IS THIS LUXURY SLEEP MASK MORE EFFECTIVE THAN THE FREEBIES YOU GET ON A PLANE?

Some people can sleep in for hours and ignore sunlight pouring through their windows; others are able to easily doze off on airplanes. The rest of us aren’t so lucky. Fortunately, sleep masks make it easier to catch zzz’s in less than favorable conditions, and a plethora of generic styles can do the job for cheap. But for those willing to prioritize quality sleep at any cost, the Manta Sleep Mask Pro makes some promising claims: It’s adjustable for a customized fit, made of breathable material, and aims to completely block light. We’ve tested other sleep masks that do the same for less, so we had to know: Does the Manta Pro work as advertised?

Buy now at Manta Sleep

Pros

  • Very dark

  • Avoids pressure on eyes

  • Adjustable band and eye cups

Cons

  • More expensive than most

  • Bulky

  • Didn't stay put

The Manta Sleep Mask Pro is as dark as it claims—but we think you can do better for less cash.

What is the Manta Sleep Mask Pro?

Manta Sleep makes contoured eye masks that claim to block 100% of light so you can enjoy deeper sleep. Launched in 2017 via a Kickstarter campaign, the company advertises themselves as “proudly pro-nap” and “anti-hustle culture.” Its CEO and founder claims to be a lifelong light sleeper and is such a believer in the power of napping, his employees are supposedly allowed to take daily afternoon naps with their Manta masks to optimize productivity.

Manta’s product line currently features nine masks. The original Manta mask, which costs $39, is a band with padded foam cups; it's also available in silk for those who prefer the more slippery material for its purported wrinkle-preventing properties. The Manta Pro is the company’s most expensive, most advanced mask and was designed specifically for side sleepers. Both the original and the Manta Pro are machine washable.

Several design features purport to make the Manta Pro worthy of a higher price. Its C-shaped cups are lined with foam that tapers towards the outside corner of each eye, so the mask can lie flat against your temples. This specialized design supposedly makes side sleeping more comfortable. The cups also contain “cooling perforated foam” that allows airflow through the cups. The anti-stick gel on the mask’s band claims to prevent slipping as you sleep, and the mesh strap allows for increased airflow during use.

What I liked about the Manta Sleep Mask Pro

hands move the cups on the manta pro

Credit: Reviewed / Betsey Goldwasser

The Manta Pro has C-shaped cups that can be moved and reattached to the mask's band.

It doesn’t put pressure on the eyes

Unlike traditional sleep masks that lie flat across your eyes, contoured masks such as the Manta Pro offer space over each eyeball to alleviate pressure on your eyeballs and eyelashes, while still ensuring complete darkness. The Manta Pro effectively created safe bubbles over my eyes so they didn’t feel squished throughout the night. I also appreciated that the cups were designed with smooth edges, which helped reduce the amount of friction against my face and made wearing it less abrasive.

The eye cups are adjustable and malleable

The Manta Pro’s eye cups are attached to the mask’s band with velcro, and can be removed and realigned to suit your face’s unique shape. This wasn’t a huge difference to me because I thought the mask was comfortable without any adjustments, but it might be a selling point for someone who typically finds eye masks or goggles uncomfortable.

I also like the sloped shape of the eye cups. I tested both masks, and although I'm a stomach sleeper, I found the Manta Pro more comfortable than the traditional Manta mask, which is equally thick across the entire interior. As promised, side sleepers will appreciate this specialized design as it doesn’t cut into your face when the side of your face is pressed against a pillow.

The mask blocks all the light

The most appealing feature of all: The Manta Pro is super dark! When I adjusted it to fit correctly on my head (before I began tossing and turning at night), the mask effectively blocked out all the light in my bedroom. We also put it to the test at the Reviewed lab, where one of my colleagues aimed floodlights at me and turned them on and off while I was wearing the Manta Pro. I had no idea when the lights were changing.

What I didn’t like about the Manta Sleep Mask Pro

the manta pro on sara's face, you can see it is squeezing her skin slightly

Credit: Reviewed / Betsey Goldwasser

The Manta Pro squished my forehead together and was not comfortable for me.

