The weird blanket market is a genuine phenomenon. Driven by a combination of gifting occasion demand, social media shareability, and the universal human need to be covered in something warm while watching television, blankets designed to look like food, memes, animals, and cultural references have become a significant product category. This guide covers the best weird blanket types, what to look for in quality, and our recommendations for the weirdest blankets actually worth owning.
Food Blankets: The Gold Standard
Food-shaped and food-printed blankets are the dominant weird blanket category for good reason: the visual joke is immediately obvious, the warmth function is unchanged, and there is something deeply satisfying about being wrapped in a giant slice of pizza. Top food blankets include: pizza slice (the classic — round, triangular, or full-pie shaped), giant taco, burger (both realistic prints and sculptural shapes), ramen bowl (typically oversized), sushi roll (often in sleeping bag form), and baguette (though the baguette pillow version may be superior). Look for: fleece or plush construction at 200+ GSM for genuine warmth. Avoid thin polyester prints that prioritize visual joke over comfort.
Animal Blankets: For the Committed
Animal-themed blankets range from simple prints to full wearable animal costumes in blanket form. The shark blanket — a sleeping bag or blanket designed to look like you are being consumed by a shark — remains one of the most popular novelty blanket formats ever made. Other strong performers: corgi butt print, cat face all-over print, and the slightly disturbing 'horse head' blanket. The best animal blankets work on two levels: they are genuinely warm and comfortable blankets that also happen to look like an animal.
Meme and Reference Blankets
The meme blanket market moves fast — what's current in January may be dated by December. However, some meme blankets have achieved sufficient cultural longevity to be worth recommending: the Drake approval meme, various dog memes, and evergreen internet references. The risk with meme blankets is dating — a blanket is a 5-10 year purchase, and a 2019 meme may not age as well as a pizza. Consider: how timeless is this joke?