Whether you’re trying to get a better nights sleep using the aid of a relaxing soundtrack or you’re simply looking to block out the noises around you, investing in a good pair of headphones to sleep in could have potentially life changing effects.
As I’m sure you’re aware, most studies suggest that 8 uninterrupted hours of sleep is the sweet spot to hit if you want to take up feeling refreshed and ready to start your day. The keyword here, however, is uninterrupted. Even if you go to sleep at 11 pm and wake up at 7 am the next day, that doesn’t necessarily give you the ability to instantly turn into a “morning person”. (Source)
If you suffer from restlessness or often find yourself waking up at the bang or bump in the night, these are all things which will interrupt your sleep cycle and leave you feeling in a terrible groggy mood when you wake up, no matter how long you sleep for. Studies show that sounds as low as 30db, or the same volume as somebody whispering in your ear, are enough to interrupt your sleep. (Source)
Given how easy it is for that precious sleep cycle to be interrupted, falling asleep to some relaxing music or even putting on some white noise to block out external noises could have a profound impact on sleep quality. Today we’ll be looking at how to combat these using the magic of audio!
Our #1 Pick WU-MINGLU Bluetooth Sleeping Eye Mask Headphones
Our #2 Helios True Wireless Headphones
Our #3 Pick Coeuspow Bluetooth Headband
Our #4 Pick SleepPhones Wireless
Our #5 Pick iBREK Sleep Headphones
Why Do You Need a Specific Pair of Headphones For Sleeping?
As you may have noticed by now, regular headphones aren’t exactly best equipped for overnight use. They often feature heavy or clunky designs making it difficult to find a comfortable sleeping position.
You’ll also want to consider hygiene. Given that you’ll be wearing these as you sleep, you don’t want a pair that’s covered in germs or grime from the outside world. In addition to this, you’ll also want a pair that can be easily cleaned every few nights to ensure there is no buildup of sweat or grease.
Finally, regular headphones may even prove to be extremely hazardous. Given most have long cables which pose a strangulation hazard and some just don’t have the durability required for your natural sleep movements, meaning they could easily break and expose sharp components or electronics that could cause harm. While there isn’t enough power in headphones to outright kill you, in some rare cases, a damaged pair of headphones could certainly give you a nasty shock.
These are all things we’re going to be looking for in an ideal pair of sleeping headphones.
Volume
If you plan on drifting off with music in the background, it’s important that you pay special attention to volume. As I’m sure you’re aware, listening to loud music for prolonged periods of time can cause serious damage to your hearing.
Experts suggest that if you intend to listen to music for a sustained prolonged period, it shouldn’t exceed 70db. To give you an idea of just how loud that is, it should be no louder than a regular conversation. The easiest way to test this is by putting your headphones on while having a chat with someone and adjusting the volume until you can hear the other person consistently without them having to raise their voice or shout.
You’ll also want to make sure that the tracks you’re listening to don’t increase or decrease suddenly due to the way in which they were mastered. Most modern music software such as Spotify and Apple music has a feature called “volume normalization” built into them which should be enabled. This feature means that all tracks will play at the same volume rather than jumping around depending on the way the artist decided to mix the track. Refer to your specific software’s settings to find this option and be sure to enable it to avoid any nasty loud surprises in your playlist.
Comfort
This list features a number of designs, however, when picking the best one, you’ll need to consider your usual sleeping position. For example, do you sleep you on your back or on your side? If you are lucky enough to find yourself sleeping on your back more often than not, you’ll have a much easier time picking the right pair.
That said, most suggestions on this list are a good option regardless of what position you sleep in as they don’t feature overly obtrusive designs and shouldn’t irritate your ear too much, this will really depend on a number of personal factors.
The actual material is also going to make a big difference here too. Since in some cases these headphones will essentially become an extension of your pillow, we’re looking for something that will easily blend in with your bedding and become something that doesn’t become a nuisance.
Why Listen To Music?
While you could simply opt for a pair of earplugs to block out the outside world instead, listening to music instead has far wider reaching benefits than blocking out external noises. There are numerous studies to support the fact that music helps us to unwind and relax, so why not bring it into the bedroom, the one room in your house specifically designed for you to relax and fall asleep in.
While the majority of streaming services have multiple sleep playlists dedicated to helping you drift off with ease, there’s nothing stopping you from curating your own lullaby playlist too. The perfect tracks for doing this around 60 to 80 Beats Per Minute (BPM), and while some genres feature this timing more than others, you’re bound to find at least a handful of songs in each genre that fall into that category (even rock and heavy metal!). Try to pick out a couple of slower songs from your favorite artist. If you want to check exactly what its BPM is, this awesome tool will show you!
