Therm-a-Rest Stellar Review

The Therm-a-Rest Stellar is different because of its versatility as a camping blanket and travel pillow. It's water-resistant and machine washable, ready to provide a lifetime of warmth.

Performance Comparison

Comfort

With a soft exterior, this blanket is an excellent comfort performer. The 30D polyester is produced in such a way that it doesn't feel as synthetic as other blankets do. Even if you start to sweat, it won't stick to bare skin, which really increases its attractiveness as a summertime hangout option.

At 56 x 75 inches, it's just about average for the category, which means it has totally sufficient coverage and can wrap all the way around most adults.

Warmth

The eraLoft polyester hollow fiber has greater loft than other synthetic fills. Though the Stellar is still on the thinner side, we found that it has a higher degree of pliability that allows it to drape more completely around your body, reducing gaps that would otherwise lead to more rapid heat loss. Based on their placement, it doesn't seem like included snaps are necessarily designed to be for a cape mode, but they can certainly adapt to that if you choose to wear this blanket on the move.

In addition, an elastic cord at the end can be cinched up to create a cozy footbox. What seemed gimmicky at first actually turned out to be one of our favorite qualities of this model. It's no substitute for a sleeping bag in most situations, but it is a suitable option on a cool summer night. Its water resistance is another plus.

Versatility

The Stellar has more versatility than it initially appears. It performs well as a regular blanket. The snaps along both edges also facilitate connecting multiple blankets together if you want to make a jumbo for two or more people.

Another sneaky feature of this model is that it doubles as a pillow. If you already have another insulating layer but just need additional head and neck support, the Stellar's attached stuff sack makes it possible to use this blanket for just that. Though any blanket technically could be used as a pillow in its bag, this one is rectangular and is made from the same softer polyester as the rest of the blanket, which makes it significantly more comfortable than most.

Packed Size

This blanket is also an admirable performer for its packability. Despite its synthetic fill, it's not as still as other similar models. It's not the most compressible overall but is the best-performing synthetic fill blanket.

At one pound, six ounces, it is also surprisingly lightweight. One drawback is that the stuff sack is attached to the blanket, meaning that you can't leave it behind if you wanted to.

Features & Design

The Stellar seems simple at first glance but actually has quite a few thoughtful design elements. The footbox cord is one of our favorites, and its versatility as a pillow, when stuffed into the attached sack, makes it a pleasantly versatile item.

Its combination of light weight and adaptability makes it a great option for long-haul travel and road trips. It is also machine washable, so it's easy to get it ready for round two after you return home.

Should You Buy the Therm-a-Rest Stellar?

This is a great blanket for most people. Its breezy summer-warmth weight is functional across a variety of applications, including outdoor gatherings on cool evenings, snuggling up in a hammock or tent with a book, or going on a long road trip or airplane ride. It punches above its weight given the price point, and we recommend it for anyone looking for a reliable generalist blanket with a couple of neat features.

What Other Camping Blankets Should You Consider?

If budget is your top priority, you also can't go wrong with the Kelty Bestie. If you are willing to spend a little more to get a lot more blanket, the Kelty Biggie is more basic than the stellar but can comfortably cover two people. For a feature-filled down option (as opposed to the synthetic fill of the Stellar), we'd steer you toward the Kammok Firebelly.