A writer who struggled to sleep on red-eye flights found a solution in an under-$30 eye mask. Despite taking countless red-eye flights over the past 20 years, they had never been able to sleep on a plane. Rough air, fellow passengers’ screens, and overhead lights kept them awake, leaving them exhausted and cranky upon arrival. After trying various sleep masks, including the cheap ones handed out by flight attendants, they stumbled upon Zimasilk’s sleep mask on Amazon a few months ago, and it’s been smooth, surprisingly sleep-filled flying ever since.
The Zimasilk sleep mask is made of 100% mulberry silk fabric, which is naturally smooth and temperature-regulating. The mask is covered in 22 Momme Grade 6A silk, a high-end material for its under-$30 price point. The soft material and 3D-molded eye cups, which completely block out light, made the mask a comfortable choice for the writer.
The mask comes in 11 different colorways and has a sleek sheen. The 3D-molded eye cups are roomy enough to allow for comfortable blinking, and the adjustable band provides a snug but not too tight fit. The lightweight and packable design of the mask makes it ideal for travelers, who can easily fold it up and slip it into a pocket or side compartment of their carry-on.
The writer is not the only one who has benefited from the Zimasilk sleep mask. For a while, their husband was convinced he didn’t need to spend $27 on an eye mask. But ever since he tried it, he’s totally converted, and even got one for himself that he’s been wearing everywhere from planes to hotel rooms.
Effectiveness
The contoured eye mask has made it easier for the writer to fall asleep on flights, although it does not prevent them from jolting awake during turbulence. The writer has traveled to six different time zones over the past five weeks, on trips to Fiji, London, Croatia, Greece, Chicago, and San Francisco, and has been able to get at least a little bit of sleep on each flight. On an 11-hour red-eye to Fiji, the writer miraculously spent at least half the time sleeping. When they arrived at their hotel in Savusavu, they were surprisingly upbeat. And, thanks to this mask, they were able to fall asleep during a morning flight from Athens to London and conked out for hours.