Best bose sleepbuds sound. Bose Sleepbuds II review: Keeping eyes closed every night

Bose Sleepbuds II review: Keeping eyes closed every night

The Bose Sleepbuds II are more than capable of doing what they’re supposed to do, which is to help you fall asleep and stay asleep. It’s just such a subjective thing that it’s hard to know how broadly successful they might be for everyone.

Pros

• Comfortable fit
• Lightweight design
• Good content options
• Good app support
• Decent battery life

Cons

• – No sleep tracking
• – No active noise cancellation
• – Can’t listen to other audio sources
• – Expensive

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Quality sleep is elusive for more people than you might think. Ask those in your social circles and you’re bound to have at least one admit they don’t sleep well every night. The reasons may vary, much like the solutions have, but if you’re looking to avoid popping pills in favor of something more natural, Bose thinks it’s got the medicine.

The Sleepbuds II are wireless earbuds with a distinct niche: you won’t be wearing them for any other reason but to fall asleep and stay that way.

Bose Sleepbuds II: Price and availability

Bose launched the Sleepbuds II in September 2020, holding steady at their 249 price. They’ve been readily available throughout, so shouldn’t be hard to find, but as with all things Bose, price drops don’t come often. You can shop these at Bose’s official website or at other retailers such as Amazon, Best Buy, and Gamestop.

Bose Sleepbuds II: What’s good

It might seem odd to some to even consider the Sleepbuds II because of what they cost. Why even think of plunking down all that money for earbuds that can only play content from one app, Bose Sleep?

When you invest, you try to put money into an appreciating asset, only in this case, the asset isn’t so much the Sleepbuds themselves, it’s the consistent rest and serenity they can deliver overnight. That’s how I personally looked at them, because a good night’s sleep pays real dividends in all aspects of life.

The case is big, but the earbuds are small. Small enough, in fact, that they should fit really comfortably in a wide range of ears, regardless of size or gender. Their feathery weight also feels natural when wearing them, and since they nestle in so well, it won’t matter if you’re a side sleeper. Bose even saw to it to try using materials that cause less friction, meaning you won’t be hearing a crunching sound when laying your head on the pillow or switching your position. I never really felt encumbered wearing them for multiple nights while testing them out.

The Sleepbuds are easy enough to pair via Bluetooth, where the Bose Sleep app can take over and run through some of the basics. Not that there’s a lot to figure out. The gist is that the earbuds use Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) to maintain the connection throughout the night.

Bose offers a sound library made up of various melodies and nature sounds laid out in three distinct categories. Noise Masking prioritizes muffling background sounds, like a partner snoring or loud street noise. Naturescapes are all about the sounds of nature, like a rainforest or rainfall as a way to lull you to sleep. Tranquilities are melodies you can listen to before you try falling asleep to wind you down.

These sounds need to transfer over to the earbuds, so you’re not technically streaming them, which is good for a couple of reasons. First, it spares the phone from using more battery life, and second, it ensures the audio keeps playing when it needs to. After all, the Sleepbuds II are also supposed to help you wake up on time.

Whatever you pick, the sounds themselves are great, though you can’t just offload all of them to the buds. You max out around 10 or so, where the app will tell you to remove one to make room for another. For me, Naturescapes worked best, as I like rainforest or beach sounds myself, whereas your taste may differ. Not that the selection is super extensive across the three categories, but if you come across a handful you really like, you will probably stick with them.

It’s best to check them out before you actually go to bed so you can transfer what you want ahead of time. Bluetooth LE is slow to transfer data, and it can take over 10 minutes just for one sound to move over.

To be fair, I don’t generally have issues falling asleep, but I also don’t mind using something that can help me relax as I do it, especially when going to bed with a lot on my mind. Can it work for you? Yes, I would think so, and I say that because the execution works. The fit is nice and snug, and while the Sleepbuds II won’t completely block all background sounds, they can muffle them enough to allow the sounds to soothe you.

