Wishnik—March 18, 2016
I read a lot of reviews of different sleep masks before taking a chance on this one. I am a light sleeper and also have insomnia. I really wanted something that would block light because any little help I can get... When I took it out of the package, it felt so soft, smooth and lightweight. Wonderful feel in the hands but I wasn't sure if it would be thick enough to block the light. My bedroom windows face east and although I have mini blinds, a pull-down shade and curtains, light still gets through when the sun is coming up. If I happen to open my eyes a little during the sleep cycle and catch a bit of light, I find it very hard to go back to sleep no matter how tired I am. Then I'm cranky the rest of the day. That hasn't happened since using this sleep mask as it blocks out light completely. It covers from the top of my forehead to my lower cheeks and no light seeps under or through the mask. Last week, I was able to take a good nap on the couch during the day with the mask on. I've now been using it for over a month and I won't sleep without it. It hasn't cured my insomnia but it's definitely helped me stay asleep longer. Also deeper it seems I am a side sleeper and tried a cushioned mask before but because the pillow would press in on the side of the mask, it would make the mask shift on my face. Since this one is only lightly padded and more flat, it stays put and doesn't come off at all, even when I've been tossing & turning. The two straps make it very easy to adjust the fit. I was initially concerned about the mask pressing against my eyelids. It does but only lightly, depending on how you adjust it, I guess. I can still open my eyes if I want to but the light pressure actually just feels like my eyelids are heavy and weirdly enough, it helps me stay asleep. I recently went on an overnight trip and slept in our camper, which is too usually bright in the morning, but I took the mask with me and it made a huge difference. I am probably going to get a second one just to leave in the camper because I would hate to forget it. Maybe a third for my travel bag. When I say I don't want to sleep without it, I really mean it. The quality of the mask is excellent. No fraying, tearing, or coming apart at the seams. Like I said, I've only been using it for over a month, maybe a month and a half but I can't see this thing falling apart very easily. Wearing it every night has had no ill effects on my skin, which tends to be oily. I think the silk lets the skin breathe and though I haven't worn it during the summer months yet, it doesn't seem like it'll make my face hot. The straps are comfortable and the buckles to adjust the fit are tiny and lay flat, like the ones on a bra strap. I have long hair and haven't had it get tangled in the straps or buckle. This mask is so comfortable to wear, I highly recommend it. Read more
AMR—February 28, 2016
This is the 3rd sleep mask I have owned. The previous 2 came from a different company & they only lasted 3 months before they began to rip & tear. They were just not very good quality. The Alaska Bear 2 straps natural sleep mask is fantastic. It is super soft & the 2 straps stay in place which is a miracle because I thrash around a lot. I was worried when I ordered it that it would be too big for my petite (or as my doctor not so nicely calls my "abnormally small head") but it fits really well. The straps are adjustable so if you have a normal or larger head it would fit you as well. The other great thing is it completely blocks out the light. My hall light needs to be on for my children at night & it shines really bright in my room but with this mask on I can't even tell its on. Its great for a day sleeper too, I have narcolepsy & chronic fatigue syndrome so I frequently nap during the day & it keeps all the sunlight out as well. Another nice thing is it doesn't push down on your nose like some other brands do (my previous masks did that making it very difficult to breathe), but it still manages to keep the light out. It really is super comfortable & so very soft which is my favorite feature. Its super easy to keep clean because it comes with a little bag to store it in. It also came with ear plugs but I can't really say much one way or the other about those since I don't use them. I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a quality mask that stays put no matter how much you move. Read more
CertainlyBenBetter—January 27, 2017
I received the Alaska Bear 2 strap sleep mask a few days ago, and couldn't be more pleased with my purchase. After reading the reviews on the other site and recognizing that I toss and turn in bed, I opted for the two strap unit. This is my first sleep mask I've ever used, and I purchased it so that I could block out the bedside light when my wife reads before bed, as well as to take on camping trips. While I haven't taken this camping, I feel that it will perform well under those conditions. Pros: -Lightweight, comfortable silk mask that does not interfere with R.E.M. sleep/eye movement. -Mask stays in place all night long. -Blocks out even strong light. I can have the bright master light on and still go to sleep. This will come in handy during camping expeditions, too. -Straps are easily adjustable, and with a bit of playing, you can get a conformation that works for you. I prefer having the top strap tighter than the bottom. -I actually sleep better and deeper! The first night I tried it, I had a really truncated sleep schedule. I normally need about 8 hrs sleep to feel rested. I went to bed around 1:30 am and woke up around 5:45 am feeling just as rested as 8 hrs of sleep! WOAH! I just used it for the second night, and while I went to bed earlier, I still woke up more refreshed than without the mask! -Construction appears sturdy. I believe that this will last and stand up to many nights' use and the rigors of travel. Cons: -Sits pretty heavy on the nose and leaves a red mark on the nose. It goes away an hour or so after taking off the mask. It might be that I have a strap too tight, so I think this is solvable. I'm very pleased with my purchase! Thank you for making an excellent product. Update 3/2/17: The Alaska Bear customer service team helped me find a better fit for my physiology. I have a very thin face and prominent nose, and I had to pull the regular mask tight to block light from coming through the bottom of the mask, which caused the redness. Alaska Bear suggested that I try the same model with a nose baffle. It works perfectly; I can wear the mask a bit looser and no more redness! Thank you, Alaska Bear, for your wonderful customer service! Read more
