By Stacey L Nash | Updated Oct 27, 2021 12:51 PM

When the temperatures drop and you just can’t seem to get warm, a blanket that does more than contain your body heat can make all the difference. Electric blankets take warmth to a new level, literally. They usually have several heat levels and an automatic shutoff for safety. The Sunbeam Velvet Plush Heated Throw graced my couch for 2 weeks, where I (and my family) gave it a thorough going-over. From its warmth to the automatic shutoff and from the cord and controls to washing it, we put it to the test.

This Sunbeam electric blanket may have only three heat settings (some electric blankets have up to 20), but three can be more than enough when lounging on the couch. It evenly heats, is made with soft fabric, and has a belt clip that’s surprisingly useful. Plus, you can remove the electrical cord for machine washing. If you’re looking for a heated throw for relaxing on the couch during cold winter nights, this Sunbeam is worth a try.

Soft fabric with flexible wiring Comfortable heat levels Belt clip to track the remote control

Difficult to remove the electrical cord for washing

Get the Sunbeam Velvet Plush Heated Throw at:

The Sunbeam Velvet Plush Heated Throw is a 50-by-60-inch heated throw-size electric blanket. These kinds of blankets have a webbing of electric wires running through them. When plugged in and turned on, the wiring heats the blanket, providing more heat.

The 3.15-pound blanket is covered with 4 millimeters of microplush. If you’ve never felt microplush, imagine a thick, soft but smooth fabric that slides through your fingers. While this blanket is designed for use on a sofa or easy chair rather than on a bed, it can be used on a bed, too. However, it seems like a waste to hide this luxurious fabric under bedding when it’s so nice against the skin.

The Sunbeam electric blanket also features a remote control attached to the electrical cord. The remote has a belt clip on the back, which might seem strange at first, but while using the blanket, the clip proves to be handy. The remote control can turn the blanket on/off, and it adjusts the heat setting to low, medium, or high. Another feature is a 3-hour automatic timer that turns off the blanket. It’s a safety precaution designed to prevent burns and fires.

This Sunbeam blanket’s size and design are perfect for use while sitting or lying on the couch. It comfortably reaches from the collarbone to well below the toes, so the user’s body is completely covered. This was true even for my husband, who is close to 6 feet tall. There’s enough width to encase your sides in comfy heat, too.

The microplush was super soft and glided through my hands. While electric blankets are slightly stiffer than normal blankets because of the wiring, this is one of the more flexible blankets I tested. That helps it drape over the body, and it is comfortable.

Electric blankets have a couple of things that can make them less practical than regular blankets. The most obvious challenge is that you’re tethered to an electrical outlet by a cord. The Sunbeam electric blanket’s 7-foot cord left enough length to move around on the couch without feeling constrained.

But where the design of this blanket gets extra points for practicality and helps it stand out from other electric blankets is the belt clip. Why would a blanket need a belt clip? Imagine yourself wrapped in a cozy, warm blanket, but you need to adjust the temperature because as the evening progresses, it gets colder. Then imagine wrestling around with the blanket and cord trying to find the remote control. While you’re moving around, the cold air gets in and your comfortable warmth begins to escape.

With the Sunbeam, you can use the belt clip to attach the remote to yourself (if you’re close enough to the outlet) or to the couch or the blanket itself. Then, guess what? You can find and use the remote control without losing heat.

However, there is one practicality issue that did not score as well in our hands-on review: the washing part. While it washes just fine, removing the electrical cord to prepare the blanket for the washing machine takes some hand strength. It’s not easy to do, and I felt like I was going to break the blanket when I tried to remove the cord.

Even though this blanket doesn’t have as many heat settings as some more expensive models or blankets designed for overnight bed use, a throw doesn’t need to offer as many settings. Low, medium, and high were more than enough for my family and me. I didn’t need more than the low setting, even though I tried them all and discovered that the high setting made me uncomfortably warm.

Some electric blankets have an issue of heat pockets developing in folds or wrinkles in the blanket. While there is some of that with the Sunbeam electric blanket, the heat remains evenly distributed most of the time. Only when there were large folds underneath my body did I notice a hot spot. I tried, in general, not to wrap it underneath my body since that’s not recommended anyway.

This blanket has the most important safety feature that all electric blankets should have: an automatic shutoff. If you fall asleep with the blanket on, it will automatically turn off so you don’t overheat. The Sunbeam’s 3-hour automatic timer works well.

Well made, nice settings, great fabric, and flexible wiring compliment one another well in this blanket. In short, yes, it’s worth the money. It falls in the mid-price range, but it performs like a much more expensive model. The softness, flexibility, and belt clip make it a pleasure to use on a cold evening. As long as it’s maintained correctly, it should last for years.

The Sunbeam electric blanket is the kind of blanket kept in a basket next to the couch. It heats fast, so those winter shivers won’t last long. The soft fabric looks attractive, and you wouldn’t know it’s an electric blanket if you couldn’t see the electric cord. If you fall asleep on the couch, the automatic timer shuts it off, reducing the risk of overheating or getting a burn. I also appreciated the belt clip for tracking the remote control. In short, it became my go-to blanket to stay cozy under while bingeing Netflix in the evening.

However, if you want an electric blanket for your bed, I’d suggest either the Woolrich Heated Plush to Berber Electric Blanket or the Sunbeam Quilted Fleece Heated Blanket. These blankets are specifically designed for use on a bed. They’re larger and come in standard bed sizes like twin, queen, and king. They also provide more heat settings and more variability in the shut-off feature, so you can safely sleep with the heat on all night.

A bed blanket’s size and weight can make it unwieldy for couch lounging. For snuggling on the sofa, the Sunbeam Velvet Plush Heated Throw comes out as my top choice.

Get the Sunbeam Velvet Plush Heated Throw at:

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