I’m not a nervous flyer, but I can’t do two things in the air: focus on work or sleep. Usually, I scroll through endless movies I’ve already seen or try to read, but getting real sleep is almost impossible.
Then I tried the Somo Sleep Fitness mask. It’s a $69 premium sleep mask with no buckles or seams, and it features a unique little nugget right between your eyes that activates a pressure point for relaxation. Created by Lisa and Paul Juris, the mask incorporates a patented design that applies gentle pressure to the Yintang acupoint, a spot between the eyebrows known for its calming effects.
You can watch my interview with the Somo creators on the Startup Show podcast.
I don’t quite like the term “alternative medicine,” but I do appreciate a good acupressure point. Clearly, the team is doing something right with this one because I was out like a light and slept for at least four hours while sitting up in an economy-class flight to London. It was miraculous.
“We focus on sleep, rest, and recovery, beginning with our patented sleep mask,” said Lisa Juris. Unlike standard sleep masks that merely block light, Somo’s design is built on extensive consumer research and scientific principles. One of the biggest sleep challenges they discovered was not just light exposure but stress.
The mask’s ultra-lightweight design features a seamless, buckle-free headband that stays in place throughout the night—or your flight. It comes in multiple colors, including tan and black.
In general, the mask does exactly what it’s supposed to do. It blocked all light and made me feel like I was in a completely dark room. The acupressure was noticeable but not annoying, and whatever it was doing, it worked. I didn’t notice when I fell asleep, but it was deep, uninterrupted sleep, and I finally felt refreshed.
Obviously, a $69 sleep mask should also get me free drinks in economy class and extra peanuts, but barring that, it worked as a way to relax and nod off on a long flight. I rarely give rave reviews, but Somo deserves one. If you travel, I encourage you to check it out.
