Like most adults who function on caffeine and polite panic, I’ve spent years trying to improve my sleep. I’ve tried herbal teas that taste like boiled garden clippings, sleep sprays that promise lavender tranquillity but actually smell like your nan’s airing cupboard, and those oddly expensive pillows that claim to “align your chakras” (whatever that means). Still, sleep and I have had a complicated relationship.
Then someone recommended the Snoozeband—a soft, Bluetooth-enabled, sleep-friendly headband that plays audio without stabbing your ears like normal earbuds. Honestly, I thought it sounded ridiculous. A headband? For sleep? What next—Bluetooth pyjamas?
But I bought it anyway, mostly because Amazon had worn down my impulse control.
First Impressions: Much Softer Than Expected
When it arrived, I was convinced it would feel like wearing a budget sweatband from a PE class in 2004. But no—the fabric is soft, stretchy, and comfortable. More “cosy winter lounge wear” than “school gym trauma”.
The speakers inside the band are surprisingly flat. Thin enough that, when I pressed my head into the pillow to test it, I didn’t get the usual “earbud jab of doom”.
Pairing it with my phone was instant. No temperamental Bluetooth dance. No mysterious “connected / disconnected / connected” loop. It just worked—already a good sign.
My First Night with the Snoozeband
That first night, I put on a sleep meditation and lay there thinking, “Well, this is nice. But I bet I’ll still be awake at 1am.”
Reader: I was not awake at 1am.
In fact, I woke up the next morning slightly confused, slightly drooling, and very well-rested—something that hadn’t happened in a long time. The audio faded out naturally, I didn’t have painful ears, and for the first time in months, I didn’t wake up halfway through the night to adjust a pillow or contemplate my life choices.
The Unexpectedly Humorous Incident
About a week after getting the Snoozeband, I had an incident that perfectly highlights the dangers of being too relaxed.
I was listening to a true-crime podcast—yes, I know, not exactly sleep material, but the narrator has a soothing voice that could probably calm a rioting crowd. At some point, I drifted off.
At 3am, I woke up to the sound of my partner shouting,
“WHY ARE YOU SLEEPING LIKE A BANK ROBBER?!”
I had somehow pulled the Snoozeband fully down over my eyes, like a stylish but slightly suspicious burglar. Combined with my pyjama bottoms that had twisted themselves into a sort of fabric tourniquet, I apparently looked like I was about to stage a heist in my sleep.
My partner, half-asleep himself, thought I was trying to sneak into the wardrobe for snacks again. (It happened once. I maintain it was a sleepwalking incident.)
Despite the chaos, I had slept marvellously. And I kept the Snoozeband on—even if my dignity slipped off somewhere around 2.45am.
Two Weeks Later: The Verdict So Far
After using it nightly, here’s what stood out:
✔ Genuinely comfortable for side-sleeping
I’m a chronic side-sleeper, and normally that means choosing between sleep and ear pain. The flat speakers solve this.
✔ Eye mask functionality
Pull it down and boom—instant blackout. Perfect for people who need total darkness or live with someone who thinks the bathroom light should be visible from space.
✔ No more phone scrolling
I can’t overstate how game-changing this is. No more “accidentally” spending 40 minutes reading comments on a news article I don’t care about.
✔ Surprisingly good battery life
I expected it to run out nightly. It doesn’t. I get several nights on a single charge.
✔ Portable and brilliant for travel
I brought it on a train journey recently and slept like a commuter who has truly given up on life’s responsibilities. It blocks noise and light beautifully.
A Few Mild Downsides (For Balance)
- Finding the perfect speaker position takes a bit of fiddling the first time. Once you’ve got it, it stays put.
- It can feel warm if you’re a hot sleeper. Not unbearable, just something to be aware of.
Neither is a dealbreaker, but no product is perfect—except maybe the kettle.
Does the Snoozeband Actually Help You Sleep?
In my experience, absolutely.
It won’t magically knock you out like a Victorian anaesthetic, but it does create a calm, comfortable environment that makes drifting off much easier. The combination of audio, darkness, and comfort is surprisingly effective.
My sleep is more consistent, my bedtime routine feels intentional rather than chaotic, and I actually look forward to winding down. That’s a big win.
Final Thoughts: A Surprisingly Essential Part of My Routine
The Snoozeband started as an impulse purchase, the sort of thing I expected to try once and then abandon to the drawer of failed gadgets. But instead, it’s become part of my nightly ritual—one that actually helps.
It’s comfortable, easy to use, and ideal for people who rely on audio to sleep but hate uncomfortable earbuds. It’s also perfect for travelling, napping, or pretending you can’t hear your family asking where the remote is.
Would I recommend it?
Unquestionably, yes.
Just… maybe warn your partner if you tend to slide your eye mask over your face in your sleep. Apparently, it’s “unnerving”.
