Overview
The Yogasleep Travel Mini emerges as a standout option in the realm of portable sleep aids, particularly for those seeking a Travel Noise Machine. As someone who has tested numerous white noise machines, I can attest to the Travel Mini’s incredibly compact design, making it exceptionally well-suited for travel. Beyond its size, the inclusion of a dimmable nightlight and a rechargeable internal battery further enhances its appeal, especially when navigating unfamiliar sleeping environments.
However, it’s important to acknowledge that the sound selection is limited to six options, and the small speaker may struggle to effectively mask very loud, disruptive external noises.
Pros
- Offers soothing soundscapes, including the renowned original Dohm fan sound.
- Boasts a remarkably compact and lightweight design, ideal for portability.
- Features a dimmable nightlight, adding convenience in dark rooms.
- Powered by a rechargeable internal battery or via USB, offering flexibility.
- Available at a reasonable price point, making it accessible.
Cons
- Lacks auto-off timers, a feature often desired for continuous overnight use.
- Presents a limited selection of only six distinct sounds.
- Exhibits low bass output, potentially less effective against deep, rumbling noises.
- Features small buttons that can be somewhat challenging to operate.
Full In-Depth Review of the Yogasleep Travel Mini
In the image below, you can see the nightlight feature of the Yogasleep Travel Mini illuminating, demonstrating its soft glow. Further down in this review, you will also find an image showcasing its nightlight in a bedroom setting.
Hello, Ethan Green here from nosleeplessnights.com. In this review, we’re diving deep into the Yogasleep Travel Mini white noise machine. Having reviewed countless sleep sound machines over the years, I can confidently say this one truly lives up to its “mini” designation. It’s the smallest portable sound machine I’ve encountered.
Its portability is further enhanced by an internal rechargeable battery and a night light. This makes it an excellent choice for individuals needing a noise machine for travel or even for use in a child’s bedroom. It’s designed to be a convenient sleep aid for travel, ensuring restful nights wherever you are.
The photograph below illustrates the size comparison between the Travel Mini and other common white noise machines like the Renpho and Homedics Sound Spa, highlighting the Travel Mini’s significantly smaller footprint.
Yogasleep Travel Mini, Renpho, and Homedics white noise machines
I purchased this in the UK for just under £35, and it’s currently available in the US for under $25. This price point positions it as a very budget-friendly travel white noise machine.
Let’s move to the table to explore the sounds, features, and night light in detail. We’ll also discuss the pros and cons to give you a comprehensive understanding before concluding.
Power and Battery Performance
This section corresponds to 0:40 in the video review.
The image presented below displays the contents of the Yogasleep Travel Mini packaging upon purchase, including the device, USB power cable, user manual, and the box itself.
First, let’s talk about power. It includes a micro USB to USB cable, allowing for continuous operation when plugged in, eliminating battery concerns. You can also use any longer micro USB cable you might have.
The internal rechargeable battery is a standout feature, making it a truly portable noise machine. The small indicator light next to the charging port shows charging status – flashing when charging and solid when fully charged.
Battery Life and Charging Time
- Full charge from empty takes approximately 3.5 to 4 hours.
- On a full charge, it provides 8+ hours of sound playback (depending on volume and sound selection).
- Using both sound and nightlight reduces battery life to around 5 hours on a full charge.
This battery performance is quite impressive for a device of this size, making it a reliable battery operated noise machine for travel.
Button Interface and Controls
This section starts at 1:08 in the video review.
Before we delve into the sounds, let’s discuss the buttons. The speaker grill is on top, while the controls are located underneath. This design choice means you need to flip the device to adjust settings.
The following close-up photograph provides a detailed view of the Yogasleep Travel Mini’s button interface, showcasing the five small buttons.
photo of the yogasleep travel mini button interface
As you can see, the buttons are quite small – almost resembling braille. They can be difficult to see in low light and even in daylight.
There are five buttons: a central power on/off button, a sun icon for the night light, volume down, volume up, and a sound selection button. While functional, their size and lack of tactile distinction can be a minor inconvenience, especially in the dark when you’re trying to quickly adjust your travel sound machine.
Sound Options and Quality
This section begins at 1:52 in the video review.
Now, let’s listen to the available sounds. I’ll cycle through each one, and at the end, I’ll demonstrate the volume range, from the lowest to the highest setting.
Available Soundscapes
- White Noise: A classic and consistent sound masking option.
- Brown Noise: Deeper and richer than white noise, often preferred for its calming effect.
- Stream: Mimics the gentle sound of flowing water, very soothing.