By default, they will play your selected sound throughout the night, unless you use the app’s settings to set a timer to shut them off at some point. The earbuds can then pipe up again to help wake you up.

Battery life holds up reasonably well, and will get through a full night with ease. You do have to make sure you charge them during the day to be ready for your next slumber though. I forgot to one day, and they died mid-sleep, which also nullified the alarm I set.

Bose Sleepbuds II: What’s not good

One way to mitigate battery loss is to use Phone Free mode, which severs the connection and allows the earbuds to play the content on their own. The downside is you lose the ability to set an alarm because that only works through the app.

And if you were thinking of playing any other audio content on these buds, you’ll be met with silence. You can’t listen to music, podcasts, or even take a phone call while wearing them, nor could you use them to mix other content you like with the Sleepbuds II. For instance, if you want to try something different on another app, you would have to wear other earbuds to listen.

That puts their singular FOCUS into perspective, making it clear that they have one job to do, and there’s not a whole lot of flexibility outside of that. Hence, you’re investing in better sleep quality by way of the Sleepbuds II, not earbuds that happen to have a sleep element to them.

Sleep earbuds are unique, and you will find that the best wireless earbuds don’t necessarily address sleep in any major way. If you wanted sleep tracking to go with getting knocked out by soothing sounds, the Kokoon Nightbuds do both things, except they aren’t truly wireless like the Sleepbuds II are.

If you do want other options, the Moonbow Bedphones and SoundOff Noise Masking Earbuds are out there and available directly from their respective sites as well.

The Bedphones are on-ear headphones that aren’t wireless but they promise a comforting fit and hands-free controls. You can play other audio besides sleep sounds, unline the Sleepbuds II.

The SoundOff Earbuds are cheaper than the Sleepbuds II and boast a lightweight and comfortable fit, eight volume settings, active noise masking, and soothing pink noise. They’re wireless, however, they don’t work with Bluetooth. These earbuds only play pink noise, with no other audio options.

Bose Sleepbuds II: Should you buy them?

You should buy this if.

• You have trouble sleeping
• You want something comfortable in bed
• You can sleep in any position
• You have background noise to deal with

You shouldn’t buy this if.

• You want active noise cancelation
• You want more varied content
• You want sleep tracking
• You want something for music too

The Bose Sleepbuds II aren’t miracle workers, though I imagine they might feel that way if you end up sleeping much better because of them. They also aren’t medicinal, meaning they won’t cure disorders like sleep apnea or restless leg syndrome. Bose can’t claim that they’re an answer to chronic insomnia, either.

For everyone else, they can be hard to predict because of how inherently personal one’s sleep is. I imagine it will be a mixed bag where some will feel they helped tremendously, while others will find they didn’t do enough. For me, they felt like a natural way to fall asleep. Hopefully, they do for you, too.

BOSE Sleepbuds II review – comfortable, blissful sleep

A colleague at work was telling me that he wears earbuds at night to get to sleep. At first this sounded to me like a strange thing to do (he’s an odd guy anyway), until he mentioned that he wears special earbuds designed specifically to block out unwanted noise and help soothe you to a restful sleep. Not being one who wants to miss out on a great night’s sleep, I went straight ahead and ordered a pair of Bose Sleepbuds II. I’m happy to share my review here.

Appearance

They look exactly like earbuds. They come in a nice little storage case (which is actually the charging station), along with 3 different eartip sizes.

How does it work?

Just to clarify from the outset that the Bose Sleepbuds are not like the earbuds you attach to your smartphone for listening to music. You can’t hook them up to your smartphone for listening to your dance playlist when you’re exercising on the treadmill. The Bose Sleepbuds II are designed exclusively for wearing in bed and to block out ambient sound, and will only play Bose’s specially-designed sleep soundscapes from the app.

From a physical perspective, the tips are made from silicon to ensure comfort and to fit snug in the ear. The tips are shaped in such a way that they entirely seal off the ear canal, helping to block out any outside noise. The outside part of the buds are covered with a special frictionless coating, which ensures the buds don’t squeak or make uncomfortable vibrations when you move your ear on your pillow during sleep.

