The Nomadix Festival Blanket turns any terrain into a lounge space. Here's why it's my new summer staple

CNN

21 hours ago

As soon as spring temperatures begin to creep over 70 degrees Fahrenheit and the sun emerges from behind the clouds, I race to get outdoors and embrace the weather (and a good book) as soon as I can. And an afternoon spent lounging at the park, pool or beach isn't complete without a good blanket to spread out on.
For years now, I've seen and even written about the Nomadix Festival Blanket, which promises to give you a comfortable and protective surface to lounge on, no matter where you are. Nomadix towels are already staples on my travel packing list, and after testing the Festival Blanket for myself over the past few weeks, it's quickly become one of my most essential pieces of outdoor gear and surely will remain so for many summers to come.
Nomadix Festival Blanket
The Nomadix Festival Blanket turns any terrain into a lounge space. Designed with a waterproof, dirt-resistant base layer and a soft top to lie on, it's a great companion for park picnics or days at the beach. The durable build and its lightweight, packable design make it well worth the $70 price tag. It holds up against the elements
What sets the Nomadix Festival Blanket apart from the throw blanket on the back of your couch is that it's designed with the outdoors in mind. The blanket is made of two layers: The first is a microsuede top layer designed to keep lounging comfortable, and the second is a water-resistant bottom layer to keep you clean and dry on damp or dusty ground. The bottom layer is really what makes this a blanket built for the outdoors, and by protecting you from damp grass or sticky sand, the Nomadix Festival Blanket turns pretty much any surface into one you can sit on.
During my testing, dirt, sand and water rolled right off the bottom layer of the blanket. These elements were equally as easy to shake loose from the blanket once my park or beach day was done, which helped ensure my tote bag didn't end up full of debris. Both the top and bottom layers of the Festival Blanket are made from postconsumer recycled polyester, which might make you feel a little less ecological guilt for buying something new.
It's comfortable
Once it's spread out, the Nomadix Festival Blanket looks and feels, for the most part, like a normal picnic blanket. The blanket overall is pretty thin but still has enough protection to keep you from feeling like you're sitting directly on the ground. The microsuede top feels soft to lie on, and, unlike other blankets I've tried, the material didn't stick to my skin once my arms and legs started to sweat, which I appreciated.
The blanket is also spacious. I'm 5 feet, 7 inches tall on a good day and was able to comfortably lie down across the blanket with plenty of room left over for my bag, books or an extra lounging companion. Nomadix's Festival Blanket comes in 14 different print options, and I found the blue polka dot design decorating my blanket utterly adorable. It's a small thing, but it brought me a little extra dose of joy to see the bright pattern sprawled out in the sunshine.
Despite how cute it looks, it's worth noting that the microsuede top isn't quite as element-resistant as the blanket's bottom. When shaken or brushed off, sand and large dirt particles are easily removed from the blanket, though darker dirt or mud clumps might leave behind some stains. The top is also not water-resistant, so if you spill your drink or hop down onto the blanket after a dip in the ocean, it'll stay damp unless you allow it to dry out in the direct sun.
Any discoloration left behind by dirt or spills was gone after I washed the blanket, but just know that you'll be compromising some element-resistance on the top for the sake of comfort, which I found to be a pretty fair trade.
It's lightweight and packable
On my first outing with the Nomadix Festival Blanket in tow, I didn't head to the park right away. Instead, I roamed around New York City for a few hours — running errands, doing some window shopping and even checking out some new exhibits at the Metropolitan Museum of Art — all the while shocked that my shoulder wasn't feeling weighted down by the blanket I was carrying. When I did finally make it to the park, I took the blanket out of my bag and spread it across the ground without any issues.
When it first arrived at my door, I expected the blanket to be much heavier than it is. Despite the generous 60-by-72-inch size, it only weighs 2 pounds. I also anticipated the blanket being thicker, since it has two different fabric sides, but it folded up small enough to easily throw in my tote bag along with a water bottle, wallet, e-reader and other odds and ends. Plus, the Nomadix blanket actually stayed folded up and compact while it was in my bag, which isn't always the case with outdoor blankets. This made it easier to see the rest of the items I'd packed and prevented me from having to take the blanket out of my tote to dig for something underneath it.
