A good night’s sleep can transform everything from your mood and concentration to your energy levels, but getting enough quality rest isn’t always easy. Whether you’re trying to block out noise, understand your sleep patterns or unwind before bed, we’ve tested the latest sleep products to find the ones that genuinely deliver.
From clever sleep trackers to earplugs and supplements, these are the tried and tested products our experts have rated 5/5 and confidently recommend to help you wake up feeling your best.
Why do we need sleep?
Beyond the obvious need to be able to get through the day, sleep is essential for both our physical and mental wellbeing. Good sleep has a surprising impact on a number of health conditions, as well as improving our focus and concentration. For example, studies have found a relationship between the quantity and quality of sleep with health problems, such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and depression. What’s more, a lack of sleep is believed to suppress the immune system, leaving us vulnerable to infections and causing changes to our appetite that potentially contribute to weight gain.
How many hours of sleep do you need?
The important thing to remember is a good night’s sleep looks different for everyone. Nutritionist Kerry Torrens explains, “although seven hours is usually cited as the ideal, there is no magic number. We tend to need slightly less sleep as we age, but it varies by individual. You may function best on seven hours a night, while someone else may need nine or even as few as four to lead a happy, productive life.”
How to make the most of a sleep supplement
Some of our top-rated sleep products below include tried-and-tested sleep supplements. If you’re looking to introduce one of these to your routine, they should be taken at bedtime, most commonly 30-60 minutes before bed to give the sleep-inducing nutrients time to work. Consistency is important, so consider setting a reminder to take the supplement at the same time each night.
Some sleep supplements state that they can be taken without food, others might be better absorbed if accompanied by a light snack – check the guidance on the packaging to know what’s best. Foods rich in tryptophan like bananas, turkey and cottage cheese can help to boost serotonin and melatonin production, so could be a good choice if you’re looking for a late snack.
Every sleep product rated 5/5 by our team of experts
Loop Quiet 2 earplugs
Available from Loop (£19.95), Amazon (£19.95)
Best earplugs overall for deep sleep
Frustrated with noisy neighbours, not loving a dawn birdsong wakeup, or just got a snoring partner? Earplugs could be the answer to getting a more seamless night and the Loop Quiet 2 earplugs were chosen as the best earplugs overall for deep sleep during our tests, with a great balance between high performance and good value.
They come with four different tip sizes, making it easy to find the right fit for you. We were worried about earplugs being uncomfortable to sleep in but these have a small design that is easy to slot in and the flexible silicone made them simple to adjust and barely noticeable once in, even for side sleepers. For those who toss and turn, these stayed secure all night without slipping.
The soundproofing was impressive too: our testers tried them out at home, but they’d equally be handy for long-haul flights or nights in a noisy hotel. There are several colourways to choose from (although we imagine some of the paler choices may get dirty quickly, so look after them well to get their maximum lifespan).
Available from:
Every Simple Science Magnesium Complex
Available from Amazon (£15.99)
If you’re looking for a premium magnesium supplement to aid your sleep but aren’t sure where to start, this one seriously impressed our testers. It scored highly for both formulation and overall presentation. Each serving combines three forms of magnesium (glycinate, citrate and malate) with added zinc and vitamin D3, making it a well rounded option for supporting calm, sleep and muscle function. The thoughtful formulation is also free from fillers and vegan-friendly and was easy to swallow.
The tub contains 120-capsules which will last you two months at the recommended dose, so plenty to get started and good value for money.
Available from:
Amazon (£15.99)
Paused Sleep Aid
Available from Paused (£19.99), Amazon (£17.99)
Give a dedicated sleep supplement a go with Paused Sleep Aid. Each bottle contains a 30-day supply, with two neutral-tasting capsules to be taken an hour before bed. The straightforward formula is free from GMOs and gluten, suitable for vegetarians and vegans, and contains no unnecessary additives. It’s basic and easy to incorporate into a nightly routine and offers good value for money.
Available from:
Prowise super strength ashwagandha
Available from Prowise (£9.99)
One of the suggested health benefits of ashwagandha is its potential to help sleep. Evidence to support this has been seen in a small number of studies that have reported improvements in sleep quality, efficiency and total sleep time, most notably for those experiencing insomnia.
This five-star rated ashwagandha tablet is easy to take daily and swallow with water, so it’s simple to add to your night-time routine. The high-strength 1500mg root extract offers good value at just 5.5p per dose, with 180 tablets per bottle to keep you going and bulk discounts also available if you find the habit sticks and works for you. Manufactured in the UK to GMP standards and suitable for vegans, it is free from common allergens and additives are kept to a pleasing minimum.
Available from:
WeightWorld ashwagandha KSM-66
Available from Amazon (£9.98), WeightWorld (£9.99)
This was another ashwagandha supplement that received full marks from our testers, impressing on all variables from the small, easy-to-take tablet size to bargain price and impressive strength.
You get a generous six-month supply in one bottle which makes it great value for money and saves you from constantly restocking. Despite the low price point, it includes 1500mg of ashwagandha which is above the standard amount of 500mg. KSM-66 is a highly concentrated extract of ashwagandha which has been extensively researched for its health benefits.
Available from:
Oura Ring 4
Available from Amazon (£244), John Lewis and Partners (£244), Healf (£244), Oura (from £399)
Best sleep tracker overall
Now, this may have narrowly missed out on a perfect 5/5 rating, but if you’re looking for a sleep tracker, the Oura Ring 4’s comfortable design and impressive performance saw it crowned our best overall sleep tracker during an extensive gadget test.
When testing the ring, we received a detailed sleep report in the app each day, including an overall sleep score, time asleep, sleep efficiency and time spent in each stage of sleep. The sleep and wake times closely matched routine, and the nightly reports made it easy to see how habits such as late meals or caffeine affected rest. You can also add helpful tags, such as drinking alcohol or workouts, to help explain changes in your sleep data.
The ring tracks other health metrics too, including resting heart rate trends, cardiovascular age and menstrual cycle insights.
Available from:
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