Its bulkiness makes it uncomfortable

Full disclosure: Even though I always sleep on my stomach, I intentionally rested on my side to test the Manta Pro. Though the sloped eye cups are a thoughtful design element, I didn’t find the Manta Pro to be very comfortable overall. When I first put it on, I felt like I was spending the night in a pair of ski goggles because of the bulkiness. It wasn’t heavy, but it felt big on my face. Even when I intentionally rested on my side, the Manta Pro felt bulky. It also didn’t stay in place on my head when I tried to make it more comfortable: Loosening it caused it to slide around, eliminating its ability to completely block light. On several occasions, I woke up to find that the mask had fallen off; tightening it made my face feel squished and uncomfortable.

My boyfriend wasn’t a fan either: He thought it made cuddling more cumbersome. Also, it didn’t help that the mask made me look strange, sort of like an intergalactic traveler. I wore the mask for about a week, took a break to test other masks, then went back to it. After a couple nights, I got used to the Manta Pro, but I never looked forward to sleeping with it.

It left marks in my skin

My least favorite part of the mask was what it did to my forehead. Even before I lay down on my stomach, I could feel the pressure of the cups squeezing against my forehead, creating wrinkles that I could feel with my fingers at night. This made me concerned that I was developing sleep wrinkles.

It didn’t seem all that “cooling”

Despite its advertised cooling technology, I didn’t find the mask to be particularly soothing. It wasn’t noticeably hot and didn’t cause my face to sweat, but the ventilation was on par with other sleep masks I have tested that have much lower prices.

It’s expensive

Which brings me to the biggest drawback of the Manta Pro mask: Its hefty price tag. It will set you back $89, which is a lot to spend for an item that is uncomfortable and unstylish, especially when you can get decent sleep masks on Amazon for less than $10.

What are other people saying about the Manta Sleep Mask Pro?

writer Sara Tabin stretches in a bed wearing the Manta Pro

Credit: Reviewed / Betsey Goldwasser

Customers seem to love the Manta Pro online.

Though I didn’t love the Manta Pro, other sleepers seem to really love this mask. It has a 4.9 out of 5 star rating based on 55 reviews on Manta’s website. Happy side sleepers report that it's comfortable, and that it completely eliminates light.

“Complete blackout, lightweight, minimal side pressure, and breathable,” writes one reviewer, who gave it 5 stars. “Normally [I] can't tolerate masks due to heat and slipping off, or having too much pressure on my side.”

One woman who mentioned that she is going through menopause said she noticed and appreciated the mask’s breathability. “I can actually feel the air from my personal fan on my totally blackened eyes,” she writes.

Is the Manta Sleep Mask Pro worth it?

Credit: sara sleeps with her head on a pillow wearing the manta pro

Unfortunately, I can't recommend spending $89 on the Manta Pro.

No, several less expensive alternatives work better

In my opinion, no: I wouldn’t pay $89 for this mask. It wasn’t exceptionally comfortable, and I found that it didn’t fit securely enough to stay put, so light would leak in around the cups. But I can’t speak for everyone. If you’re a side sleeper looking for a blackout eye mask that won’t put pressure on your eyeballs, It could be worth considering. It might also be a good option for people who feel that typical sleep masks aren’t ventilated enough, or whose eyes don’t fit the cup placement of typical contoured masks.

Fortunately, the Manta Pro isn’t your only option if you’re looking for an effective sleep mask. I’ve been sleeping with other masks as part of testing for the past two months, and my favorite is the Alaska Bear silk eye mask. It’s not a contoured mask—meaning it rests flat against your face—but the silk fabric feels smooth, and it doesn’t add bulk or cause irritation. It's also a fraction of the price of the Manta Pro, costing $15 at full price and often on sale for closer to $10.

As far as contoured masks go, I think the $30 MZOO Sleep Eye Mask is a good bet for a comfortable contoured mask. I found it less bulky and a better fit on my head than the Manta Pro, and it blocked light just as effectively for me.

Another of my personal favorites is the $25 Loftie Sleep Mask. It’s made of silky fabric and looks like a traditional sleep mask, but contains “hidden” eye cups that create a little pocket over each of your eyes. I find that it’s gentle on my face and doesn’t add pressure to my eyeballs in any sleep position. That said, the Loftie didn’t block out light in our lab tests as effectively as the Manta Pro or MZOO.

Bottom line: If a low price is your top priority, opt for Alaska Bear. If overall comfort is your most important factor, I would go with the Loftie. If you value darkness above all else, consider the MZOO—but all of that is to say, you can do better than the Manta Pro, for way less cash.