To test its packability even further, I stashed the Nomadix Festival Blanket in my carry-on for a weeklong trip to Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula. It was no trouble to throw in my duffel bag and fit comfortably in my Mystery Ranch daypack when I wanted to take it on beach excursions. In all these instances, I almost always forgot I had a full-size blanket in my bag, since the Festival Blanket is both lightweight and low profile when folded up.
It doesn't include stakes
One of the best things about the Nomadix Festival Blanket is that it's designed with loops on each of the four corners so you can secure the blanket to the ground using stakes. Because the blanket is so lightweight, the corners do have a tendency to fold back on themselves on windy days, so being able to stake the blanket to the ground can make a world of difference, preventing you from getting wrapped into a blanket burrito and having to readjust your spread every few minutes.
But the Nomadix Festival Blanket doesn't come with its own set of stakes. This isn't a deal breaker, and Nomadix clearly states that stakes aren't included with the blanket on its site. All it took was a run to my local hardware store and an extra $6 to find stakes that would do the job. Alternatively, you could grab a few sticks or rocks from around your lounging site, but when you're shelling out $70 for a blanket, it'd be nice if there were some stakes already thrown in with the purchase.
It's not cheap
Look, $70 is a decent amount to spend on a blanket, especially when you could get by using an old throw or sheet for your summer outings. However, it's worth considering that the Nomadix Festival Blanket provides more protection from the elements than any old fleece throw. Compared to other waterproof outdoor blankets from competitors like Yeti, RTIC and Rumpl, the Nomadix Blanket is cheaper by a margin of anywhere from $30 to $130. Even less expensive outdoor blankets, like this one from L.L.Bean, still start at around $60.
Given the quality of its build, its packability and the cost of competing outdoor blankets, I don't think $70 is an outrageous price to pay for the Nomadix Festival Blanket, especially since I'm confident that it's durable enough to last for many years to come.
The Nomadix Festival Blanket is an all-around great outdoor blanket, and now it's really the only one I think of grabbing when I see that the sun's out. It's thoughtfully designed with stake loops, a soft microsuede top and a waterproof, dirt-resistant bottom that ensures the elements stay where they belong. Though it's big enough for two people to sprawl out on, it's still lightweight and portable enough to carry around all day, making it great for those who like to explore.
If you already have a picnic blanket or beach blanket that's serving you just fine, you probably don't need to shell out $70 on the Nomadix Festival Blanket. But if you're looking for a replacement, an upgrade or a gift for the adventurous folks in your life, the Nomadix Festival Blanket has proved to be a versatile outdoor blanket that makes a great companion for any outing.
Can you wash the Nomadix Festival Blanket?
Can you wash the Nomadix Festival Blanket?
Yes, the Nomadix Festival Blanket is machine-washable. After a few days dirtying up my blanket at the park, I machine-washed it with a load of other towels and linens using the cool temperature setting. You can hang the blanket to dry to save energy, but I took the convenient route and tumble-dried mine on low heat. It came out looking as good as new with no visible fading or damage.
How do Nomadix blankets compare to other outdoor blankets?
How do Nomadix blankets compare to other outdoor blankets?
It's hard to say how the Nomadix Festival blanket compares to every outdoor blanket out there. Previously, I was using this Therm-A-Rest Argo Blanket for my park days, and I do prefer the Nomadix Festival Blanket since it's waterproof and more comfortable to lie on. While the Nomadix blanket is a bit pricier than run-of-the-mill quilts or beach blankets you can grab on Amazon, it has a much more thoughtful design. I can tell the Nomadix blanket is thoughtfully made for sitting and spreading out, as opposed to just warmth. Intentional features like the waterproof base ensure you stay dry while the microsuede top keeps you comfortable and doesn't stick to your skin as you sweat.
Nomadix also makes a few other blankets, including a Blanket Towel and a Puffer Blanket, though I haven't reviewed either yet myself. We are, however, big fans of the Nomadix Original Towel for saving space and keeping us dry when we travel.
CNN Underscored has a team of writers and editors who have many years of experience testing, researching and recommending products, and they ensure each article is carefully edited and products are properly vetted. We talk to top experts when relevant to make certain we are testing each product accurately, recommending only the best products and considering the pros and cons of each item. For this story, associate editor Jillian Tracy tested the Nomadix Festival blanket, packing it for days at the park and international vacations, to see how it held up.