Oodie Onesie review: unbelievably undignified and unfathomably comfortable

A COUPLE of years ago I was politely asked to review The Oodie, an Australian brand that was becoming a big name in the fledgling market for hooded blankets.

Surprisingly, I loved it. Then I was sent one of the brand’s newest items: a (gasp) onesie. Read on for my full verdict.

Onesie, £75 £39 from The Oodie

I’ll admit to having a bit of a prejudice against The Original Oodie before I tried it; I thought it was the ugliest garment I’d ever seen.

However, after trying one, I quickly changed my mind.

While they’re admittedly not the most flattering things in the world, I’d never encountered cosiness like it.

I’ve been happily wearing one for the last couple of winters — trying my best not to think about what I look like — and in the meantime, The Oodie has become a cult phenomenon.

The brand has grown so fast that it now offers a wide range of sleepwear for men, women, children, and even dogs.

One of the key additions to its arsenal is something that took the world by storm over a decade ago; a onesie.

In what is presumably an effort to strip me of what little dignity I have left, I’ve been asked to do an Oodie Onesie review.

Pros

• Just as cosy as the Original Oodie
• You don’t need to wear PJs underneath
• Doesn’t get bunched up like the Original Oodie
• Comes in three sizes
• Affordable when on sale
• Great for gifting season

Cons

• Really quite undignified
• Range of designs isn’t quite as vast as the Original Oodie’s
• Expensive when full-price

Rating: 4/5

Oodie review: how I tested

I’ve been wearing the Oodie Onesie for the past month or two, as we’ve rapidly transitioned from t-shirt and shorts weather to oh-my-god-where’s-my-big-coat weather.

I’ve worn it while lounging around in the evenings and working from home, all the while considering how comfortable and practical it is, and whether it’s prevented me from turning heating on.

It’s also taken a few trips through the wash, to see how easy it is to clean and dry.

Oodie Onesie review: quick summary

Onesie, £75 £39 from The Oodie

Although I’m not quite as won over as I was by the original Oodie, there’s a lot to love about the Oodie Onesie.

In many ways, it improves on the original; you don’t have to wear PJs underneath it as you do with the hooded blanket, and there’s no chance of your legs getting chilly, either.

The original Oodie also has a habit of getting bunched up around your hips when you’re lounging on the sofa, which doesn’t happen with the Onesie.

In many other ways, it’s identical to the Oodie; it’s made from the exact same materials, meaning it’s just as warm, and I’ve not yet felt the need to put my heating on this year.

It’s also just as easy to wash, albeit slightly more difficult to store.

The only real issue, though, is how I feel when I wear it.

When I first tested the original Oodie I had to adjust to it — it was a lesson in not taking myself too seriously.

However, there’s something about the Onesie that I just can’t gel with. Every time I wear it I feel a bit infantilised, and I don’t see that going away.

That’s all subjective, though. If you don’t have the same mental barriers I do, then you’ll love the Oodie Onesie just fine.

Oodie Onesie review: full review

First impressions

Onesie, £75 £39 from The Oodie

Pure regret.

When I agreed to do this Oodie Onesie review I was asked which colour I’d like to receive.

I was originally going to say Black, but then decided that the imagery accompanying this article would be a bit more fun if I went for something more colourful.

So as I surveyed the neatly wrapped mass of pink and purple fluff before me, increasingly aware that I’d agreed to be photographed in it, I’ll admit that my initial feeling was regret.

However, that’s not Oodie’s fault, and it’s impressive that it’s managed to pack the Onesie into such a small package; it’s been vacuum packed and then nicely trussed with a blue bow.

And to the touch, much like the Original Oodie, it’s dreamy — so unreasonably soft that I wanted to bury my face in it.

Performance

Design

First, let’s get it out of the way; no one will look good in one of these.

Of course, no one is buying an Oodie for its shapely silhouette, but this takes it one step further.

After all, the original Oodie is just a gigantic hoodie. It’s certainly not flattering, but it’s fine.

