The sleep survival kit that helped me stay refreshed and alert for (most of) 2025

A girl in stripey jumper jumping on navy and white Bear Elite Hybrid mattress (top right). A woman's hand with pink nails putting silver Oura Ring on index finger (top left). The Dreamegg sunrise alarm clock on orange light on wooden table with plant (bottom centre)

(Image credit: Future)

As the sleep tech reviewer at Tom's Guide, I've tested 45 sleep products over the past year and got some of my best night's sleep ever.

While fancy sleep tech can indeed elevate your kip, especially if you're looking to target specific problems — trusty sleep earbuds are a life saver if you're victim to a snoring partner — my first recommendation for restorative rest will always be the best mattress for your body and sleep position.

The top 5 products in my sleep survival kit

1. A reliable cooling mattress

Two of our mattress testers sitting on the navy and white Bear Elite Hybrid mattress on wooden bedframe in sleep studio with blue walls, wooden bedside table, plant and black chair. — (Image credit: Future)

I've been sleeping on the Bear Elite Hybrid mattress, which we name as the best cooling mattress of 2025, for the past three months and I can honestly say it is the most comfortable bed to ever grace my bedroom.

I tend to run hot at night around my period, and my dad insists on blasting the log burner at this time of year so my house is like a sauna by the time I go to bed.

But since I've been sleeping on this mattress packed with Celliant cooling fibers and an airy coil layer, I can honestly say I've stopped tossing and turning at bedtime.

Instead I drift off comfortably and have avoided waking up in a sweaty fluster during the night. Specialist cooling mattresses like the Bear Hybrid may cost a little more than standard beds, but they're worth it for the sleep comfort they offer.

Plus there are plenty of more affordable options out there like the Siena memory foam mattress at $244 for a queen size on Amazon, which performed brilliantly in our temperature regulation tests.

And if you're not ready to upgrade your mattress yet, check out our low-cost cooling hacks for more comfortable sleep.

2. A quality sunrise alarm clock

Hatch Restore 3 sunrise alarm clock on wooden bedside table next to cactus and glass of water. Brown bedding on bed. — (Image credit: Hatch)

It's never easy to wake up on dark mornings, but the best sunrise alarm clocks make it more bearable. Simulating a sunrise inside your bedroom followed by a soothing audio alarm, a sunrise clock gradually pulls you from sleep so you feel less groggy, and more alert, upon waking.

I've tested half a dozen sunrise alarm clocks over the past year and can tell you you won't get better than the Hatch Restore 3. There's a reason it's the trendiest alarm clock over TikTok right now, but it's rather pricey at $169.99 (and it requires a subscription fee.)

Therefore, if you're looking to stretch your dollars further this new year, I recommend the $59 Dreamegg sunrise alarm clock. It's still sleek and offers a great sunrise simulation as well as calming sleep sounds, for over $100 less than the Hatch — cha-ching!

3. Breathable cotton bedding

Coop Percale sheet set in the carboard box and packaging — (Image credit: Future)

Since your core body temperature needs to drop for your brain to release sleepy hormones (melatonin) to fall asleep fast, it's important you create a cool sleep environment.

One of the things I find helps me avoid overheating at night is breathable cotton sheets that allow air to flow through your bed.

Our sheet expert, Becky George, picks the Coop Cotton Percale Sheet Set as the best bedding of the year. She says these sheets prove "high quality, luxury sheets don't need to come with bells and whistles" because "these natural, cotton sheets in a classic weave deliver comfort, softness that's designed to improve with every wash and consistent breathability."

4. A trusty sleep tracker

Our sleep tech tester testing the silver Oura Ring 4 in bed with white bedsheets and a rattan headboard — (Image credit: Future)

While tracking your sleep won't instantly mean you sleep better, looking deeper into your nighttime habits and biometrics can help you understand what you need to do to give your body a better chance of getting good rest.

I've spent the year reviewing the best sleep trackers from top brands like Oura, Garmin and Apple. During this, I've discovered the main advantage of sleep tracking is the accountability it provides, encouraging me to stick to a consistent sleep schedule.

Perhaps the greatest lessons I've learnt as a sleep writer is that going to sleep and waking up at the same time night-in night-out is the best way to make sure you get good quality sleep and feel refreshed the following day.

Having my Oura Ring 4 both remind me bedtime is approaching and record my wake up time each morning makes it easier to stick to these regular sleep timings.

5. Red light reading clip

A red light clipped onto book page — (Image credit: Future)

A not-so-obvious sleep accessory but one I've used every night this year is a red reading light clip.

As a dedicated bedtime reader, I'm all for creating a cozy sleep-friendly environment to enjoy while I devour a chapter or two before bed. I tried the Bon Charge blue light blocking reading clip at the start of 2025 and have never looked back.

I've honestly used it most nights of the year and find it does a brilliant job of making me sleepy in the evenings, thanks to the melatonin production it promotes.

It's also super practical if you share a bed. The big light and bright lamps can be switched off to help your partner sleep, while your page is illuminated so you can read.

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