Shop at Manta Sleep Now

IS THIS LUXURY SLEEP MASK MORE EFFECTIVE THAN THE FREEBIES YOU GET ON A PLANE?

IS THIS LUXURY SLEEP MASK MORE EFFECTIVE THAN THE FREEBIES YOU GET ON A PLANE?

Some people can sleep in for hours and ignore sunlight pouring through their windows; others are able to easily doze off on airplanes. The rest of us aren’t so lucky. Fortunately, sleep masks make it easier to catch zzz’s in less than favorable conditions, and a plethora of generic styles can do the job for cheap. But for those willing to prioritize quality sleep at any cost, the Manta Sleep Mask Pro makes some promising claims: It’s adjustable for a customized fit, made of breathable material, and aims to completely block light. We’ve tested other sleep masks that do the same for less, so we had to know: Does the Manta Pro work as advertised?

Buy now at Manta Sleep

  • Very dark

  • Avoids pressure on eyes

  • Adjustable band and eye cups

  • More expensive than most

  • Bulky

  • Didn't stay put

The Manta Sleep Mask Pro is as dark as it claims—but we think you can do better for less cash.

What is the Manta Sleep Mask Pro?

Manta Sleep makes contoured eye masks that claim to block 100% of light so you can enjoy deeper sleep. Launched in 2017 via a Kickstarter campaign, the company advertises themselves as “proudly pro-nap” and “anti-hustle culture.” Its CEO and founder claims to be a lifelong light sleeper and is such a believer in the power of napping, his employees are supposedly allowed to take daily afternoon naps with their Manta masks to optimize productivity.

Manta’s product line currently features nine masks. The original Manta mask, which costs $39, is a band with padded foam cups; it's also available in silk for those who prefer the more slippery material for its purported wrinkle-preventing properties. The Manta Pro is the company’s most expensive, most advanced mask and was designed specifically for side sleepers. Both the original and the Manta Pro are machine washable.

Several design features purport to make the Manta Pro worthy of a higher price. Its C-shaped cups are lined with foam that tapers towards the outside corner of each eye, so the mask can lie flat against your temples. This specialized design supposedly makes side sleeping more comfortable. The cups also contain “cooling perforated foam” that allows airflow through the cups. The anti-stick gel on the mask’s band claims to prevent slipping as you sleep, and the mesh strap allows for increased airflow during use.

What I liked about the Manta Sleep Mask Pro

hands move the cups on the manta pro

Credit: Reviewed / Betsey Goldwasser

The Manta Pro has C-shaped cups that can be moved and reattached to the mask's band.

It doesn’t put pressure on the eyes

Unlike traditional sleep masks that lie flat across your eyes, contoured masks such as the Manta Pro offer space over each eyeball to alleviate pressure on your eyeballs and eyelashes, while still ensuring complete darkness. The Manta Pro effectively created safe bubbles over my eyes so they didn’t feel squished throughout the night. I also appreciated that the cups were designed with smooth edges, which helped reduce the amount of friction against my face and made wearing it less abrasive.

The eye cups are adjustable and malleable

The Manta Pro’s eye cups are attached to the mask’s band with velcro, and can be removed and realigned to suit your face’s unique shape. This wasn’t a huge difference to me because I thought the mask was comfortable without any adjustments, but it might be a selling point for someone who typically finds eye masks or goggles uncomfortable.

I also like the sloped shape of the eye cups. I tested both masks, and although I'm a stomach sleeper, I found the Manta Pro more comfortable than the traditional Manta mask, which is equally thick across the entire interior. As promised, side sleepers will appreciate this specialized design as it doesn’t cut into your face when the side of your face is pressed against a pillow.

The mask blocks all the light

The most appealing feature of all: The Manta Pro is super dark! When I adjusted it to fit correctly on my head (before I began tossing and turning at night), the mask effectively blocked out all the light in my bedroom. We also put it to the test at the Reviewed lab, where one of my colleagues aimed floodlights at me and turned them on and off while I was wearing the Manta Pro. I had no idea when the lights were changing.

What I didn’t like about the Manta Sleep Mask Pro

the manta pro on sara's face, you can see it is squeezing her skin slightly

Credit: Reviewed / Betsey Goldwasser

The Manta Pro squished my forehead together and was not comfortable for me.

