Wednesday, December 19, 2018

Sleep Better with the Amtooch Sleep Mask: A Review

The Amtooch Sleep Mask Really Does Block Light


I'm a night owl who generally tries to sleep between 2 am and 10 am. I have a rechargeable power failure nightlight in my room and lights from many electronic helpers which charge next to my bed at night. One of these is my new Galaxy Note 9 Smartphone. I charge it next to my bed because its Relaxio App helps me block out noise and get to sleep faster. In the morning when the sun rises, it sends bright light through the mini blinds over my east-facing window.

Sleep Better with the Amtooch Sleep Mask: A Review
Amtooch Sleep Mask and Ear Plugs with a Case for Storing Each


I finally bought a sleep mask a couple of years ago that helped block out most of that light. (See A Review of Products that Help Me Get a Good Night's Sleep.) I used that Bedtime Bliss sleep mask for three years, but the elastic in it finally got so weak it no longer fit snugly enough to do its job properly. So this year I decided to replace it. I choose the Amtooch mask instead because it does an even better job of blocking light.

What I Really Like about the Amtooch Sleep Mask



  • It has a really snug fit. 
  • It's comfortable
  • It does a great job of blocking light
  • It comes with a convenient attractive carrying case
To completely block light, a sleep mask has to have a snug fit. Although both the Bedtime Bliss mask and the Amtooch mask are contoured to be three-dimensional, the nose opening is different. Unless your nose is the exact size as the indentation in the Bedtime Bliss mask, it will let a little light seep through no matter how snugly the elastic strap fits. 

The Amtooch mask doesn't attempt to fit your exact nose size. It has a slit for the bridge of a nose to fit through. When you adjust the mask properly, the indentation adjusts so there is no space for light to come through. Look closely at the top photo in the image below. That mustache-shaped foam around the nose helps seal the light out. The Bedtime Bliss is flat around the nose and some light seeps in. (I increased the exposure on that image so you could see the nose spaces in more detail. The bottom part of the top photo shows the inside of the Amtooch mask and the outside of the Bedtime Bliss mask. The outside view of both masks shows in the bottom photo. 

Sleep Better with the Amtooch Sleep Mask: A Review


I was really impressed with how snugly the Amtooch mask fit me without making my head feel like it was in a vise. The masks use two different types of elastic and have different ways of adjusting. The Bedtime Bliss strap closes with Velcro with no way to make it tighter. When the elastic starts to go, you can't adjust it any tighter.  The Amtooch strap adjusts by pulling the elastic through metal adjustment slides until the mask fits your head exactly. Because it is tight enough for a firm hold to my head, it doesn't slip and let light in when I sleep on my side and the mask connects with my pillow.

Who Needs the Amtooch Sleep Mask?


Anyone who needs a darker sleeping environment needs this. That includes day sleepers, those who need to sleep in a work environment or in a hospital. I used my Bedtime Bliss mask when I was in the hospital after surgery in 2014. I still had a problem with noise, but at least it was dark enough to sleep, and that helps. This also would have helped when I shared a dorm room with someone whose habits were different than mine. (Or helped my roommate when she went to bed first.)

I take both the sleeping mask and my Marpac noise machine if we need to sleep in a motel when we travel. Motels often have lights coming through the window and doors banging in the hall or outside in the parking lot. There is also electronic light in motel rooms from the television, a charging phone, or, in my case, my husband's CPAP machine he needs to help him breathe when he's asleep.

Maybe you know someone who needs a sleep mask as a gift. There's no gift quite like better sleep. Get one for someone you love. 

A Note about the Ear Plugs Included in the Package


Before there were any alternatives, I think I tried every kind of ear plug available to sleep through my husband's snoring. It was so loud that when we were at family camp on Catalina Island, I could find my way in the dark to the cabin from the beach, a walk of at least a block, late at night, just by listening. I always was a night owl.

