2024 Smart Sleep Awards: Sheets, Pillows, Apps, and Earplugs for the Best Night's Sleep

Here are the products our editors can't sleep without.

Welcome to REAL SIMPLE’s Smart Sleep Awards! As the magazine’s features editor, I spent months working on them. And I roped my coworkers into helping me. We (ahem) tirelessly tested products to find the ones that deserve our (cough) nods of approval. We snuggled down in all kinds of bedding, blocked out sound and light, tracked our tosses and turns, and tuned in to many, many, many meditations. Now we feel rested and really good—about recommending these winners to you.

Oura

Even the most stylish sleep trackers still look a bit utilitarian. Oura, however, is pretty! In fact, I received compliments from people who thought it was just a cool ring. Like other trackers, it has a sensor to measure blood oxygen, heart rate, body temp, and more. You’ll use the paired app (iOS and Android) to access data, such as how long you were in bed, how much of that time was spent sleeping, and how many minutes each stage of the sleep cycle lasted. Though it’s not a full-on fitness tracker, Oura can count steps and record your exertion during basic workouts too.

To buy: From $299 for ring, plus $6 a month for app subscription; ouraring.com.

Garmin Venu 3S

Typically, if you want to use a certain smartwatch, like the Google Pixel or Apple Watch, it needs to be compatible with your phone; meaning, you have to be fully committed to Team Android or Team iOS. But the Garmin Venu 3S and its free accompanying app work with either operating system. It has all the basic functions (text alerts, exercise tracking, etc.) in addition to the Sleep Coach feature, which tells you how many hours you need based on last night’s z’s and today’s activity, naps, and biometrics. “And it helps me relax before bed with guided breathing exercises,” Creative Director Phoebe Flynn Rich says.

To buy: $450; garmin.com.

WHOOP

“Whoop is just a tracker, and I love that,” Executive Editor Lisa Freedman says. Unlike with smartwatches, you’ll never get notifications on your wrist. The device is simply a fabric band with a sensor that sends data to an app (iOS and Android), where you’ll find nuggets like how long you slept and whether those hours were restful. While Whoop is geared toward fitness enthusiasts (it encourages you to “strain” yourself and recommends bed and wake times to help power your workouts), our less active staffers still found it useful, as it inspired them to walk a little extra each day.

To buy: $239 for annual app subscription (includes tracker); whoop.com.

Calm

Calm (iOS and Android) is a one-stop source for activities that lull you to sleep. Follow deep-breathing exercises, try a few relaxation sessions led by Jay Shetty, or listen to bedtime stories from celebs. (Who wouldn’t want to drift off to the voice of Idris Elba or Jennifer Garner?) You can track your sleep right in the app and report on your activities leading up to bedtime. “Filling out the mini questionnaire each morning helped me see which habits are and aren’t working for me,” Lisa says.

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

Soundcore Sleep A10

They’re earplugs, a sound machine, a sleep tracker, and totally amazing! Pair them with the free app (iOS and Android), pick your audio—like white noise, rain, or instrumental music—and record your sleep info. “I keep having to feel for my snoring husband to make sure he’s still in bed!” says one tester who asked to remain anonymous so as not to upset said snorer.

To buy: $130; us.soundcore.com.

Loop Quiet

“Surprisingly, these cut out just as much sound as my expensive noise-canceling headphones,” Senior Home Editor Leslie Corona says. That’s high praise for a basic pair of silicone earplugs with no bells and whistles. (Our other testers had similar notes!) Soft and bendy, the Quiet model comes with four tip sizes so you can pick the one that fits most comfortably in your ears.

To buy: $25; us.loopearplugs.com.

Portal

The beauty of Portal lies in its simplicity. Just open the app (iOS only) and choose whether you’re trying to gain better focus, get ready for bed, or just escape your thoughts for a bit. Select “Sleep,” for example, and you can be transported to a Brazilian rainforest via the sound of a faint thunderstorm and a soothing video of leaves moving gently in the rain. “For a minute, I forgot I was in noisy New York City,” Senior Editor Keydra Manns says. Testers also liked that the app can be used with smart bulbs, like Nanoleaf, to help set the mood.

To buy: Free for basic version, $50 for annual premium subscription; portal.app.

Thuma Linen Sheet Set

It’s true: Bad linen sheets can be scratchy as all get out. These are good linen sheets. Great, even! All our testers said the sheets felt soft and worn (in the best way) right out of the package. And they became even softer after laundering. “They’re incredibly high-quality, which I can attest to after years of linen sheet tryouts,” Senior Home Editor Hannah Baker says. These are an ideal year-round option, especially if you run hot and need something airy against your skin. Choose from three neutral shades.

To buy: From $235; thuma.co.

Slumbercloud Performance Sheet Set

Luxurious resorts always have the most divine bedding. You can feel just as pampered at home with these viscose-lyocell sheets our team couldn’t stop talking about. From Contributing Senior Research Editor Maya Kukes: “I love them so much that one night I changed my sheets to put these back on—even though it was 11 p.m. That’s how badly I wanted to sleep on them!”

To buy: From $204; slumbercloud.com.

Manta Sleep Mask

For uninterrupted sleep, experts recommend blocking out as much light as possible. Which brings us to this blackout mask. Editor in Chief Lauren Iannotti, who is a light sleeper and tends to wake up with the sun, swears that this comfy adjustable mask feels totally weightless against her eyes. “It completely does as promised,” she says. “I’ve been sleeping great—even after too much red wine!”

To buy: $35; mantasleep.com.

Puredown Ultra Lightweight Down Blanket

Cozying up with a comforter is a luxury everyone should have—even if they run warm. This versatile blanket makes that possible. Our testers were wowed, noting that it’s lightweight enough to prevent overheating but warm enough to be used during the winter. “I plan to keep this on my bed all year long,” Editorial Production Director Filomena Guzzardi says.

To buy: From $130; puredown.com.

Purple Harmony

“This is the holy grail of pillows,” Managing Editor Tara Cox says. What makes it so divine? The ideal cushion-to-support ratio. If you pick a pillow that’s too soft, you might wake up with a crick in your neck. Select something too firm and it can be like resting on a log. This pillow hits the sweet spot. “It isn’t too hard, it has a nice squish factor, and it’s still supportive,” Tara explains. Bonus: It’s designed to keep you cool throughout the night. A ventilated latex core is surrounded by the company’s proprietary honeycomb GelFlex grid to allow airflow, and the cover is made of moisture-wicking, breathable material. Choose from low, medium, and tall heights, each meant for a specific sleeping position.

To buy: From $199; purple.com.

Sensate

There’s been a lot of talk in the mental health community about the vagus nerve. If you’re unfamiliar, it’s a part of the nervous system connecting the mind and gut, and emerging research suggests that stimulating it can help you feel calmer. Enter: this pebble-shaped device that sits on your chest and vibrates. Using the paired app (iOS and Android), you can adjust the pressure of vibrations and play soft background music. (The basic app is free; for $50 a year, you can upgrade to Sensate Plus for more tracks.) I usually fidget during meditation, so I was surprised that my eyes got heavy within minutes.

To buy: $299; getsensate.com.

Sleep Number True Temp Blanket

“I liked the lightness, the crispy comforter feeling, and the fact that it was big enough to drape over the sides of my king-size bed,” Features Director Amy Maclin says of this winning substitute for feather-filled comforters. Some people used another layer with it on frigid nights—and happily reported zero sweating and no shivering. We also love Sleep Number’s return policy: If you aren’t satisfied with their bedding after 100 nights, you can return or exchange. No sweat!

To buy: From $160; sleepnumber.com.

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