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Nodpod weighted sleep mask review

REVIEW – In the last year or so, weighted sleeping blankets have been a trendy product for people who have sleep issues. Why would you want a heavy blanket on you while you sleep? Apparently, when gentle pressure is applied to the body, it has a calming effect. This is known as deep touch pressure therapy and if it’s good for your body, it has to be good for your eyes as well, right? Let’s check out the Nodpod weighted sleep mask.

What is it?

Nodpod is a sleeping mask that covers your eyes to block out the light to help you sleep. But this mask goes one step further and applies gentle pressure to your eyes to help you relax and fall asleep faster.

Design and features

Avaliable in six colors, the Nodpod has a soft microfiber fleece side that will you can use to keep you warm.

The other side is made of knit jersey cotton (like a T-shirt) to keep you cool.

The sleep mask features four pods that are filled with microbeads to add weight.

One end of the sleep mask has a slit in the material that you can use to fasten the mask around your head.

The other end slides through the slit to make it easily adjustable.

Hmmm, looks like someone just woke up from a nap. Look at that messy hair! 😉

The ends of the Nodpod are flat and not filled with beads so that you can wear the mask and sleep on your back or side without any discomfort. Or, you don’t have to fasten the sleep mask at all and can just lay it across your face if you tend to sleep in one place and not flop around a lot.

You can even use it sitting up, so it would be useful while traveling on a plane, train, etc.

The mask is soft and the material is scent-free and it’s machine washable. You can even put it in the freezer and it will remain flexible and won’t sweat.

What I like

  • Simple product
  • Washable
  • Comfy sleep gear

What needs to be improved

  • Price

Final thoughts

So did the Nodpod elevate my sleep game? I’m not sure if it improved my sleep all that much as I really don’t have any sleep issues. But I know that it felt very comfortable and helped me drift off to nap nap land a little quicker than I usually do. I think I may have slept deeper and more restful when using it too, but that’s just a guess and I think most ordinary sleep masks might do the same thing.

I do like that the Nodpod helps to block out light if you’re a day time napper or sleeper which is what I would normally want to use a sleeping mask for in the first place. In the past, I’ve used a towel or a rolled up T-Shirt to block out the daylight, but the Nodpod is a more elegant solution. For me though, I’m not sure it’s worth $30 when I can use a rolled up a towel for free.

Price: $29.99
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Nodpod.

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Nodpod weighted sleep mask review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on May 31, 2019 at 11:00 am.

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J-Pillow Travel Pillow review

REVIEW – Zzzzzzzz… huh? Oh! Sorry, friends! I must have dozed off while writing my review! And that’s a good thing in this case. I’m checking out the J-Pillow, a different (and award-winning) take on the travel pillow design. Not only is it comfy, but it’s got some neat tricks up hidden under it’s wings. To the review!

What is it?

It’s a travel pillow designed for resting while sitting up, but it’s also great for around-the-home use.

What’s in the box?

You get the pillow and a drawstring travel bag.

 

Hardware specs

  • 9″ by 9″ by 5″
  • 8 ounces
  • Machine washable
  • 100% polyester fabric cover
  • 100% polyester & flame retardant filling

Design and features

So there are a ton of travel pillows that are based on some variation on a u-shaped, yoke-style design. What’s so different about the J-Pillow? It employs a pair of bat-like wings, and adds a third J-shaped pad from which the pillow gets it’s name. Designed by a former flight attendant, this extra pad provides additional stability when you’re trying to use it to rest while sitting up during travel. Check it out:

The pillow is made from a super-soft padding and cover material, so it feels good to use right off the bat. But here’s the neat bit: the design allows you to configure it in a way that maximizes your comfort based on your preferences and body type.

Here’s the “standard” configuration. In this setup, the “J” pad slings under your chin, and the wings cradle your head. You can set this up for left- or right-side use. See how there’s no gap between my neck and the pillow?

If that setup doesn’t work for you, you can flip it. Here the “J” pad is wrapped around the back of my neck, and the wings run vertically. This is the way I’d set it up if I had a window seat:

You can also use it like a traditional U-shaped pillow. Pinch the wings on one side, and off you go. Notice the restful expression on your reviewer’s face. It’s comfy, folks!

In the interest of full disclosure, I haven’t traveled with the J-Pillow yet. But I am also finding a lot of uses for it around the house. J-Pillow promotes it’s use as a lumbar support pillow, and this really works for me. Its wonderful for reducing back strain at my old creaky desk chair. I’m also using it on the couch, as seen here:

And here’s another use that they promote that REALLY works for me. My 50 year old knees can get downright surly sometimes, and I need to rest/sleep with a pillow to reduce soreness. The J-pillow works great as a leg pillow, as demonstrated by your pasty-white reviewer/model below:

I’m also using it as a pillow when lounging about, and it’s great for watching TV or reading. Or napping with the dog. You get the idea.

