Gadget review: Dreamland Heated Reversible Throw

I admit that some of the gadgets that have graced this page recently haven't been entirely my choice. The Dreamland Heated Reversible Throw is one such case.

Its selection came after rather a large amount of female persuasion. However, fear not gentlemen - as I will soon point out, whilst your lady may purr away happily wrapped in the heated throw's warm embrace, your wallet will be content as well.

In short - this is a microfleece blanket that warms up in ten minutes. It's soft - although not quite as soft as it looks in the photos. Think more cat hair than polar bear fur. Once plugged in, you can select from nine heat settings via a corded handset and either the three hours' simmer option or "constant on". Setting nine is a like a warm cuddle and setting one is like nothing at all. I couldn't really notice a huge amount of difference from normal body heat on anything lower than setting six. Anyway, maxed out at cloud nine, the dreamland throw was greeted with ooohs and aahhs from my girlfriend. As soon as it's plugged in you get the first waves of heat radiating from it. The throw is comfortable, but you can feel the heated wire running like a vein through the microfleece blanket if you press hard enough. You soon forget about this once it warms up though.

The best bit of all - despite the throw costing the best part of 60, I've worked out that I can earn this back in less than two months' of heating bills. You see, the blanket only uses about 150 watts - a good deal less than the 2000 watts that a convection heater draws. So gentlemen - with some careful heating negotiation, the Dreamland Heated Reversible Throw can be a tempting investment.

Think more cat hair than polar bear fur

59.99, from Lakeland, in 49 stores nationwide, tel: [phone], www.lakeland.co.uk

This article was originally published in The Scotsman Magazine on Saturday 23 October 2010.