Slowtide Valen Blanket review: a style statement

Recycled and competitively priced the Slowtide Valen Blanket is good-looking enough to grace your sofa

Slowtide Valen Blanket
(Image: © Slowtide)

Advnture Verdict

A good-looking, lightweight and affordable fleece blanket that really stands out for its lovely design.

Pros

  • +

    Gorgeous design

  • +

    100 per cent recycled

  • +

    Soft and cosy

Cons

  • -

    Limited warmth

  • -

    Two people sharing may want to size up

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Slowtide Valen Blanket: first impressions 

If “pretty” tops your wish list when shopping for a camping blanket then the gorgeous Slowtide Valen Blanket should appeal. It features a reversible fleece design in bright primary colors that will look as smart folded up on your sofa as it will gracing a tent, tipi or camper van

The Valen is at the more affordable end of the blanket spectrum, too – $60 / £35 will get you a soft, fleecy blanket that’s just big enough for two to share, but is best used as a roomy choice for one person. 

This design is also fully recycled – all Slowtide polyester products are made from 100 per cent recycled post-consumer waste, primarily plastic bottles, so it’s an easy eco purchase.

Specifications

• RRP: $59 (US) / £35 (UK)
• Insulation: Polar fleece
• Weight: 450g / 15.9oz
• Blanket size: 127cm x 167cm / 50in x 66in
• Packed size: 18cm x 9cm / 7in x 3.5in
• Colors: Smoke, with multiple patterns available
• Compatibility: Ideal for glampers on a budget

Slowtide Valen Blanket: in the field

Slowtide Valen Blanket

Wearable technology (Image credit: Slowtide)

We found this simple and affordable fleece blanket worked best for dry weather camping escapades, festivals, glamping and camper van weekends away.

The lightweight brushed fleece feels soft and snugly, but offers only limited warmth, so it is best used in summer. Fleece isn’t water-resistant, of course, so stick to using it in warm weather or laid out on dry ground. If you do need to wash it, though, this blanket dries quickly and looks good as new. 

A larger version, which is also water-repellent, is available for £50, and this blanket is better qualified to tackle tougher camping trips in wetter weather. But, if you want a stylish summer-weight blanket that works as well inside as out, this is our recommended pick.

Sian Lewis

An award-winning travel and outdoors journalist, presenter and blogger, Sian regularly writes for The Independent, Evening Standard, BBC Countryfile, Coast, Outdoor Enthusiast and Sunday Times Travel. Life as a hiking, camping, wild-swimming adventure-writer has taken her around the world, exploring Bolivian jungles, kayaking in Greenland, diving with turtles in Australia, climbing mountains in Africa and, in Thailand, learning the hard way that peeing on a jellyfish sting doesn’t help. Her blog, thegirloutdoors.co.uk, champions accessible adventures.