfort

Baloo’s breathable cotton lets air move more easily than polyester, so it feels closer to a regular cotton quilt than a thick, synthetic comforter. You still have thousands of tiny glass beads sewn through the blanket though, and once your body warms up, they hold on to some of that heat.

If you usually sleep neutral or a little cool, you can likely use the blanket most of the year with a simple cotton sheet underneath. If you tend to sleep warm, it may be more comfortable in cooler months, or draped over your legs and hips rather than your whole body.

If you often wake up sweaty even under a normal comforter, you might prefer a more open knitted weighted blanket without beads, since those allow more airflow while still giving you some of that calming weight.

Baloo Weighted Blanket Washing Care And Everyday Use

The Baloo throw at around 12lb is usually light enough for a standard home washing machine on a gentle cycle with mild detergent.

The heavier Full or Queen and King sizes are also machine washable, but once they are soaked they feel much heavier and can be awkward to lift. Because of that, many people prefer using a larger commercial machine at a laundromat for the 20 and 25lb blankets.

Getting in and out of bed feels a little different from a regular comforter. You can’t really flick it off in one movement. Instead, it has to be pushed aside. If you tend to change positions a lot at night, you will notice the extra effort. Some people like that the blanket encourages them to stay in one spot, while others are more aware of the resistance when they roll over.

Something else to keep in mind, sharing one weighted blanket with a partner rarely works unless you’re both close to the same weight. The pressure that’s perfect for a 140 lb person is going to feel very different for someone who’s 180 lbs. Most couples who want weighted blankets end up buying two separate ones.

Attaching the duvet cover takes about 5-10 minutes the first time you do it. After that, it stays put. Some people skip the cover and just wash the blanket itself more often, but the cover protects your investment.

Baloo Weighted Blanket: Pros and Cons

Pros

Feels like actual nice bedding, not synthetic or cheap. The OEKO-TEX certified cotton makes a noticeable difference in hand-feel and breathability compared to polyester options.
Weight stays evenly distributed even after months of use. The small quilted pockets and double stitching prevent the bead clumping that plagues cheaper blankets.
Built to last. People who’ve had theirs for 2-3 years report it still looks and functions like new—no loose stitching, no bead leakage, no structural issues.
The calming effect is legit for a lot of people. That “being held” sensation isn’t exaggerated. For people with anxiety or sensory needs, it genuinely helps.
Looks gorgeous, not tacky. Clean aesthetic fits into any modern bedroom design.
Lifetime warranty backs up the quality claims. Shows confidence in construction longevity.

Cons

Costs more than many marketplace blankets, so it suits someone who wants a long term upgrade rather than a quick test purchase.
Baloo runs cooler than many other options but it still adds some warmth, and very hot sleepers may need a fan, cooler room, or to use it more in the cooler months.
The weight feels very present, which many people find grounding, but it can feel too intense if you dislike pressure on your body or live with pressure sensitive pain or certain chronic conditions.
Heavier sizes can be awkward to wash in a small home machine, so some people prefer using a duvet cover to reduce wash frequency or a larger commercial washer for deep cleans.

Baloo vs Other Weighted Blankets

Feature	Baloo	Luna	Bearaby	Budget
Price Range	Premium	Mid-range	Premium	Low
Material	OEKO-TEX certified cotton	OEKO-TEX certified cotton	Organic cotton knit	Polyester
Breathability	High	Medium	Very high	Low
Weight Distribution	Excellent	Even	Can stretch	Poor
Machine Washable	Entire blanket	Entire blanket	Entire blanket	Varies
Aesthetics	Classic quilted, rich hues, premium look	Plain	Chunky knit	Generic
Where To Buy	Check Special Price for Baloo	Check Price for Luna	Check Price for Bearaby	Varies by brand

Baloo vs Luna: Both Baloo and Luna use OEKO-TEX certified cotton, but Baloo focuses on premium construction with enhanced breathability, refined aesthetics, and long-term durability backed by a lifetime warranty. Luna typically sits around the under-$100 mark, making it more budget-friendly for first-time buyers.

Baloo vs Bearaby: Bearaby makes hand-knitted weighted blankets with no beads, with the weight coming from chunky layers of organic cotton fabric. Choose Baloo if you prefer traditional bead-filled blankets with OEKO-TEX certified materials at a lower price point than Bearaby. Choose Bearaby if you prefer the organic chunky knit look and maximum breathability.

Baloo vs Gravity: Gravity is a well known option with a soft outer cover and removable inner insert, but it uses microfiber and polyester materials. Baloo focuses on OEKO-TEX certified cotton with glass beads and a lifetime craftsmanship warranty for those after certified non-toxic materials.

How to Choose the Right Baloo Living Weighted Blanket

Start with 10% of your body weight as a baseline, then adjust based on what you’re looking for.

