Oodie review UK 2023: The best way to stay warm this winter

AT this point, we may as well rename winter "Oodie season".

After all, over 3 million people are now owners (proud or not) of one of the Aussie brand's hooded blankets.

My housemates, girlfriend, and almost everyone else I know have one, and they've transcended from the status of a simple clothing item to a money-saving phenomenon, thanks to their ability to delay the need to put your central heating on.

However, I'll admit that before doing this Oodie review, I'd never been a huge fan of clothing like this.

It's a bit gimmicky, and wearing a hooded blanket feels like choosing to look ugly. Surely no level of comfort can be worth that.

However, after a winter of testing both my girlfriend's love for me and my workplace's virtual meeting etiquette, I'm ready to hold my toasty hands up and say that everyone should buy an Oodie.

As of November, Oodie has rolled out a 60% off (almost) everything Black Friday sale. There are also a number of buy-one-get-one-free deals which means you can save big, whether you're just buying for yourself, or stocking up on Christmas gifts, or a bit of both!

Buy One Get One Free on Oodies - here
Discover Oodie's Black Friday sale here

Commissioning Editor Kieran Ahuja was surprised by how much he loved his Oodie

Pros

Incredibly warm
Great selection of designs
Almost the definition of cosy
Could save you money on your heating

Cons

Not cheap for something that you probably shouldn't wear out of the house
Slightly difficult to store
Can get a bit too warm

Rating: 5/5

Oodie review: first impressions

Buy One Get One Free on Oodies - here

My first encounter with Oodie actually happened a while before I got one; my girlfriend has one, and I'll be honest, I ridiculed her for it. It's got garlic bread printed on it, it's a particularly unappetising shade of yellow, and it's not exactly cut like a Chanel dress.

So it was not with an entirely open mind that I received my Oodie. However, mine came in a more agreeable turquoise tie-dye design, and after decanting it from its drawstring bag and undoing the pretty ribbon, I slipped it on and realised I was so comfortable that I didn't even care what I looked like.

It's still fairly big even when packaged up, but I think I prefer the presentation to that of the Kuddly, which comes vacuum-packed.

The Oodie comes neatly folded and wrapped in branded ribbon

At first, I treated the Oodie a little bit like a bad habit, only wearing it when I knew I wouldn't be caught, sneaking around, fluff-clad, in the dead of night.

However, before long, I was wearing it on work calls, answering the door in it and generally going about my daily business without a care in the world. I only draw the line when I have to go out of the house (although the introduction of the new Outdoor Oodie might yet change my mind on that).

Apparently, I'm even okay with pictures of me in my Oodie being published on the website of a national newspaper.

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What is an Oodie?

An Oodie is technically a hooded blanket, but it's most accurately described as a fluffy, hooded dress.

You put it on as you would a t-shirt, and mine comes down to my knees (I'm around 5ft 10).

The size is reportedly based on a 6XL hoodie, and The Oodie says that it's ideal for people sized 5ft to 6ft, meaning that if you're on the taller side, you might struggle (although I wear mine with tracksuit bottoms anyway).

If you or the person you're buying for are shorter than 5ft, you might have some luck with a Kid's Oodie, which measures 75cm in length.

The inside of the garment is made from Sherpa fleece, while the outside is made from so-called Toastytek™ flannel fleece. I'm unsure what specific properties Toastytek has that necessitate a "™" after its name, but I don't particularly care; it's comfy.

Oodies are also well known for their ever-expanding variety of prints. Mine is in a comparatively stylish green tie-dye print, but there's a variety of options available.

How much are Oodies?

This is where we come to the main obstacle. Oodies cost £89, which is an awful lot of money to spend on something that shouldn't be seen outside the confines of your home (although there is an Outdoor Oodie available if you're really committed).

However, there are a couple of counterpoints to this. The first is that The Oodie regularly runs sales; right now, for example, there is a Buy One Get One Free offer on almost 50 styles, taking the price down to £44.50 each.

If you just want one, various discounts mean that you can get a single Oodie for as cheap as £54.

If you can convince your friends and family to get one as well, there are family packs and mega packs that take the price down even further.

While the idea of spending upwards of £50 on helping with the cost of living sounds a little counterproductive, there's also the argument that wearing one of these around the house might make you less likely to put your heating on, or at least less likely to put it on a super high temperature.

And if you don't want to pay the money all at once, The Oodie has Clearpay as a payment option, allowing you to split the cost over four instalments (of course, though, you should always be responsible when using services like this).

Buy One Get One Free on Oodies - here

Oodie alternatives UK

If you simply don't want to spend £50 on a hooded blanket, then I don't blame you; luckily, there are a number of alternatives to the Oodie (although they might not have the quality of the original).