For traveling, the J-pillow includes a vinyl travel bag with a drawstring closure. It compresses nicely in the bag and has a button-snap loop that you can use to attach it to your luggage (with or without the bag). It’s a convenient feature that saves space in your luggage.

What I like

  • Very comfortable, no matter how you choose to use it
  • Great for both travel and in-home use
  • Attaches to your luggage, saving space in your bag
  • Convenient storage/travel bag to keep it clean when not in use

What needs to be improved

  • None so far

Final thoughts

Sometimes the simple innovations make all the difference. I can see why the J-Pillow has won awards for it’s design and is so highly rated by users. I’m loving this pillow for use around the house, and can’t wait to take it on my next trip. In the meanwhile, you’ll find me snoozing on the couch. Sweet dreams!

Price: $49.95 direct from the manufacturer, but I’m seeing prices under $30.00 on Amazon. Multiple colors are also available.
Where to buy: Get it at the J-Pillow web site, or on Amazon.
Source: The sample of this product was provided by J-Pillow.

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J-Pillow Travel Pillow review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on May 26, 2019 at 9:00 am.

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Wake up to a puking pup with Odd Alarm

NEWS – Anyone that ever has had a pet knows that nothing wakes you up faster than the sound of your pet about to do the technicolor yawn all over your cream colored carpet.  If you’re a deep sleeper and need that kind of rise-and-shine motivation, Odd Alarm may be for you.

Odd Alarm has a series of non-traditional, yet extremely effective alarm sounds like pet vomiting, pet licking, slamming doors, gunfire, and breaking glass designed to rouse you from dreamland into a quick entry to the wide-awake world.

If you’re really hard to motivate, the app includes difficult methods to silence the alarm, like solving math problems (although that option doesn’t appear in the Android version). You do have to chase a moving sun icon to silence the alarm.

Setup is straightforward:

  • Swipe Up to create a new alarm
  • Swipe down to save a new alarm
  • Select an alarm
  • Choose the snooze duration
  • Set alarm volume
  • Chase a moving sun to turn off the alarm

The app is free and comes with three alarms, cat fight, dog barf and, glass breaking. Other sounds are offered as individual options for sale in the app for $0.99 each.

If you’re the type of person that needs a bucket of cold water dumped on your head to get you up in the morning, this app might help keep your bedding dry and get you to work on time.

To read more and watch a video about the app. visit OddAlarmApp. Download the Android app from the Play Store and IOS version from iTunes.

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Wake up to a puking pup with Odd Alarm originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 1, 2019 at 10:00 am.

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Smart Nora Snoring Solution review

REVIEW – If you or your partner snores, you know the struggle. I’ve snored for years and tried all kinds of solutions, so I jumped at the chance to review the Smart Nora snoring solution. Has Bob finally secured peace in the bedroom after all these years? To the review!

What is it?

It’s a system that uses a sensor to detect snoring, activating an inflatable insert under your pillow to stimulate your throat muscles and resume normal breathing.

What’s in the box?

The Smart Nora kit includes everything you see in the picture below, including:

  • The base unit.
  • The Bluetooth sensor “egg” with a USB charging cable.
  • An egg cradle for wall mounting.
  • The pillow insert.
  • A soft sleeve for the pillow insert.
  • A standard power chord, with adaptors for international markets.

Design and features

The Smart Nora is a non-invasive solution to reduce snoring. The unit consists of three primary components. The first is a 20″ by 8″ pillow insert connected to an air hose:

The second is the sensor egg, a palm-sized Bluetooth unit (4″ by 2-1/2″ by 1-1/4″) that detects your snoring:

And the third component is the base unit, a 10″ by 4″ by 7″ box that manages all the functionality.  

Here’s what it looks like when everything is in place:

And believe it or not, this thing really does seem to work in my case. Let’s walk through the setup, then we’ll talk about operation and performance.

Setup

You’ll have the Smart Nora setup in just a few minutes. You start by connecting the air hose from the pillow insert to the base unit.

The power plug also connects to the base unit. The Smart Nora includes multiple adaptors for international markets, which is a nice bonus if you plan on taking it on trips.

The sensor egg is charged by plugging it into the base unit with the USB cable that’s included with the package. Once charged, the egg can be disconnected and operates via a Bluetooth connection.

The pillow insert also includes a foam padded sleeve that can be used if desired.

Slide the pillow insert into your pillowcase under your pillow, and you’re good to go!

The sensor egg is designed to be in close proximity to the user when sleeping and includes an adhesive-backed mount so that you can position it on the wall or headboard above the sleeper’s head. I have a nightstand next to my bed right next to my pillow, so I’ve been keeping mine there.

Operation

The pillow insert is where all the action is. When snoring is detected, an air compressor in the base unit gently inflates air bladders in the insert to get things moving. Here’s what it looks like when the insert inflates:

And here’s an inside shot of the air bladders. Once they come to full inflation, the weight of your head will gradually deflate them back to the flat position.

You can also select the height to which the insert will be inflated. I started in the “high” position, but found it to be a bit uncomfortable for me. I’m using the middle position right now.

