What you’ll see
This guide on blanket ladders is envisioned to be a one-stop-shop for all information you’ll ever need to get top value for your money.
It took about 10 months & 4,000 work hours to complete. Writing a general guide with shopping tips is not a big deal, but the specific recommendations you’ll see called for outside help.
Why we had to talk to experts
It’s because some quality aspects were out to our area of expertise. So, we talked to 8 experts. Most of them specialize in quality of materials used - from wood to metal.
In terms of design, we relied on the knowledge of one of our own - Katia Dadzis. Before joining us full-time, Katia was an award-winning interior decorator.
So, when two products of similar type (typically wooden rustic), it was her opinion that was the deciding factor.
That’s how we made our initial picks of 35 products. We also had to tweak our statistical model to reflect these specific quality aspects.
Bottom line - results and see below are a combination of a few factors: the expertise of our woodworking consultants, statistical modeling of user satisfaction with the products and a touch of our experience in the industry.
Blanket ladder - our top five picksThe Original Sula - top pick overall
If you’re into interior design, you might already know that the Sula Stand was featured in one of the issues on the Architectural Digest Magazine. When choosing a blanket ladder there’s a few quality aspects to think of. We’d group them into two categories: style and practicality.
The Sula is at the sweet spot. Stylish enough to work well with the range of space styles – from antique to modern and yet practical enough to eliminate any concerns that come with daily use. It’s easy to see stylish pictures from a photo shoot session and think,” I want that.” But daily use is a different story altogether, especially if you go with wood.
So, if you’re looking for a piece to use for years to come without sacrificing style and appearance the Original Sula Stand is, in our opinion, the obvious choice.
Sturdiness of the Sula is second to none – it’s the only item here made of solid Teak. All the hardware used is stainless and waterproof, so you won’t be seeing any corrosion issues.
AquaTeak might have made these with towels in mind, but the generous width works for blankets just as well.
With these, you don’t have to worry about leaning or placement. It stands independently and you can easily move it around your living room if you get bored with the placement.
To be overtly personal for a second, one of the authors of this guide has first-hand experience with the Sula. Our editor Bob has two of these - one for the living room and one for the bathroom. All of us make jokes about him paying the extra bucks for the Sula. To be honest, there might be a peg of home-jealousy involved.
Back to the object side of things
The Sula stand does cost more compared to any other item on this list, but it doesn’t cost as much in some of the ladders you might see in a Pottery Barn catalogue.
Our analysis here might read “teleshopy,” so, in case you’re wondering (which you probably are) let us just stress that we received no free products when compiling this guide.
We seem to find the Sula to be the best-rounded stand/ladder.
You can do your own reading and see some more first-hand experiences from the owners by following the two links below.
White rustic blanket ladder by BarnwoodUSA - top decorative choice
BarnwoodUSA was not in the top three when it comes to user satisfaction statistics, but it’s still our top pick in three consecutive updates. We gave this fact some thought over the past few months and analyzed the feedback.
The conclusion we reached is that most people who weren’t satisfied after spending money in this product talked about the craftsmanship and the fact that it is a peg more expensive than other similar products.
What this means for you
It means that you should be aware of what you’re buying if you do go with this piece. It’s right there in the name - this is a rustic blanket ladder and the wood does look distressed and unfinished.
Why we chose it as the top rustic piece
Because it does exactly what it’s meant to do and does it well. The part that was especially important here is the fact that it comes in three sizes in six colors, which means there’s little chance of ending up with a piece that doesn’t work with your space.
To be subjective for a second, our favorites (color-wise) are the white, black and turquoise. These three alone cover any “feel” you’re going for - the rustic white and black will complement pretty much any room style, while the turquoise makes for a great accent piece.
What this means for you
It means that if you’re looking for a product to be used daily, you’re probably better off with some of the products further down this list.
To be precise - if you own a wool blanket and you’re using it daily, you’ll want a smoother finish with zero splinters. On the other hand, if you are primarily looking for a decorative piece, you’ll love this Barnwood.
Is there are still questions in your mind about the kind product this is, you can see them all answered by following one of the two links below. When all said and done, there’s no better source of answers than those coming from owners.
Yamazaki Home Tower throw ladder rack – most practical
Among metal blanket ladders, our choice is the Yamazaki home Tower.
We wouldn’t expect anything less from a piece designed in Japan.
In the category of daily use we looked at 14 products and 3 of them stood out - this Yamazaki, the Umbra Freestanding Adjustable & Master Garden Bamboo.
The smooth finish of the Yamazaki eliminates any issues regarding blanket wear and tear; the minimalist retro design is still stylish. It comes with six thin steps (one more than any of the products we listed here).
If you combine the thin six-step design with the generous width (close to 18 inches) you get what’s probably the highest capacity and versatility item here, comparable only to the Umbra Freestanding.
The Yamazaki Tower is also too obvious choice if longevity is and kind of the factor for you. It’s only natural because it’s the only ladder here that’s top-to-bottom steel.
With user satisfaction of over 90% (people who gave it either four or five stars) put it in the top 3% off ladders we looked at.
You can see what people like or dislike about the Yamazaki by following the links below.
Umbra Freestanding - most versatile
The umbra is a whole different “beast” compared to any of the products on the list. We found it to be most versatile for two reasons - the width is adjustable (in the range between 16-24 “) and the protruding steps on one side of the ladder offer some extra space for hanging towels or throws.
Along with the Yamazaki Tower, the Umbra is one of the two pieces on the list with the modern design (versus the rustics).
Our rating: 90/100
Rustic Decor - runner-up in the “decorative” category
If you’re aiming for a minimal Barnwood or antique look, this might be your choice. Rustic Decor makes these from reclaimed wood and they look and feel primitive - that’s why we’re labeling them as “decorative.”
It’s rugged, unfinished with all the knots and splinters still there. This means it’s not the best idea to use it as storage ladders for your expenses blankets.
With that said, dollar for dollar, this is probably top value for money. Further down in this guide we explored the options you have if you want to make the ladders on your own.
Unless you have all the materials at hand, looking at the price of this slice of style will probably get you to think twice about whether it’s worth making one of your own.
Our top primitive pick - authentic weathered display
If you’re looking for a piece that looks like it’s been washed ashore, this 4-inch high weathered wood ladder might be your choice.
Buyer beware
It’s right there in the name, this is primarily a decorative display piece and it’s too distressed and unfinished to be used daily. You can see the knots and nail holes even in the images here.
They do look rustically charming but, make no mistake; daily use would take a toll on your blankets or throws.
The good part is that, for a decorative piece, it’s surprisingly sturdy and well made.
Our top pick in Bamboo ladders
If you like bamboo look, there is one piece we found that meets the quality standards.
It comes from Master Garden and stands at 60 inches high and it’s primarily designed for towels. However, it’s wider than most solid wood or metal blanket ladders – 16 inches wide.
In our research, we found that four out of five people were satisfied with the product they received and those who weren’t primarily talked about the imperfections in the making.
So, be aware that the bamboo doesn’t look as confectionery, run-of-the-mill perfectly finished ladders you might find in your local IKEA. It’s not crafted to be perfect and those who know bamboo note that this type (Calcutta or Tam Wong) is used when you want a piece that looks like it’s a present from your friend who just came back from traveling the Orient.
DIY blanket ladder
Although getting a nice set of blanket ladders at IKEA, on Amazon, Walmart or Target is fairly cheap, you can always go down the DIY route just because it’s fun.
On the other hand, you might have taken a look at the latest Pottery Barn catalog or a handmade piece on Etsy and your heart skipped a beat…they can be quite pricey.
The prices
The prices range anywhere from a few dozen dollars (all the leaders we listed are available on Amazon and belong to the lower price range) up to a few hundreds (we’ve seen some expense pieces in the Pottery Barn catalogs).
Whether you can relate to the former or a latter scenario, the DIY version is probably going to save you some money and cost you some time.
They do look simple enough to make, deceivingly simple even, but weight making one yourself does require a bit of experience in woodworking… especially to make a piece that will last.
How to make a blanket ladder
As we said, for a person experienced in woodworking, the project can be very simple and cheap.
We looked at what’s available out there, compared DIY sources and prices of the supplies and reached a conclusion that you can make one for as little as $10-$15.
The advantage here is that you can customize the end result to fit your needs. The important part here is the width and depth of the steps – choose one that will be just right for the blankets you have.
On the other hand, if you’re making a decorative piece, you can plant whole thing ahead and choose the decorative throws or blankets just for this purpose.
How to make it – the supplies
Here’s a list of what you’ll need
17-18 ft. of wood - we’d go with 2 2x2 boards - each of them 8-9 ft. long. Thicker wood pieces like this would be easier to work with (in terms of the assembly)
Wood screws - the number here will be and how many steps you want. For the purposes of this guide, let’s say that you’re making a 4-step ladder - this would require eight screws. In terms of size, ½ “screws will do just fine.
Wood finish for staining - you can always go with a completely unfinished look; this is an option for decorative ladders that want be used on daily basis. But if you want to make ladders that you’ll actually use or you want to specific color (rustic wood or white will work well with most spaces) we would advise using some type of wood finish.
Clear coating for the finish – this will prevent any color from getting on your blankets or splits damaging them.
Step-by-step
The first step would be to cut the boards - 5 feet for each of them is a good size
If you do go with 5 feet, after step one will be left with two 3 feet boards (36 inches) - this allows you to choose the width of 4 steps to be between 14 and 16 inches.
Before you use the screws, measure the boards again by laying them on the floor. Make sure that everything fits precisely.
Distance between the steps - measuring from the top, place the first step at about 5 to 6 inches. A good rule of thumb some for the distance between the steps is 11-13 inches. This will leave some more space between the bottom step and the floor and that’s what we’re aiming for. Otherwise, the bottom step would be unusable for most standard sizes of blankets and throws.
