Solaron King Plain Blanket

I feel it's necessary to give some explanation as to who I am so you, gentle reader, can see how credible I am. Also because more people should be introduced to Korean mink blankets before they disappear completely. These blankets are so unknown, Wikipedia doesn't even have an article about them, for crying out loud.I was born into a military family and, a month or two after my birth, I was taken from The States to Korea, where I spent the first few years of my life. While I was there, I developed a love for a few things that have lasted my whole life. Things such as good kimchi, dried squid, shrimp chips, seaweed rolls, and finally, high quality Korean mink blankets. At the time, these types of blankets were all over the place, so it wasn't hard to get your hands on one. But in the last 30 years, most of the companies that made them went out of business.Since then, the market has been flooded with cheap, very low quality Chinese knockoff blankets, that typically have "Korean mink STYLE" in the name, with a strong emphasis on "style". They're not very thick or warm, and feel a bit like rolling yourself up in a fuzzy carpet. They're not bad as a summer blanket, but what light weight blanket isn't? If newcomers thought those low quality blankets were representative of real Korean mink blankets, then the fate of these blankets are sealed.Incidentally, how can you tell the difference between the good and bad just from looking? Well if you're ever confused about whether or not the blanket in question is high quality, there are other signs to look for, bar "style" being in the name. Most high quality blankets are a bit lacking in their designs. If it has an NFL design on it, it's not a high quality Korean mink blanket. The same would apply if it has a design of dinosaurs, skulls, Native Americans, hearts, Betty Boop, Dr Who, or pretty much anything trendy on it. There are still high quality blankets with tasteful designs, and low quality "Korean mink STYLE" blankets with simple or ugly designs, but that's a good rule of thumb. But back to the history lecture.There are pretty much only about 5 companies left standing that still make high quality Korean mink blankets, Solaron being proclaimed by the community as one of them. So naturally, I was very nervous about my purchase because the overall quality of these blankets have dropped so dramatically in the last 30 years, and I wasn't sure what people considered "high quality" anymore. It's a standard that has gone so far downhill, I would laugh if it wasn't so tragically depressing.But I remained cautiously optimistic as I opened the package and pulled out the roughly 15 pound blanket. So far, the weight seemed right. I neatly unfolded it on the floor and fiercely scrutinized its every tiny detail. The label and edges were different than the 20-30+ year old blankets I was used to, but that may not be a bad sign. I lifted it up in my arms, bouncing it up and down, to get a feel for it. It was certainly a good blanket, but... was it high quality? I decided the time had come to administer the most important test of all. I loosely wrapped it around my upper body, just below my arms, letting the rest of the blanket lay on the floor. Then I tried to hula dance out of it. After 3 to 5 minutes of pelvic gyrations, the blanket stayed loosely resting at arm's height! I pushed a side of the blanket down, just far enough to step out, and watched. The thick blanket remained standing on its own! Unsupported, hollowed on the inside, appearing not unlike a child's 4 foot tall majestic volcano science project, it stood tall and proud! This blanket had passed the test! It was indeed high quality!If you've never owned a real Korean mink blanket then surely that all must sound silly. So let me clarify what makes those characteristics so important. A good Korean mink blanket must be thick, so thick it will stand 3 or so feet high on its own. So thick you could cover your head in a fully lit room and no light would shine through. This thickness helps hold heat in. The "fur" must be thick as well, so it can trap more heat in between its fibers and better conserve your body heat. It must be heavy, as more weight implies more fabric and "fur", which is more area for your body heat to get trapped. Most importantly, a good Korean mink blanket will not only keep you warm in 40-50 degree weather, but it will make you sweat.And that's what this blanket does. No matter how cold it gets, I can always wrap myself up in this and stay warm all night. But it's more than that. Its soft, thick nature makes you feel safe and secure. It makes you feel as though all of the troubles you face everyday in a cold and uncaring world are vastly outweighed and even meaningless, so long as you have the safety and comfort of this soft blanket to escape into. I'm not ashamed to say it. We all need a place to hide. A place that reminds us we're still human. A place that tells us we all still share a need for warmth and comfort. You see, it's those places where a glimmer of hope still shines for humanity. Whether it's for the person who decides if you get to keep your job, the person who decides who will be hurt in a budget cut, or the person with their finger hovering over the nuclear missile launch button, hope for the future will always exist as long as those people have something warm and fuzzy to remind them every night, 'maybe there is a better way'. I believe if everybody on the planet had one of these blankets, the world would be a nicer place to live in.That is why I will always use these blankets, and encourage others to do the same. Not just because they're warm and soft, but also because they represent optimism, quality, history, and even the pride Solaron has taken in their work. These are the blankets my 1 year old daughter sleeps in and plays in, giggling as she rolls around in between the folds. I hope these blankets will still exist when she grows up so I can give her another when she moves out. I hope I will be able to give them to her children. I hope her children's children will get to experience them. These are the blankets I want on my deathbed. Surely some who read this will laugh, but I don't want to imagine a world without these blankets. So to Solaron and the other companies who are still making real Korean mink blankets, I salute you. Don't stop making these high quality blankets, because one of them just might help save the world.

These blankets are warm, not too heavy and very durable. I recommend anyone looking to buy a blanket to pick up at least one of these. They are worth the money.

I use these blankets to sleep ON and UNDER. I have two in my bed that i sleep inbetween. I have been doing this for 20 years and i will never go back to buying regular sheets as i sleep nude and it's just heaven.,, especially with a warming sheet over the mattress.That said , these things are big, thick and heavy. You have to have a large capacity washer/dryer to properly clean them. Once a year i have then dry cleaned as well.Over the years, due to be sleeping on them daily, the softness of the material fades. It's not course, but you can feel the difference between where you sleep and areas you dont. These blankets are also only super soft on one side. The opposite side is soft-ish but nothing like the good side. So i never sleep on that side.So after 3 years I'm looking to get a new one. I still have my blankets i bought 20 years ago as well. They last a long time. But the softness doesn't. I fold them up and place in random places over the house for my cats to sleep on. They love them.If you're not sleeping ON them, then they will last much longer and i highly recommend them. As i said ,i won't buy anything else.

It's hilarious that "light weight" is a criteria here, this things weighs like 10 pounds and they don't lie about that at all, it's actually a selling point.This thing is comfortable, soft, and heavy, which is exactly what you want in a winter blanket. I've only had it for about 2 months but I use it daily (nightly) and so far it's been great.

This is my 3rd Korean Mink blanket and wow, what an utter disappointment. This was not soft at all. I paid more for this one over others thinking this would be just as soft and nice. Nope. Luckily they do returns.

Very comfy blanket. Soft, plush & warm. Not too heavy but thick enough to keep you warm. Have seen these blankets for much less but come with pictures or designs. Solid black is obviously popular, so cost more. Will buy another when price drops or during warm weather when not in demand.

Very heavy blanket (which is what I wanted), über-soft to the touch, and quite warm. I love everything about it, except for two things: 1. The large logo Imprinted on the material, and 2. The colors aren’t down to the base of the blanket in a few spots, so at the right angle it looks like a not-so-great dye job. Both points are minor, but just enough that I can’t give it a 5/5 score.

This ny far is the best winter blanket. Immediately after getting it out of the box and realizing how heavy it was. I knew this blanket would be perfect. I have been wanting to purchase this blanket for years and when I was able to afford the king. I bought it. There hasn't been any shedding. It's the best. I plan on purchasing another one soon.