Dreamland Alaskan Husky Faux Fur Heated Throw review: our best overall heated blanket for winter

Price on writing: £130 £90 | Buy now from Boots

If the cost of living crisis has you thinking twice about reaching for the thermostat this winter, many Mumsnetters rave about the best heated throw as a toasty yet cost-effective way to avoid soaring energy bills. Heating the person rather than the home - just like Moneysaving Expert Martin Lewis advises - they often cost just pennies to run and can work out a lot cheaper than cranking up the central heating, particularly if you're the only one working from home.

The Dreamland Alaskan Husky was voted our top heated throw thanks to its luxurious looks, cosy warmth, energy efficiency and ease of use, but is it worth the £100+ price tag, especially at a time when many people are tightening their belts? Poppy, Mumsnet editor and mother of two teens (and two heat-loving terriers!) put it to the test over October and November to find out. Read on for her full verdict.

Plus, for more winter buys reviewed by Mumsnetters, don't miss our guides to the best hot water bottles and warmest women's slippers.

Our verdict

• Warmth: 5/5

• Temperature settings: 5/5

• Design: 5/5

• Ease of use: 5/5

• Ease of cleaning: 4/5

• Value for money: 5/5

The Dreamland Alaskan Faux-Fur Heated Throw claims the title of our best overall heated throw, and with good reason. A beloved choice amongst Mumsnetters, I loved this luxurious electric blanket for its style, softness, and quick heating capabilities. With six temperature settings and a built-in timer all operated via an easy-to-use controller, it's a convenient and safe choice too.

On the downside, although it's easy to clean, regular washing can affect the softness of the blanket over time, and it's also quite pricey at its full RRP. Despite this, the Dreamland offers great value for money, especially considering its low running costs (around 4p per hour) and a two-year guarantee for added peace of mind.

What is the Dreamland Alaskan Faux-Fur Heated Throw?

The Dreamland Alaskan Faux-Fur Heated Throw (or the Dreamland Hygge Days Throw as it's sometimes dubbed) is a cosy blanket that is powered via the mains to provide a consistent (and very welcome!) boost of warmth on cold winter days.

It's become somewhat of a Mumsnetter favourite in the last few years, with many praising its comfort, aesthetic, and ability to help keep them warm at home when the heating is low or off.

Related: Insulate your home with the best draught excluder

How warm is the Dreamland Alaskan Faux-Fur Heated Throw?

With six heat settings (marked on the controller from '1' to '6'), there's plenty of temperature range to choose between, I tend to use setting 3 or 4 to keep a cosy temperature without feeling overheated - the highest setting is a bit too hot for me!

The patented Intelliheat feature is a big bonus too; it works to warm up the blanket quickly, in as little as five minutes. The dogs will sidle up and settle on the blanket as soon as I turn it on.

How easy is the Dreamland Alaskan Faux-Fur Heated Throw to use?

The Dreamland throw is very easy to use and get to grips with. I love how intuitive and straightforward the controls are - you turn the blanket on with a button and it'll automatically select the highest heat setting for 1 hour.

Operated with an easy-to-use control panel, once it's plugged it at the mains, you can then toggle between the different temperature settings and set the timer to one, three or nine hours.

Related: The best heated gloves for cold winter days

Design and style: Dreamland Alaskan Faux-Fur Heated Throw

The Dreamland excels when it comes to style. Crafted from acrylic and polyester, it has a luxurious look and feel that can add a touch of elegance and cosiness even when the temperature controls are turned off.

In terms of size, it measures up at 160x120cm, which is plenty enough for one person to snuggle up under, though it may be a stretch for two adults. With this in mind, some Mumsnetters loved the blanket so much they bought multiples for other members of their house.

It's worth noting that it is quite thick and the faux-fur texture may not be for everyone – I love it for snuggling under on the sofa, but when I'm at my desk a thinner throw works better, like the Mia&Coco Heated Throw, but it's all down to personal preference.

How easy is it to wash the Dreamland Alaskan Faux-Fur Heated Throw?

This is the one area the Dreamland fell short in, scoring four out of a possible five. While cleaning the blanket is relatively easy as it can be popped in both the washing machine and tumble dryer, I found that the quality reduced over time. The pile changed not for the better with each wash, but it still did the job. It’s not as fluffy and soft as it was new - it's more nylon-y with each wash, but my dogs love it so it has to be washed regularly.

Related: The cosiest thermal socks for winter

Price: does the Dreamland Alaskan Faux-Fur Heated Throw offer good value for money?

With the ongoing cost of living crisis andenergy prices rising again in October 2024, getting value for money is now more important than ever, especially if you're investing in a product to save on your heating bills.

The Dreamland isn't cheap, but I think it's worth it, as it'll last for many winters to come - plus it's currently in the Black Friday sales at £90, down from its RRP of £130. The good news is that it's also pretty cheap to run, costing around 4p per hour of use according to the Sust-It Energy Calculator.

The two-year guarantee offers great peace of mind when it comes to longevity too, and it's something Mumsnet user Emily benefitted from. Sharing her experience, she recounted, "The first one I had developed a fault, so I had to go back, and now I'm on my second one, so I'm hoping it doesn't happen again! I bought it through Lakeland, and the service was absolutely first class." So, if you do decide to take the plunge and buy it, make sure it's from a trusted retailer.

How we tested

We first asked Mumsnet users the heated throws they recommend, recruiting our Voices Panel to give their feedback on everything from ease of use and cleaning, features, design, and how warm and cosy each blanket was.

Once we had collated these results, we consulted with our Mumsnet tester Emily to get her in-depth feedback on how she found the Dreamland Hygge Days Heated Throw after using it daily in cold weather. Through using unbiased Mumsnet users for reviews, we ensure we give you an honest account of how products fare after thorough use in a real family home.

Mumsnet editor Poppy then tested the heated throw for herself in her family home. Taking detailed notes on style, quality, effectiveness and user-friendliness, she tested all the throw's functions on her sofa and at her WFH desk, as well as washing the throw regularly.

Plus, for more Mumsnetter-approved winter buys, don't miss our guides to the best thermal curtains and cosiest kids' blanket hoodies.

About the author

Poppy O'Neill is a Content Editor at Mumsnet and a mother of two. She researches and reviews the products Mumsnetters swear by, with a particular focus on home essentials, laundry and fans. From a highly-recommended retractable washing line to the best quiet fans money can buy, and Mumsnet's favourite dehumidifier to the steam generator iron that'll cut your ironing time in half, she loves to deep-dive into research and find the very best products on the market.

With an MA in Creative Writing and a PGCert in Lifestyle Journalism, Poppy's written about parenting topics for The Sunday Times, The Guardian, The Mirror and The Sun. She's a best-selling, award-winning author, and her books for children and parents have been translated into 12 languages.

About Mumsnet Reviews

All Mumsnet product reviews are written by real people after extensive research and testing. We work hard to provide honest and independent advice you can trust. Sometimes, we earn revenue through affiliate (click-to-buy) links in our articles. However, we never allow this to influence our coverage.

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