I have sensitive ears. Earplugs, over-ear headphones, and in-ear AirPods are only comfortable for so long. On shorter flights I do okay, but anything more than a few hours and my ears are miserable from the prolonged pressure.
When an Amazon ad first suggested a headband with Bluetooth speakers, I figured it didn’t hurt to try. My expectations were low when I purchased the Perytong sleep headband, but at less than $20, I wasn’t putting a lot on the line. At first glance, the headband is soft, foldable, and comfortable. It’s hypoallergenic and sweat-proof. And while I’m not much of a runner myself, I’ve seen more athletic people sporting a similar look on their runs. The technology is simple—two small speakers are built into the headband, one for each ear, and a patch on the front offers three simple buttons: volume up, volume down, and play/pause. Tucked into the back is the USB-C charging port for the headband. (While it comes with its own charger, you can also use any other generic USB-C charger.)
When I actually tried these sleep headphones on, I was elated. The headband was comfortable and snug without being overly tight or hurting my ears. My biggest concern was the charging port in the back, but that proved to be a non-issue on my first flight. I didn’t even feel the charging port when I leaned against the airplane headrest. Bonus points for being able to lean against an airplane window comfortably, too.
However, since the sleep headphones aren't noise cancelling, don’t expect the headband to block out the airplane engine completely. The sound isolation is compromised for comfort because they sit ever so lightly on the ears. Personally, the trade-off is immensely worth it on longer flights as the battery lasts about 10 hours. I use them on and off with my sound-blocking headphones depending on how I feel, and the sound from my music doesn’t travel to my seatmates, no matter which pair I'm wearing.
Beyond the plane, this headband is especially helpful when I’m trying to fall asleep in a new hotel or Airbnb—I love to use it to listen to meditations or audiobooks before bed. As a side sleeper, none of the other headphones I’ve tried were comfortable enough.
I appreciate products that have various uses as there’s only so much room in my travel bag (in a pinch, the headband can double as an eye mask). The multi-functionality of this gadget alone makes it a winner in my book. And as I’m not the only one in my family with sensitive ears, these sleep headphones are definitely going to be a cheap and easy gift for my traveling family members as well.