I love sleeping — getting under the covers and rubbing my feet together like a little cricket before drifting into an easy sleep. Except that last part — drifting into an easy sleep — doesn't always happen for me. As an anxious person with insomnia, falling asleep is a battle. I've spent my lifetime gathering a tool kit of breathing exercises, trying sleep trackers, and developing a routine to combat sleepless nights. While I'm usually good at counting my breaths in my mindfulness practice, the Moonbird device promises to be a personal breathing coach for further relaxation.
Over a few weeks, I tested the Moonbird handheld breathing coach, using it to relax in the evenings or calm down in anxious moments. While it's an effective tool, I'm not sure it's worth the price. Plus, we've got to talk about its... interesting design. Here are all my thoughts on the Moonbird breathing coach.
It's an effective, distraction-free breathing tool
Despite being a tech-based tool, the Moonbird breathing coach is a distraction-free device without any required screen time. To use it, gently shake the device awake and hold it with your thumb resting against the sensor. The device then slowly expands and retracts to signal when you should inhale and exhale. The standard exercise runs for six minutes, and then the device shuts off. If you decide to end the exercise early, take your hand off the sensor, which will shut off after a few moments.
Holding the device is genuinely comforting. The feeling of the smooth silicone expanding and falling emulates the image of a lung expanding or your stomach rising and falling with your breath. What I liked most is that using the device takes the thought out of the exercise. No longer did I need to count the seconds of my breath; instead, I focused on the tactile motions of the device, letting my mind rest.
Plus, I love that the Moonbird has no screen or light. While I enjoy tuning into a meditation app or guided breathing exercise on my phone, I don't love doing so before bed when trying to avoid screen time. With the Moonbird, I hold the device to start the exercise with no blue light exposure. It's also a huge plus when I want to use it in bed. My partner goes to bed much earlier than I do, so I don't want to disturb them with any noise or light when I finally slip into bed. The silent and lightless Moonbird lets me use it without disturbing them.
And the Moonbird does work. One evening after hosting a group of friends for movie night, I was still wired despite feeling exhausted. My brain wouldn't shut off after my evening reading, so I reached for the Moonbird to follow its breath coaching, and before the six-minute exercise was over, I was already drifting off. It proved that it really does come in handy in moments I'd otherwise feel restless.
With the app, get customizable breathing exercises and biometric feedback
The Moonbird comes programmed with a standard six-minute breathing exercise, but there are other options. When connected to the Moonbird app, you can adjust the device's settings to other breathing patterns designed for sleep or in the classic box breathing style. There's even an option to create your own breathing program if you have something that already works for you. Custom exercises can range from 2 to 30 minutes. The only downside is that you have to open up your smartphone to do so, defeating the purpose of a screen-free device. I preferred only adjusting the exercises during the day to avoid exposure to nightly screen time.
In addition to other Moonbird settings, the app has a library of educational materials on breathing, stress reduction, and heart rate. When using the app, you also gain access to biometric feedback, such as heart rate, so you can actually see the effects of the Moonbird device.
The Moonbird needs a redesign
We've gone this long, it's time to address the elephant in the room. The Moonbird totally looks like a vibrator. My colleagues and I thought so when we first saw the device, and I have touted it to all my friends for their opinions. Let's be clear, despite its looks, it is not a personal massager. While it's silly to acknowledge, its design affects its usage.
There are many situations where I'd love to bring along the Moonbird for some mindfulness on the go, whether coming down from a stressful situation at work or trying to fall asleep while flying. However, I'd be totally embarrassed to bring this on a plane, knowing what it could be misconstrued for.
Moonbird has an alternative design, the Moonbuddy, which is designed for kids and is downright adorable. It doesn't have the same biofeedback or controls as the Moonbird, but I still wish the flagship device would take on a similar design to look less provocative and more appropriate for public use.
The app is buggy and doesn't have a ton to offer
You could use Moonbird without the app and be totally pleased with it, but $199 is a lot of money to spend on just one breathing exercise. Downloading the app unlocks heart rate tracking and a new set of customizable breathing exercises, but the app itself is buggy.
Every time I've gone to open the app, it requires the Moonbird device to reconnect to the app, which takes a few seconds and is a real pain. Plus, it has a limited library of knowledge compared to apps like Headspace or Calm, so while the accompanying app is an added bonus, it doesn't add much value to the Moonbird's $199 price tag.
Is the Moonbird worth it?
The Moonbird might be worth it if you want a distraction-free breathing tool. It is effective and takes the thinking out of your breathing exercise, but other devices with similar functionality cost a lot less. We recently tested the Dodow, a light-based breathing device, which we thought was expensive at $60. Considering the Moonbird is $199, it's hard to justify its cost when it has a design we're skeptical of — and one you can't use in public.
However, the Moonbird's screen-free design is a huge boon. If you've tried meditation apps, tired of their screen time, and want a silent, distraction-free alternative, the Moonbird might be a worthwhile investment.