Precision when measuring and getting the wholes is crucial - we don’t want crooked ladders now, do we?
Use the screws to put it all together
Apply the wood finish and coating that you chose
Voila, after a day of drying the finish, you’ll have a modern or antique-style storage piece, the pride making it yourself and the few extra dollars in your wallet. We found some more precise tutorials and DIY plans on Shanty 2 Shic and Ana White.
The caveats of choosing
Ultimately, your choice should depend on the type of blanket you want to hang on the ladder.
In practical terms, it comes down to the friction between the two surfaces. Distressed, rustic wood with no finish might prove to be too much for sensitive materials like wool. Simply put, and fibers will catch the splinters and even if you don’t pull out a thread, you’ll probably soon see some wear.
The same goes, probably even more so, for knitted or crochet blankets. On the other hand, wood of this type is not likely to be sturdy enough for heavier pieces like weighted blankets.
If this is your scenario, you’re better off with a fine finish.
Flat steps vs. round dowels
The first step should probably be the deciding on the shape of the steps (no pun intended).
You can go with a wide and flat wooden steps or rounded dowels which typically see in bamboo, metal and iron.
The right way to look at things here would be a combination between the material, finish and shape of the steps.
If it’s fancy DIY project, it can be as simple as nailing peaces of pallet together.
If there’s one take away here it would be not falling into the trap of saving money on the front-end (by making it cheap) and losing it on the back-end (by damaging your blanket).
Where to buy a blanket ladder?
Most major retailers and store chains (like Amazon, Target, Walmart, Farmhouse, Pottery Barn, Wayfair, Magnolia etc.) carry a wide range of choices – from white and to black and from wood to metal.
Choosing where to buy the ladder comes down to two things - your budget and how well you can research before buying one. Get it online will give you the advantage of reading experiences of other owners.
If you want a handmade one but would like to skip the trouble of making it yourself, you can always a blanket ladder for sale on Etsy.
How tall?
From what we’ve seen, 5ft and 6ft are the sweet spot when it comes to height. This size range allows for proper distancing of the steps or dowels.
For specific purposes (like baby nursery), we’d say that 5ft or smaller would be a better fit.
Ask us anything or work with us
Typically, we update this every four months to reflect any changes on the market.
As we said in the beginning, a year ago, this topic was new to us but we learned a lot since. We also have a panel of good people with expertise in the field, so we’re confident we can answer any question that pops to mind.
If we don’t know, we’ll find out. So, feel free to reach out or share your comments about our picks.
If you already own one or get it after reading this guide, do come back and contact us – we can always use the contribution and firsthand experiences and we are running a yearly 1K of sleep products giveaway for all our contributors.
Don’t be a stranger,
The Sleep Studies team
The following post Blanket Ladder Read more on: thesleepstudiesvia Blogger Blanket Ladder
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Most of our communication is actually based on non-verbal gestures. Body language is something we are familiar with in everyday life, but it doesn’t stop when we fall asleep. The position of our body while sleeping can tell a lot about person’s character and emotional state. In terms of love, the way we sleep with our partner can indicate the state of our relationship. Subconsciously, we choose the position in which we are sleeping. Since we can’t control it, it can be a great way to shed a light on feelings that may not be spoken while we are awake. Let’s take a look at some of the most common positions couples sleep in their meaning. 1. Tangled, honeymoon hugWe’re starting with the one that is very rare, because it’s not really comfortable to stay in this position all through the night. It usually happens when the emotions are running high (after sex) or at the beginning of relationship, when partners want to be physically close to each other as much as possible. If this is a regular sleeping position for couple, or if you spend all night in this tight knot, it can indicate a lack of independence in relationship. 2. The unraveling knotIt starts like honeymoon hug, but later partners untangle. This is actually a good thing, it shows that love and intimacy are definitely there, but independence is present as well. It usually happens (although not often) when couple has been together for a while 3. SpooningWe are all familiar with this one. Spooning indicates intimacy, trust and closeness in relationship. Although there is a lot of physical contact in this position and it’s very sensual, the erotic vibe of it is not as important as the feeling of comfort that it provides. Person who takes the role of “big spoon” feels protective of his partner and this way he/she is trying to create a safe zone for a loved one. 4. Loose spoonThis is a more popular variation of classic spooning. Couples who like to sleep in spoon position will choose this one after some time, simply because it’s more comfortable. On psychological level, this doesn’t mean something is going wrong between the two of you, it actually shows you trust each other and are comfortable to have some space between you, in bed and in life. 5. The ChaseIt looks like spooning, but in this position one partner has turned back and moved away to the side of the bed, and the other one is playing the role of “chaser”. There are two ways to interpret this: this person needs more space in bed, or wants to be pursued by his partner. 6. Head on chest aka. the nuzzleAt the start of relationship or when the passions are rekindled, couples will sleep in this snuggling position. Partner who rests hand or head on the chest of other, shows healthy independence in relationship, but is still willing to be dependent on their partner. Usually this partner will place their leg on the body of the other, or they’ll intertwine their legs. Person who sleeps on back and hugs his partner is confident and offers protection. This position is open and is saying that partners are companions who trust each other. 7. The ShinglesWhen both partners sleep on their back, but one is placing their head on the other’s shoulder, this shows confidence and understanding in relationship. 8. The leg hugThis position can be interpreted in few ways. If just one partner is “hugging” it can mean that he/she needs attention from the other. If both of partners participate in this “hug” that’s a sign of balanced and comfortable relationship. In casual relationships, this often can be confusing, since some people don’t show their affection openly, so this can be either just a random contact or a “call” for closeness. 9. Back to back - touchingIf you sleep back to back, but the butts are touching, don’t worry, you are good. This is very popular sleep position, especially among established couples. Each partner has its space, but there is a contact which speaks about closeness and sexual connection. 10. Back to back- no touchingIf you and your partner usually hug when sleeping, this could be a red flag. With all that space between the two of you maybe it’s time for a conversation. On the other hand, maybe you cuddle in bed, but it’s just too warm to sleep skin on skin. Some couples don’t need much contact during the night, just a good rest, and there’s nothing wrong in their relationship. Keep in mind that if you toss and turn a lot throughout the night, its natural if other person wants to keep more space between the two of you. This doesn’t indicate you have an underlying problem in relationship, instead it says you have bad sleeping manners. 11. Face to face - touchingIf your heads are at the same level and touching, and your arms are tangled, this speaks about closeness, like-mindedness and general good atmosphere in relationship. 12. Face to face - not touchingThis can be a sign of high emotional demands from both sides. Both partners are craving attention and intimacy, and both are doing nothing about it. You should listen to one another and talk about your feelings. 13. Sleeping on your stomachWhen we sleep on our stomach we hide the front of our body, and that may be a sign of vulnerability, lack of sexual trust and anxiety. You should speak with your partner and if he is the one sleeping this way, use hugs to make them feel protected. 14. One partner dominates the bedThis is a classic case of power play. If one partner sleeps in a starfish position, and even pushes the other to the side of the mattress, it’s a cause for concern and honest conversation. This selfish position tells which partner is dominant in relationship. Also, take a look if your heads are at the same level. Partner whose head is closer to headboard is usually the one who feels like he is in control and has more confidence, while the partner whose head is positioned lower plays a submissive role and probably has a lack of confidence. The following blog post Couple Sleep Positions Meaning is available on https://thesleepstudies.com via Blogger Couple Sleep Positions Meaning Sleep dread is real and nothing to be shrugged of. Over the past few years, we interviewed a few dozen of of sleep therapists and one of the questions was always regarding sleep dread - its causes, whether it's a phobia or not, the forms it can take and finally, what you can do if you can relate to what you'll read you'll see below. Having a good night’s sleep is vital for our overall health and daily functioning. During the 7, 8 or 9 hours, our brain process information gathered during the day and helps our body heal and re-energize. Disturbance of this process night after night, leads to chronic discomfort, panic attacks, sleep disorders and it can develop into a sleep phobia known as "sleep dread." What’s causing the fear of going to sleep?Sleep dread can be caused by number of reasons, including come conditions like PTSD, depression, anxiety disorders or fear of sleep paralysis - https://thesleepstudies.com/sleep-paralysis/ (if you already experienced episodes). Most commonly, however, it’s a side effect of insomnia. However, in most cases the main trigger is one simple, everyday thing- fear, irrational and exaggerated fear, to be precise. How our body reacts to thisWhen we are scared, our body’s natural reaction is to activate the “flight or fight” mode. This is normal and necessary human reaction, and when it’s reasonable we can benefit from it. But our sleep is time when we need to go completely opposite from it. Having this mode on when you need to rest is counterproductive. And that’s an understatement. When your mind is telling that you need to be prepared to run from a threat, you can’t rest. If you do manage to fall asleep at some point, the brain will stay highly alerted during whole time, making the quality of sleep low. Because of the hyper arousal of your nervous system, you will feel more aware of your surroundings, and will probably have nightmares. In this case it’s common to wake up few times during the night, which breaks sleep cycle, so don’t be surprise when you get up in the morning feeling like you worked the graveyard shift. When mornings feel everything but goodAfter sleeping in this state you wake up feeling less rested and refreshed. The brain not only didn’t get the chance to store all the data from previous day, but was infused with new information throughout the night. This leaves you feeling tired, forgetful, and with weakened state of awareness, prone to injuries and accidents during the day. It’s easier to break a glass or cut yourself feeling this way, not to mention more serious stuff. Bad quality of sleep is often a main reason for the poor performance at job or school, and it also affects our emotional state. In the long term, disturbance of sleep can play a significant role in causing the variety of health problems, from mood disorders to heart diseases and stroke. What causes sleep dreadThink about the quality of your life. If you are often isolated and your social life is close