There is nothing quite like crawling into a warm bed that has been preheated by an electric blanket on a cold winter’s night. Unfortunately, unless you have a really long extension cord, it is hard to take that same blanket with you when you go camping, tailgating, or even lounging in the backyard. But a new Kickstarter campaign is looking to change all of that, delivering a portable, heated blanket that can go with you anywhere.
The Rumpl Puffe is essentially an electric blanket built for use in the outdoors. Lightweight and highly packable, the blanket is made from materials that have been treated with a durable water-repellent (DWR) finish, which provided resistance to moisture as well. Available with two different types of insulation — natural, sustainably sourced down or synthetic fill — the Puffe is naturally warm all on its own. But an integrated Ravean carbon heating system, powered by a rechargeable USB battery pack, gives this blanket a level of warmth that is unmatched by any other camping quilt.
Rumpl, which already makes a line of excellent down comforters for use in the outdoors, says that the Puffe is warm enough on its own to keep you comfortable in temperatures as cool as 45-degrees Fahrenheit. But when the built-in heating system is activated that range is extended all the way down to 15 degrees. With three different temperature settings, users can dial in exactly the level of warmth they want, staying cozy in their tent, around the campfire, or just lounging on the couch.
A USB battery pack supplied by Power Practical keeps the Puffe operating, even in cold conditions. On its lowest setting, the battery can power the heating system for up to 10 hours, while on medium heat it can last for six hours. On the highest setting, it can function for four hours before requiring a recharge. That same battery pack can also recharge your smartphone as many as four times too, although using it in that capacity will have an impact on how long you will be able to run the heating element as well.
Both version of the blanket measure 80 inches by 54 inches when laid out flat, providing plenty of coverage for just about anyone who wants to wrap up in it. Both models are also easy to take with you when you hit the road, with the down Puffe compressing into a stuff sack that measures 6 inches by 12 inches and weighs 2.1 pounds. The synthetic version of the blanket is only slightly larger, tipping the scales at 3.4 pounds and packing down to an 8-inch-by-16-inch footprint.
When launching the Kickstarter campaign, Rumpl set a modest goal of just $20,000 to get the Puffe into production. But supporters helped the company blow past that funding level within the first day or two, quickly generating more than $150,000 in the process. That means that this high-tech camp comforter should go into production on schedule in early 2017, with plans to ship the final product to backers in July. The expected retail price for the synthetic model is $249, while the down version will sell for $374. Early bird backers can reserve their blankets now at a 20 percent discount.
We happen to possess one of Rumpl’s Down Puffy blankets and can tell you it is a great option for camping in warmer weather, curling up by the fire, or just taking the chill off on a cold day. The blanket is surprisingly durable, great for use both indoors and out, and light enough that you can take it with you when you travel. If the Puffe lives up to the same high standards, it should be an amazing product too.
The Rumpl Puffe is $225 and available for pre-order now on Kickstarter.