Our Top Picks In The Best Headphones For Sleeping Category
Our #1 Pick WU-MINGLU Bluetooth Sleeping Eye Mask Headphones
VALUE
QUALITY
OUR VERDICT
✓ Comfortable Eyemask Design ✓ Machine Washable ✓ Adjustable Size ✘ Battery Will Need Recharging
These headphones tick all the essential boxes for anyone looking for a restful nights sleep. They come with a built in eye mask, wireless Bluetooth connectivity and ample sound quality. The adjustable headband means they’ll fit comfortably on all head sizes without issue and won’t become irritating or obtrusive in the middle of the night.
The only downside to these is that you’ll need to charge them every day in order to use them. Considering you’ll be listening to music throughout your entire nights sleep, their 8-hour average battery life will only see you through one night at a time. This isn’t a major issue, although you’ll just have to remember to recharge them every morning.
Overall, these make a perfect pair of headphones for sleeping in. Their thoughtful and comfortable design combined with their versatility and ability to machine wash when they become dirty makes them our top pick.
Our #2 Pick Helios True Wireless Headphones
VALUE
QUALITY
OUR VERDICT
✓ Very Unrestrictive
✓ Charging Case Included
✓ Choice of Color
✓ Wirless
✘ In-Ear Design
✘ Price
Helios offer up a pair of earbuds here which are perfect for anyone who generally sleeps on their back and even those who sleep on their side. With an unobtrusive design made from soft materials, these make a great pair for sleeping in.
The biggest benefit to this style of the earbud is that they are far less restrictive than the eye-mask style. It’ll really be a matter of personal preference here though. You’ll want to consider how much pressure you’ll be putting on your ears during your usual sleeping positions to decide whether this is the right option for you.
While this option does come in a bit on the pricier side, you’ll be getting a very high-quality pair of earbuds which can also be used in everyday situations with no issues.
Our #3 Pick Coeuspow Bluetooth Headband
VALUE
QUALITY
OUR VERDICT
✓ Lightweight Material ✓ Wireless ✓ Headband Design ✘ Bulky Speakers
This option offers a headband design which is better for people who don’t want to have an eye mask on while they sleep. They’re made of lightweight materials making them particularly good for those sticky summer nights that we all know and love.
They also feature a machine washable design which is achieved by physically removing the speakers before placing them in to be washed.
The downside is that the speakers built into the band are somewhat bulky which means they’re not the ideal option for those who sleep on their side. While they are much more comfortable than actual earbuds, if you generally place a lot of pressure onto your ears during sleep, this may pose an issue.
Our #4 Pick SleepPhones Wireless
COST
QUALITY
OUR VERDICT
✓ Machine Washable ✓ Choice of colors and sizes ✓ Wireless ✘ Price ✘ Users agree they lack a professional finish
This entry offers up another headband style pair of headphones which are far less obtrusive if you sleep on your side. Softer materials and slimlined speakers lead to a comfortable experience for those who sleep on their sides. They come in a range of colors and sizes meaning you’re bound to find the perfect fit for your preference.
The unfortunate downside is the price. Many users have agreed that these quite have the professional finish you’d expect at such a price point. They do agree, however, that the product itself does the job incredibly well offering great audio quality with a comfortable design, so if you’re willing to overlook this, you may have your new favorite sleeping headphones!
Our #5 Pick iBREK Sleep Headphones
VALUE
QUALITY
OUR VERDICT
✓ Machine Washable ✓ Eye Mask Design ✘ Wired ✘ Bulky Speaker Design
Our final pick offers up another eye mask style design with built in speakers. There have been reports from users that the speaker design is slightly too bulky to sleep on your side so again, consider this if its your usual sleeping position.
Perhaps the biggest drawback with this pair is that they’re wired. If you’re prone to moving around a lot in your sleep these do pose somewhat of a strangulation hazard which is something to be wary of. This can be easily rectified by nestling the wire somewhere out of the way such as under your pillow, although this adds to the overall complexity of setting up the perfect sleeping environment.
That said, these would make the perfect choice for things like plane rides or long-haul journeys!
Summary
WU-MINGLU Bluetooth Sleeping Eye Mask Headphones provides a fantastic solution for drifting off to some of your favorite tracks. With their eyemask design and comfortable materials, you’re bound to get a good night of sleep without having to worry about uncomfortable hardware getting in the way. For that reason, we have made it our number one pick.