Inside the Sleepbuds themselves, a tiny battery powers the device, and a “high-efficiency driver” powers the audio itself. They’re wireless earbuds, so you charge them in the storage case/charge unit

After fully charging the Sleepbuds, you simply install the dedicated app on your smartphone (the app is included for free with the device), setup the wireless connection and you’re ready to go. The app has three main options to choose from:

Noise Making – special sleep sounds designed specifically for the Sleepbuds’ noise-cancelling technology. It’s used for when you want to cover up any nasty background sounds that keep you up at night, such as traffic, snoring partners, or noisy neighbours.

Tranquilities – as the name implies, these are tranquil, meditative soundscapes designed to help calm and soothe your mind into a deep and restful sleep.

Naturescapes – some people find the sound of nature comforting; this is the option to choose for those who like to drift off to this type of ambience.

Conclusion

First, the comfort – wearing Bose Sleepbuds is not like wearing your typical audio earbuds. Sleepbuds are designed in such a way that, several moments after inserting them, you can’t actually feel them. Comfort was a concern before I tried them out – I was very, very surprised at how naturally the Sleepbuds rest in the ear.

But the real test of course is the noise cancelling and sleepscape audio. And the Sleepbuds 100% deliver, without disappointment. A disclaimer, however: I am lucky enough to live in the countryside, in a small and quiet neighborhood, so outside noise is not actually an issue for me when I go to sleep. But I do struggle to switch off my brain due to my high pressure job.

And so, settling down at night, inserting my Bose Sleepbuds and selecting the Tranquilities option, I am transported to the most soothing, meditative background sleepscape, the perfect stage for sleep. The noise-cancelling design of the buds grants an added dimension – less like listening to audio, and more like being transported into it. At times the sleepscapes can make you feel lost, almost like being swept away into a dream. I’ve never experienced an out-of-body experience, but the trance-like sleep these Sleepbuds induce in me I feel are a close second.

Beautiful, blissful, fun sleep is what I have been enjoying with my Bose Sleepbuds.

However, as with all good things, in my experience too much good can sometimes give rise to bad experiences. On one particular night, whilst drifting off to some blissful Tranquilities, I found myself suddenly aware that I was unable to hear my surroundings, at all. Some might find this an odd thing to say, given that the Sleepbuds are designed exactly to block out all ambient noise (and an exceptional job they do of that). But this was a very profound fear that took me by surprise. That night I took the Sleepbuds off, listening carefully on the off chance there might be an intruder. It feels silly writing that, as my home is quite secure. In any case, I haven’t had a similar experience since, although it must be said that it’s the only time I’ve ever had such an experience in my home, even though I live alone. I guess it’s a testament to how effective the Sleepbuds are at blocking out all noise and disconnecting the outside world entirely. Perhaps something to consider if you’re single or otherwise live alone, like me.

This got me thinking about using the Sleepbuds at work. I work in a high-octane, bustling office environment and people are rushing around, talking loudly, sometimes obnoxiously. Putting in the Sleepbuds and turning on the Noise Making setting whilst at work has done wonders to my productivity. My favourite go-to is Warm Static – like a welcoming hug of noise-cancelling bliss that soothes away the noise of frantic colleagues.

I’ve tried out a number of effective sleep devices over the past few years, but the Bose Sleepbuds II are definitely a game changer. I use them for bedtimes maybe twice a week now rather than nightly, and have them on standby in the office everyday. Those struggling with a snoring partner, noisy neighbours or heavy traffic outside their window will find the Sleepbuds II a godsend. Bose have done themselves proud.

Can’t Dose Off In Total Silence? These Are the Best Earbuds for Sleep

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If you’re having trouble sleeping due to anxiety, you may find that sleeping with music on may ease your stress and make it easier to get some rest.