Its bulkiness makes it uncomfortable

Full disclosure: Even though I always sleep on my stomach, I intentionally rested on my side to test the Manta Pro. Though the sloped eye cups are a thoughtful design element, I didn’t find the Manta Pro to be very comfortable overall. When I first put it on, I felt like I was spending the night in a pair of ski goggles because of the bulkiness. It wasn’t heavy, but it felt big on my face. Even when I intentionally rested on my side, the Manta Pro felt bulky. It also didn’t stay in place on my head when I tried to make it more comfortable: Loosening it caused it to slide around, eliminating its ability to completely block light. On several occasions, I woke up to find that the mask had fallen off; tightening it made my face feel squished and uncomfortable.

My boyfriend wasn’t a fan either: He thought it made cuddling more cumbersome. Also, it didn’t help that the mask made me look strange, sort of like an intergalactic traveler. I wore the mask for about a week, took a break to test other masks, then went back to it. After a couple nights, I got used to the Manta Pro, but I never looked forward to sleeping with it.

It left marks in my skin

My least favorite part of the mask was what it did to my forehead. Even before I lay down on my stomach, I could feel the pressure of the cups squeezing against my forehead, creating wrinkles that I could feel with my fingers at night. This made me concerned that I was developing sleep wrinkles.

It didn’t seem all that “cooling”

Despite its advertised cooling technology, I didn’t find the mask to be particularly soothing. It wasn’t noticeably hot and didn’t cause my face to sweat, but the ventilation was on par with other sleep masks I have tested that have much lower prices.

It’s expensive

Which brings me to the biggest drawback of the Manta Pro mask: Its hefty price tag. It will set you back $89, which is a lot to spend for an item that is uncomfortable and unstylish, especially when you can get decent sleep masks on Amazon for less than $10.

What are other people saying about the Manta Sleep Mask Pro?

writer Sara Tabin stretches in a bed wearing the Manta Pro

Credit: Reviewed / Betsey Goldwasser

Customers seem to love the Manta Pro online.

Though I didn’t love the Manta Pro, other sleepers seem to really love this mask. It has a 4.9 out of 5 star rating based on 55 reviews on Manta’s website. Happy side sleepers report that it's comfortable, and that it completely eliminates light.

“Complete blackout, lightweight, minimal side pressure, and breathable,” writes one reviewer, who gave it 5 stars. “Normally [I] can't tolerate masks due to heat and slipping off, or having too much pressure on my side.”

One woman who mentioned that she is going through menopause said she noticed and appreciated the mask’s breathability. “I can actually feel the air from my personal fan on my totally blackened eyes,” she writes.

Is the Manta Sleep Mask Pro worth it?

Credit: sara sleeps with her head on a pillow wearing the manta pro

Unfortunately, I can't recommend spending $89 on the Manta Pro.

No, several less expensive alternatives work better

In my opinion, no: I wouldn’t pay $89 for this mask. It wasn’t exceptionally comfortable, and I found that it didn’t fit securely enough to stay put, so light would leak in around the cups. But I can’t speak for everyone. If you’re a side sleeper looking for a blackout eye mask that won’t put pressure on your eyeballs, It could be worth considering. It might also be a good option for people who feel that typical sleep masks aren’t ventilated enough, or whose eyes don’t fit the cup placement of typical contoured masks.

Fortunately, the Manta Pro isn’t your only option if you’re looking for an effective sleep mask. I’ve been sleeping with other masks as part of testing for the past two months, and my favorite is the Alaska Bear silk eye mask. It’s not a contoured mask—meaning it rests flat against your face—but the silk fabric feels smooth, and it doesn’t add bulk or cause irritation. It's also a fraction of the price of the Manta Pro, costing $15 at full price and often on sale for closer to $10.

As far as contoured masks go, I think the $30 MZOO Sleep Eye Mask is a good bet for a comfortable contoured mask. I found it less bulky and a better fit on my head than the Manta Pro, and it blocked light just as effectively for me.

Another of my personal favorites is the $25 Loftie Sleep Mask. It’s made of silky fabric and looks like a traditional sleep mask, but contains “hidden” eye cups that create a little pocket over each of your eyes. I find that it’s gentle on my face and doesn’t add pressure to my eyeballs in any sleep position. That said, the Loftie didn’t block out light in our lab tests as effectively as the Manta Pro or MZOO.

Bottom line: If a low price is your top priority, opt for Alaska Bear. If overall comfort is your most important factor, I would go with the Loftie. If you value darkness above all else, consider the MZOO—but all of that is to say, you can do better than the Manta Pro, for way less cash.