Find Your New Favorite Bedtime Products With Our 2025 Smart Sleep Award Winners!

Sleep is a serious business, which is why we made it our business to very seriously test the latest and greatest sleep gear. We laid our heads on pillows cushy and firm. We buried ourselves under blankets weighted and not. We dozed on sheets soft and silky and crisp. These are our favorite finds.

The Barely There Earplugs That Work: Loop Dream

Photo director Muzam Agha was impressed by these low-tech sound blockers. The Dream earplugs offer more noise reduction than the brand’s other models, and they’re made of a soft silicone that’s shaped to alleviate pressure on your ear while you’re lying down—yes, even if you’re a side sleeper. “These are so comfortable, I totally forget I’m wearing them,” he says.

To buy: $50; us.loopearplugs.com

The Nicest Way to Wind Down and Wake Up: Hatch Restore

Testers put their late-night scrolling to bed for good with this two-in-one sound machine and light. How it works: Browse through a gazillion sleep tunes, meditations, and stories in the extensive Hatch app, select your favorites, and turn the machine to Rest mode. In the morning, the device wakes you up with light instead of beep beep beeps. “My bedroom gets no natural light,” editorial assistant Abby Fribush says. “Waking up to this has been a game changer in helping me feel more alert.”

To buy: $170 for device, plus $5 a month for app; hatch.co

The Tracker That Doesn’t Look Like a Tracker: Oura Ring 4 

The Oura wins again. “This version is even slimmer, lighter, and prettier than the winning version from last year,” executive editor Lisa Freedman says. Download the app to track sleep data (time spent in bed, the hours you actually slept, and how many minutes each stage of the sleep cycle lasted) and other vitals (heart rate, daytime activity level, and more).

To buy: From $349 for ring, plus $6 a month for app; ouraring.com

A Smile-Inducing Tracker: GARMIN LILY 2 ACTIVE 

Talk about a nice way to start your day: Garmin gives you a friendly “Good morning!” along with a sleep score based on the duration and quality of last night’s snooze. You also get a step goal for the day and a rundown of upcoming events from your calendar. “I very much enjoy waking up to this,” senior social media editor Samantha Saunion says. “It’s the motivational boost I need.” Good morning indeed!

To buy: $299; garmin.com

A Down Blanket for Hot Sleepers: Brooklinen Lightweight Down Comforter 

This feather-filled favorite has been keeping our hot-sleeping testers cozy but not soaked in sweat. “I haven’t had to kick it off during the night—not even once!” lifestyle editor Ria Bhagwat says.

To buy: From $199; brooklinen.com 

A Down Alternative for the Perpetually Chilly: Ikea SMÅSPORRE duvet insert 

We gave out a bunch of coverings to coworkers who are always shivering, and this polyester-
and-cotton-blend insert, with filling made from recycled sources, was by far the “hottest” pick. “I look forward to hopping into bed knowing I’ll be nice and cozy with this fluffy duvet,” designer Natalie Guisinger says. Plus, it’s machine washable.

To buy: From $20; ikea.com

The Eye Mask That Fits Like a Glove: Sleep Number True Temp Weighted Eye Mask

Lisa, a self-proclaimed eye mask fanatic, only had great things to say about this one. “The strap is one of the most comfortable I’ve tried,” she says. “Most of all, I love the ample space for my schnoz, which often gets pinched in other masks, making it hard to breathe!”

To buy: $40; sleepnumber.com

The Platonic Ideal of Cotton Sheets: Boll & Branch Signature Vintage Washed Sheet Set

“I used to wonder how people justified spending hundreds of dollars on sheets,” Lisa says. “Now I get it.” Testers were wowed by the silky-soft texture of the organic cotton—even before washing—and the lived-in coloring. “I would honestly eat nothing but cereal for weeks to be able to splurge on these,” Lisa admits.

To buy: From $229; bollandbranch.com

Sheets That Look and Feel Like a Million Bucks: The Citizenry Organic Stonewashed Percale Sheet set

Somehow these precious sheets look like fancy linen (there’s the sweetest eyelet detail along the hem on the top sheet) but feel like cotton. “The weather is all over the place these days, and I never feel too hot or cold in these,” editor-in-chief Lauren Iannotti says. Even testers who prefer a more satiny feel gave these sheets top scores. “They’re crisp but still feel soft,” beauty and fashion editor Hana Hong says.

To buy: From $169; the-citizenry.com

The Universal Pillow: Purple DreamLayer Pillow

We’ve never heard so much praise about a single item. This pillow is the just-right combo of soft and firm, can be used in any sleep position, and comes with removable layers you can stack to your liking. Contributing senior research editor Maya Kukes is perhaps the biggest advocate: “It’s so comfortable, I genuinely miss it when I’m away from home.”