to non-existing, this can make you more subjective to influence of bad news. We are social beings; we need to be in touch with each others and share our thoughts and experiences. When a lot of ordinary good things are happening to you on a daily basis, you feel happier and calmer. If you watch TV and read newspapers, you are probably up to date with all sorts of bad and disturbing news out there. It’s hard to avoid them, to be honest. The world is definitely not a rosy place these days. This is not something that can be tossed aside. Remember, our brain process information, and the source of information is everywhere. If you think that doesn’t have any effect on you, think again. Beside that, try to remember all of the movies and TV shows with violent and aggressive scenes in them. Personally, I’ve lost count. And if you are highly sensitive person, or have a wild imagination that likes to visit dark places, even worse. It can take you further and the dread can turn into fear of dying in sleep. So, even if you’re not suffering from anxiety, or any other mental disorder per se, if you are scared to fall asleep for no real reason, that’s a problem that needs to be taken care of. The fear of sleeping aloneIf you are scared of sleeping because you have bad dreams, that’s one thing, but in most cases, sleep dread gets triggered when sleeping alone. It’s proven that women are battling this problem more often than man. They usually don’t have trouble sleeping when their family members or partner are in the house. My friend once told me that she feels safer sleeping when “man is in the house”, and I am talking here about the girl that trained martial arts for years. This irrational fear comes from the idea that we might get attacked during the night, and staying awake will keep us safe. When there are no men to protect us, we must rely on ourselves. This feeling of vulnerability makes our primal fears alive. We can talk about the century’s old roll of women being a “weaker sex” embedded in our minds, but it’s not just that. For this we can also thank a huge number of movies with highly aggressive scenes that include women getting attacked in the middle of the night in their beds. We are not accusing anyone, this is a simple fact. How to threat sleep dread and stop it from happening againBear in mind that even if you get rid of your fear for a night, or week, the feeling itself casts a very long shadow that can affect you for months or even years, and can make sleep dread episodes reoccur at any time. This problem needs to be approached directly and systematically. You really need to work on this, by yourself or with doctor’s help. It takes time, but it’s worth it. Let’s start simple, small stepsMinimize the flow of violent images and stories that comes to your mind. If you watch a lot of horror movies or crime shows, stop doing that, or at least don’t watch them right before you go to bed. You don’t need to have a sleep phobia to feel frightened to fall asleep after watching some of those, so think logically. Good idea is to move the TV from your bedroom, if you have one there. If you really can’t stop watching movies at night, switch to something relaxing and funny. Restrain yourself from short-term solutions, like sleeping with your TV on, or lights on, or asking your friend to stay the night. It may help you once, but not in the long run. You can’t erase the fear this way, it will keep coming back. If you don’t exercise, this is something you really need to consider doing. Not just because of obvious health benefits, but as they say “make your body tired and the brain will follow”. When we exercise, our bodies release serotonin and dopamine, hormones that are responsible for feeling of happiness. With tired body and happy mind it’s a lot easier to hit the bed. Meditation, positive affirmations and mindfulness have a strong positive influence on our mind. If you think that’s a bit silly, let’s talk about how silly it is to deprive yourself from sleep due to irrational thoughts. Fight the bad thoughts with positive ones. You already know that the sleep dread is caused by fears that are not justified, that negative state of mind didn’t come from nowhere. Change the way you talk to yourself, and you will change the way you see the world. Practicing yoga, keeping a journal in which you can write down things you are grateful for every day, or just saying positive phrases few times a day like “I am safe in my home”, can be really helpful. You should also work on your bedtime routine. Your sleep time should be sacred, literally. In general, your bedroom should be dark, well aired and peaceful, so that vibe can be transferred to you. Make your bedroom as cozy as possible, and avoid using computer or telephone before going to bed. Take a bath, or read a nice, relaxing book, or play some of your favorite music. There is even music for sleeping; tracks with calming sounds that help you fall asleep. If you like to sleep with radio on, you should do it, but because you are enjoying it, not because you are terrified of sleeping in silent room. A more serious approach to sleep dreadIn cases of anxiety disorders that affect sleeping and cause insomnia, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has proven to have great results. In sessions with the therapist the focus is on indentifying the fear and getting over it. Your doctor will lead you to confront the actual cause of the problem and together you will work on establishing a healthy sleeping routine. The key thing is to stick to the therapy even if it’s hard to handle in the beginning. In some cases, medications like alpha-blockers are prescribed to keep the sympathetic nervous system under control. We believe that consulting with your doctor is the way to go, and that with a right treatment you can overcome sleep dread. This is something it should be discussed with psychologist, especially if you are already battling some type of mental disorder. It can be solved and there is no need to panic. If the situation is less serious, natural ways we talked about are proven to be effective (even doctors agree on this), and you should try at least one of them. One step at a time...We understand how troubling sleep dread can be, and that’s why we worked very carefully on this guide. We hope you will find it useful and follow the advices. If you are experiencing the fear of sleep, or have a story related to it, please share it with us in the section below. Don’t be scared to go to bed. Good night The article Sleep Dread aka. Fear Of Going To or Dying in Sleep – We Asked Experts About It was originally published to www.thesleepstudies.com via Blogger Sleep Dread aka. Fear Of Going To or Dying in Sleep – We Asked Experts About It The review of the Sleep Innovations Shiloh 12-inch memory foam mattress has been “in the pipe” for over 8 months now. We took our time because we wanted to make sure that the analysis is the most complete it can possibly be. We consulted experts (both of memory foam and sleep therapists), we gathered a large pool of information from owner feedback and we directly contacted people already sleeping on the Shiloh - as many of them as we could. It took about 4000 work hours, but we believe that the detailed analysis you’ll see below is a one-stop shop on all the information you’ll ever meet about the Shiloh. On the other hand, we made an effort to present the results in simple and concise way. The bottom line is that it should only take a few minutes of your time to get a good feel on whether the Shiloh might be the right mattress for you. [toc] Sleep Innovations Shiloh Review - all quality ratings[wp-review id="211161"] It was clear from the get-go that the Sleep Innovations Shiloh is a top-tier mattress. We say that because for a product of this type (layered all-foam), there is one aspect that’s critically important and that’s the quality of the foam. For an average buyer, a typical fact sheet can be confusing, misleading even. It’s easy to say that the foam is “high-quality.” But what does that mean to a person that’s not particularly savvy when it comes to the industry lingo? Foam quality goes well beyond the density and firmness. That’s why the fact that we know the type of foam Sleep Innovation uses was an important factor. Top to bottom US-madeOutsourcing is not a minus on its own but, based on what we’ve seen when it comes to memory foam, there is a pattern. The quality ratings of the foam with the same density and firmness start to vary with prolonged use. We revisit and update the quality ratings at 1, 2 and 5-year marks. Based on what we’ve seen, the gap in ratings (shape retention and structural integrity) appears at these time milestones. Statistically speaking, those ratings speak in favor of US-made foam. To be clear, we don’t want to make and blanket statements, and there are companies out there that import foam that stands its ground when compared to a US-made product. To simplify - all we want to say here is that an average buyer can be more comfortable with spending money on US-made foam that passed all the rigorous testing and obtained the staple quality certificates. That’s what the Shiloh is made of and, if you ask us, it’s a big plus. What we expected to seeHaving in mind that sleep innovations are making an effort in their advertising to stand out from the crowd by stressing that there is no one-size-fits-all mattress, we expected the Shiloh to be top-tier. Why?Because a company like this wouldn’t risk their reputation by putting a product on the market that’s sub-par compared to the manufacturers they’re trying to distinguish themselves from. What do we mean by that?The Shiloh is designed to be a good fit for most people. In a market where many companies simply make one mattress and advertise it as one-size-fits-all, Sleep Innovations is an exception. They make a range of mattresses for different body frames. The Shiloh is their flagship product with the widest appeal - average to large person. In other words - it’s designed to find the sweet spot between comfort and support. Airflow and heat dissipation of the Sleep Innovations Shiloh 12-inchThe foam used to make the Shiloh is patented, with cell structure designed to improve airflow and heat dissipation. We wouldn’t go as far as describing it as “cooling”, but the heat dissipation numbers we’ve seen do justify the claims the company makes. In that quality aspect, it belongs to the top 5% of mattresses we ever analyzed. Firmness vs. supportIf you prefer an extra soft feel, this mattress might not be right for you. In terms of firmness, we would describe it as medium. That doesn’t mean much in its ownWhen you’re looking to buy a mattress, the proper analysis should include “firmness versus support” rather than each of these separately. Based on the pool of numbers we have, we’d say that 8 out of 10 people will find this mattress to be “just right.” Here’s whyShiloh is not just a lump of foam. The layers work together to balance between firmness and support. This means that the top layer (2.5 inches thick SureTemp foam) is there to allow your shoulders and hips to sink just enough for proper spinal alignment. The SureTemp foam is trademarked by Sleep Innovations and 3rd-party tested to do what the company claims in the advertising. The base layer is denser and thicker (9.5 inches). It’s the base that’s “responsible” for the structural integrity, shape retention and support. To be more precisePutting it simply - for body frames ranging from medium to large, the Shiloh is at the sweet spot. The base is just firm enough so that your spine doesn’t arch downwards, while the top has enough “give” to prevent the spine arching upwards. That especially goes for side and back sleepers. Hot versus cold sleepersIn terms of heat dissipation, the only scenario where Shiloh might not feel right is if you’re an especially cold sleeper and the temperature of your bedroom is also low. In all other scenarios, the mattress does a solid job of both dissipating heat and not trapping the cold. The user satisfaction numbers we’ve seen were slightly higher with people more concerned about heat retention. Sagging and edge supportBefore we get into this, let us this mention that we have separate statistical model when we rate this quality aspect in all-foam models (different formulas from