Uncomplicated, but effective controls. Cannot feel the heating elements. Extremely comfortable

TWIN SIZE FOR DOUBLE BED-USED RIGHT UNDER FITTED SHEET.
I suffer from arthritis. This blanket, this brand, is excellent under the bedsheets as a heating pad. It does wonders.
I love it. It doesn't take long to heat up and it stays warm for a good while once turned off.

I had a fine wire electric blanket and it finally gave up the ghost. It lasted 11 years. I didn't think I would be able to find another one, it was from Lands End. This one is nearly identical. Just a runs a bit warmer than the old one, but still the same kind of even warmth.

When I first got the blanket, I thought, uh oh! Before I even took it out of the zippered cover, I noticed a spot that had different colored stitching. I thought, great, they tried to repair a cut or tear and they didn't even bother to use the same colored thread! I adjusted my imaginary crown and grumbled about being the queen of buyers remorse. I set the blanket aside and went to treat myself to a comfort snack. Later, I was walking by it, stopped and meant to give it my best evil glare. Instead, I noticed another area with the same thread. I unzipped the package and took the blanket out. Sure enough, there were more. Each one was spaced the same distance apart and looked exactly the same as the others. Not a tacky repair job after all! I took off my imaginary crown! Grinned, put the blanket on the bed, hooked it up per the instructions and gave it a test run.
The manual mentioned that the blanket did not get hot the way a traditional blanket did so I wasn't alarmed when it didn't. I've discovered that the controls didn't have a preheat selection, but it seems to preheat automatically. The heat isn't the same as all the other blankets I've had over the years. The heat is more of an ambient heat. I get cold very easily and have always had to keep my older blanket at least at 4. After they were "broken in" I'd have to increase it. So far, this blanket keeps warm and comfortable at 1 or 2. On the coldest night, I set it on 3 and had to turn it down part way thru the night. I think part of the difference is, the blanket truly acts like a blanket, not just some cheap material used to cover a bunch of wires. To those of you who are wondering, the blanket really does feel like a blanket! I can barely feel the wires and don't feel them at all when I am in bed. I know what your thinking, she can't feel them? I bet she has a blanket between the sheet and the electric blanket. Nope! Nothing in between except the sheet.
The manual states you don't need any other blanket or covering on the bed to keep you warm. I haven't tested this, but only because I love to turn the heat down at night, pile the blankets on and burrow in like I plan to be there until spring thaw. I did try it with just one other blanket. I was warm, but I felt like I was sleeping in a guest bed. I wanted my comfy back. Even with only one additional blanket, I didn't need to adjust the heat level. The blanket does an excellent job of regulating the temp once its done it's auto warmup. I purchased a king size blanket and was delighted to discover that the blanket does an outstanding job of regulating both sides, not just one. You know what I mean, one person is always cold, the other is always hot, and the warmest setting always bleeds over onto the cooler side resulting in one person always waking up cranky. This has not been a problem with this blanket. I've been using it a couple months now and I haven't encountered any problems. All the other electric blankets I've had before usually start showing their "quirks" within the first month. I've tucked my imaginary crown away for now and I'm keeping my fingers crossed for the rest of the cold season!

1) The blanket: I have used Sunbeam blankets for years and put off buying something like this because of the cost. Let me just say I will never buy another Sunbeam again. It feels like there aren't any wires in it, though of course there are. It's delightfully soft, washes well, doesn't pill over time (at least not after 6 months), and keeps me plenty toasty. It doesn't necessarily feel warm to the touch, though my cat likes it well enough, but I can definitely feel it's doing its job when I get under the covers.

2) The fire hazard: When I first got it, I accidentally knocked a pillow off the bed and it lay on the box over night. When I made the bed, I noticed the junction box was running really hot. I have made sure that the box sits clear of anything like fabric, pillows, etc. so that there is plenty of room for the heat to dissipate. It sits far enough away that there's no chance of anything trapping the heat. Since I started doing that, there hasn't been any sense of it running dangerously hot. I can see where it could be a fire hazard if you didn't take care and, honestly, there should be a warning to make sure there's plenty of air circulation for the junction box. This is the only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5. To be clear, it's not that it is a potential danger but that the company doesn't warn about how to prevent the problems others have run into.

3) Versus Sunbeam. I kept buying Sunbeam for years because it was comparatively affordable. Of course, Sunbeam blankets start losing their heat after year one. The company always honors the warranty and sends out a replacement blanket. All in all, I get about 2 years out of a single Sunbeam purchase. I've only had my SoftHeat for six months now. Even though it's more expensive than Sunbeam, I'll never go back, even if it only lasts a single year and I have to do replacements like I did with the other brand. Why? Because this blanket is so much more comfortable! Sometimes, I don't even bother with sheets and have the microfiber snug against my skin. I don't worry about it getting dirty that way because it washes like a dream. There is no feeling of wires at all. It is different technology entirely and not made to decrease its heat over time like Sunbeams are. I'm so glad I spent the extra money on this blanket; it was one of the best bedding decisions I've ever made.