As the cost of energy in the UK continues to rise, Britons up and down the country are looking for ways to keep warm without having to ramp up the central heating.
Being able to enjoy my own personal source of warmth while I’m watching TV, making dinner or undertaking some household chores seems to make more sense to me than heating up larger spaces that will only increase my already sizable utility bills.
In my efforts to find effective ways to heat the person and not the room, I stumbled upon the Australian oversized wearable Oodie blankets that have taken the UK by storm. Having quickly decided that I couldn’t justify spending nearly £90 on a hooded blanket with a cute animated design, I headed straight to Amazon to find something similar for less instead.
READ MORE: New Oodie sale gives £35 off some of the hooded blanket firm's bestsellers
I opted for the £17.99 Sienna extra-long oversized wearable blanket with pockets after seeing it had achieved over 900 reviews, many of which were pretty impressive.
Swung by one happy customer who said: “I have been wearing this every day during the holidays and I can confirm it is super warm, cosy and comfortable.
“Wearing it I can keep the heating off all day and still feel great. It is half the price of the big-name equivalents but honestly, I prefer this one as it is less bulky and a better fit. A really wonderful product and great value”, I took the plunge and hit the buy it now button.
Arriving just a day later using my Amazon Prime subscription, the big brown box held a super squishy delight inside. The charcoal grey colour looked stylish and not too girlie, and the minute I opened the wrapping I could feel the sumptuous softness of the wonder garment inside.
Made from 100% soft polyester I was worried that this hoodie would look cheap or feel flimsy, but it honestly felt just like a high-end dressing gown on the outside, and the Sherpa lining has a woolly softness that feels great against the skin.
The one size fits all design comes with a 68-inch waist, a 45.5-inch body and a 25.5-inch arm length and the oversized style makes it suitable for use by wearers of all sizes.
The long sleeves have elasticated cuffs which are a blessing when it comes to doing the housework, as they never get in the way or need to be pulled up, and the deep hood offers incredible warmth without feeling like you are suffocating in plushie softness.
Before I was able to test my new super soft hoodie, I popped it in the washing machine for a quick 30-degree wash, as recommended by the manufacturer. Imagine my squeals of delight, when the hoodie came out sweet-smelling and somehow feeling even softer than before.
I wanted to give my new super hoodie a really good test run, so I kept the heating off and embarked on a day of post-Christmas housework, as well as a run out to the car to help get the shopping in and of course, an evening on the sofa watching TV.
I was warm as toast with only my feet feeling a little chilly and calling out for slippers by the end of the day. Oversized but not annoyingly so, I was able to pretty much do everything I needed without it getting in the way, feeling restrictive or even worse, making me feel too hot.
Would I recommend the Sienna hoodie over the expensive Oodie?
I have to say that the Sienna hoodie really did feel nicely oversized and long enough to cover my ample frame with ease, keeping me warm while getting on with my work at home. It also felt surprisingly soft and luxurious, which I wasn’t expecting for such a low price.
The big kangaroo pocket, oversized hood and capacious design are pretty much the same as you would find on the Oodie, and both versions come with cuffed sleeves which are a must for keeping warmth in and remaining practical.
Available in pink, navy and grey, I opted for the grey as it felt more neutral but judging by the reviews, all the colours are equally as cosy. Overall, I’m pretty much in love with my new Sienna hoodie.
Sure, the Oodie may offer super cute unicorn designs, or make me feel like a hip and trendy giant avocado, but if the plain colourway doesn’t bother you, this fluffy hoodie is an awesome way to keep warm for under £20.
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