Ruth Jones

Ruth Jones

Senior Sleep Staff Writer

Ruth is an experienced Senior Staff writer at Tom’s Guide, covering all things sleep and mattresses. She writes to help people sleep better, from how-tos to the latest deals to mattress reviews, and has interviewed an array of experts who share her passion. She is also our specialist on memory foam — she’s flown around the world to see memory foam being made — and leads our hotel mattress content. She has a deep interest in the link between sleep and health, and has tried enough mattresses, from Helix to Nectar to Simba, to know the right bed really can make a difference to your wellbeing. Before joining the team at Tom’s Guide, Ruth worked as a sleep and mattress writer for our sister website, TechRadar.

Latest articles by Ruth Jones

A collage of images, showing mattresses being tested. In the top left, two members of the Tom's Guide sleep team sit on the Saatva Classic mattress. Top right, a mattress tester lies on the Helix Midnight Luxe mattress. Bottom left, two women on box a rolled up mattress in a box. Bottom right, two women sit on the DreamCloud Hybrid Mattress. A Tom's Guide price drop deals badge in the center.

Labor Day mattress sales 2026: The best early deals, chosen by experts

By Claire Davies (CSSC) Last updated

Some Labor Day mattress sales are already live — here's our expert guide to the best of the early deals from top brands such as Saatva, Helix, DreamCloud and more.

Mattresses
On the left, a close up of a hand holding a pipette adding Reishi mushroom extract to a glass. On the left, sleep writer Ruth Jones sleeps in a dimly lit room. In the bottom right corner is a screenshot of a month of sleep tracking from a Withings Health app.

I replaced my 3 a.m. wake-ups with mushroom adaptogens — did it actually fix my sleep?

By Ruth Jones Last updated

I'm a supplement skeptic but as research into the benefits of adaptogens adds up, I decided to see if reishi mushrooms could actually help me sleep. Here's what happened after testing for a month.

Sleep
On the left, sleep writer Ruth Jones mixes up a Sleepy Girl Mocktail. On the right, she's sleeping soundly in a dimly lit room. In the center is a close up of a 91 Sleep Score.

I made 7 viral snacks TikTok swears will help you sleep and measured the results with my fitness tracker — this is the one that got me a sleep score over 90

By Ruth Jones Published

I can't scroll TikTok without coming across a recipe for the best sleep of my life. I put them to the test and asked a registered dietician if there's any science to back it up.

Sleep
The Sleep Number Comfort Lux mattress on a bed frame in a bedroom

Are Sleep Number beds worth it? I’m a sleep tech tester and here’s my take

By Eve Davies Last updated

Here's everything you need to know about investing in a Sleep Number bed in 2026, from its bankruptcy to its collection revamp

Mattresses
The main image shows a woman in bed asleep. In the bottom right corner is an ident showing a close up of an alarm clock at 3 a.m..

I kept waking up at 3 a.m. with racing thoughts — now I fall back asleep in seconds thanks to this expert-backed method

By Ruth Jones Published

The 'fake blink' method is a simple way to calm busy thoughts and help you feel tired. It helped me fall asleep fast after waking up at 3 a.m. — and here experts explain why.

Sleep
The Sleep Number Comfort Lux mattress on a bed frame in a bedroom

The best Sleep Number mattress sales in August 2026

By Ruth Jones Last updated

Save up to $2,200 in Sleep Number's August sale — how to get the best price on top smart beds with adjustable firmness and built-in sleep trackers

Mattresses
A blonde lady in bed with Eight Sleep Pod 5 Ultra+ in elevated head position reading

Best Eight Sleep mattress deals for August 2026

By Alison Barretta Last updated

The Eight Sleep Pod 5 is a cutting edge smart mattress cover that's ideal for sleeping soundly in the heatwaves — here's how to score a saving.

Sleep Tech
Bear Elite Hybrid mattress on rattan bedframe in sleep studio with blue wall with round wooden bedside table with sunrise alarm clock and mug on top

The best mattress sales in August 2026

By Claire Davies (CSSC) Last updated

Our experts have found the best mattress sales from DreamCloud, Saatva, Tempur-Pedic and more to shop today

Mattresses
A woman sits on the edge of the Nectar Premier Memory Foam Mattress in a modern bedroom.

Nectar mattress sales for August 2026: The top deals this month

By Claire Davies (CSSC) Last updated

Our expert guide to finding the biggest Nectar mattress deals this month, including price drops on top-rated memory foam and hybrid mattresses

Mattresses
The main image shows a woman inspecting the Purple mattress Protector. Top right, an inset of a hand spilling wine on a mattress. Bottom right, an inset of a person spilling coffee on a mattress. Bottom left, a badge saying 'Tested!'

$21 vs $119 mattress protector showdown: Which one performs best in our 6 spill tests?

By Ruth Jones Published

Every bed needs a mattress protector — to see if you should save or splurge, I put two to the test by throwing everything I had at them (literally).

Mattress Care
A woman lies sleeping in a dark room, wearing a sleep tracker. Superimposed on the right of the screen is a series of charts and graphs detailing sleep tracking metrics and responding interventions.

Wearables that just track your sleep are so 2025 — meet the new school of sleep tech that intervenes, in real-time, to help you skip 3 a.m. wake-ups and other major sleep issues

By Ruth Jones Published

Sleep trackers have exposed our bad sleep habits — what comes next? I asked the experts how the next generation of sleep tech aims to help us sleep better, without lifting a finger.

