Where to find some nice Wool Blankets

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kidwholaughs

Joined
Jan 17, 2004
Messages
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Hey Guys,

I was thinking about getting a wool blanket. Would like to keep it under 45 for a first one. Nothing too fancy. Just something to keep me warm at night indoors and out in the winter. I would like it to be as warm and comfortable as possible. There are quite a few online, I would like to get the best value for my money. Thanks

God Bless
 
I have a couple from the U.S. Military and Swiss Army I bought on ebay for around $30 each. A good value I think.
 
A US surplus or Swiss surplus blankets are available and cheap. You shoud be able to get a couple for $45. Just check local surplus outlets or online sellers. A really nice Woolrich one will set you back a couple of hundred dollars.
 
Try your local military surplus store. My father gave me one a couple winters ago, and it is like a furnace. I have worn it during blizzards, with a long sleeve shirt on underneath, sort of like a poncho. Better than my Columbia parkas. No idea what the maker was, I don't recall seeing a tag or writing on it.
 
fivefold said:
Try this link.

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/cb.aspx?a=406448:)
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+1

They also sell a very similar "military-issue" Italian blanket (listed as brand new) for about $18(4-pack for $54)...Do a keyword search for "Italian"...I have a four-pack that I bought a couple years ago when they were going for $44 and I love them. Mine came brand new and well-packaged but they smelled like moth balls...Just lay them out in the sun for a day or two and problem solved...A great blanket for the money...
 
Go to your local surplus store, they are sure to have them. You won't have to pay for shipping that way.
 
Cheaperthandirt had quite alot of blankets awhile back, some costing as low as $12.
I bought a bunch of them.
 
WOW! those Hudson Bay point blankets are expensive! No wonder I only walk through that store to avoid walking outside in the winter.
 
Hey Guys,

A lot of good posts. Thanks for the recommendations. Those HBC Point Blankets sure are nice. Btw, is there a quality diff between US, Swiss, and Italian mil-issuse blankets?.Thanks

God Bless.
 
I've liked Swiss, Czech and Italian ones that were 100% wool. I found certain US, French, and Israeli ones were not 100% wool. They held up decent enough, but not as warm as 100%, especially when it is wet. When wool is wet, it will still keep you warm. Plus when I washed and dried the wool blended ones, they got a little scratchier than pure wool actually. Not a real big deal, but hey, why not have softer if you can? I think every country has made 100% wool ones as times, so I guess I would say the country of origin is not as important as find a pure wool one. That is what I look for at least.
 
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Hmm interesting, I thought that the 20% nylon made the blanket tougher. But i didn't think it was going to make it less warm. Can you wash wool blankets?
 
The American military blankets I've used have been miserable and itchy. Also overpriced compared to some of the foreign military items.

I have a British blanked and an Italian blanket that are fantastic. This looks like the same Italian blanket as mine:
http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/cb.aspx?a=146518

I don't see the British blanket offered any longer. It's white and it may have been advertised as a field hospital blanket.

I have an older blanket too, perhaps from Czechoslovakia. It's nice and thick and soft, but not large enough.
 
kidwholaughs said:
Hmm interesting, I thought that the 20% nylon made the blanket tougher. But i didn't think it was going to make it less warm. Can you wash wool blankets?
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Yes, the nylon does make them tougher, but when wet, it is not as warm as wool. What I'm/was driving at was that when I've used them in the outdoors, if they get wet from snow or rain, the wool keeps you warm anyway, even though you may be wet. Nylon is not a good insulator dry or wet. Nylon does not absorb as much water as wool or cotton, which is why it makes for some good hiking wear. Also good to keep in mind is that Nylon melts instead of burns, but wool is harder to ignite and burns slower than most synthetic fibers.

You can wash wool in the washer. You just have to use cold water, use the delicate cycle, and the delicate spin cycle. You can dry them on low heat, but I prefer to let them air dry just to make sure they do not shrink. I think this is also why some surplus have the synthetic fibers in them; so they can care for them easier without the shrinkage. I also like to use Woolite Zero on them instead of regular detergent, but it is not a necessity.
 
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Cheaper than dirt is my primary source for such things. They usually have a number of different military surplus blankets for sale for fairly cheap. I need to get a couple for backup. Maybe it's time to order some of those CCI Stingers that are on sale.
 
My mom weaved me and all my brothers wool blankets for christmas a few years back when she was taking a weaving class, it's only about 3 feet by 6 or so but very comfortable, I went outside in some chilly drizzle to try it out, Very nice.
 
Based on the stripe pattern I can tell that mine is the $18 blanket, and it's great.
 
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