those we use for innerspring and hybrids). Why?It’s because you can’t reasonably expect the same level of edge support from foam and mattresses that have a thick wire encircling the edges. To put it simply - it only makes sense to compare apples to apples. With that said, this mattress belongs in the top 10% in its category. What this means for youIt means that the edge support is nothing to write home about, but we also don’t see it as a red flag. It’s solid enough to sit on the edges as you preparing for sleep, but you might find it too soft to read a book or watch TV show while seated on the very edge. Motion isolation of the – only a secondary factorThis is where Shiloh truly shines. With the layered structure in mind, this doesn’t come as a surprise. To be honest, the motion isolation properties contribute less towards our final ratings than other quality factors. We all remember those commercials with a bowling ball dropping on a mattress without spilling a glass of wine. It is impressive when you see it, but how many times did you actually wake up because your sleep partner was moving too much. Our guess is – not many. The bottom line here is that Shiloh has excellent motion isolation properties, but we wanted to be clear that we find other quality aspects more important. Durability and longevity of the Sleep Innovations Shiloh 12-inchThere’s confusion with the terminology here and we want to address that first. You might see a Sleep Innovations Shiloh review on other sites lumping these two aspects together, which is not the way to go about it. Here’s differenceDurability describes how much pressure and weight a mattress can take without compromising the structural integrity. Longevity describes, as the word itself indicates, how long the mattress is expected to live. As we mentioned, our ratings reflect 1, 2 and 5-year milestones. Rating a mattress in these two categories is tricky because we don’t have enough clear-cut data and it comes down to the warranty terms. Let’s try to be as precise as we canTypically, this type of mattress from other brands is covered by a 10 year warranty (even the ones that cost much more). We’re stressing that because Shiloh comes with a 20-year warranty. Sleep Innovations estimates the serviceability the last as long as 15 years (given that you sleep on it every night). Off-gassing, smell and safety certificationThis is an important one because it’s not only about the smell. It’s more about long-term safety. This is where the fact that the foam is US-made following strict safety standards is a big plus for the Shiloh. The crucial part here is that it carries the Centripur label, which means that it’s tested to be free of:
Even the manufacturing process is environment-friendly. For the finished product that will arrive at your doorstep, this is not a big deal. But if you like the idea of sleeping on a mattress that was made with minimal footprint on the environment, this does deserve a mention. Mandatory factory air outWith most foam products, there will be an initial smell that lingers around your bedroom. It can take anywhere from a few days to a few months to dissipate. None of that here This is one of the few mattresses we’ve seen with a mandatory factory airing out. For you, this means that there is no initial smell and no need to wait or air out the mattress on your own. That part is taken care of in the factory and the product is shipped with zero smell. No need for add-ons We see this one way to often - you get the mattress and your enthusiasm about it is quickly curbed because you feel you need an extra topper or pad for it (most often because it feels too hot). Here, the top layer is designed to eliminate the need for a topper. In fact, the company advises against using any add-ons because they can interfere with the breathability. MaintenanceSince the structure is not symmetrical, the mattress should not be flipped. Many of us are still trapped and the perception that flipping a mattress will prolong the lifespan. With modern mattress technologies and materials, it’s not so simple. Here’s why With mattresses that shouldn’t be flipped, the manufacturer has to be extra careful, especially when they offer a 20-year warranty. This means that they have to make sure that the structure can take the prolonged use and maintain shape. Otherwise, they would be faced with people claiming their warranties too often, which would affect their bottom line. The important part here is that the numbers we’ve seen when it comes to foam breaking or develop indentations with prolonged every-night use are low. Rotation The mattress is symmetrical (top to bottom) which means that you can rotate it but, based on what we’ve seen, the number of people who feel the need to do it is very low with the Shiloh. This ties into the analysis above and means that the number of people who saw structural issues is also low. To put it simply - there are no indentations or the uneven surfaces forming over time that would call for the mattress to be rotated. What does the warranty cover? When you see a long warranty like this, you should be careful and make sure that you read the fine print. In some cases, a company can “dilute” the warranty terms and you might end up with additional cost when making the claim. We looked closely and saw no red lights here, the company does what it promises - covering the full cost related to any warranty claim (replacing or repairing the bed). These terms cover any issues with the fabric, stitching and, most importantly, potential structural defects. Bounce-back - secondaryWhat we mean by “bounce-back” is the time it takes for the surface to get back to its original shape when you get up. There are two ways to look at this: The first one is absolute (comparing it to every mattress out there) and the second one is comparing it to mattresses in its price range. If you do the former, it’s fair to say that there are products out there with higher bounce-back ratings. They do, however, cost much more. If you do the latter, this puts the Shiloh in the top five products in its price range. Similar to the motion isolation, we don’t see the bounce back is a crucial factor simply because nobody ever said, “I got up to go to the bathroom and when I got back my mattress wasn’t completely flat.” That’s why our statistical model includes the bounce-back only as a secondary factor. The “history”The mattress hit the market back in 2010 (May 15, to be more precise) and was initially known as the Sleep Innovations SureTemp. So if you see it under that name, don’t get confused, it’s the same mattress. The name SureTemp was a way for Sleep Innovations to stress the trademarked foam used for the top layer. Cover qualityWear and tear at the seams - testing the stitches The number of garment issues reported by the owners we talked to was lower than those we’ve seen in 93% of other mattresses. To be subjective for a moment, we prefer the quilted cover over the smooth one. It feels more rugged and durable and looks more luxurious. But when it comes to the numbers, we’ve seen no substantial difference in abrasion %s or stitching. We rate the quilted cover at 92/100 and the smooth one at 90/100. These numbers are based more on our experience than the actual testing (the data pool we had here wasn’t big enough to do that). Apart from the aesthetic appeal, we find that the rugged covers are typically superior in terms of stain release. Value for moneyWhen all said and done, this is the category that probably does the best job of reflecting overall quality. If you didn’t take the time to read the full analysis, let’s reiterate. In most quality aspects, the Shiloh 12-inch performed superiorly compared to mattresses in its price range and, most of the time, it tested just as well as mattresses that cost anywhere from the 200 to 400% more. Our rating of “value for money” is 95/100, which puts it in the top 6%. We have five descriptive categories that we use to rank mattresses in terms of value and the Shiloh belongs to the top one “Worth every penny and then some.” Updates to our Sleep Innovations Shiloh reviewAs per our regular schedule, we update the ratings quarterly, unless we see an indication of a significant quality change or learn about a change in the manufacturing practices. We do it to make sure that our ratings always reflect the actual situation on the market. This means that you can be confident that the information you're seeing is fresh and relevant. If you have questions or an experience you'd like to share (if you already own this mattress or if you get it after reading this), do get in touch, we have a $1000 yearly giveaway of sleep product for all interviewees who contribute to making our ratings more accurate. To join it, all you have to do is contact us and we'll take it from there. Stay smart, The Sleep Studies team Sleep Innovations Shiloh Review was first published to https://thesleepstudies.com via Blogger Sleep Innovations Shiloh Review Each person with long hair knows this problem very well. You go to bed and every night you are “attacked” by your own hair. Or you have a peaceful night, but in the morning your hair looks flat and lifeless, your locks are squashed and you desperately want to call your hairdresser, but usually there is no time. Here, we're going to present you with some solutions that might help you win this tangled battle. How to sleep with long hair - our list of 7 tipsHer majesty- the bunI have long hair and this is my personal favorite. It’s the easiest and quickest method to keep my hair tamed during the night, and it doesn’t change the shape much. It also looks really cute when I wake up (Brigitte Bardot style). Of course, some people find it uncomfortable, and it can be, especially if you have a really long hair. Good solution for that can be putting the bun really high or maybe even leaning in front of your head. Also, bedtime hairstyles are probably the only fashion approved opportunity to use scrunchies and not elastic bands, since they are a lot less damaging to your hair. Braid it all the wayIf your hair is very long and it’s not layered this could work great for you. It takes more time to make, and some time to practice if you are not familiar with it, but it gets easier and faster after the first couple of times. Do it on dry hair, leave some of it upbraided in the bottom and make it loose to avoid adding stress to your hair and split ends. This is also a great way to get a waved hairdo if you want to, and if you have locks it might get them tamed and more defined. Some of my friends do have a problem sleeping with braids on, because it can make hair frizzy, but that depends of quality and type of your hair. It would be best if you can try braiding for one night and see if it works out for you. Also, think about using some anti-frizz hair product, especially if you have a problem with that in general. Keep it lowIf your hair is medium length, you could probably benefit the most from this quick solution. Just tie your hair into a low ponytail, it will keep it from your face and it will be less tangled in the morning. It doesn’t really do much in comparison to the “magic of the braid” and your hair might loose its volume, especially in the roots, due to all of the hair weight just falling down flat. In all the scenarios above, it’s best to use scrunchies, or elastic bands with no metal parts on it (very important), because they can damage the hair. Keep it high or bring some pineappleA great option if you want volume especially at your roots. High ponytail keeps your locks from being squashed, your hair is out of your way and, as mentioned, volume won’t be something you should worry about. The downside is that it can put pressure on your roots so they might ache. The pineapple is a great alternative. You need a clip with a big grip to loosely grasp the hair at the top of your head. This way you’ll avoid the stress that binding inflicts on your hair and you’ll have a nice hairstyle the next day. Stick with the loose hairIf you don’t have a problem tossing around much in your sleep, this could actually work out nice for you. If you manage to sleep with your hair falling from the side of your bed, you will keep you locks intact. You won’t have to tie up anything, it’s very comfortable, but you hair is surely going to get tangled, at