RUMPL Original Puffy Blanket – The Go Everywhere Blanket

Devan Michael

 

Warmer months are upon us, Memorial Day is behind us, so that means summer adventures, camping trips and sunset picnics will hopefully be filling your time. white clothing and outfits that should be suitable for your mountain AOTDs and evenings in the town. So if you are looking for an all-day, everyday, go anywhere blanket – look no further than the RUMPL Original Puffy Blanket!

This month I have been lucky enough to test out RUMPL Original Puffy Blanket! This single-person, Ocean Fade design not only keeps you warm, toasty and dry on all of your car camping and outdoor adventures, it also does its part in helping protect our planet! This specific Ocean Fade pattern supports the Save the Waves Coalition, an organization focused on preserving coastal surf systems. Not to mention the single-person model is made out of (60) – yes SIXTY – recycled plastic bottles. And the two-person model converts 100 recycled plastic bottles into a comfy blanket for you and a loved one to snuggle up together in!

 

Its shell & insulation is made out of 100% post-consumer recycled polyester and has a DWR finish to prevent stains & ensure water resistance (and even its stuff sack is water resistant!). The Corner loops & Cape Clip® allow for hands-free use while transporting from stop to stop. And finally it is machine washable so that you don’t have to worry what adventures it joins you on. The cherry on top – RUMPL comes in SO many different colors, designs, and prints, you will be able to use your blanket as a canvas to tell a story that is important to you!

 

And not only is their design comfortable, cute, and versatile, the mission behind RUMPL is one I want to take a moment to highlight, as they have had a significant impact on the environment & community in the short (9) years they have been around! 

 

RUMPL started in the back of a van on a super-secret surf trip (like most companies seem to do these days – I’m talking about you, Patagonia!). When their van broke down, leaving them stranded in unseasonably cold weather, the group of friends were so grateful to have their sleeping bags with them to keep them toasty. That’s where the idea was born – why does the warm & functionality of a sleeping bag have to be limited to a bag you may use only a handful of times a year? Why, they thought, could that same material & design not be transformed into a blanket that could be used everyday?

 

And just like that, the values of RUMPL were born: 

1. Embrace the Adventure
2. Create Excitement & Fun
3. Make Things Simple
4. Look to the Future Responsibly
5. Be Approachable & Honest
6. Promote a Balanced Lifestyle

 

Outside of delivering reliable function & durability, one of the brand’s core values is to “Look to the Future Responsibly,” with every business decision they make. In 2019, they completely redesigned their core line of blankets to use only 100% post-consumer recycled materials, which means they are actively saving a significant amount of pounds from the landfill as they have recycled over 5 Million discarded plastic bottles through their supply chain each year!

 

They also are a proud member of “1% For The Planet,” which means they donate 1% of ALL revenue to environmental non-profits, while also acting as members of the freshman cohort of brands that are certified Climate Neutral. Since 2020, each year they have offset 100% of the company’s carbon footprint through credits purchase. And in March 2021, RUMPL officially became a certified B-Corporation.

 

With the mission-driven mindset top of mind, let’s get back to the review. Here were some things that stuck out most to me about the RUMPL Original Puffy Blanket (single-person):

 

• Surprisingly Warm & Snuggly: I was skeptical at how “cozy” the RUMPL Original Puffy blanket would feel, given it is made out of 60 recycled plastic bottles. When I think “sleeping bag” the words “cozy, snuggly hug” do not go together. Rather I’d think of function over comfort. But once I wrapped myself up in this blanket at the base of Quandry Peak in Breckenridge, CO on an unseasonably chilly morning, I was pleasantly surprised at how warm and protected I felt under the RUMPL. Maybe sleeping bags get a bad wrap (I know, a pretty lame pun) these days, but RUMPL could be changing that! 