The company's closest competitor is Kuddly, whose hooded blanket looks and sounds nearly identical to Oodie's, and even comes with a similar price tag (it's currently on sale for £49). However, Kudd.ly doesn't have as wide a range of designs as Oodie.

Another comparable brand is Snuggy, which sells a wide range of designs at a similar price point, although some designs are occasionally discounted to as little as £39.99.

There are also a few cheaper options available on the high street, including:

Sienna Hoodie Blanket, £12.99 from Amazon - buy here
Teddy Oversized Blanket Hoodie, £16 from Dunelm - buy here
The M&S Snuggle Teddy Fleece Hooded Blanket, from £19.50 at M&S - buy here

How does the Oodie compare to Kuddly's hooded blanket?

When it come to the hooded blanket landscape, the Oodie now has competition from all sides. The original has seen many dupes enter its space, some of them more successfully than others.

One of these contenders is Kuddly, a company that specialises in comfort with its blankets, bedding, heated slippers and of course, it’s Hoodie Blanket.

Price-wise, the Oodie and the Kuddly Hoodie are comparable – they both sell for around £89 full price, though both also run regular special offers. Currently the adult Oodie is on sale from £39 and the Kuddly Hoodie from £29.

However when it comes to design there’s much more choice with an Oodie; with Kuddly you’re limited to 11 options, which is still a lot, but not when compared to Oodie’s plethora of styles.

Our Kuddly reviewer found: the Oodie is perhaps the chunkier of the two, while the Kuddly is airier and more breathable.” However, that didn’t affect the warmth factor he said: “This doesn’t take away from the Kuddly’s toasting abilities at all.”

Read our Kuddly Hoodie review in full here.

The verdict: are Oodies worth it?

In my job I'm lucky enough to review a lot of products, from mattress toppers to moisturisers, and I think the Oodie is my favourite product I've ever tested. Since I got mine, I've encouraged plenty of friends and family to get one.

To make buying an Oodie worth it I think you need to grab one in a sale, and wearing it admittedly takes a bit of self-deprecation, but I was wowed by how warm, cosy and high-quality my Oodie was, and I haven't once felt cold since I got mine — putting the heating on hasn't even crossed my mind.

Buy One Get One Free on Oodies - here

Oodie Review: How I feel about the hooded blanket one year on

With the weather getting colder and the nights getting longer, my eyes are becoming increasingly drawn to my Oodie, which has been neatly packaged under my bed for the last few months.

Thanks to the fact it's easily washable (more on that below), it looks as pristine now as it did when I unboxed it, and I'm strangely looking forward to the depths of winter, just so I can get it on.

Oodie FAQs

Is there a difference between women’s and men’s Oodie hoodies?

Oodies and other brands of hooded blankets tend to be unisex, so suitable for both men and women. Where that might differ though comes down to personal preference for colour and design.

Certain people might go for the cutesy animal patterns, cartoon characters or soft, pastel shades, while others may prefer a single, strong colour.

However when it comes to fit, the Oodie is one size for adults and one size for kids. It’s based on a size 6XL hoodie and the adult version is designed for fans from 5ft to 6ft tall, so will fit you no matter what your gender.

Where to buy Oodie oversized hoodies

The best place to buy an Oodie is the brand's own website, which has regular sales and discounts on bulk orders.

However, you can also get a couple of styles on Amazon, including the bestselling avocado print and the pink colourway. They're quite a lot more expensive from Amazon, though; the only benefit is that, if you're a Prime member, you'll receive it more quickly.

Are Oodies legit?

Absolutely; Oodie is probably the most famous hooded blanket brand that there is, and the two terms are now almost synonymous.

The brand launched in 2018 by Australian entrepreneur David Forgarty, and earlier this year it was reported that the business was worth A$250m (£131.5m).

How to wash an Oodie

One of the things I thought when I first unwrapped my Oodie was that it felt like the sort of thing that might get absolutely ruined in the washing machine, but surprisingly they are completely machine washable, as long as you put them on a cool wash (a 40-degree maximum is recommended) with a mild detergent.

The only thing you might find annoying is that it takes up a hefty amount of the washing machine drum.

How does the Oodie react to being washed?

To my mild amazement, the Oodie takes a wash very well. I've probably washed mine four or five times — I went through an ill-advised period of cooking while wearing it — and there's no noticeable difference in softness now compared to when I opened it.

I simply followed the instructions, washing it with a mild detergent at a low temperature; I opt for 30C.

How to dry an Oodie

Unfortunately, while it's very easy to wash an Oodie, you can't put it in a tumble dryer.

That means that your only option is to air dry it, which thanks to the thick sherpa material, can take a few days, especially in the depths of winter.

You could potentially use a heated clothes airer to speed up the process.

How we tested the Oodie

I've now owned my Oodie for over a year, and have wore it almost every day through the extremely cold winter that we had in 2022/23, in a house with very iffy radiators.