ProView – Rumpl Puffy Blanket

I woke up in complete darkness to the sound of my border collie, Riggins, panting and shifting around in my sleeping bag. Unzipping, I helped him emerge from the down cocoon and got smacked in the face by the odor of dog poop. Assuming he lost control of his bowels inside my sleeping bag, I did what anyone would do. Trying not to move, lest I encounter the mess in the dark, I shouted for my partner to wake up.

It was New Year’s Eve, in the wee hours of 2018. The three of us, Aaron, Riggins, and myself, were sleeping in the back of Aaron’s truck in the parking lot of Anthony Lakes Ski Area. It was negative-something degrees and puking snow outside. Everything was frozen — our 7-gallon jug of water, our 6-pack of beer, our food, contact solution, and toothpaste.

Aaron flicked on his headlamp. The inside of my sleeping bag was somehow dry, but the smell was overwhelming. Aaron gagged. I lifted Riggins’s tail and saw a brown pancake stuck to his bottom — poor guy was probably trying desperately to hold it in. I flung open the tailgate and Riggins jumped out, disappearing into the snowstorm.

What does this have to do with Rumpl? Just this: Ever since that stinky 2 am wake-up call, Riggins has been delegated to the cab of the truck, with his own dog-sized sleeping bag and several Rumpl blankets to keep him warm.

I know, Rumpl blankets aren’t dog blankets. They’re go-anywhere blankets that accompany us to and from the house, into the truck, into the tent, onto the couch, and on top of the bed at home. My Rumpl blanket wraps my dog up like a burrito when we leave him in the cold car while we go find an actual burrito. It warms my legs and makes a nest for my cats at home while I cradle a mug of tea and a good book. It keeps me warm enough to enjoy an apres ski beer during the spring corn cycle when the sun sinks low in the evening and a chill returns to the air. In the depths of winter, my Rumpl blanket adds an extra layer of insulation wherever I’m sleeping.

Over the years, I’ve acquired three Rumpl blankets: my first was a turquoise one-person-sized Original Puffy, followed by an ultralight Down Puffy, and most recently, the El Puffy throw. Rumpl blankets are designed to function like sleeping bags: They’re warm, water- and odor-resistant, made with durable performance materials like ripstop nylon and DWR coating, and they pack into their own stuff sack. They also come in a wide variety of styles and patterns. The El Puffy, inspired by traditional Mexican blankets found along the coast of Baja, adds a pop of bright color to the snowy environments in which I often find myself.

What I love most about Rumpl blankets is that they don’t stink, even after you wrap your blanket around a snow-covered dog who recently pooped himself, and they’re easy to clean with either a shake or a toss in the washing machine. There are multiple sizing options: the one-person and throw sizes have been plenty large enough for camping, but I would consider a larger size if it were to remain more permanently on my bed at home.

Rumpl blankets are great anywhere you could use a little extra coziness. I don’t leave for a camping or road trip without one. Just like your puffy coat or sleeping bag, a Rumpl will tear. My Original turquoise blanket got snagged on my bike cassette during a road trip. Since it was ripstop nylon, the fabric didn’t unravel beyond the tear, and I was able to stitch it, giving it a nice, lived-in scar. Rumpl sells wash and repair tape on their website, so I’m guessing I wasn’t the first one to get a little careless, however, I learned to pack my Rumpl blanket back into its stuff sack during transport. And though they pack nicely in their stuff sack, I stick with a traditional sleeping bag for backpacking trips.

So how did the poop story end, you ask? A thorough investigation turned up just one turd sitting on top of Aaron’s sleeping bag. He let out a noise of disgust and flung the turd toward the opening to the outside. It landed just short of the edge of the tailgate and promptly froze in place.

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