Napping without a sleep mask feels like having a big, bright light on overhead: it ruins the atmosphere and makes it impossible to relax.
Even if your bedroom is relatively dark, there's always some light sneaking in, whether it's from the glow of a clock, a streetlight, or your partner's phone, and it can completely disrupt your rest. But if you cover your eyes with a sleep mask, it blocks all the excess light and really helps you fall asleep and stay asleep. This is one of the reasons why Nodpod keeps popping up on TikTok, with its comments going viral.
Due to its unique design, this sleep mask is said to block light optimally. It's also heavy, so it has a cozy, weighted blanket effect on your face.
Creator @aprettycoolhoteltour was one of the first to rave about the Nodpod, saying it was like a "gentle shush " on her face. She went on to say that she is so addicted to using it that she now takes it with her on every trip.
Commenters on her videos also seem to like Nodpod. One person wrote, "These have changed my life," while another said, "I've had it for three nights and I love it. When I woke up I was shocked by the light in the real world ”
As a certified light sleeper, I knew I had to try it. Please continue reading below for my honest review.
Nodpod Sleeping Mask Nodpod
quick overview
- Price: $34.00
- Best for: Blocking light, deep sleep, relaxation
- My rating: 3.5/5
- Dimensions: 29” x 4”
- Weight: 9 ounces
- Material: 100% cotton on one side, 100% recycled polyester microfleece on the other, filled with 100% BPA-free beads
- We like: soft fabric, cute colors, cozy finish, blocks light
- What we don’t like: Not suitable for budget, can be hard on the eyes
What is Nodpod?
Nodpod is a sleep mask and weighted eye mask available at nodpod.com and Amazon. (FWIW, it has an average rating of 4.5 stars and nearly 5,000 reviews.)
Instead of straps, it has four beanbag-like chambers or pods and two long, flat sides. The entire mask covers your eyes nicely, while the scalloped edges of the mask block any light that might sneak in around your nose.
Filled with tiny beads that conform to the contours of your face, they also apply pressure to the area around your eyes to help you feel calm and relaxed. The Nodpod works well as a sleep mask in the evening and mid-day when you want to take a nap. Stress can also be soothing when you have a headache.
There are no beads on the end of the Nodpod, so there's no lumpiness under your head. There's also a little slit on one end so you can attach the Nodpod to your head, which is useful if you toss and turn or like to change sleeping positions.
As a bonus, you can place the Nodpod in the refrigerator for a cooling effect. The sleep mask comes with two sides, sweatshirt and microfiber, so you can choose a smooth or comfortable sleep mask depending on your mood. And it's machine washable, so you don't have to worry about whether your nighttime skincare products will leave traces behind.
my experience
My go-to sleep mask is another popular one on Amazon that has contoured, eye-shaped cups and a headband to hold it in place. This is one of my favorite bedtime essentials, but it's weightless and it does allow some light to sneak in around my nose.
I thought it would be interesting to test the Nodpod to see if it would be a better fit, and I'm curious about the weighted blanket effect. Will it help me sleep better? Will it take away my bedtime worries? (Nodpod says wearing a weighted mask for three minutes is usually enough to help you feel relaxed.)
After completing my usual bedtime routine, I lay on my back and placed the mask on my face. I've slept on my stomach my whole life, but I've been trying to change. Sleeping on your back is better for your health, and it turns out to be the easiest position to use the Nodpod in, as it helps it stay in place.
I flattened the beads to fill the light gap next to my nose and bathed in absolute darkness. It literally removes the last bit of light from my bedroom and that alone makes me feel at ease. The weight also encourages me to lie still and remain calm, which I can't complain about.
The weight of the mask also seemed to slow everything down, sort of like a soothing sensory deprivation chamber. Sleeping, though, is another story. The first night I woke up to find the Nodpod on the other side of the bed, so the next night I tried strapping it on.
The loops on the mask do help keep it in place, but the smooth material requires some adjustment and repositioning to get it just right. Once I figured that out, the mask stayed in place while I dozed off.
I also tried some sleeping on my side. As Nodpod recommends, you should place the bottom two bean bag pods over your eyes and the other two on top of your head. Once on, the mask really blocks out the light and feels super comfortable.
judgment
Nodpod has a lot going for it, so I can see why it always creates a buzz on social media. It's soft, heavy, blocks light, and can keep it cold, which is ideal if you're prone to headaches. The cute colors are also a highlight. (I bought it in sage green.)
As a stomach sleeper, I thought I might like a mask with tighter straps—one that could withstand all my tossing, turning, and turning. The Nodpod straps were a little finicky, but I eventually got around to them.
This mask is great for people who naturally sleep on their backs and sides, so they don't have to worry too much about how to fit it. That said, I'll definitely continue to use it, although I think it's probably best suited for mid-afternoon naps when I just want a 20-minute nap while blocking out bright daylight, and for the occasional night when I'm stressed and want that comforting weighting Effect. After all, it is so comfortable.
Research reference:
Ellen, K. (2020). Weighted blanket use: a systematic review. Am J Occupy Ther. doi:10.5014/ajot.2020.037358.
Greco, V. (2023). Wearing an eye mask during nighttime sleep can improve situational learning and alertness. sleep. doi:10.1093/sleep/zsac305.
Tuitu, Y. (2017). Associations between nighttime light, melatonin secretion, sleep deprivation, and the circadian clock: mechanisms of health effects and circadian disruption. life sciences. doi:10.1016/j.lfs.2017.02.008.