• Rain or Shine Functionality: Being built out of the same material as sleeping bags, the RUMPL blanket helps wick away water, while keeping you nice and insulted in your portable (and functional) cocoon. It would be perfect for a picnic, camping, watching your local sports games, or simply bundling up on the patio over a morning cup of coffee.

• Gear as an Art Canvas – As someone who wants their gear to be an extension of their values, I fell in love with RUMPL’s RAD Division – otherwise known as Rumpl Artist Division. This is a collaborative program that showcases the work of accomplished & upcoming artists who use diverse mediums to inspire creativity in impassioned communities around the world. With (2) releases a year, RUMPL leverages their sleeping-bag styled blankets as a canvas to support local artists, bringing even more meaning to this cozy, functional and flattering piece.

 

As mentioned above, the RUMPL Original Puffy Blanket would be the perfect blanket to keep in your car to support all of your adventures. However, since their target audience is the typical (local) weekend explorer, it does not compact down to a ultra-light and portable blanket, making it ideal for car-camping but not recommended for backpacking (unless you have really been ruck training with a heavily weighted vest). 

 

Overall, though, I was pleasantly surprised about how functional, comfortable and personable the RUMPL Original Puffy blanket was. It exceeded my expectations, and I am excited to see what AOTDs it takes me on moving forward!

 

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Devan Michael

Growing up in Massachusetts, Devan has been an athlete all her life. Starting at the age of 4 as a competitive gymnast, she learned quickly the joy that comes from hard work, determination, and a jammed packed schedule. Eventually, gymnastics led to competitive lacrosse, which resulted in her growing some wings and going to the PNW to pursue a DI College Lacrosse opportunity at the University of Oregon. 

 

On the single off-day each week, she quickly learned to see Mother Earth as her playground and wanted to use every second of free time to find chase AOTDs (Adventures of the Days). These AOTDs were the inspiration for her blog Dabbling in Traveling & youtube channel. 

 

From waterfalls, to snow covered mountains, to sand dune hikes – one thing was certain, something always went awry on these AOTDs. But hey, memories were always made! Not only was UO an incredible college experience, Oregon sparked her love for the outdoors & traveling across the country for games helped introduce her to Colorado in 2014. Staring up at the Flatirons on CU Boulder’s campus, she knew one day she would call Colorado home! 

 

After returning to the east coast upon graduation, Devan’s heart never stopped longing to live in Colorado one day. But luckily the pandemic brought a newfound acceptance for remote work and in Nov. 2021 her dream came true!

 

By day, Devan is a Product Manager at Capital One. By afternoon, she is a personal trainer, coaching group Crossfit classes at Axistence Athletics (the best Adventure gym you will ever find!). By evening, she pours her heart into nonprofit work, specifically focused on driving sustainable change in Haiti through the Brace for Impact 46 organization (Fun fact – she has been traveling to Haiti since 2015, accumulating 7 trips and 7 months of living down there!). 

 

Brace for Impact works in Northern Haiti to provide sustainable, multifaceted approaches to support child development, education, medical care, job development, and implementation of clean water & sanitation across the community, which touches 40,000 people each day! (Want to learn more? Check out their website www.braceforimpact46.com )

 

As her friends would tell you (despite trying) Devan does not slow down and is always trying to fit AOTDs into each open moment. Whether it be hiking, paddleboarding, road-biking, running, Crossfitting, weight-lifting, snowboarding or simply exploring different parts of CO with her favorite furry friend Bailey, it’s safe to say Devan has found her “Home” here in Colorado!

 

Fun fact – Devan had reconstructive hip surgery in 2016 (actually called a Periacetabular Osteotomy… but that’s a tongue twister), where doctors said she may never run or walk again. After a 22 month recovery period, she proved doctors wrong and uses that motivation to encourage everyone she interacts with to truly treat movement as a gift and to never take it for granted. With that being said, to keep her body active, she needs to make sure her gear can support her so she can remain #PAOStrong! 

 

Devan is excited to join the Engearment team!