Go lighter (7-8% of body weight) if you’re new to weighted blankets and nervous about feeling trapped, you run hot at night, or you’re petite. For a 140 lb person, that’s a 12 lb blanket.

Stick with standard (10% of body weight) if you don’t have strong preferences yet and want the typical weighted blanket experience. A 150 lb person would choose 15 lbs.

Go heavier (12-15% of body weight) if you have strong sensory-seeking needs, anxiety that responds to firm pressure, or you’ve tried lighter weighted blankets and wanted more. A 160 lb person might choose 20 lbs.

For size, the throw works great for solo use or couch time. The queen covers one person comfortably or two people if you’re both similar weights and don’t mind sharing. The king is substantial coverage but, again, most couples eventually want separate blankets at their own ideal weights.

If you’re buying the baloo living weighted blanket and you run warm, seriously consider pairing it with a cooling bamboo duvet cover instead of cotton. Or plan to use it mainly in cooler months. The 30-day trial lets you test it, but give yourself at least 10-14 nights to adjust—most people need about two weeks to get used to sleeping under weight.

>> See all weight and size options for the Baloo here

Final Verdict On The Baloo Weighted Blanket

baloo weighted throw and sleeping under a white baloo weighted blanket in bed

The Baloo weighted blanket does what most people hope a weighted blanket will do. It gives you steady, even pressure that feels like a calm, gentle hug while the cotton stays cool against your skin instead of trapping heat.

The OEKO-TEX certified fabric, quiet glass beads and the fact you can wash the whole blanket in a machine make it a low-maintenance option for everyday use, not just something that looks nice on the bed.

There are a few things to keep in mind. On a king bed, Baloo tends to work better as a personal blanket, with each sleeper choosing their own weight instead of sharing one across the whole mattress.

It is also worth taking a moment to choose the right weight rather than relying only on a rough percentage chart. If pressure often aggravates your pain on sore days, or makes you feel uncomfortable, a lighter weight would be a better fit to start off with.

If you often climb into bed with your shoulders tight, thoughts still spinning and a history of cheaper blankets that ran hot or fell apart, Baloo is one of the few cotton weighted options that can genuinely help you feel more settled.

It also makes a thoughtful gift this holiday season for any exhausted parent or stressed partner who would welcome a more peaceful wind down at night, or even as a lovely, luxurious upgrade to their existing bedding.

Get 25% Off Baloo Weighted Blankets (Limited Time Only)

Frequently Asked Questions about the Baloo Weighted Blanket

Is the Baloo weighted blanket any good?

Yes, the Baloo weighted blanket is considered a good option, especially for hot sleepers and people who prefer natural materials and build quality. It uses OEKO-TEX certified cotton and glass beads, has small quilted pockets for even weight distribution, is fully machine washable, and comes with a lifetime craftsmanship warranty, which sets it apart from many cheaper polyester blankets.

Is there a Baloo discount code available?

Yes, there is a Baloo discount code. You can use the code SleepEssentials at checkout for 10% off sitewide on Baloo, which applies to their weighted blankets and other eligible products. Cannot stack with other offers.

Can a 130 lb person use a 20 lb weighted blanket

Yes, a 130 lb person can use a 20 lb weighted blanket, but it will feel heavier than the usual guideline of about 10 percent of body weight. For 130 lb, that rule points to around 13 lb, so many people in that range find a 15 lb blanket more comfortable, while 20 lb can feel too intense, especially for new users, people with joint issues, or anyone who feels restricted under heavy bedding.

Is Baloo a good brand?

Yes, Baloo is a good weighted blanket brand known for breathable cotton construction, glass bead fill, and a simple quilted design that looks like regular bedding. The brand focuses on OEKO-TEX certified materials, full machine washability, and a lifetime craftsmanship warranty, so it tends to appeal to hot sleepers and buyers who are tired of cheap polyester blankets that overheat or tear easily.

Why does my body hurt after sleeping with a weighted blanket?

Your body can hurt after sleeping with a weighted blanket if the blanket is too heavy for you, if it worsens an existing issue like back pain or joint problems, or if it forces you to stay in one position for too long. Some people also feel sore during the first few nights while their body adjusts to the extra pressure, which is a sign to try a lighter weight or stop using it and talk to a healthcare professional if the pain continues.

Who cannot use a weighted blanket?

People who should not use a weighted blanket include babies and very young children, anyone who cannot move the blanket off themselves easily, and people whose doctor has advised against added weight because of breathing, circulation, or cardiac problems. Weighted blankets can also be a poor fit for some people with severe claustrophobia, uncontrolled chronic pain, or certain mobility issues, so it is always best to check with a healthcare professional if you have medical concerns before using one.