Cocoon Blanket Review

Overview

Cocoon’s Blanket is a 160 x 120 cm sheet of 20-denier ripstop nylon with a waterproof PU coating. It stuffs into its own corner pocket. It is built for picnics, festivals, and plane cabins, and it weighs 140 g. The trade-off is simple: it is a shell without any fill, so it adds almost no warmth. Backpackers should treat it as a groundsheet, windbreak, or gear cover, not as a sleep quilt.

Key Specs

Spec	Detail
Weight	140 g
Dimensions	160 x 120 cm
Fabric	100% 20D ripstop nylon
Coating	PU, 8,000 mm water column (waterproof)
Insulation	None
Storage	Self-stowing pocket
Model	PCB89S (Cocoon’s waterproof Picnic / Outdoor / Festival Blanket)

Performance

Weather resistance. The 140 g blanket is the waterproof version of a design Cocoon also sells in a lighter, water-repellent form. That lighter model weighs 95 g and carries a 1,000 mm PU coating. The waterproof version has an 8,000 mm coating. That is a rating most budget tarps and groundsheets don’t reach, and it is what lets this blanket work on wet grass or damp ground. The price is 45 g of extra weight. On a wet trail, that is a fair swap for a sheet that keeps a sit pad or the bottom of a pack dry.

Warmth. There is no fill, so warmth comes only from blocking wind and trapping a thin layer of air. Draped over the legs at a windy camp, it takes the edge off. It will not replace a quilt, and it won’t extend a sleep system’s temperature rating in any meaningful way. Cocoon’s own Coolmax travel blanket is a different animal. It is a 320 g knit, 180 x 140 cm, and it gets its warmth from fabric loft. Owners of that blanket often call it warmer than it looks. The ripstop blanket does not make that claim and cannot.

Size and packability. At 160 x 120 cm, the sheet covers one person sitting or lying down. Cocoon markets the size for up to two people on a picnic, which is realistic for sitting and tight for sleeping. The self-stowing pocket means there is no separate stuff sack to lose, which suits a piece of gear that gets pulled out and stuffed back in many times a day. Nylon at this weight also packs very small, which is why it has a place in kits where every item has to justify its volume.

Durability. A 20D ripstop will tolerate normal use on trimmed grass or a tent floor. It is not a ground sheet for rocky bivies or rough sites. Sharp stones, thorns, and pack zippers will damage thin nylon and its coating. The ripstop weave limits how far a small hole spreads. It does not stop the hole letting water through.

Comfort. Coated nylon is not soft. It feels cool against skin and makes noise when moved. This matters on a plane or in a drafty hostel, less so under a sleeping bag or on a picnic.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 140 g for a waterproof sheet that covers one person
• 8,000 mm coating is well above the rating of the lighter water-repellent version
• Built-in stowing pocket, so there is no stuff sack to manage
• Packs down small enough to ride in a hip-belt pocket
• Works as a ground cloth, pack cover, windbreak, or picnic blanket

Cons

• No insulation, so it is not a quilt in any practical sense
• Heavier than the 95 g water-repellent model from the same range
• Thin 20D fabric is easily damaged on rough ground
• Too narrow to wrap a sleeper in
• Plastic-feeling fabric is noisy and not soft against skin

Who Should Buy This

Buyers who want a light, cheap, packable sheet for sitting out a lunch break, covering gear, or keeping a plane seat or damp bench at bay will find it useful. Festival-goers and car campers will get the most from the waterproof coating. Hikers who need warmth in a quilt should look at a purpose-built down or synthetic quilt, which will weigh several times as much but is the only thing that really replaces a sleeping bag. Travelers who want a warm layer on a cold flight are better served by Cocoon’s own 320 g Coolmax travel blanket.

Verdict

The Cocoon Blanket does what its construction promises: it keeps water out, packs small, and weighs 140 g. It does not keep a sleeper warm, so anyone shopping for a quilt should skip it. As a multi-use camp accessory it is a reasonable buy.