Sleep Tech
A pillow is shown on a corner of a mattress. A circle overlapping the pillow shows a thermal imaging reading.

I pointed a thermal cam at a luxury cooling pillow to see if it actually helps you stay cool in a heatwave — here are the results, and how it compares to a cheap alternative

By Ruth Jones Published

We pitted a $93 luxury cooling pillow against a $20 down alternative pillow by pointing a thermal imaging camera at both. Here's which one kept our testers from searching for the cool side...

Pillows & Bedding
From left to right the image shows the Withings under mattress sleep tracker, Garmin Index Sleep Monitor sleep tracker, Apple Watch Series 10, the Whoop MG fitness tracker and the Oura Ring 4, all positioned on a sage green background.

The best sleep trackers to buy now

By Eve Davies Last updated

From lab-grade wearables to headbands that actively improve your sleep, here are the best sleep trackers for every sleep style and budget.

Sleep Tech
A man sits on an Emma Performance mattress on a bed frame in a dimly lit room

Emma Sleep launches new 'anti-heatwave' mattress range — and they're up to £500 off in the brand's big summer sale

By Ruth Jones Published

Emma's new Performance collection features three mattresses for cooler, more comfortable sleep. Here's what we know so far.

Mattresses
Tester Ruth Jones wears the Muse S Athena headband

Review: The Muse S Athena solved my overnight wake-ups and helps me fall asleep in minutes — why it's the best 'sleep enhancer' I've tested

By Ruth Jones Published

Editor's Choice

Wearables that 'just' track your data will be left in the dust by the Muse S Athena. It uses real-time EEG biofeedback to actively improve your rest and recovery while you sleep, and it's the reason why I wake up full of energy now

Sleep Tech
A split image showing an iPhone 17, Fitbit Air and Apple AirPods Max 2

The best tech of 2026 (so far): 26 products we've actually tested, rated and loved

By Peter Wolinski Published

Here are our favorite products from 2026 after 6 months of non-stop testing.

Tech
The WithingsScanWatch 2 on a table against a white wall

I tested Withings' ScanWatch 2 and while its breathing exercises help fix 3 a.m. stress wake-ups, there are better sleep trackers for the money

By Ruth Jones Published

The Withings ScanWatch 2 is a hybrid smartwatch that packs impressive sleep tracking tech into a stylish package. But is it a case of form over function?

Sleep Tech
The main image shows a woman sitting up in bed looking at her phone. In the top left corner is a closeup of monthly sleep tracking data on the Withings Sleep App

Why your daily sleep score could be giving you anxiety — and how to track your sleep instead

By Ruth Jones Last updated

A doctor explains why your monthly sleep score is a better sleep tracking metric than your daily score.

Sleep
On the left, a woman lies in bed sleeping well. On the right, a close up of a fruity drink in the sun

Fall asleep fast in a heatwave with this magnesium-packed bedtime iced tea — here's why it works and how to make it

By Ruth Jones Published

Our fave summer sleep drink uses chamomile, cooling peppermint, and electrolyte-rich coconut water to lower your core temperature from the inside out

Sleep
TG Sleep Senior Writer Ruth Jones sleeps on her stomach on a comfy mattress

From the 'caveman method' to the 'frozen salt water fan trick' — 7 expert-approved ways to cool your bedroom and sleep well in a heatwave

By Ruth Jones Published

Don't let a heatwave ruin your sleep. We've tested 7 ways to stay cool in bed and these were our winners.

Sleep
A woman lies asleep in bed looking comfy, in the bottom right corner is a screenshot of a 92 sleep score from the Withings Health Sleep App

Waking up at 3 a.m. was ruining my sleep score — until I tried the 7:1 sleep rule and now I'm hitting 90

By Ruth Jones Published

From falling asleep faster to sleeping through the night, here's all the ways the 7:1 rule is boosting my sleep tracker data.

Sleep
An image of the Eight Sleep Pod on a bed, in the corner an inset showing sleep tech writer Eve Davies

A tech CEO bought his entire team this $3,000 smart mattress cover — here's why

By Ruth Jones Published

Here's why the Eight Sleep smart mattress cover can help manage insomnia and improve productivity.

Sleep Tech
A woman sits up in bed reading a book in dim lighting

Reading in bed was causing me to wake up at 3 a.m. — until an insomnia expert made this simple routine tweak to help me sleep through

By Ruth Jones Published

Reading in bed might help you destress but it can also cause this one major issue in your sleep. An expert explains why and what to do instead.

Sleep
Two pairs of white pillows propped up against the headboard in a brightly lit hotel bedroom

What pillows do hotels use? Four Seasons, Marriott, Westin and more

By Becky George, Ruth Jones Last updated

Don't try and smuggle a pillow home in your luggage — you can enjoy luxury vacation comfort at home year-round with these pillows used by your favorite hotels.

Pillows & Bedding
The image shows a dark haired woman in bed practising cognitive shuffling to fall back asleep quickly, while an inset image of a clock reads 3am

I tried a Chief Medical Officer's hack to fall asleep fast after waking up at 3 a.m. and it worked — here's why

By Ruth Jones Published

It's all about putting the brakes on stressful, anxious thoughts so that you can drift back to sleep quickly

Sleep
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