Festival season is upon us and Father’s Day is around the corner. So I must tell you about this clever gadget** that could be ideal for you, whether you’re shopping for gifts for dads, or accessories for an upcoming music concert. For someone who suffers from sleep disturbances, it might be a dream product.
QuietOn 3.1 are the world’s smallest noise cancelling earbuds designed to give you a great night’s sleep or a delicious afternoon nap, if you should be so lucky to have undisturbed nap times. Created by Finnish tech company QuietOn, the cute looking earbuds come in a sleek carry case that’s also how they charge overnight.
The trickiest part of wearing these earbuds is getting used to slipping them in your ears as soon as they come out of the case, so that the noise cancelling switches on. You have 15 seconds to get the left and right earbuds correctly slotted in (the timer will reset if you put them back in their case).
Adjust the earbuds by rotating them backwards so that the fit is airtight and they’re not visible from the front. Feel free to play around with this until it becomes second nature. In case you’re still having difficulties with the fit, there are alternative foam tips provided so you could try a different size.
If you’re a side sleeper like me, you’ll be pleased to know QuietOn 3.1 earbuds are particularly suited to those of us who prefer snoozing with our ears to the pillow. Also they’re comfier than you might imagine, I actually found them easier to wear than the disposable foam buds I bought in desperation last year.
When I first tried these on, I could hear a subtle whooshing that turned out to be the noise from my inner ear cavity. Once I got used to this, I was surprised at how little sound from my environment was filtering in. As with other active noise cancelling products, QuietOn 3.1 earbuds don’t block out sounds 100% but they are extremely effective at reducing them. Where these earbuds excel is with low-frequency sounds such as outside traffic, indoor appliances, your partner snoring beside you, or your neighbour’s bass music pumping through the walls.
Anyone who’s read my book Raising Boys Who Do Better will know that my other half is not only a loud snorer but he talks and sometimes even sings in his sleep. Lying next to him with my QuietOn 3.1 earbuds in place, the rumble of his snoring became more of a barely noticeable purring. Result!
Indeed I slept so soundly, I was worried about oversleeping but no worries — high-frequency sounds like your alarm clock (or your baby wailing) can still penetrate. So there’s no chance of missing that important wakeup call!
I really wish I’d had a pair of these last year when the super loud roadworks outside my bedroom window would assault my senses every morning, to the point where I was almost in tears. I’m going to be speaking at Wilderness Festival in August and since my talk is in the morning, I’ll definitely need a decent amount of sleep. Thankfully I’ll have QuietOn 3.1 earbuds to help me tune out some of the festival mayhem the night before.
These earbuds don’t come cheap, compared to bog standard earplugs the prices might make your eyes water. However, in terms of functionality they are a cut above and it could be a worthwhile investment if you’re struggling with other sleep devices. To read more reviews and consider getting a pair for the Dad in your life (or to treat yourself), check out the website at https://quieton.com.
**QuietOn 3.1 was sent for review purposes, all opinions are my own.