Whenever someone asks me for my best tips for sleeping on an airplane, my top two answers are always the same: get a comfortable sleep mask (not one of those tight, cheap, scratchy ones airlines hand out in their amenity kits on long-haul flights) and earplugs. Those two items are essential not just for planes but also for hotels and vacation rentals, depending on the noise level and curtain situation.
Well, I hate admitting when I’m wrong, but I recently discovered an even better sleep mask than the ones I’ve recommended in the past.
I know this firsthand because I’ve spent the last few nights at my mother-in-law’s in Toronto. Her guest bedroom only has white blinds and, since the window faces east, I’ve been waking up every morning around 5:40 because the room lights up like a neon sign.
When she found out, she was sweet enough to buy me a sleep mask. I told her I already had two and didn’t need another. But after she felt the ones I had, she still insisted I try the one she’d bought me. I’m glad she did.
I recently wrote a post about what I thought was the best sleep mask ever: the Total Sleep Mask System. Before that, my longtime favorite had been the Lewis N. Clark Sleep Mask. Well, after one night with the LitBear Sleep Mask, I felt terrible for writing those posts because this one is so much better, there’s really no comparison.
The biggest reason I love this sleep mask is that it’s incredibly soft and blocks out every bit of light. It made the room so completely dark that when I took it off this morning, I literally had to open one eye at a time because everything suddenly felt blindingly bright. That’s never happened to me with any other sleep mask.
It also has 3D contoured eye cups, similar to the Manta Sleep Mask, so nothing presses against your eyelids. You can blink naturally without your eyelashes rubbing against the fabric. LitBear says the mask fits virtually all nose shapes, and my wife and I can both attest that it creates an excellent seal with no light leakage.
My wife especially likes the deeper eye cups because they leave enough room (12mm) to blink freely without messing up her eye makeup or putting pressure on her eyes. The adjustable elastic strap is comfortable and fits head sizes from 20.5 to 26.5 inches. Amazon recommends hand washing it in water below 104°F (40°C).
We’ll both be using this mask not just when we travel but at home as well.
Speaking of Amazon, I know online reviews aren’t always trustworthy. But after using this mask ourselves, I don’t have any reason to doubt the overwhelmingly positive feedback. Here are a couple that really mirror our experience.
★★★★★ Just the thing!
“It is sculpted so that there is a hollow area in front of the eyes to allow blinking… the mask is designed so that there is total darkness for the user… We both recommend this sleep mask without reservation.”
★★★★★ It’s fabulous!
“Not all sleep masks are created equal… I’ve used numerous ones. I LOVE this one… It’s nicely padded, blocks light incredibly well and is very soft and comfortable.”
One reviewer did mention that the nose section wasn’t a perfect fit, but even they called it the most comfortable sleep mask they’d ever used as a side sleeper.
I’ve tested a lot of travel gear over the years, and I rarely replace something I’ve already recommended. But this is one of those rare exceptions. If you’re looking for a sleep mask for long-haul flights, hotels with thin curtains or vacation rentals, this is now the one I’ll be packing on every trip.
KEEP READING
–Quality sleep on a plane? It’s possible with these 10 tips
–6 tips for improving your sleep habits
–4 hotel room hacks for getting a better night’s sleep
–How to make sure you never sleep through your alarm again
–The first thing I do when I check into a hotel room to ensure a good night’s sleep
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On your recommendation, bought this mask for my husband and myself. Wholeheartedly agree, best mask ever! We’ve also used Lewis&Clark, Manta, and others but this is more comfortable and totally seals out light. Just ordered 2 more for Dopp kit and living room for naps. Thanks for recommending.
Great to hear! Thank you for sharing