least a bit. This might help if you have oily scalp, because it let’s your hair breathe. Cover itThis is maybe the best option for layered hair that refuses to stay in ponytails. It’s best if you use satin cap or a big scarf. If you go for the cap, fold the edge of the cap all the way so you don’t have an imprint of the elastic band on your forehead. It might be a problem finding one that won’t slip off your head during the night. If you go for the scarf, there are a lot of YouTube tutorials teaching you ways to tie it. It looks very fashionable actually, so you might want to bring that look outside of your bedroom. The nightcap, however, will make you look silly, for sure, but if it’s comfortable who cares, right? Nights in white (or any) satinSpeaking of satin, no matter how long your hair is, satin or silk pillowcases are the best to sleep on. They are the least damaging materials for your hair and, let’s be honest, satin does give a touch of luxury to your bedroom, and a little luxury never hurt nobody. Think about investing in one. You can see our recommendations here - https://thesleepstudies.com/best-silk-pillowcases-sheets-comforter/ Back to youMaybe you’ll choose to stick with one style that you are most comfortable with, or you’ll decide to change between the styles and that way you’ll end up with different hairdos each morning. Personally, I’m all about diversity. Whatever works the best for you is the way to go, but try some of these and have fun with it. The article How to sleep with long hair – Best way to win the “tangled battle” is available on https://thesleepstudies.com/ via Blogger How to sleep with long hair – Best way to win the “tangled battle” If you’re in the market for a Vellux blanket, your search ends here. The quality analysis you’re about to see is fruit of over 6, 000 work hours. It took us about 7 months to put this guide together – we interviewed material technology engineers and analyzed over 3000 user experiences. We also made an effort to include different types and sizes (from the Original Vellux to the premium plush designs in all sizes - Twin, Queen and King). Vellux blankets – info of Top 5Vellux Original blanketThis is the blanket that most people have in mind when they mention Vellux. It’s the staple product from the company and by far the most popular. The most likely reason for that is the balance between price and quality. The company advertises this blanket as “America’s most trusted.” While we’re not sure about the statistics they used to make the claim, it definitely seems to have a solid backing user satisfaction numbers we’ve seen in our analysis. Current user satisfaction rating of the Vellux Plush blanket is 87%. This means that nine out of 10 people who get it found it to be worth the money. The shape retention, durability and longevity put it in the top 5% of all blankets we reviewed (respectively rated at 92, 93 and 90 out of 100). You can see what owners are saying about the Original Vellux below. Vellux plush blanketThe runner-up in popularity among users is the Vellux Plush. The difference between the plush and the Original comes down to the weight and loft. The plush is a bit heavier per square inch and extra cozy. The density of the Plush is a bit higher - 330 GSM (grams per square meter). This makes it about 50% heavier than the Original. Who will choose it?The answer to that is in the analysis above – it will be the choice of people who prefer the safe and calming feel of a heavy weight blanket. The difference in all other quality aspects, including price, is nothing to write home about. It costs a peg more, but we don’t see the slightest difference being any kind of an influence to a purchase decision. The user satisfaction is practically the same as that of the Original. Vellux Micro - the lightest The only Vellux labeled as “lightweight” is the Micro. It weighs 2 pounds (full/queen size), which is slightly lighter than the Original and about 60% lighter than the Plush. Both sides are brushed, making it extra soft and resistant to pilling. Who will choose it?It will be the choice of people who prefer light blankets. Let us also mention that the price point is the lowest of all the blankets we listed here. Vellux Lux blanket – heaviest & currently rated highest by ownersThe Plush Lux is the heaviest product on the list. The Queen size weighs 5.2 pounds. The added weight comes from the extra loft filled with premium poly fibers. The finish velvet -like finish is not compromised by the extra weight. Who will choose it? The Vellux Plush Lux is currently the highest-rated product on the list (by the users) - 96/100, in spite of the fact that the cost a bit more than the standard Plush or the Original. We have been reviewing sleep products for more depth than a decade now and we only seen user satisfaction this high in a handful of them. That’s probably all you need to know about the Plush Lux. Read more: Vellux Sheared MinkIn terms of weight, this blanket is somewhere between the Plush and the Plush Lux. The Queen weighs 4.35 pounds and the King size weighs 5.25 lbs. To density (GSM) is also somewhere in-between – 378 grams per square meter. Bottom lineThe user satisfaction numbers of Sheared Mink are second only to the Plush Lux (95 vs. 96 %). Size per size, the price point is slightly lower than the Lux. Reference info What is it made of?Vellux is made of polyurethane. In the manufacturing process, two layers of polyurethane are reinforced with webbing layer or scrim bonded between them. After that, an adhesive is added, which gives the base color of the blanket & nylon fibers, that are passed trough the electrostatic field, are added to the adhesive. The electrostatic field binds the fibers. This is the reason why these blankets are so soft. Featuring a 1 inch two needle self hem way of sewing, these blankets do not come in bound or stitched alternatives. The best thing about these blankets is their durability. They can be machined washed many times, and there will be no shrinking, pilling or any other problem, that we often have with blankets made from other fabrics. Vellux Original blanket – frequently asked questionsThere was a problem with chemical smell when you first open the blanket? What to do about it? Machine washing and airing it out should remove any odor your blanket may have. They also become even softer after wash. Will this blanket be enough to keep you warm in below zero temperatures? This usually depends on the heating in your house. My wife is always cold, so she uses another cover on top of the blanket. Is this blanket dust mite proof? Yes. As we said, the these blankets are hypoallergenic, there for it’s perfect if you have allergies. Does this blanket fit the king size bed? The one in king size does. Can I use this blanket through all seasons? Yes, absolutely, you can use it all year long. It’s warm, but really light weighted, so using it in the spring won’t keep you over heated. Is this blanket water resistant? No. Fabric is not treated for water resistance. Where is it made? It’s imported (outsourced to China). This is not a negative per se. Over the past decade we’ve been monitoring the manufacturing practices of different companies, especially the outsourcing facilities and quality control. We know the facilities the company uses and we don’t have any negatives to report about the manufacturing. Repair You should try to stitch it together using a needle and a matching thread. If that doesn’t help, take it to the tailor’s. Would this blanket work as a rug, if I include a rug pad underneath it? We'd definitely say "no". Is there a possibility for the blanket to be destroyed in the washing machine? They are made to be machine washed. Although, there is a possibility that something might happen to it, but that has more to do with a washing machine. If you have a machine that tends to make some problems, try using a laundry bag. Just put a blanket in it and wash it that way. Vellux blanket King sizeSince we first published the guide, one of the most common questions we’ve been receiving is about the size available - especially the King. Vellux blanket on AmazonAnother common question is where to get to the listed products and be sure that you’re getting the real deal. Most major online retailers (like Amazon) and store chains like Walmart, Bed, Bath and Beyond, Target, Kohl’s etc carry the whole Vellux line. StorageThe important part about storage is avoiding the use of vacuum bags. We have seen user experiences reporting that, if left without air or in a hot space for prolonged periods of time can damage them (even de-laminate the whole thing). So avoid airtight bags and hot-area storage. Ask us anythingIf you still have question or feel like there's information we haven't covered in the guide above, feel free to ask us anything that pops to mind. To do it, either use the comment section or email us directly. You'll hear back from us within a day. The Sleep Studies Team Vellux blanket is available on TheSleepStudies via Blogger Vellux blanket Over the past few years (since we first published the guide on our top picks among kids and toddler air mattresses) we have seen very little change at the very top. The sample of data that the ratings you’re about to see are based on did significantly grow, making the ratings more reliable, but we are yet to see significant shifts in the top 5 picks. The ratings below are a result of over 2000 work hours (just counting our in-house work on analyzing the user reviews), so it’s fair to say that our top picks are a pretty accurate representation of the products out there. We hope you find the analysis helpful in making the right choice. Best toddler travel beds – Top 5
Aerobed for kidsThis update marks two years of the Aerobed for kids dominating this category. With the user satisfaction rating of 91% and an overall rating of 92 out of 100, Aerobed for kids is currently in a comfortable lead with a gap of hefty 2 points in the overall ratings over the runner-up - Shrunks Tuckaire. As you can see in the ratings below, it’s the quality (durability and longevity) of the material used that primarily stand out. The market of toddler air mattresses is not a huge one & most of the bigger companies have chosen not to dabble in it, which is probably what gave Aerobed (being the well-known and trusted company it is) an extra edge over the closest competitors. Details: Age range – 4+ years Who will choose Aerobed for kids?This bed is by far the most popular among parents in spite of the fact that there are cheaper options out there. It only makes sense because, when it comes to any product that will be in direct contact with your kids, nothing trumps safety and 10 or 20 dollars don't make much of a difference for most parents. The doesn’t mean that the other inflatables we have chosen for the top five are not safe (the safety standards are particularly strict when it comes to kids), but there is something comforting in knowing that a bed comes from a reputable company like Aerobed. All-in-one package It would be hard to find a person who likes shopping for extra things to make their purchase complete. In this case, we’re referring to the thick, fitted pad/sheets that come included with this Aerobed. It means that you don’t have to worry about purchasing extra sheets, which is a huge plus because finding the right fit can be a headache. It’s also important to stress that the included sheets are not a flimsy piece of cloth but made of thick materials with significant padding on the sleep surface. Also, they make for a practical add-on because they're washable, and the material of the mattress itself (unlike most others) does not stain and can be easily cleaned. In our opinion, all of the above makes the Aerobed for kids the most complete and practical product in the category. The Shrunks toddler travel bedWith a user satisfaction rating of 89% and an overall rating of 90 out of 100, the Shrunks Tuckaire toddler travel airbed with raised side rails has been a close runner-up to Aerobed for 4 updates now. What stands out about it is the fact that comes from a company dedicated to products for kids (most of the other air beds on the list come from companies whose primary focus airbeds for adults). As you see the ratings below, the ratings in the main quality categories are pretty close