Mack's Pillow Soft Silicone Earplugs, 12 Pair – The Original Moldable Silicone Putty Ear Plugs for Sleeping, Snoring, Swimming, Travel, Concerts and Studying | Made in USAMack's Pillow Soft Silicone Earplugs, 12 Pair – The Original Moldable Silicone Putty Ear Plugs for Sleeping, Snoring, Swimming, Travel, Concerts and Studying | Made in USACheck Price

 


 The only ear plugs I ever found somewhat effective were the Mack's Silicone Putty Earplugs. I could mold them to the shape of my ear and they stayed in. Eventually all ear plugs began to cause pain in my left ear and I stopped using them in favor of white noise. I never found any ear plugs that completely blocked noise. The best just lowered the volume.

I tried the ear plugs that came in the package with the Amtooch mask by putting them in my ears for a few minutes. I realize that's not a really fair trial. But they are made of foam, and foam ear plugs have never done much to even lower the volume of the noise a little. These didn't do much either. I just consider them an extra that was in the package so I could get the mask. You may have better luck. If you really need to get rid of disturbing noises at night or any other time, either use the Mack's EarPlugs if you prefer ear plugs, get the Marpac white noise machine, use the free Relaxio app on your smartphone, or find another source of white noise. White noise not only covers up most annoying sounds, but it often is soothing and relaxing.

I wish you a great night's sleep. 

Sleep Better with the Amtooch Sleep Mask: A Review
Have Mask, Will Sleep. My photo edited with PicMonkeyBasic




All photos not included in Amazon's ads were taken by me of products I have purchased. I used both PicMonkey and Fotor editing programs to assist in editing these images.



Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”


11 comments:

  1. Oh what a great idea Barbara, these would make a great little stocking stuffer. A good night's sleep is something that is worth it's weight in gold. Thanks for this review. You look well rested in your picture, so they must work well.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They do their job, but I need to do mine, too, by spending a bit more time in bed, LOL.

      Delete
  2. I've never tried a sleep mask simply because light doesn't bother me when I sleep, or at least I don't think it does. However, my husband can't sleep with any light around him. We have tried several blinds, blinds behind blinds, room darkening curtains, anything we could think of to try and light still seeps in through the top and sides of our curtains. I'll have to show him your review and see if he would consider a sleep mask. It might just be the solution for him. Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I normally resist putting anything over my face, but I hardly know this is there and it does work really well for me. It's cheap, and he wouldn't have much to lose by giving it a try. I had considered getting those expensive shades and drapes, but this works so much better than the drapes in the motels that light seeps around, and it's easy to take wherever I need to sleep. It's such a simple solution. I never needed it until I moved here with the east-facing large bedroom window. The mini blinds do almost nothing to keep light out. My bedroom in Templeton had no direct window to the outside, and the one small window I had above my bed was behind me and high above me. Where I sleep now the window is at eye level when I'm in bed. Before I got a mask to wear, the light would wake me as soon as the sun was up, but I needed to sleep another four hours. Now I can.

      Delete
  3. Yes, you do look well rested, Barbara, which is a good tribute to this product. Glad you found an eye mask that works well for you.

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  4. I certainly wouldn't get much sleep without it. When I usually get to bed is only a few hours earlier than the sun shines brightly through my window. The mask helps a lot.

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  5. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  6. Thanks for the recommendation and review - definite necessity for night owls!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have so much light in my room that this is a necessity for me.

      Delete
  7. This is a timely review for me! One of my sons asked me what I wanted and I let him know I need a new sleep mask. I'm absolutely a fan of sleep masks. I've been using them for years. Yep, I need it pitch black to sleep, especially in the morning when the room starts to lighten up. When I don't have a sleep mask, like right now because it's busted, I put a long narrow pillow over my eyes. This mask sounds awesome, I need this one!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I really love mine, as you can tell. Here's to a new year of good sleep.

      Delete

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