This, on the other hand, is a gigantic babygrow, a notion I couldn’t shake as I slipped each leg into it.

Comfort

What followed was an intense period of inner conflict.

When I stood in front of my mirror, I could clearly see how much of an idiot I looked, but oh my god is it comfortable.

Design-wise, the main difference between this and the Original Oodie is obvious; instead of coming down to my knees like a dress, this has a trouser section that comes down to my ankles.

This eliminates a few of the issues with the original Oodie.

First of all, it means you don’t need to wear trackies or PJs underneath to prevent your legs getting cold; underwear alone is sufficient.

My Original Oodie also has a habit of wriggling up to my waist while I’m relaxing on the sofa, something that isn’t possible when your legs are firmly strapped in.

There are also thumb holes (I’m not entirely sure why, but strangely I quite like them).

There’s also a “rear access” bum flap, presumably aimed at making things more convenient for female users, which is neatly secured using elastic toggles.

Washing/Care

Onesie, £75 £39 from The Oodie

Being made from the exact same blend of fluffy materials as the Original Oodie, the washing instructions for the onesie are identical; either hand- or machine-wash at a maximum temperature of 40 degrees, ideally on a gentle cycle with mild detergent.

I was pleasantly surprised at how well the Original Oodie came out of the wash; after washing it fairly consistently for a couple of years, I’ve not noticed a huge difference in its soft texture.

Having washed the Onesie a couple of times, it seems to fare equally well.

Like the Original, the Onesie cannot be tumble-dried, and it does take a long time to air-dry; being as long as it is, it doesn’t fit comfortably on a normal drying rack.

Inside the Oodie, you’ll also find a rather alarming red label telling you that the Onesie poses a “HIGH FIRE DANGER”, so I wouldn’t recommend wearing it while cooking.

Storage

Onesie, £75 £39 from The Oodie

The Onesie’s length also means it’s a bit of a pain to store.

Because it’s as tall as a bigger-than-average person, if you hang it on the back of a door the bottom bunches up on the floor. You can’t put it on a coathanger for the same reason.

That means the only real option is to fold it up somewhere, but it’ll take up most of a drawer by itself because it’s so thick.

How much is the Oodie Onesie?

The Onesie usually retails for £75, making it £10 more expensive than a standard Oodie.

As I said in my review of the Original Oodie, that feels expensive for something you can’t wear out of the house, but some people may disagree; after all, you can spend much more than that on a pair of luxury pyjamas.

Luckily, though, Oodie runs regular sales, meaning you can get a Onesie for much less than its RRP; in fact, Oodie sales are so frequent that I’d suggest you wait for one to roll around instead of paying full price.

At the moment, you can pick one up for just £39 as part of the brand’s January sale.

Where to buy the Oodie Onesie

The Oodie Onesie is exclusively available from the Oodie website, where you can find all available colours and sizes.

As mentioned, the site also runs regular sales.

Shipping from the Oodie site is free on orders over £35. Cheaper items have a £3.99 shipping fee.

Oodie Onesie alternatives

While The Oodie was at the forefront of the wave of hooded blankets that flooded the market a few years ago, it’s pretty late to the party when it comes to onesies, meaning there’s an array of alternatives on offer.

• M&S Cuffed Hem Lounge Onesie, £11
• John Lewis Fleece Onesie, £39 £23.40
• Next Loungeable All-In-One, £32
• Primark Disney Toy Story Onesie, £24

The verdict: is the Oodie Onesie any good?

Technically, yes.

If you’re after a onesie, and find the prospect of wearing one undaunting, I’d have no hesitations in pointing you towards the Oodie Onesie.

I would caveat that by recommending that you wait for a sale period before buying one; you can often find them for under £40, and I wouldn’t personally pay more than that for something that should never see the light of the outdoors.

I probably won’t be wearing mine long-term, but that’s just due to personal preference; I feel more comfortable in my Original Oodie.

However, the Onesie addresses many of the things that people might not like about the Original, and for that, it has to be deemed a success.