In an article for Psychology Today Michael J Breus, a clinical psychologist known as “The Sleep Doctor” says listening to music in bed can slow our breathing, lower our heart rate, ease muscle tension, and reduce sleep-stifling hormones like cortisol.

You can listen to music on a speaker, but that may not be a good option if you’re sharing a bedroom with someone else. If that’s the case, we recommend wearing a pair of earbuds, which are the least obtrusive style of headphone.

I’ve personally slept with earbuds for several years, listening to podcasts at the lowest possible volume setting, and haven’t experienced any discomfort. If you’re looking for a non-chemical sleep aid, listening to music, podcasts, or ambient sounds may be the right solution.

What Are the Best Earbuds For Sleep?

There are many factors to consider when choosing the sleep earbuds for you; below are the most important ones, which we considered while we were researching this list.

Style: We’ve chosen to recommend totally wireless earbuds in this guide because they’re the smallest, lightest headphones possible. You won’t have to worry about a cable getting in the way, either.

Fit: If you’re wearing earbuds to help you relax in bed, you shouldn’t have to push them into your ear every few minutes. The earbuds in our guide were designed to fit snugly in your ear, and come with multiple sized ear tips.

Battery Life: All of the earbuds in our guide last between five and 10 hours. They may lose their charge in the middle of the night, but you will be able to use them to help fall asleep.

Audio Quality: You’re probably going to use the same earbuds in bed and out in the world, so we made sure to pick some general purpose true wireless earbuds that we’ve tested while sleeping.

Bose Sleepbuds II

Bose’s Sleepbuds II are the best earbuds we’ve found that were designed exclusively for helping you get to bed.

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Instead of letting you pick your own music, the Sleepbuds II allow you to cycle through a collection of 50 “noise-masking sounds” that Bose has selected. You can select the noise you want by using the Bose Sleep app (iOS and Android). The company says these sounds are user-tested and clinically proven to help you sleep.

Bose created custom eartips for the Sleepbuds II to ensure the proper fit. Three sizes of eartips are included in the box, so you shouldn’t have any issues finding a set that fits your ears.The company says these earbuds should last 10 hours on a single charge, which is a lot longer than most totally wireless earbuds.

If you don’t mind being limited to Bose’s library of sleeping sounds, the Sleepbuds II are a solid pick.

Airpods Pro (2nd Gen)

My go-to pair of earbuds for sleeping is Apple’s Airpods Pro (2nd Gen), which are my favorite pair of totally wireless earbuds overall.

The earbuds have a curved shape that creates a tight seal around my eardrum, so they don’t fall out. Apple includes four sizes of eartips in the box, and has a fit test (iOS only) to ensure you’re using the correct set. If you’re having an issue with fit, many third-party companies have developed eartips that fit the Airpods Pro.

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The reason I prefer using Airpods Pro over similar earbuds is that they’re a lot quieter when my phone is at its lowest volume setting, which makes it easier sleep. Although they only get six hours of battery life, you won’t have to worry about that if you’re wearing them to sleep.

We’ve continued to recommend the second generations of the Airpods Pro since their release because of their audio quality, which is impressive for earbuds in their class. The earbuds’ active noise cancellation is also much improved, blocking annoying sounds like cars driving by. If you live in a city, this feature alone makes the Airpods Pro worth considering for sleeping. The gummy eartips are also super comfortable and do a good job of blocking out noise even if your music’s turned off.

If you’d like a great pair of general true wireless earbuds whose features, and whose features make it easier to get to sleep, we recommend the Airpods Pro.

Cambridge Audio Melomania 1

Cambridge Audio’s Melomania 1 are a new pair of totally wireless earbuds that I’ve found very effective at helping me sleep.

The earbuds have a compact, straight design, so there are no stems hanging down the sides of my ears. This means there’s a lower chance of the earbuds getting dislodged if I move my head around on a pillow.

