As the fall season sets in and temperatures decrease, many households are bracing for higher energy expenses. Consequently, it’s no surprise that numerous individuals are seeking cost-effective ways to keep warm without relying heavily on heating.
One popular solution among savvy consumers is the Oodie, which are essentially large wearable blankets featuring an oversized hood and a spacious kangaroo pocket. The trend for these blankets gained momentum in 2020, with UK sales from the Australian company reportedly surging by over 200%. Last year, a reader of Martin Lewis’s Money Saving Expert (MSE) website shared her satisfaction with warm hooded blankets during escalating energy costs, mentioning that she had not needed to increase heating since acquiring one.
Expressing her experience in a forum post originating from 2022, she wrote, “Invested in an oversized hoodie blanket to snuggle up in, not used heating since.” This enthusiast is not alone in extolling the virtues of this garment.
A mother of two also informed Manchester Evening News that their family’s Oodies, utilized for several years, have been highly effective in keeping her and her children warm, both indoors and during their campervan outings. “When you want to avoid turning on the heating, these are fabulous,” the mother, who also follows Martin Lewis’s advice, stated in 2024. “The kids adore theirs and never complain about feeling cold.”
Authentic Oodies may come with a hefty price tag, but a clearance sale is currently offering discounts on both children’s and adults’ styles. Many adult Oodies have seen price reductions from £65 to £39, providing customers with savings of £26.
Moreover, the website showcases a diverse range of popular character-themed products such as Harry Potter, Pokémon, Hello Kitty, and PAC-MAN.
For those hesitant to purchase a genuine Oodie, alternative retailers offer similar cozy blanket hoodies. Dunelm retails these items for children and adults, with some priced as low as £11.20, while Matalan and John Lewis also offer their versions.
However, in response to the fan support for Oodies, an MSE spokesperson clarified, “Any products mentioned on the MoneySavingExpert site are not endorsements and are purely the result of journalistic research from the MSE team and Martin Lewis. In this case, a wearable blanket was recommended by a member of the MSE Forum.”
*The previous version of the article erroneously referenced ‘Oodie’ when the forum user actually mentioned a generic oversized hoodie blanket.
