With temperatures plummeting below freezing, it's proving difficult to avoid turning the heating on at home - but with households still looking to save on their energy bills amid the rising cost of living, many are on the lookout for clothing that can keep them extra warm this winter.
One brand that has seen popularity soar in recent months is the Oodie - made in Australia, these oversized blanket hoodies claim to not only be able to keep you ultra-toasty in the cold, but be "the most comfortable thing you'll own" too. The Oodie website insists that their garments are "worth every penny" - but with a price tag of between £80 and £100 when not on sale, it involves a considerable upfront cost.
Other retailers have brought out Oodie dupes that come at a fraction of the cost, including popular high street giant Primark who offer the 'Snuddie' for just £16 in a variety of designs - but how does it measure up to the pricier option? The Mirror put both blanket hoodies to the test to see whether shoppers are better off splashing the cash, or whether the cheaper dupe does the job just as well.
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Available in dozens of styles, the Oodie has racked up an impressive rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars based on the reviews of over 100,000 customers - and The Mirror's reviewer was similarly impressed with the fluffy item, which is lined with "super soft" sherpa fleece. Reporter Zahna Eklund said that "curling up with what is essentially a wearable duvet has been sheer bliss" as temperatures have dropped throughout December.
The only negative that was found with the Oodie is its huge size - the garment is a one-size-fits-all, and while the website claims that it is "perfect for anywhere and anything", Zahna found that the thick material and baggy sleeves "constantly got in the way" when wearing it to keep warm while working from home. This was where Primark's Snuddie fared better, with its smaller size and tighter fit on the arms being more practical for home working.
However, this was also one of the drawbacks of the £16 dupe - the Snuddie is made of just one layer of fluffy material compared to the double-lined Oodie, meaning that it didn't work quite as well to keep the heat in on the coldest days of winter so far. Zahna said: "It was doing a stand-up job in November when the temperatures were cold, but not freezing - now though, I have to admit it's been weeks since I wore my Snuddie, and my evenings no longer feel the same if I'm not curled up on the sofa in my Oodie."
With estimates indicating that putting the heating on costs around 26p an hour, the Primark Snuddie would pay for itself within 12 days if it saved having to switch the heating on for five hours a day. Meanwhile, it would take around 41 days to earn your money back for an Oodie on your heating bills, even if bought at the current sale price of £54.
The final verdict from the reviewer was: "Overall, I would say that the Primark Snuddie is more than capable of seeing you through the winter, and will see you saving money on your heating in less than two weeks if wearing it stops you from huddling up by the radiator. However, if you can afford to splash out on something a little more expensive, the Oodie is much warmer and could therefore see you last longer before you succumb to the need for your heating, which could save you even more money in the long run."
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