Cambridge Audio includes several sets of ear tips with the Melomania 1 in a variety of sizes. They’re even available in two styles: silicon tips, which are the industry standard, and memory foam tips, which can mold themselves perfectly to fit in your ear canal. I’ve found the silicon tips to be very comfortable, and effective at keeping the buds in my ears.

While fit is very important for sleep earbuds, the Melomania 1s also sound great. Bass response is especially tight because of the strong seal they create. If you don’t like the way they sound out of the box, you can tune them to your liking using the Melomania app (iOS and Android), and save your EQ as a preset. Cambridge Audio says you can expect to get around nine hours per charge, so they could last the entire night.

If you’ve had trouble keeping earbuds in your ears in the past, and want headphones for sleeping, Cambridge Audio’s Melomania 1 is a great pair to get.

Anker Soundcore Sleep A10 Earbuds

Anker really cracked the code with how to make sleep earbuds actually soft and comfortable for hours-long wear, even for side sleepers like me.

They’re practically unnoticeable to wear, and some of the slimmest and most compact buds I’ve tried out for sleep, at a feather-light 2.08 ounces. While there’s no active noise cancellation, the flexible ear wings and Twin Seal ear tips created a tight fight that helped block out more passive sound, like traffic passing by outside. Custom dynamic drivers also enhanced lower frequency sounds, so I could enjoy the white noise without having to pump up the volume.

But you can choose from a variety of soothing sleep sounds on the Soundcore app to cover up louder noises and lull you to sleep at the same time (a Smart volume sensor also helps with this). What I liked: the earbuds can automatically detect when you’ve fallen asleep, switching over from Music mode to Sleep mode and stopping any playing audio. I didn’t feel like I missed out on more noise cancellation, and it adds up to a more impressive battery life.

You’ll get up to six hours of playback in Music mode, 10 hours in Sleep mode, or 8 hours when you combine both modes (the charging case adds up to a total of 40 hours). Overall, if comfort is king for you, then look no further than Soundcore’s Sleep A10 Earbuds for your nighttime routine.

MUSICOZY Sleep Headphones Bluetooth Headband

We wanted to include one non-earbud pick in case you don’t like that style of headphone.

MUSICOZY’s Sleep Headphones look like a felt eye mask, but they have a pair of think bluetooth speakers inside. They may look a little different, but you can pair your device to them just like any normal pair of wireless headphones.

Once you align the speakers with your ears, you won’t have to worry about fit, which is a great feature if you’ve struggled with earbuds in the past. Winonly says the headband is made out of a breathable material that’s super soft and light. The company says its headband headphones last up to 10 hours on a single charge, which means they should last the entire night.

Travel Tuesday: Bose Sleepbuds 2 Review — A Travel Essential?

Is there anything better than a good night’s sleep? Alas, so few of us are regularly able to achieve such luxury for one reason or another. Whether you’re traveling or are at home, errant noises in the night may be among the things keeping you awake or interrupting your slumber. That’s something that the Bose Sleepbuds 2 aim to take care of.

It’s now been a few months since I decided to pick up a pair of Bose Sleepbuds for myself. Since then, they’ve become a staple of my travels while also earning a permanent place on my nightstand. So what are Sleepbuds and what do I love about them? Let’s take a look at what you need to know and some of my personal thoughts.

About Bose Sleepbuds 2 (and the price)

A few years ago, Bose introduced the original Sleepbuds — tiny earbuds that played various white noises and could comfortably stay in while you slept. While this first-generation product gained fans, there were apparently some battery issues that led Bose to recall them. Enter the Bose Sleepbuds 2: an improved model that keeps many of the original’s main features but fixes the issues.

Before we get to talk more about the Bose Sleepbuds themselves, it’s imperative to note the price. Currently, the Sleepbuds 2 go for 249 on the Bose site or at various retailers. However, Bose does have some refurbished models on their site for 179. Plus, there is a “90-night, risk-free trial” offer.

