VonHaus Heated Throw Blanket review: “It’s simple and effective. What more could you ask for?”

RRP at time of testing: £37 | Check price at Amazon, Argos or VonHaus

My verdict

I absolutely hate being cold, so a heated throw is a dream product for me: something cosy that doesn’t cost a lot to run and doesn’t require an engineering degree to work out how to switch the thermostat on and off (Wi-Fi-enabled radiators, I’m looking at you).

As someone who works from home, often in a garden office, I’m always looking for ways to stay warm during winter, especially on cold mornings. While I do have other heating options like an oil-filled radiator and a fan heater, a heated throw is definitely the softest, and often the cheapest, option.

The VonHaus Heated Throw Blanket was actually quite luxurious given that it costs under £40 to buy. It was plush, large and felt like decent quality.

The fact that it was machine washable too was a bonus, especially in a household of children and pets.

You can’t tumble dry this heated throw, which is less helpful in a household of children and pets, especially as you’ll likely be using it in the winter months when getting things dry outside isn’t always possible.

The heat wasn’t always evenly distributed with this throw, so while it did do a pretty decent job of warming me up, there were some areas that got hotter than others.

I also found some of the heat levels to be a bit pointless: the heat didn’t really kick in until you set it to level five or above, so the lower levels didn’t seem to make a big difference and I wasn’t sure when you’d use them.

How I tested the VonHaus Heated Throw Blanket

I tested this heated throw in my home office (which is essentially a shed in my back garden) and on the sofa in my living room with my family.

I tested it over a few weeks, as September’s warm weather gave way to a chilly October.

What’s in the box? 

Inside the box there’s the heated throw and the power cord with a digital controller attached.

Related: Best foot warmers and heated slippers and best blanket hoodies

How easy is the VonHaus Heated Throw Blanket to set up and use?

The throw can be plugged straight in and used, so there’s very little setup required. The instruction manual talks you through the basics of changing the temperature and setting the timer, but you can work most of it out from the digital controller.

When you first switch the throw on, the heat automatically starts at level five. You can then adjust it to be higher or lower depending on your preference.

Using the timer button, you can set the amount of time you’d like the throw to heat for (anywhere between one and nine hours). It has an auto-off timer too, so if you don’t select a time it’ll switch off after one hour.

The throw can be plugged straight in and used.

How well does the VonHaus Heated Throw Blanket work?

The VonHaus heated throw takes between two and five minutes to heat up. Once it gets going, you notice the warmth quickly.

There are nine different heat levels, but to be honest, I couldn’t really notice any heat from anything lower than level five. 

The heat became more obvious on levels six to nine, but it was still quite subtle until you reached the top setting.

The throw worked really well at providing extra cosiness and warmth, but I did find that the heat wasn’t always evenly distributed. When it was on, some areas of the blanket felt much warmer than others.

As an alternative to having the heating on, though, it was a good option: it kept me warm at my desk and was certainly cheaper than blasting heat through an electric heater.

What’s the quality of the VonHaus Heated Throw like?

I was impressed with the softness of the throw. The double flannel material felt plush and I’d say it looked and felt more expensive than its £37 price tag.

There were no pulls in the fabric or missing patches and it had a good weight to it. At 160 x 130cm, there’s also a lot of material.

I did notice after using it that some of the fibres from the blanket had transferred onto my clothes. Nothing major (and I have cats, so a bit of fluff on my clothes definitely doesn’t bother me), but there were a few very small particles.

Can the VonHaus Heated Throw Blanket be washed?

This heated throw is machine washable at 30°C, which is a definite bonus, especially with kids and pets around.

The downside is that it can’t be tumble dried, and the instructions suggest that spot-cleaning is best rather than a full wash.

Other than a washing line outside, I don’t really have anywhere indoors to easily dry clothes (a dehumidifier helps but can’t really tackle big items like bedding or throws), so I haven’t yet been able to machine wash this. 

But the fact that you can machine wash it if needed is a plus, especially given the price of this throw.

For a purse-friendly option that’ll keep heating costs down and warm you up, I don’t think you can go far wrong with the VonHaus Heated Throw Blanket.

Value for money: is the VonHaus Heated Throw Blanket worth the price tag?

At under £40, I think this heated throw is absolutely worth buying. There are more expensive options on the market, but unless you’re looking for a heated throw that does something really exceptional, this does the job just fine.

It’s simple and effective. What more could you ask for, really?

VonHaus Heated Throw Blanket vs Dreamland Café Collection Heated Throw vs Silentnight Comfort Control Heated Throw Blanket

Final verdict: is the VonHaus Heated Throw Blanket worth it?

If you had an unlimited budget to buy a heated throw, then you probably wouldn’t pick this one. There are others that feel nicer and perform better.

But for a purse-friendly option that’ll keep heating costs down and warm you up, I don’t think you can go far wrong with the VonHaus Heated Throw Blanket.

While it wasn’t always great at evenly distributing warmth, it was a decent-quality heated throw with a good range of heat levels, and it was perfect for taking the chill out of autumnal evenings without sticking the heating on.

If you work from home but don’t want the heating on all day, I think this would be a really worthwhile purchase.

About the tester and author

Charlie Bond is a freelance journalist and a mum of two (slightly wild) boys. As a lifestyle and shopping editor, she’s got more than 15 years’ experience testing everything from family holiday hotspots to mum-friendly makeup.

She’s always on the lookout for the best products to make parents’ lives easier, whether that’s a super-duper coffee machine (she’s usually had three espressos by the morning school run) or a cleaning solution that really does get pen off the walls...

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