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When I think about my favorite hobbies, sleeping is in the top three. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say I view my bed as a sanctuary. My bed frame needs to be stylish and sturdy; my bedding — sheets, comforter, pillows, etc. — needs to be soft, cozy, and warm, but also breathable. Right now, I love my bed setup, but I’ve long considered bolstering my sleeping arsenal with something else: a weighted blanket.
Why? For starters, weighted blankets are linked to a host of health benefits, including alleviating symptoms of stress and anxiety — something that, particularly as a New Yorker working in the ever-changing media industry, I experience on the daily. But more than that, because my current comforter is very light, I’ve long craved a slightly heavier blanket — one that feels like a giant hug as I’m drifting off to sleep.
So when Luna, a weighted blanket company with thousands of five-star reviews, offered me a sample to test, I accepted with enthusiasm. The brand’s Luxe Cotton Weighted Blanket sounded like the perfect fit for me: it comes in several different sizes, weights, and rich neutral hues that complement my light neutral color scheme. I opted for a queen-size, 15-pound — about a tenth of my body weight, which is the recommended standard for weighted blankets — version in Terracotta, a reddish-brown shade.
When my Luna arrived in December, in its included canvas carrying case, I popped it on my bed — nestled right between my top sheet and my comforter — and snuggled right on in. (According to the brand, users are supposed to ease into sleeping with it over their entire bodies, but I just went for it. No harm, no foul.)
First off, I noticed that the blanket’s weight distribution was incredibly even — its filling, which is 92% glass beads and 8% polyester bedding, is cordoned off into quilted squares. No lumps or bumps in sight. Also, its non-removable outer shell, which is 100% cotton, felt very soft and breathable. (I use my blanket as-is, but users can also choose to put a cover on it — its four corners have loops that attach to a duvet’s corner ties.) One thing to note is that it’s not machine-washable, though it’s safe for dry cleaning, as well as hand-washing and spot cleaning.
When I say that I noticed the difference in my sleep quality immediately, I mean it. From the jump, I felt a deep sense of relaxation, comfort, and satisfaction as I drifted off. I noticed I fell asleep more quickly and actually stayed asleep throughout the night — a marked change for me. Also, I sometimes struggle with restless legs at night, and weighted blankets are linked to alleviating those symptoms; this has proven true for me, too, at least thus far.
Today, I’ve been sleeping with my Luna for about a month. Each morning, I wake up feeling cozy and refreshed. My sometimes uneven, restless sleeping has been replaced by the deepest snoozes and a complete inability to hop out of bed. And honestly, that’s something I can get into.
