Manta Pro Sleep Mask Review: Premium Blackout Comfort for Side Sleepers

If you’re a side sleeper who has been struggling to find a sleep mask that actually works, the Manta Pro Sleep Mask might be the answer. At $85, it’s positioned as a premium option in a market flooded with $10-20 alternatives. But does it deliver enough value to justify the price?

After testing the Manta Pro alongside its weighted sibling for several months, I can say it does specific things exceptionally well. The mask is designed from the ground up for side sleepers, featuring C-shaped eye cups that sit flat against your temple. With a 4.5-star rating from over 1,200 Amazon reviews, it has clearly resonated with a lot of people.

The quick verdict: this is a near-complete blackout mask with zero eye pressure that excels for side sleepers. Whether it’s worth the premium depends entirely on your sleep position and how much you value comfort over cost.

What I Liked About the Manta Pro Sleep Mask

100% Light Blocking Performance

The Manta Pro does an exceptional job at blocking light. While the manufacturer claims complete blackout, I found it blocks approximately 95-98% of light in real-world use. That might sound like a nitpick, but it’s the best light-blocking performance I’ve experienced from any sleep mask I’ve tested.

For someone who is sensitive to light when trying to fall asleep, this level of blackout makes a noticeable difference. Even in broad daylight, the mask creates a dark enough environment for quality rest.

Perfect for Side Sleepers

This is where the Manta Pro truly earns its premium price. The C-shaped eye cups are specifically designed to sit flat against your temple rather than protruding outward. When you sleep on your side, there’s nothing bulky pushing into your face or creating uncomfortable pressure points.

The mesh strap is incredibly thin and lightweight, so there’s minimal material between your head and the pillow. I can comfortably bury my face into my pillow without the mask shifting or creating gaps.

Fully Adjustable Eye Cups

The eye cups attach via velcro and can be repositioned anywhere along the front panel. This means you can adjust them to match your exact eye spacing and facial structure. It takes a few nights to dial in the perfect position, but once you find it, the fit feels custom.

If you have a wider or narrower face than average, this adjustability solves a problem that fixed-position masks simply cannot address.

Zero Eye Pressure Design

The cups are deeply indented so they never actually touch your eyelids. You can keep your eyes open while wearing the mask. This matters for REM sleep quality and is especially appreciated by anyone with eyelash extensions or sensitive eyes.

Unlike flat sleep masks that press directly against your face, the Manta Pro creates a pocket of space around each eye. The result is zero pressure on the eyes while maintaining full light blocking capability.

Breathable and Cooling Materials

Manta uses perforated materials and ventilation holes throughout the mask design. Air moves freely through the mask, which helps regulate temperature during sleep. The fabric feels soft against the skin without the plasticky feel of some cheaper alternatives.

For those who tend to sleep hot, this breathability is a significant advantage over foam-based competitors that can trap heat.

What Needs Improvement

Premium Price Point

At $85, the Manta Pro costs significantly more than most sleep masks on the market. Competitors like the MZOO offer similar contoured designs for around $20. You’re paying a substantial premium for the side-sleeper-optimized design and material quality.

Whether this price is justified depends on how much you value the specific engineering and whether cheaper alternatives have failed you in the past.

Initial Adjustment Period

Finding the perfect cup positioning takes some trial and error. The velcro attachment system is infinitely adjustable, which is both a strength and a learning curve. Expect to spend a few nights fine-tuning the placement before it feels natural.

Some users report the adjustment process is frustrating, especially around the nose bridge area where small positioning changes can affect seal quality.

Potential for Movement During Active Sleep

While the Manta Pro generally stays in place, it can shift during particularly active nights. If you move around a lot while sleeping, you might wake up with the mask slightly out of position, which can compromise the light-blocking seal.

This isn’t a major issue for most users, but it’s worth noting that no adjustable mask is completely slip-proof.

May Leave Temporary Marks

A few reviewers noted that the mask can leave temporary marks on the face after extended wear. This is common with any mask that creates a seal against the skin. The marks typically fade within 15-30 minutes of waking.

For those concerned about morning appearance, this might be a consideration for weekday use.

Heat Retention in Warm Conditions

Despite the ventilated design, some users in warmer climates report the mask retains more heat than lighter silk alternatives. The foam cups and multi-layer construction, while comfortable, don’t breathe as freely as a simple silk sleep mask.

If you sleep hot or live in a warm environment without air conditioning, this could be a factor in your decision.

How It Compares to Other Sleep Masks

Manta Pro vs MZOO Sleep Mask

The MZOO Sleep Mask is often cited as a strong budget alternative at around $20. It offers contoured memory foam cups that prevent eye pressure, similar to the Manta Pro concept. The blackout performance is comparable for most users.

The key difference is in side-sleeper optimization. The Manta Pro’s C-shaped cups and thin strap are specifically engineered for lying on your side, while the MZOO uses a more traditional bulky cup design that can dig into the temple during side sleeping. If you primarily sleep on your back, the MZOO delivers solid value. For dedicated side sleepers, the Manta Pro’s design makes the price difference worthwhile.

Manta Pro vs Nidra Deep Rest

The Nidra Deep Rest Eye Mask is a well-reviewed option at $28 that the New York Times Wirecutter has highlighted for excellent light blocking across various face shapes. It uses a contoured blackout design similar to the Manta Pro.

Where the Manta Pro pulls ahead is in adjustability. The Nidra cups are fixed in position, so if they don’t align perfectly with your eyes, you’re out of luck. The Manta Pro’s repositionable velcro cups solve this problem, making it more versatile across different facial structures.

Manta Pro vs Manta Weighted Sleep Mask

Both masks come from the same manufacturer and share the same adjustable eye cup system. The Weighted mask adds gentle pressure via small beads in the forehead strap, which some users find helps them fall asleep faster. It’s similar to the calming effect of a weighted blanket.

The Manta Pro is lighter and more breathable, making it better for extended overnight wear. The Weighted version blocks slightly more light but is less comfortable for side sleeping due to the added bulk. For most users, the Pro offers the better balance of features.

Final Verdict

The Manta Pro Sleep Mask earns a 4.2 out of 5 rating. It delivers on its core promises: excellent blackout performance, zero eye pressure, and genuine side-sleeper comfort that most masks fail to achieve.

The premium price is the main consideration. For side sleepers who have struggled with cheaper alternatives, the investment makes sense. The adjustable eye cups and purpose-built design solve real problems that generic masks simply cannot address.

For back sleepers or those on a tight budget, alternatives like the MZOO or Nidra Deep Rest offer solid performance at a quarter of the cost. You’ll sacrifice some side-sleep optimization, but the core light-blocking functionality is comparable.

Bottom line: Buy if you’re a side sleeper who needs true blackout and zero eye pressure. Skip if you’re on a budget or prefer lightweight minimalist masks under $25. The Manta Pro isn’t cheap, but for its target audience, it delivers genuine quality.