CES 2015

Because I suffer from a rare form of workophobia and isolationism, I sometimes have to take a timeout from the world at large and listen to music or some sort of hypnotic trance-inducing soundscape. Lying down with headphones is difficult, at best, and even using in-ear monitors can be uncomfortable when you’re lying on your side. Of course, then there’s the headphone/earbud cable albatross around your neck that invariably gets caught on something and yanks one of the buds out of your ear or wraps around your neck almost strangling you.

SleepPhones calls its headphone-embedded headband “pajamas for your ears”, and they’re designed to be a comfortable alternative to the reclining headphone use scenarios described above. According to the company, “SleepPhones are the world's most comfortable headphones for sleeping… SleepPhones are fully padded with nothing sticking into the ears and comfortable even for side sleepers.” SleepPhones also says that they’re lightweight, washable, and hypoallergenic. You can wear SleepPhones around your head like a regular headband, or you can use them as a sleeping mask while listening to music.

SleepPhones are available in two connected versions: corded with a standard 3.5 mm headphone jack, or cordless with Bluetooth connectivity. The wireless version includes a built-in rechargeable battery with a battery life of 8-12 hours after a 2-hour charge. The wireless version also includes built-in volume and play/pause controls. There’s also a corded version of SleepPhones with a built-in microphone for hands-free phone use. RunPhones Classic is another corded version, but the headphones are hidden inside a snug, sweat-wicking, washable, sport-style headband. Since RunPhones don’t totally seal your ears, they’re good for jogging or biking outdoors because they let you hear the ambient noise around you in addition to the music or podcast you’re listening to. It’s not going to give you audiophile-quality music, but it’ll probably keep you from being hit by a car.

SleepPhones and RunPhones are available now in a variety of colors and sizes with prices starting at $39.95 for corded versions up to $99.95 for cordless ones.