To buy: From $199; purple.com

The Pillow You’ll Melt Into: Beautyrest Black Luxury Foam Pillow

Some memory-foam pillows require a break-in period to loosen up. Not this one, designed for side sleepers. “My head sank nicely into it, right from night one,” food director Jenna Helwig says. “It’s firm enough to be supportive but soft enough that my neck doesn’t hurt in the morning.”

To buy: From $229; beautyrest.com

A Cushion Even Goldilocks Would Like: Saatva Micro-Coil Mattress Topper

“I’m getting the best sleep of my life on this,” Natalie says. “This” being a not-too-soft, not-too-firm mattress topper made for all sleep positions. It has steel micro coils and gel-infused foam that provide flexible support. And at a cushy three inches tall, it miraculously doesn’t swallow your body while you’re snoozing.

To buy: From $325; saatva.com  

A Cushion for Hot Sleepers: Nolah Airfoam Luxe Mattress Topper

This customizable topper comes with your choice of a two- or three-inch foam piece and an outer cover made of either organic cotton or cooling fabric. The cooling cover was a hit with our testers. “As a person who sleeps warmer, it helps me wake up feeling comfortable, temperature-wise,” Muzam says. Ria is all raves for the cushion part. “It’s soft and molds nicely to the shape of my body,” she says.

To buy: From $349; nolahmattress.com

The Humidifier That Gives Spa Vibes: PureGuardian Cool Mist Humidifier 

Tired of dry air? (Thanks for nothing, radiators! Except, of course, keeping us warm.) This compact machine earned high scores for its powerful steam output and user-friendly design. “You can leave the base plugged in and detach the top portion to fill it with water,” creative director Phoebe Flynn Rich says. There’s also a separate compartment for adding scent to your steam with essential oils.

To buy: $40; lasko.com

The High-Tech Humidifier That Practically Runs Itself: Blueair InvisibleMist

 “I never knew I wanted bells and whistles in a humidifier,” managing editor Tara Cox says. The device, which can be controlled manually or via a free app, is cool for many reasons: You can set the fan speed, turn it on and off, put it on a timer, and adjust the humidity level, all from your phone.

To buy: $150; blueair.com  

Earbuds That Let You Customize Your Lullabies: Soundcore Sleep A20

These earbuds block out noise, play soothing sounds, and track your sleep positions and movement through the free app. You can even design your very own sleepy-time soundtrack, which our testers found surprisingly useful. “If you like white noise and want to add the crackling sounds of fire, you can do that,” Muzam says. “Want some light music layered under white noise? Done.”

To buy: $150; us.soundcore.com

The Only Relaxation App You Need: Calm 

You could download separate apps for meditation, sleep sounds, and deep-breathing practices, or you could get Calm, which includes all this and constantly updates its roster of celebrities narrating sleep stories. “Travis Kelce’s mom, Donna, was not a narrator I expected,” senior special projects editor Leah Lopez Cardenas says. “I also did not expect to be coaxed to sleep by Tom Hardy in character as both Eddie Brock and Venom! Both are fantastically soothing.”

To buy: $70 for annual subscription; calm.com

The Weighted Blanket You’ve Been Waiting For: Brooklyn Bedding Chunky Knit Weighted Blanket 

Essentially a 15-pound cocoon of calm, this tight-knit, sweater-like blanket keeps Abby from tossing and turning. “I fall asleep and wake up in the exact same position,” she says. It’s available in a 10-pound version too.

To buy: From $199; brooklynbedding.com 

The Pillow for Planes, Trains, Automobiles and Beyond: Tuft & Needle Anywhere Travel Pillow 

While it’s great propped against a car door or airplane window, our testers found other uses for this tiny pillow. “The small size works well to support your lower back or arms,” says Phoebe, who’s been using it on her couch and desk chair. Made with Tuft & Needle’s proprietary foam, this pillow is supportive and flexible—unlike some of the humans you may be traveling with.

To buy: $95; tuftandneedle.com

A Smartwatch That Can Raise a Red Flag: Apple Watch Series 10 

This Apple watch offers something you won’t find in most trackers: a monitor that catches breathing disturbances. While some changes in respiration are normal when you’re sleeping, it can indicate sleep apnea, a potentially serious disorder. It can’t—and shouldn’t—be used for a diagnosis, but if you notice a consistent issue, talk to your doctor about it. Bonus features: “I love the Mindfulness and Workout apps, and I like that it tracks steps and heartbeat,” Samantha says.

To buy: From $399; apple.com