What they aren’t

Another important thing to mention in regards to the Sleepbuds 2 is that they are extremely limited in their functionality. In fact, be aware that these do not play any music or podcasts. Instead, the Sleepbuds can only play a selection of noises found in the Bose Sleep app and nothing more. You can think of this as a white noise machine but in earbuds form — which can be great, as long as you know what to expect.

The Sleepbuds are also not active noise canceling (ANC). This means that, when used on a plane (for example), they’re unlikely to truly block the engine noise the way a pair of Airpod Pros or other ANC buds would. Bose describes the Sleepbuds as “sleep-masking,” instead, but be aware that they might not block out everything.

Sleepbuds design

Each Sleepbud is incredibly small. In fact, if you remove the tip, you’ll see that the device itself is about the size of a dime (albeit thicker and with an offshoot). This allows them to sit flush in your ear so that they are comfortable even when pressed against your pillow.

Since comfort is so key in this case, the Sleepbuds come with three different tip sizes. This allows you to find the one that fits best and provides the best seal. On the other end of the bud, the silicon winged tip helps it stay put in your ear without creating discomfort.

Connecting the Sleepbuds

As I mentioned, the way to use your Sleepbuds is through the Bose Sleep mobile app. And, just as the buds only work with the app, the app is only accessible if you already own the buds. When you download and launch the application, it will ask you to remove the Sleepbuds from their case in order to sync them. When you do this for the first time, you’ll have the option to give your buds a nickname (I’ll share mine later). Then you’ll be able to start selecting sounds.

By the way, since sounds play from onboard memory on the Sleepbuds themselves, you can actually play other noises from your phone at the same time. For example, when we were on a road trip, I was able to have my Sleepbuds in and playing white noise while my wife listened to podcasts using our car’s USB plug.

Adding sounds

In the Bose Sleep app, under Browse, you’ll find a number of different sounds that can then be transferred to your Sleepbuds. These include Noise Masking, Naturescape, and Tranquilities options. Personally, I enjoy the Naturescapes best. Meanwhile, the Tranquilities might be nice for general relaxation but I’m not sure they’d be great for sleeping.

When you find a sound you like, you can select it and tap “Add to Sleepbuds.” In my experience, the transfer only takes a few moments. There is limited storage on your Sleepbuds, but I’ve been able to hold 14 different options on my device at once. On that note, if you want to remove one, go to the My Sound tab, swipe to the sound, tap the ‘i’ icon in the upper right, and then select “Remove Sound.”

Volume warning

While the Sleepbuds are meant to mask annoying noises you want to ignore, the truth is that there are some noises you’ll still need to hear during the night — this could mean smoke alarms, storm sirens, your child crying, etc. Because of this, when you’re selecting your sound to play, you’ll see a line on the volume bar advising you what Bose believes to be the top setting you should use safely. Of course, you can go beyond that if the situation dictates, but be sure to keep this in mind and stay aware of your surroundings.

Playback options and alerts

If you only want to listen to noises as you fall asleep, you can set a timer on your Sleepbuds. Alternatively, you can select “Play all night” to ensure that your sounds of choice continue (as long as the buds have power, that is). On the topic of power, you can also toggle on an option to have the Sleepbuds wake you up if the battery is low. I’m not exactly sure who might want such an option, but it’s there.

Charging case

With the Bose Sleepbuds charging case, you can apparently get up to three charges for your buds. As for the case itself, it’s a well-designed metal puck with a rubberized bottom to keep it put. The lid of the case slides open to access the buds, which charge via magnetic attachments. That latter feature means that nine times out of ten my Sleepbuds will snap into place when I put them in.

Elsewhere on the case, when you open the lid, you’ll see up to five lights, indicating how much charge is left. When the Sleepbuds are placed in, lights on the left and right will pulse to show that the corresponding buds are charging as well. Speaking of charging, the case uses USB-C and comes with a USB-C to USB-A cord.