to the Aerobed. Who will choose the Shrunks Tuckaire?If you want more versatility, you might choose the Shrunks over the Aerobed. If you compare the two beds (size to size), the Shrunks packs down significantly smaller and lighter. The smallest size of the Shrunks is the Junior toddler (ages 2+, 52 x 27 “, weight capacity up to 150 pounds) which packs down to a roll of approximately 16 x 7 inches and weighs just over 2.6 pounds. On the other hand, if you go a size up the Shrunks is available in Twin Family size which inflates to a significantly bigger sleep surface than the Aerobed (78×43, measured side-to-side). Bottom line – the Shrunks Tuckaire is the more versatile option and, for most people, the most practical choice when it comes to kids travel beds (opposed to indoor use). Hiccapop Inflatable Toddler Travel Bed with Safety Bumpers - honorary mention and an exciting new arrival to the marketHiccapop is a refreshing new addition to this guide – this is the second update that finds the Hiccapop in the top three choices. It currently has the highest user satisfaction rating of all the toddler air mattresses on the list – 96%. Just to make things clear we'd like to disclose that are rating algorithms include what we call a “maturity coefficient." To avoid confusion, this has nothing to do with the bed being age-appropriate for toddlers - the “maturity coefficient” is just part of how we calculate the ratings. In other words, it’s our way to make the ratings more reliable by adjusting them to the period of time the product has been on the market. The Hiccapop arrived to the market in the beginning of 2017 and has been gaining momentum ever since. This also means that each new update brings the Hiccapop closer to the very top because the high user satisfaction ratings have been consistent. That’s the reason why we currently don’t have all the quality ratings for this bed - it will take about six extra months for the bed to reach full “maturity” and for us to report on all the quality ratings. Frequently asked questions about our top picks in the toddler travel bed categoryFAQs about the Aerobed for kidsDoes it come in the other size? No, the 50×25 size of the sleep surface is currently the only one available. What’s the total size measured side-to-side (including the rails)? We measured the dimensions of the further-most points of the Aerobed for kids and toddlers to be approximately that of a regular twin bed. What’s the height of the side bumpers? Side bumpers (or safety cushion as Aerobed calls them) measures 4 inches in height. What’s the total height and length? Measured from the floor to the top of the side bumpers, the Aerobed for kids is about 10 inches high. Measured from side-to-side, it is approximately 60 inches long. What’s the weight capacity? The listed weight capacity is 150 pounds. How does the pump work? Can it be battery-operated? The bed comes with a standard external Aerobed pump that needs to be plugged in to work (standard outlet). That’s why we stressed that some of the other kid airbeds are a more practical choice for travel. Is there an option to use a different pump (length or manual)? No, the pump is specific and the nozzles of other pumps typically don’t work with Aerobed. So if you need a replacement, you would have to get one either from their site, Amazon or an Aerobed store. Is there any significant off-gassing? This is one of the most common questions we have been receiving since we first published guide and it only makes sense because, as was said, safety comes first when choosing an airbed for kids and toddlers. There is a slight PVC smell out-of-the-box, but it quickly dissipates. In practice, we would advise leaving the airbed outside for a few hours to air out. Can I take it abroad? As was said, the pump works with a standard US outlet (110 V). This means that, to use it abroad (with outlets of typically 220 V), you would need a power adapter. Is the issue of cold air present? This is another common question with toddler airbeds since the air circulating inside can result in cold rushes on the sleep surface. In this quality aspect, we found this toddler inflatable to be superior because of thicker PVC and, more importantly, the hefty padding on the included fitted sheets. What are the dimensions one deflated? Once deflated and rolled, we measured the roll to be about 15 inches long and 7 inches in circumference. Can be used for camping? If you have access to power, the answer is a definitive yes, especially because the thick PVC fares pretty well and is not prone to punctures. How to patch it if it develops a leak? Based on what we’ve seen, the incidence of air leaks is very low, but if it does happen, it holds a patch very well since the surface is not flocked. It comes with a patch kit included and precise instructions on how to do it. How portable is it? It comes with a carry case for travel which we found to perfectly fit the deflated bed and be durable in the long run. This was a bit of a surprise because this is primarily an indoor inflatable bed for kids. Is the good fit for a Pack n’ Play? Probably not, since it’s too large. Does it make squeaking noises? This is a reasonable question since the surface is not flocked. If used without the fitted sheets, you’ll definitely hear some squeaking, but we don’t see a reason to use it without its dedicated pad. In this setup, the noises become a non-issue. Frequently asked questions about the Shrunks Tuckaire portable travel bed for kidsIs there a warranty? The Shrunks Tuckaire is known for its unparalleled warranty terms – lifetime. Noises The Shrunks Tuckaire is probably the single least noisy product on this list because of the combination of flocked materials and how well the two separate parts (the foundation and sleep surface) fit together. The movement between the two is minimized, and it’s one of the reasons why the design of the Shrunks Tuckaire has received many awards over the years. Safety It’s third-party tested to be free of any chemicals like BPAs, phthalates or lead. We haven’t noticed any significant off-gassing and lasting smells. Much like the Aerobed we mentioned above, there is a slight initial smell, but it quickly goes away once unpacked. Does it come with sheets included? The two smaller sizes (Junior Toddler and Youth Sleepover) do come with a soft striped fitted sheet (gray and white) while the Twin family size does not. The pumps and inflation time The included pump is manual (leg) for the toddler size and typical inflation time is about one minute. If you go with the medium size, the included pump is called Maxaire (also manual) while the Twin size comes with an electric pump that inflates the bed in about half a minute. How much do the different sizes weigh? The weight ranges from 2.65 LBS (for the Junior toddler), through 7.94 LBS (the Youth Sleepover size) to 10.8 LBS (for the Twin family size). Packing size when deflated The biggest size of the Shrunks Tuckaire (Twin Family) packs down to approximately 16×16 inches (when flat) and 16×7 inches (when rolled). The two smaller sizes back down to a roll of approximately 40×18 cm (16×7 inches). The side rails of the Shrunks Tuckaire Measured from the flat surface of the side foundation to the top of the rail curvature, the security rails are 3.5-4.5 inches high, depending on the size. Shipping We have received a few questions about the shipping. We can’t precisely pinpoint the confusion here since Shrunks explicitly lists their shipping policy to be within 2 business days. What are the sheets made of? The fitted sheets are 100% brushed cotton. Frequently asked questions about the Hiccapop kids air mattressSize of the sleeping surface Measured from rail to rail, the Hiccapop is approximately the size of a crib mattress. The security bumpers are 11 inches high and 49 inches long. Maximum capacity The listed maximum capacity is 300 LBS. Age range As per the official listing of the product, the age range is 2+ years. There is no official upper limit. Using it with a different outlet Strictly speaking, the manufacturer explicitly lists in that the pump is meant to be used with standard 110V outlets, but it can be adapted to a different current and used abroad if you can find the right converter for the power of the pump. Deflation The pump is not a two-way meaning that it doesn’t suck the air out and you would need to deflate the bed manually by pulling the plug out. Based on our experience, about half of the air goes out on its own and you would have to press and roll the bed to fully deflate it. Can it be used with a universal pump? As long as you have a pump with nozzles that are a good fit for the Hiccapop valve, you should have no problem using a universal pump for this kids air mattress. This also means that if the nozzles of an inflating machine are a good fit, you can use them to deflate the bed by putting the machine in reverse mode. Safety It's completely free of harmful chemicals like lead, BPAs and Phthalates. The construction The sides (foundation) you can see in the images are separate from the middle part of the bed. We’re specifically mentioning this because it makes the cleaning easier. Intex toddler air mattress – honorary mentionsWe feel that it would be unfair to exclude Intex toddler air mattresses from this guide since Intex had at least one representative in the top five since we first compiled the guide on best toddler travel beds for camping and indoor use. The two most prominent models that have been in and out of our top picks are the budget-friendly Intex Kidz anbd the more advanced Intex travel bed set with side rails. The user satisfaction ratings of the two portable inflatable beds for kids are respectively 78 and 85%. Kid and toddler camping bed (inflatable)Since we received quite a few questions about whether the travel beds for toddlers listing this guide are suitable to be used as kid camping beds, it’s only logical that we addressed the questions. When it comes to camping, your choice will depend on the circumstances with the most important one being whether you have access to power. If you do, you can easily use even the beds that come with an external electric pump and if you don’t, you’ll be better off with some of the listed models that use a manual or a leg pump. Updates policy & new ratingsWe typically update the ratings in guide on quarterly basis and do a complete overhaul once a year (one that includes new products that have hit the market). To make sure that the information presented are reliable at all times, we screen the user satisfaction ratings once a month and if we do notice a significant fluctuation (especially lowered ratings) we do an unscheduled update to see if it's only a statistical aberration or a real issue. We call these "red light" updates because their purpose is to find any indication that something about the products has changed (like materials or manufacturing practices). The bottom line is that you can rest assured that the information you see here are up-do-date with what's currently happening on the market. Finally, if you have any questions, dilemmas or simply quality aspects you feel we haven't covered, do drop us a comment below or contact us directly. It usually takes us no more than 24 hours to respond to all correspondence. The following post Best Toddler Travel Bed – Top 5 Kids & Toddler Air Mattresses was originally published on https://thesleepstudies.com via Blogger Best Toddler Travel Bed – Top 5 Kids & Toddler Air Mattresses We have been working on gathering enough data to make a solid list of best sleep and relaxation apps that would go beyond popularity and user reviews for the past six months. The results you’re about to see take into account our own testing of the apps (our featured testers to be more precise). You’ll see our top 5 picks of sleep and relaxation apps that are available for both iOS and Android. This top 10 list is updated quarterly basis to make sure we stay on top of things and keep our picks relevant to what’s currently out there. So without further ado, let’s look at our choices and what earned them a place on the list. CalmWill kick things off strong by presenting an app that’s been awarded Apple’s 2017 “app of the year” award – Calm. Currently ranked at number five in the app store (health and fitness category), come is not just a sleep app. It stands out from the crowd by offering much more than soothing sounds to help you sleep, but a chance to learn meditation skills. It’s not an app that you would turn on only is the day comes to a close, but can be used for breathing exercises throughout the day. For meditationIn terms of meditation, and are probably better ups out there, but they are meant to be used by people who already have some experience in the field, while Calm is a solid choice for those starting out there meditation journey. The app offers sessions of guided meditation that can last anywhere between 3 and 25 minutes. StoriesIt might sound childish but sleep stories for adults are scientifically proven to work, especially for those suffering from chronic insomnia. Calm includes over 60 of these. Natural soundsWith over 30 so the natural sounds to help you drift off, Calm stands tall even when compared to dedicated sound apps. Current ratings on iTunes: 4.8 out of 5 Sleep as AndroidWith over 240,000 reviews on Google play store, sleep as android the most popular sleep and relaxation up we found. Special features:
Range of sounds
Current ratings in Google play store: 4.3 out of 5 Sleep Sounds by RelaxioWhen we set the Calm app can be compared to the best sound dedicated apps, this relax you app (and a few others) is what we had in mind. It’s beautiful in its simplicity and is calming sounds are your primary reason for getting an app, Sleep Sounds will likely meet and exceed your expectations. The list of natural sounds ranges from a variety of rain types (refreshing regular, drops on the windshield, forest and rainforest) to evening beach or autumn woods. On the other hand, those who prefer women sounds might find the “train” soothing. Used updates include instrumental music and notification control. All the sounds are HD and app doesn’t require an Internet connection to work. Current ratings on Google play store: 4.8 out of five Relax MelodiesRelax melodies by Ipnos software is another sleep and relaxation app that owes its popularity (35 million downloads) to the quality and range of sounds available. What stands out about this app in particular is the option to create a mix of sounds included and create one that works best for you. It allows you to choose the sounds you want included in your mix and control the volume of each. You can then save your mixes to the sound library and choose one for different purposes (from relaxation and meditation to naps and sleep). Over the last year the app grew in popularity, primarily because of the melodies sharing feature. This means that you can create your mix of melodies and share it with the community. Current ratings on iTunes: 4.8 out of 5 Top sleep tracking app – Sleep Better Sleep TrackerIf you’re looking for an app that will reliably track your sleep and pinpoint any problems or this balance between your sleep phases you’ll probably find this app to be as reliable as dedicated sleep trackers. Not only does it allow you to track your progress in sleep quality on your phone, but you can also upload the data Apple Health to make long-term analysis easier. The interface is intuitive and easy to use and the reliability comes from the fact that it utilizes movement tracking to reach conclusions about your sleep. It’s the same kind of technology used by sleep trackers. For some people, the downside of movements-based sleep tracking can be the fact that your phone has to be placed on your mattress for the app to work. The slick minimal design of the interface and included alarm clock deserves full five stars. Current ratings on Google play store: 4.1 out of 5 Updates to this guideWith new sleep and relaxation apps sheet in the marketplace practically every day, we are bending our rules on updates (for most sleep-related products we updates the reviews and top picks annually) and go with quarterly updates. It goes without saying that choosing an app that will be helpful for your specific circumstances includes a range of factors. The good news here is that even the apps with a hefty price tag usually include a trial period that should give you a chance to determine which of these works for you. Best sleep and meditation apps for iOS and Android Read more on: https://thesleepstudies.com/ via Blogger Best sleep and meditation apps for iOS and Android We have been doing market research and tracking the trends in the mattress industry since we first established the website all those years ago. Things have been getting increasingly complicated over the past few years. The numbers for 2016 were surprising with ISPA reporting an all-time-high gross revenue and a growth of 3.4 %. The most important factor causing this tectonic shift is the dynamic industry of “online mattresses.” It’s fair to say that before the disruption the trends in the industry were somewhat predictable with the big mattress companies dominating. To kick of the analysis, we’ll start by taking a look at the freshest data available (sales stats for 2016 by manufacturer shale sales, channels of distribution and mattress type). Then, we’ll analyze some of the trends we’ve seen over the past year and use our statistical projection modeling to get the impression of what we might expect in the upcoming years. So let us get to it by taking a look at the sales share by company. Last updated: February 2018 Sales share by channel of distributionSales share of manufacturerSatisfaction % by mattress typeEconomic implicationsThe last graph shown above is probably the most important indicator of where the industry is going, although it might not appear so at first glance. Cause of the shift Is the new business model of buying a mattress online that caused the increase in user satisfaction rate with memory foam mattresses. Most of these companies (like Casper, Leesa, Lull - https://thesleepstudies.com/lull-mattress-review/, etc.) are memory foam mattresses that can be packed and shipped efficiently. We firmly believe that it’s the warranty terms (typically 100 nights to try the mattress out) that are causing the spike in user satisfaction percentages with these types of mattresses. The business model is simple – making the mattress so that it suits most of the population and then offering a return policy that most stores cannot match. Note: the category of “air” includes both classic air mattresses (https://thesleepstudies.com/best-air-mattress-reviews/) and high end products with an air chamber core (Sleep Number and their main competitor – Personal Comfort Beds have by far the highest market share in the latter category - https://thesleepstudies.com/sleep-number-competition/). Spending trends of the average consumerWhen we analyzed the market in 2015 we reached a conclusion that it plateaued. We were wrong. The substantial growth of 3.4 % in 2016 is an obvious indicator that the average consumer is spending more on a mattress (the trend is most notable in the US and southeastern Asia). It’s not likely that the slight job market recovery has anything to do with it. The more probable cause is that an average user is encouraged to spend more by the new warranty terms that allow him to try the mattress out before committing to the purchase. What we can expect in the short termThe trend of growth is likely to continue for at least 5 to 6 years as the new business model is yet to gain trust of the more conservative buyers. Based on he indicators that we’ve seen over the last few years we expect a steady growth of 2.5 – 3.5% per year in the 2018 – 2024 period. The long term effects of the changeWe mentioned that the new technologies and business models used in mattress manufacturing are already showing a significant impact on the mattress marketing in South Eastern Asia. In the short term, this might not be a big deal but in terms of long-term growth it is probably one aspect of the mattress industry that should be followed with a keen eye by anyone looking to predict where the industry is going. We’re saying that for two reasons:
The two factors above could result in a big spike on the market in 5 to 6 years. The bottom lineIf you were to make a list of manufacturing industries being shaped by new technologies and business models, the mattress industry would likely be at the very top. Speaking from the economic perspective and looking at the big picture, the impact of the changes that we describe above is yet to show its full impact on the market. With new companies and improved technologies and materials arriving at the marketplace with each passing quarter, these are as exciting times as any. That’s the main reason why we’re moving on from our regular scheduled updates of this report (annual) to quarterly updates on any significant news in the industry. The blog post Mattress industry stats – sales, growth and trend predictions for 2018-2024 is republished from TheSleepStudies via Blogger Mattress industry stats – sales, growth and trend predictions for 2018-2024 The guide on the best beach blankets was long in the works (probably longer than we expected) because our rating methods we used for other blankets did not exactly "translate" to this category. Besides tweaking our rating algorithm we got outside help from 4 material technology engineers (to make the initial choices of 22 beach blankets to be tested). Once we had that part narrowed down, we proceeded to the testing phase. The testing phase included testing the blankets ourselves and sending them out to our featured testers. The bottom line is the results you'll see are aftermath of over 4,000 work hours of statistical analysis of over 7,000 user experiences. We did our best to make the information we present as reliable as possible and eliminate any guesswork that you. the reader, need to choose right. The guide is updated on quarterly basis to keep the information fresh. You can see the last time this guide was updated just under the table of our top picks (green text). So, without much ado, let us get to the results of the last update. Best beach blanket - Top 5Top-rated beach blanket overall - Wildhorn Sand AwayIf you're not fan of sand filling your bags and sticking to your blanket, your search probably ends here. No blanket (or even towel for that matter) we looked it as sand-proof as the colorful Wildhorn. The material used to make the Wildhorn Sand Away is parachute-grade rip-stop fabric. Based on what we've seen, if you buried this blanket in a pile of sand you could pick it up using two fingers without a single grain sticking to it. The combo of the material and size is unique and the extra pockets for small items like sunscreen, phones and keys are a nice plus. The one downside is that in only comes in one size (oversized, 9 x 7 ft.) and if the beach you're traveling to is crowded, you might have a hard time finding enough space to fully spread it. Folded in half, it's just right for a couple but fully spread, it can comfortably fit 3-4 people.
Bottom line Wildhorn Sand Away is one of the largest blanket we looked at, but the surprising part is how light and small it packs (approximately 1.3 lbs in a cylinder pouch of about 5.5 in diameter and 8.5 in length).With all that said, we found it to be solid value for money and a smart buy. Overall rating 95 / 100. FunN'Sun beach towel blanketMost of the blankets we listed are made of modern materials that are all about repelling sand, drying quickly and, in some cases, being waterproof. The FunN'Sun is different and will be the choice of people looking to stand out but still prefer the cozy feel of a towel to the parachute nylon fiber. It's top-to-bottom premium microfiber. We did see some great microfiber blankets (we'll talk about one more in a minute) but the colors are usually not much fun. There's a reason behind that - if not treated to be color-fast, microfiber tends to bleed color (especially when greens & red are combined with white). That's why you'll see it used mostly in one color pieces or combos of akin colors, like hues of blue and turquoise. If you want to stand out and be the talk of your beach section, the FunN'Sun will do it. It comes in two sizes (towel - 64 x 76 and blanket size - 64 x 76) and 10 vivid color combos. What we especially liked about is how color-fast it is. This aspect is usually a problem, especially in lower price ranges, since the blanket tend to bleed color.
