The Low-Fi Sleep Hack: Why a Piercing Pillow Beats Expensive Sleepbuds
AI-generated image · Bay Street Wire
Forget the $200 specialized gadgets; a simple hardware pivot to a cutout pillow lets you use the earbuds you already own without the discomfort.
Tech companies are constantly pitching high-priced gadgets to solve minor inconveniences, and sleep-tech is a prime example. As reported by The Verge, specialized sleepbuds from brands like Ozlo and Anker are marketed as the ideal solution for side-sleepers who want audio without disturbing their partners. However, these devices often come with a steep price tag—sometimes exceeding $200—and the inevitable expiration date of a battery.
**Opinion:** In my view, spending four times the cost of a pillow on specialized buds is a mistake. When you can achieve the same utility with a simple piece of foam and the hardware already sitting in your pocket, the 'high-tech' solution becomes an unnecessary expense.
According to The Verge, the real solution isn't a new piece of electronics, but a "piercing pillow." Originally designed to relieve pressure on sensitive tissue for people with new ear piercings, these pillows feature cutouts that suspend the ear. This design allows users to wear bulkier, modern earbuds—such as Pixel Buds, Galaxy Buds, or AirPods—comfortably while sleeping on their side.
Writing for The Verge, Thomas Ricker tested the $55 Ear Pillow from Blissbury. He noted that the pillow features two ear cutouts for flexibility in sleeping positions and includes a 1-inch foam insert to adjust the thickness between 4 and 5 inches. Ricker highlighted that the pillow's dimensions (26 inches long by 15 inches wide) make it slightly narrower than a US Standard pillow, though the removable cover allows for easy washing. He compared the Blissbury model to a $59.99 Ikea Klubbsporre pillow, noting the Ikea version was firmer.
While the hardware pivot solves the comfort-to-utility ratio for most, there is one caveat. The Verge reports that if a partner's snoring is the primary issue, specialized gear may still be necessary. Ricker found that the masking algorithms in the Soundcore Sleep A30 from Anker were highly effective at canceling light to moderate snoring, a feat a piece of foam cannot accomplish.
Ultimately, however, Ricker concluded that after using the Blissbury pillow, the high cost of specialized sleepbuds felt unjustified, especially when compared to the performance of the AirPods Pro he already owned.