As a devotee of sleep masks for many years (but not a brand loyal one, having relied on the free masks collected over time from overnight flights), I was thrilled to test a thoughtfully designed, higher-level eye mask: the Ostrichpillow 3D Ergonomic Eye Mask.
Ostrichpillow, which is perhaps best known for its squid-like (and frankly, meme-worthy) Napping Pillow, calls its eye mask the “first truly 3D ergonomic eye mask,” with a design adaptable to the three-dimensional features of the face, claiming to fit perfectly on all head sizes and face types.
While we can’t speak specifically to those claims, as just one individual tested this specific sleep mask, Underscored did thoroughly test sleep masks this past spring, including several others that offer a versatile, inclusive fit. But the claims that the Ostrichpillow eye mask provides a “100% blackout experience” in total comfort, we can indeed confirm.
The Ostrichpillow Eye Mask will lull you into total darkness whenever you need it for a comfortable and relaxing sleep experience. It’s perfect for travel, naps or everyday nighttime use. Plus, we love that it has an adjustable fit and is machine-washable.
What we liked about it
It gets really, really dark
The Ostrichpillow Eye Mask is made with six different layers of “high-quality materials” (what they are is not fully articulated in Ostrichpillow’s product description), but it feels cottony, foamy, soft and deeply comfortable. When we first tried on the mask — never having worn a full-blackout sleep mask before — we were almost startled at how a bedroom in full daylight turned instantly dark. The six layers created a light barrier that’s significantly thick but also quite light and portable.
Snug and comfortable
The mask felt softly but securely suctioned to the face, leaving no gaps in the material for any light to sneak in. A secure Velcro closure around the back of the head allows for adapting the snugness of fit, and even at a looser positioning around the head, the mask still clung to the face and blocked light. At the same time, the mask felt breathable and not at all obstructive.
Easy to clean and tote around
The Ostrichpillow eye mask is machine-washable (with suggested line drying), a distinction that none of the sleep masks Underscored tested last spring could claim. The mask also comes with a convenient travel bag so you can easily pop it in your bag for flights, train rides or even midday rests in your company’s meditation room if that’s your office reality.
What we didn’t like about it
Sleeping in the Ostrichpillow Eye Mask, on our backs or our sides, was the stuff of dreams. We slept in total darkness peacefully, and even if we had to get up in the middle of the night, it was simple to remove the mask and reapply it without much fumbling. But one drawback to this mask, compared with the complimentary flat masks dispensed on airplanes, was the experience of stomach sleeping.
Because of the soft but structured cups around the eyes with the Ostrich — very successful at keeping the mask in place and blocking light — sleeping facedown doesn’t feel natural at first. The cups around the eyes feel very present — not uncomfortable, per se, but not not noticeable — when sleeping facedown. The structure of the mask softened a bit over a few nights of use, and we wonder if a user might become more accustomed to stomach sleeping after regular usage and washings of the mask.
Bottom line
At $45, the Ostrichpillow mask isn’t a cheap sleep mask, but since it is machine-washable and adjustable, it may be a fine longer-term investment in many good nights’ sleep.