Microfiber is a combo fabric (between polyester and polyamide) and, over the last decade, we have seen a surge of low quality fabrics on the market. We're basing this on other blanket types we've tested and reviewed over the years, but the criteria is the same. The color-fast issue we mentioned above might not be much of an issue for one-season blankets of akin colors but if you want to get a blanket with whites included without breaking the bank. The blankets that don't bleed in the white-vivid combo are much more expensive but we've seen no significant difference in the quality compared to the FunN'Sun. Last but not least, the FunN'Sun is one of the most popular choices among users since the range of colors appeals to beach-goes of all types and sizes, from surfers to families and couples. It has hundreds of review on Amazon - you can see them all by following one of the links below. SportLite Extra LargeThe SportLite Microfiber large beach blanket is the highest rated in the category of user satisfaction and packing size. The thin microfiber packs extremely small and, in that quality, it has no real competition - it's as seamless and as ease to carry and use as they come. Microfiber is so popular that we have even seen some companies trying to imitate the look and feel with other fabrics (like plain polyester) and pass it as micro. In the case of a beach blanket, the first thing you'd notice with one of these is how poor the insulation from the heat of the sand or pebbles is and that it doesn't absorb water. If the imitation of the product is well-finished you won't even be able to tell until you try to dry water from your body. If it just pushes the water around, you probably have a polyester fabric on your hand "posing" as microfiber.
Bottom line If the blanket genuine microfiber, the quality is determined by the denier and % of material. We found the SportLite to be super absorbent and great at heat insulation from the sand. The result came as no surprise since SportLite is known for their beach products (it's the brand that makes the official towels for the LA Lifeguard Association). To be clear, there's nothing revolutionary about this SportLite, there are dozens of good microfiber blankets and beach throw out there. The main difference here is the quality of the microfiber and the "value for money. We do know of similar products, but a vast majority of them costs much more than this SportLite. This brought their rating in the "Value for $" down and knocked them right out of the Top 5, making the SportLite the only bproduct among the top picks that's made of microfiber. Kahuna Next Gen sand proof beach blanketThe Next gen by Kahuna is a similar product to the iShoyu and will appeal to people with similar taste and needs (the main advantage being the sand-proof material). Again, the material & sand-repelling properties are similar, as you can see in the ratings below. You'll notice that we don't rate the products made of parachute nylon fiber in the category of "color-fast." That would make very little sense since the material simply does't bleed color and that's true even for product of significantly lower quality than the Kahuna. The main (objective) PROs of the Kahuna are the drying (takes only minutes), the ability to repel sand. On the subjective side, we have to say that we prefer the triangular patterns and colors of the Kahuna, but that's just us.
Kahuna defines their blankets as "giant" or "over-sized" but there is significant difference in the size (10x9" vs. 8x8"). If the size of the IShoyu seems like too much, you'll find the Kahuna to be just right for one or two people (without folding it). You can see what owners are sharing about it by following the links below. Round beach blanket by Dock & BayThe only round beach blanket on the list comes from one of the most trusted companies in the industry "Dock & Bay." It currently has by far the highest number of reviews from all the listed products. The material is microfiber and you can choose between 10 round cross and 6 round maze patterns. Another company that was bold enough to combine colors that can bleed with whites. We already talked about the additional treatment this entails before the products can hit the stores. Sizes: Large, Extra Large & Round (the circle is 75 " in diameter). What stands out about the Dock & Bay is the fact that this round beach blanket is the only on the list that has a 30-day return policy and full year of warranty. We've seen no better return and warranty policy. In fact, you rarely see one at all with products like this. Kudos for that, Dock & Bay. Turkish beach blanket by CacalaTurkish beach blanket is a throw made of 100 % Turkish cotton. They're light, the tight weaving leaves little room for stretching which also means they don't dry as easily as the modern material listed here. Typically, a person getting a Turkish beach towel will know exactly what they're looking for. Th feel of the fabric is hard to explain and the closest we can get is that it resembles a slightly more rugged cotton throw. The right weave and the color-fast cotton allow for the most expressive range of colors. Our top pick here, the Cacala Turkish beach towel, is available in 24 colors and measures 59 x 79 inches. Most of the categories we used to rate the products don't really apply to Pestemal throws (another word for a Turkish beach towel) so we'll only reporting on the user satisfaction rating here.
Giant GO sand-free waterproof beach blanketGO is a different product compared to blankets we talked about thus far. While parachute fabric and microfiber are designed to be quick-drying, they have no backing or layers that would be waterproof. The material of the GO is Oxford Polyester (Ripstop), the GO offers more insulation and the moisture of the surface underneath (whether it's sand, grass or ground) practically has no chance of "breaking through". On the other hand, the top finish is still quick-drying. The blanket is kept in place with either sand-pockets (which will be enough for a trip to the beach) or small stainless steel pegs you can use to secure the blanket even better by attaching the corner loops.
Oxford ripstop polyester is a peg stronger than parachute nylon fiber and is likely to last longer. Since it's a different type of material, you'd see the rating of "water absorbent" change to "waterproof." The ratings we reached are below. Beach throw blanket - Seashore woven by Manual WoodworkerThis beach throw blanket is probably the most stylish product on the list and will be the choice of people who prefer the luxurious woven "feel" to that or microfiber or parachute fiber. Strictly speaking, this throw is more about the looks and feel than being water or sand-friendly, because it's all-cotton. It's top-to-bottom US-made and we measured the size to be approximately 40 x 50 ". User satisfaction rating: 93 % Bottom line This throw is in a category of its own and most of the quality ratings don't apply, so we're only reporting on its owner satisfaction rate. You can read what users are saying about by following one of the two links below. Reference info on choosing the best beach blanket - types & materialsTypes by material usedParachute nylonProbably the most popular type of sand free beach blankets today are the ones made from parachute nylon. The main reason behind the trend are the sand-repellant and quick-drying properties of the materials. The material is at the "sweet spot" between comfort, weight, toughness and longevity. It retains color very well and doesn't change, which leaves room for using vivid colors and patterns varying from cute (soft pinks that most women will like) to and expressive for the youngsters. The nature of parachute nylon also allows for small and light packing. PolypropyleneThe main PRO of blankets made of polypropylene are the longevity and toughness. The secondary benefit is the stylish look and feel similar to that of a woven beach throw blankets. Polypropylene is waterproof and the little water absorbed dries quickly. It's also naturally resistant to temperature changes and makes for a great insulator from the scorching heat of the summer beach sand. MicrofiberNone of the materials we talked about above compares in softness to the cozy feel of micro fibers. It's only natural that they make one of the best beach blankets if you think about the absorbing properties of microfiber cloths. The important part here is knowing how to recognize the real thing from cheap imitations. It's one of the few materials that allows for a circle stitching to hold well and most of the round blankets are made using microfiber. If you get that part right, you'll end with soft blanket that will last for summers with minimal changes. Fleece and polar fleeceBecause of the similar properties, fleece often plays the role of wool and offers a great substitute for those who are not fans (or are allergic) of the prickly wool fibers. It's used for beach throw blankets, especially its sub-type polar fleece. Polar fleece is a bit more rugged and stronger than regular fleece, hence the more common use for clothes and clothes. The direction of the fibers defines the stretching - it usually stretches more along one of its dimensions (depending on the weave). Compared to wool, it's far lighter and easier to wash and clean. Oxford Ripstop fabricOxford ripstop is used for backing of waterproof beach blankets. Not only does it make them waterproof and more durable. Cotton - used mainly for beach throw blanketsMost of us remember the days when all you could see on the beach were cotton towels. Cotton is absorbent but retains water and sand. In that quality aspect, it's fair to say that it's not as beach-friendly as other modern materials. Today, it's used for cute beach blankets - the kind you'd use for a picnic and not rarely on its own for a full day on the beach. More about our review process and ratingsWe already talked about the basics of the methodology we use to rate the blankets, but in the section below we'll dig deeper and explain the nitty-gritty of it all - from the moment we decided to review the products to the moment we first had a list of Top 10 best beach blankets. One of our editors is a Materials technology engineer and, in guides like this, it's usually him and a few of his colleagues (that we bring in for the project) who make the initial picks. What are "initial picks?" The initial picks are the products that passed the first "filter" and qualified to be looked into closer. In this case, the broad list included over 120 products (based on user satisfaction data). The shortlist are the blankets we analyze and review in more depth. In this case that list consisted of 20 products.
For this guide we had no unscheduled testing so far. Our review and rating algorithm is a "living" thing. That's especially true for this guide since the products and quality aspects are unique and the methodology we use to rate, say, heated electric blankets, hardly applies. For this guide, it was back to the drawing board and the changes were more than tweaking since we had to include categories we've never used before like the blankets being "sand-free" (you might see this aspect referred to as "sand-repellent") and waterproof. Ask us anythingIf you reached our page and still have doubts about what you'll bask in for the few summers to come, drop us a line anytime (the comment section is below). We'll do our best to help. If we don't know the answer, we'll find out and get back to you within 24 hours. Bob, James and Katia aka. the blanket review team at TheSleepStudies Best Beach Blanket | Top 10 Compared | 2018 Update was originally published on TSS via Blogger Best Beach Blanket | Top 10 Compared | 2018 Update |
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The Sleep Studies is a website dedicated to the bliss of sleep. If it's about sleep, we're interested, from wellness, interviews with experts and research to reviews of sleep related products like the best air mattress, the best air bed, the best inflatable mattress, the best mattress topper or pads. ArchivesCategories |