NEWS – The Ethohome Gravis Weighted Blanket is a reasonably priced, high quality, weighted blanket that could be the solution for some people who suffer from restless sleep or nighttime anxiety. At $269.99 for the 25 pound version, the Gravis was super effective in my testing and priced right around the same as other weighted blankets of similar quality.

What is it?

Weighted blankets hit the mainstream in 2017, but they have been around for a long time, mainly used to treat autistic children or adults with severe anxiety issues. There are a number of studies done on the effectiveness of weighted blankets, but the majority of supporting evidence I’ve found has been anecdotal. After using the Gravis Weighted Blanket for a few weeks, you can definitely add my experience to all of the positive feedback surrounding weighted blankets. Results may vary among individuals though, so I’m not going to debate the effectiveness of weight blankets in general; I’ll just be reviewing this particular weighted blanket by Ethohome.

The Gravis Weighted Blanket comes in a box that at first seems way too small to hold such a heavy item. The plastic handle on mine was broken when it arrived and the company has since rebranded itself from Montage to Ethohome, so the packaging may be different and of better quality at this point.

The Gravis blanket comes with an attached cover and is compacted into what appeared to be a vacuum sealed plastic bag.

Once removed from the plastic bag the blanket expands a bit. Upon first picking up the deceptively light looking blanket you’ll quickly realize how difficult it is to manage a 15-25 pound blanket.

Design and features

The design of the Gravis is similar to most other weighted blankets. The blankets achieve their weight via thousands of glass pellets sewn into little sections of the blanket. The Gravis stands out in my opinion mainly because of how quiet the pellets are. A few other weighted blankets I’ve tried have been really noisy, producing a loud rain-on-a-tin-roof sound every time I rolled over or shifted my weight. The cover of the Gravis may be to thank for this; it’s a thick felt-like material that’s very soft to the touch.

You’ll find that most weighted blankets don’t come in traditional bed-covering sizes like full, queen, or king. Weighted blankets those sizes would be impossible to manage and the weight would be dispersed too much to be effective. The 25 pound Gravis I tested measures 72 x 48 inches.

For maximum benefit, Ethohome recommends using a blanket that’s about 10% of your body weight. Although some people may prefer a heavier or lighter blanket. It’s also very important to remember that the Gravis, or any weighted blanket for that matter, should not be used by children under the age of four or by any individual weighing 50 pounds. It would be very easy for a child or person that small to not be able to move themselves out from under a heavier blanket and that could prove dangerous.

The quality of the seams on the Gravis is impressive. After a few weeks of use and making my bed each morning, there are no signs of pulls or tears.

The Gravis itself is secured to its cover via strong fabric ties in each corner. The cover has a sturdy zipper that folds away discreetly once it’s closed.

I did notice that after some time, the blanket started to bunch up in the corners a bit. With a regular blanket this is easily remedied by tossing it up into the air and laying it back out flat on the bed. That won’t be possible with the Gravis, but it wasn’t too difficult to spread the blanket out flat again and work out the bunching.

The Ethohome website says that the Gravis’ cover is machine washable, but that the blanket should only be hand-washed. That makes sense, because I’d never expect something this heavy to be washed effectively in a consumer strength washing machine.

Performance

I’m a restless sleeper. I’ll wake up anywhere from two to three times each night, lie awake for a bit and then fall back asleep. While using the Gravis, I’ve had the most complete night’s sleep since I can remember. I no longer wake up during the night and I’ve found that I fall asleep much faster than ever before. The few times I’ve slept away from home during the testing period, I found myself missing the comforting weight and restful sleep the Gravis provided.

What I like

• Included Duvet cover
• Great quality

What needs to be improved

• Can bunch up

Final thoughts

Weighted blankets may not work for everyone, but if they do work for you, the Ethohome Gravis is a great choice. The Gravis is of very high quality, has an included cover, and is reasonably priced. The Gravis comes in one color, Space Gray and three versions; 15, 20, and 25 pound.

Price: $269.99 for the 25lb version
Where to buy: Ethohome
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Ethohome.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Sleep

Ethohome Gravis Weighted Blanket review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 13, 2018 at 9:00 am.

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REVIEW – You might be thinking.. did I see that correctly? Is that bedding? Every good Gadgeteer needs a good night sleep. It’s the middle of summer here in the Pacific Northwest, which means wonderful weather mixed with 90 degree days. The Molecule cooling bed sheet set intrigued me after the first heat wave we had (I do not have air conditioning!) and so I had to give it a try to see if these sheets would keep me cool and comfortable overnight.

What is it?

Molecule sheets are designed to keep you cool while you sleep by being breathable yet durable.

Bedding specs

The sheets come in Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, and California King sizes. The fitted sheet on all sizes is 15 inches deep.

What’s in the box?

You get a top sheet, fitted sheet, and one pillowcase with the twin sizes, but I have a queen size bed, so it came with two pillowcases.

Design and features

My first impressions were good from the moment I got the box. It was nicely packaged in a box that can be used to store it in the future. When I went to place the sheets on my bed, I worried that the 15-inch depth wouldn’t be enough. My bed has a good 3 inches of pillowtop and is quite thick. I was thrilled when they not only fit but fit easier and better than any other brand of sheet I’ve purchased.

The quality of the sheet set is also top notch. They held up well and did not shrink when washed. There is a soft smoothness to them that is similar to satin sheets but without the slipping and sliding. The stitching is well done all around and the pillowcase tucks around the pillow, making the overall appearance look neat and tidy. I really liked the powder blue color, though either the color or the fabric really emphasized the cat hair on my bed. It was especially noticeable since my cat preferred sleeping on these sheets rather than the soft fuzzy blanket on the bed.

Now, the reason she enjoyed sleeping on these sheets? They actually do what they claim, and do an excellent job of keeping you cool by using TENCEL Lyocell fibers weaved into the fabric. This makes the fabric breathable. I roast like an oven overnight and usually keep my room at around 65 to 68 degrees when possible. Without air conditioning, however, during hot days my room would get into the 80’s and drift down to the mid 70’s by bedtime. The first night of the heat wave, I slept comfortably and did not notice the heat in the room until I woke up. Since using the Molecule sheets on my bed, I have yet to feel sweaty during the night.

I waited an extra week to write this review; expecting at some point, perhaps as they were worn in, that the ability to keep cool would fade. It did not. We are in another heat wave now and after washing and sleeping on these sheets, it still feels like the first day I used them. They are still soft, still comfortable, and still cooling.

What I like

• Thick and well made, yet soft.
• Keeps you cool at night.

What to consider before buying

• They are expensive

Final thoughts

Between the heat that my computer generates and the heat waves without air conditioning, the Molecule sheets kept me sleeping comfortably and staying cool. They are a bit pricey, but if you sleep like you are in an oven and can afford them, they work very well and they should fit nearly every type of bed there is.

Price: $199 (Queen Size)
Where to buy: You can purchase these on the Molecule website and Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Molecule.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Sleep

Molecule cooling bed sheets review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 1, 2018 at 10:00 am.

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