17-Pound Eli & Elm Weighted Comforter Review: Sleep In Comfort and Luxury

I think we can all agree that the last few years have left everyone a little … on edge. It’s been exhausting lurching from one disaster to the next, and we’re all looking for ways to ease those frayed edges. One of the techniques that can soothe your anxiety and help your sleep is a weighted blanket, so when we were offered the chance to review the Eli & Elm Weighted Comforter, we jumped on it!

Eli & Elm sent us a full/queen-sized weighted blanket, which tips the scales at 17 pounds. It comes with a nice, reusable storage bag, but no one has the dexterity to roll the blanket that tight again. It is also only available in white, a bold choice for a comforter. It is also available in a 13-pound Twin/Twin XL size and a 20-pound King/California King size.

There are loops to add a duvet cover if you choose; otherwise, Eli & Elm suggests spot treating any stains or utilizing a dry cleaner since most home washing machines can’t handle something that heavy. The material is 300 thread count cotton, and .8mm glass beads are used to provide the weight.

Before we get into the blanket, here’s a brief primer on weighted blankets. They’re typically filled with glass beads or similar material, weighing anywhere from 5 pounds to around 20 pounds. The idea is that they provide pressure therapy (like when you swaddle a baby).

Anecdotally, Judie and Dan both have weighted blankets that they use and swear by. The scientific consensus seems to be that they may or may not work to alleviate anxiety and depression, but they generally won’t harm you unless you suffer from a breathing issue like sleep apnea. If nothing else, it is comforting to get hugged by your bed every night.

I tested the Eli & Elm Weighted Comforter a few ways. First, I enlisted the help of my girlfriend and her dog, Austin. Austin does not like my girlfriend’s regular weighted blanket, but he loved lying on the Eli & Elm one. That’s probably less of a comment on the weight aspect and more an indicator that the high thread count made it a soft and pleasant surface for him to lounge, but he approved immediately. Admittedly, he has good taste; it both looks great and feels amazing.

So we’ve established it’s a soft and well-made blanket, but what matters is how it works as a weighted one.

I’ve never used a weighted blanket before, but my girlfriend has. She was impressed with the quality of the comforter but felt that even though it was slightly heavier than her 15-pound blanket, having the 17 pounds spread out in a larger cover made it feel a little less weighty. This lighter weight was especially noticeable when we used the Eli & Elm Weighted Comforter as a regular bed cover — it felt like a slightly heavier blanket, but it didn’t feel like we were being squished into calming down.

Also, the feedback I received the first night we tried it was that certain members of the bed were stealing all the covers, but in my defense, Austin had claimed a big chunk of the blanket for himself BEFORE I burrito’d myself into it. But all joking about blanket territory aside, it does show that even with the heavier weight, you can still move this around like a regular comforter in your sleep.

I also tested the Eli & Elm Weighted Comforter on my own, and when I did that, I folded it in half, so the weight was more concentrated. When I used it like that, I felt more of the pressure/soothing that a weighted blanket is supposed to offer, and it moved around less.

On the other hand, doubling the comforter took a blanket that already ran hot and made it unbearably toasty in the middle of the night.

Even so, I’m finishing up a course of medication for an ear issue that my doctor warned me “might put me a little on edge,” and I do think doubling up the blanket helped calm me down enough to get some rest.

It’s hard to determine if I love the Eli & Elm Weighted Comforter. When you use it as a regular comforter, it’s almost straddling the line between a weighted blanket and a regular one. It’s heavier, and you get some degree of that pressurized comfort, but it’s not overwhelming.

Folding the blanket over made it feel heavier, and I like that you can control how intense the weight is by adjusting the blanket position. You could make the argument that this works well as an everyday comforter that can be doubled over for those really tough days.

On the other hand, the Eli & Elm Weighted Comforter is a white blanket. Even if you try to enter your bed in clean PJs and never eat pretzels in bed at midnight (come on, we’ve all done it at least once), it’s going to get dingy over time. Yes, you can spot clean it, take it to your dry cleaner, or add a duvet cover. But this isn’t a cheap bed cover — it retails for $330 (although it is on sale for $264 at the time of this review).

At this price (and especially if you are paying full retail), it’s a little disappointing that there’s no option to select a darker color or an add-on duvet cover direct from Eli & Elm. Honestly, even if they charged an extra $30 for a duvet cover at the time of the weighted comforter’s purchase, it would make a big difference, in my view.

When you simplylook at this as a high-end comforter, the Eli & Elm Weighted Comforter still a little pricey; it’s is also priced towards the higher end for weighted blankets. Still, you can argue that the price reflects the combination of high quality, high thread count comforter with the added weight.

For a price comparison, at full price, a 35-pound Queen/King size Gravity Blanket is $265, and it includes a cotton cover. At full price, a 30-pound Luxome XL weighted blanket that fits Queen/King is $255, and they offer a wide variety of removable cover colors and textures. Or if your partner prefers a different weight or no weight at all,  you could go with the single-sleeper-sized True Temp weighted blankets that Sleep Number sells for $199; they come with a cover that’s available in three colors, and you can choose between 12 or 20 pound weights.

I’m mixed on the Eli & Elm Weighted Comforter. It’s a super nice bed cover; it keeps you very warm, it does offer some weighted blanket benefits, the quality of materials used is extremely high, and it’s dog approved. My hesitation is that it’s expensive for a blanket that requires extra covers to be practical. If you can fearlessly use a white comforter, or if you already have (or don’t mind buying) a duvet cover that you can pair it with, it’s worth strong consideration!

The Full/Queen Eli & Elm Weighted Comforter sells for $330; it is available directly from the manufacturer.

Source: Manufacturer supplied review sample

What I Like: The material used is high-quality and very comfortable, and it looks great; It provides a light, comforting weight that can be doubled over for more intensity; You can add a duvet cover to change the style and protect the white material; My girlfriend’s dog approves

What Needs Improvement: Pricey even when not on sale; It would be nice if it were available in colors other than white; It does not include a cover, and there’s no option to buy one from Eli & Elm