Finally, another feature of the Sleepbuds is the ability to set an alarm. Keep in mind that this is separate from any alarms you might have on your phone and those won’t play through the Sleepbuds. On that note, to set an alarm, tap the icon in the lower left of the app screen once your Sleepbuds are connected. You can create one-time or recurring alarms, select one of four alarm noises, and set the preferred volume. Of course, like with adding sounds, you’ll want to make sure that your alarm is sent to your Sleepbuds — otherwise, things could get… less than ideal.

Thunder Buddies

Now it’s time to admit why I thought about buying the Sleepbuds in the first place. As I may have mentioned before, I hate being startled awake by thunder — which is unfortunate since I now live in the midwest. Prior to having the Sleepbuds, I’d often end up putting on regular headphones on a stormy night and listening to podcasts to drown out some of the noise. Of course, seeing as those earbuds were a bit bulky, I’d have to lay my head on my pillow just right to avoid them being jammed into my ear. And then there was the matter of the cord to deal with as well!

That’s why I had often dreamed of a product akin to the Sleepbuds and was excited to see that they actually existed. Thus, when I purchased mine, I nicknamed them my Thunder Buddies. Yet, I’ve actually found myself using them more for travel, for which they’ve definitely been useful.

Having owned (and loved) a pair of Bose wired earbuds for years, I had high hopes for the Sleepbuds seeing as my regular earbuds were already super comfortable. Sure enough, I’ve been really impressed with how the Sleepbuds sit in my ear, avoid rubbing against the pillow, and present no pain even after multiple nights in a row of wear. I’ll admit that I did worry a little bit about that lattermost point, so I’m glad it hasn’t proven to be a problem so far.

Keeping them powered

One annoying element of the Sleepbuds that I’ve found involves the power. The good news is that the buds can remain in use for a full night’s sleep without issue and the case can last several nights without a charge. That said, the issue arises when the case does exhaust its charge. As I’ve found, even if the buds themselves are still at 100% power, you may not be able to connect them to the app unless the case has some juice.

Luckily, if you can plug in the case for a moment and the buds still have a charge, it seems you can then connect your Sleepbuds and be on your merry sleeping way. Still, if you reach for your Sleepbuds in the middle of the night only to discover the case is dead, it’s pretty annoying to then have to fumble for the plug and get enough of a charge to use them. I suppose I could just leave my case plugged in… but my point stands.

On the nights when I decide to use my Sleepbuds, I found that I really like waking up to their alarms. In particular, I appreciate the option to fade in the sound so it’s a nice, gentle wake-up. This option is also great if you need to get up before your partner and don’t want to disturb them. Thus, this is a nice bonus to what’s already a pretty awesome product.

My new travel companion

The first time I used my Bose Sleepbuds 2 on the road was in Las Vegas… and what a lifesaver they were. I suppose I’d gotten used to all of the annoying noises you encounter in hotel rooms — from neighbors next door and above to sirens and car honks below. Thus, it was so nice to drown out all of that and listen to the sounds of the ocean or rain on cobblestone instead. I’ve had similar success on subsequent trips as well, making them one of the first things I now pack when preparing to travel.

Make no mistake that 250 for a pair of earbuds that only play a few select sounds is steep. As a result, it’s hard to recommend the Bose Sleepbuds 2 just on their face value. However, now that I own them and that initial purchase is in the rearview mirror, I can definitely say that I’m glad to have the Sleepbuds. Beyond the stormy night use case I imagined when I decided to look into them, the Sleepbuds have proven to be vital on trips where the hotel walls might be a bit thin or other imperfect conditions could prevent you from getting a good night’s sleep.

Going back to the price, if you’re only using them for travel, they may be even harder to justify. But, if you plan on making them a more regular part of your sleep routine and they are truly helpful to you, then perhaps that 250 cost may be worth it. Either way, I hope Bose continues to explore this concept further and comes up with other great options for the future.

Kyle Burbank

Kyle is a freelance writer and author whose first book, The E-Ticket Life is now available on Amazon. In addition to his weekly Money at 30 column on Dyer News, he is also the editorial director and a writer for the Disney fan site LaughingPlace.com and the founder of Money@30.com.

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