The controls for the sensor egg are all on the underside. You can adjust the sensitivity of the device to account for noisier bedrooms. The Bluetooth connection reset is there as well as the power on/off pad.

When fully set up, you just push on the egg to turn it on or off. A blue light indicates that the unit is on.

Throughout the course of the night the insert will slowly inflate when snoring is detected, then slowly deflate in a cycle that runs about 30 seconds. The gentle motion is intended to stimulate your throat muscles to resume normal breathing.

Performance

I really like the usability of the Smart Nora solution. A lot of snoring devices can be pretty invasive, involving mouthpieces or other equipment that takes a lot of getting used to. There’s none of that here. Setup takes minutes. No changes are required to your bed arrangement. When you’re ready to go to sleep, you just press the egg and go to sleep in whatever position you are comfortable with using your regular pillow.  You will hear the air compressor and some squeaking as the pillow inflates/deflates, but the noise is subdued and the movement is slow and gentle. It does take about a week to get used to, but I don’t even notice it now.

After a week of adjusting to it, my wife and I have both noticed significant improvements in my snoring. There are nights when I snore like a rusty chainsaw cutting through cinderblocks. While the Smart Nora hasn’t completely eliminated my snoring (I have some pretty bad allergy issues), it’s certainly much better. My wife isn’t getting woken up in the middle of the night by my commotion like she used to, and if I do snore she says it’s significantly less disruptive than it was before. Four weeks in and I feel like I am getting better rest as well.

The Smart Nora is clinically tested to be effective. I had an opportunity to chat with one of the researchers at Sleepscore Labs that ran the clinical trials on the Smart Nora. 29 couples were monitored in their homes for two weeks without the Smart Nora, and then two weeks with the device. Electronic monitoring demonstrated measurable improvements in sleep quality for both partners, and daily surveys indicated that 78% of the participants (both the snorer and partner) believed that their sleep was improved after using the Smart Nora. I’d say that pretty much aligned with my personal experience.

It’s important to note that there are lots of causes for snoring, and the Smart Nora isn’t a guaranteed fix. It won’t work for you if have sleep apnea, for example. I’d suggest you check out the Smart Nora web site and have a chat with your doctor to see if it might work for you.

What I like

  • Non-invasive snoring solution that’s easy to adjust to.
  • Simple setup and operation.
  • Excellent usability.
  • Subtle looks don’t stand out like a medical device in your bedroom

What needs to be improved

  • May not work for all snoring conditions.

Final thoughts

There can be lots of underlying causes for snoring, and the Smart Nora presents a unique solution that’s backed by clinical studies. I can’t say that it will work for everyone, but I can tell you that it’s worked for me and (more importantly) my wife. We’re both sleeping better on a nightly basis and I haven’t been banished to the spare room for month. Everyone wins. The excellent usability also makes for a solution that’s easy to use daily. I’ll keep you posted as I continue to use it.

Price: $329.00
Where to buy: Buy it at the Smart Nora web site.
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Smart Nora.

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Smart Nora Snoring Solution review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 30, 2019 at 9:00 am.

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Hupnos Self Learning Snoring Mask: Better cohabitation through technology

NEWS – Topping the list of things my wife would tell me to order immediately, the Hupnos sleep mask is a new entrant into a market full of nose strips, tilting beds and other devices designed to bring harmony to snorers and those who share a bed with them. What makes the Hupnos mask different than other technologies is that it’s a smart system that analyzes your snoring patterns and uses multiple approaches to get you to quiet down.


The Hupnos looks like a cross between a set of VR goggles and a diving mask. It covers your entire eyes and most of your nose. It has an elastic band that wraps around your head along a silicone nose piece that’s form fitted, removable for washing and, according to the company, guaranteed to fit your face. The mask communicates with an app through Bluetooth and has a battery life of more than twenty hours. It currently works with both IOS and Android.

To work its anti-snoring magic, the Hupnos relies on a two-stage process that utilizes accelerometers, positional sensors, and vibration motors, along with an app to learn your snoring habits. The app will record your snoring throughout the night, allowing you to figure out what seems to exacerbate or minimize your snoring.

In the first stage, the Hupnos employs a gentle vibration when the mask detects that you’re snoring. Often simply changing positions is enough to interrupt your snoring pattern. If that doesn’t work, the second phase is activated where the mask increases the exhalation pressure of the user’s breath through the nosepiece. Called EPAP, or expiratory positive airway pressure, this technique uses exhaling breath to keep the throat from narrowing, and, hopefully, stopping you from snoring. Although EPAP is not a new technology, the Hupnos mask allows the user to adjust the pressure to suit their comfort level.

The Hupnos was fully funded on Indegogo in December and has started shipping to backers. You can order directly from the site with delivery expected by April of this year. The current price is $125 and includes the mask, a micro USD cable, quick start guide, and a link to download the app.

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Hupnos Self Learning Snoring Mask: Better cohabitation through technology originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 9, 2019 at 12:39 pm.

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