- Gentle Surf: Replicates the relaxing sound of ocean waves.
- Original Dohm: Features the recorded sound of the iconic Dohm fan, a favorite for many.
- Thunderstorm: Simulates the rumble of thunder, intended to be a more dynamic sound.
Personally, I find all six sounds quite pleasant. However, the small speaker does struggle a bit with the thunderstorm sound, a common limitation in smaller portable noise machines. The thunderstorm effect might be less impactful on this device compared to models with larger speakers.
On the other hand, I particularly enjoy the stream and gentle surf sounds. The white noise is decent, leaning more towards a fan-like sound rather than deep white noise.
The inclusion of the original Dohm sound is a significant plus. It provides the familiar and beloved sound of the Dohm Uno or Dohm DS, a great feature for Dohm enthusiasts seeking a portable white noise machine. It eliminates the need to carry the bulkier Dohm machine while traveling. The brown noise is also a relaxing and valuable addition.
While a wider variety of sounds would be appreciated, it’s uncommon to find more sound options in such a compact travel noise machine. The selection offered is generally high quality and caters to common preferences for sleep sounds.
Sound Looping
I timed the thunderstorm loop at approximately one minute, characterized by two long, repeating thunderclaps. The gentle surf has a similar loop length, noticeable if you listen closely. The other sounds didn’t have any easily discernible loop points, which is a positive aspect.
Loop lengths between 30 and 90 seconds are typical for white noise machines, making this an average performance in terms of looping. This means the looping is generally well-managed and not overly distracting during sleep.
Night Light Feature
This section starts at 4:08 in the video review.
Let’s examine the night light. The sun button controls the light. While it might be faint in daylight, you can see it through the camera lens here.
These images showcase the soft amber glow of the Travel Mini’s nightlight. It’s designed to be subtle enough not to disrupt sleep but provides enough light to navigate a dark room or locate the buttons on the device.
It offers three dimmable settings: low, medium, and high brightness, plus an off option. The amber glow is warm and pleasant. I’ve included a video taken in a child’s bedroom to better demonstrate its effectiveness in a dark environment.
The night light provides a comforting glow, and the dimmable feature is excellent. The included lanyard adds to its portability, allowing you to hang it in various locations – a door handle, bedside lamp, or anywhere convenient. This is particularly useful when checking on children at night in unfamiliar hotel rooms or bedrooms.
photo of the yogasleep travel mini in a bedroom with the nightlight turned on
I particularly appreciate that the night light can be operated independently of the sound. You don’t need to turn on the sound to use the night light, which adds to its versatility as a standalone night light as well as a travel noise machine.
Compact Size and Portability
This section begins at 5:06 in the video review.
The defining characteristic of the Yogasleep Travel Mini is its incredibly small size.
- Weight: 0.3 pounds / 136 grams
- Dimensions: 2.5 x 2.5 x 1.77 inches / 6.35 x 6.35 x 4.5 centimeters
These dimensions and weight truly make it a mini travel noise machine, easily fitting into luggage, carry-ons, or even a purse. Its portability is unmatched by larger, more traditional sound machines.
Warranty and Trial Period
It comes with a one-year warranty and a 101-night trial. This generous trial period allows you to test it risk-free and return it if it doesn’t meet your needs. This demonstrates confidence in the product’s quality and customer satisfaction.
Aesthetic Design
The visual design of the Yogasleep Travel Mini is appealing. It’s sleek, minimalist, and looks good on a bedside table or any surface. Its unobtrusive design ensures it blends well with various room decors, unlike some less aesthetically pleasing noise machines.
Button Usability in Darkness
One of the main drawbacks is the button design. They are tricky to use, especially at night. If you have dexterity issues or impaired vision, operating the buttons might be challenging.
My workaround in the dark is to remember the button next to the lanyard is volume up, and the opposite one is volume down. Right from the lanyard is the light, and left is sound selection. However, relying on such a system isn’t ideal. Clearer, more tactile buttons would significantly improve usability, particularly for nighttime adjustments of your travel noise machine.
Pros Summarized
This section starts at 6:06 in the video review.
Let’s quickly recap the pros of the Yogasleep Travel Mini.
Portability: As emphasized, its portability and tiny size are major advantages, making it perfect as a travel noise machine.
Nightlight: The inclusion of a night light is a very useful feature.
Internal Battery: The rechargeable internal battery enhances its convenience and portability.
Price: The budget-friendly price makes it an accessible option.
These pros highlight its strengths as a convenient, practical, and affordable portable sleep sound machine.
Cons Summarized
This section begins at 6:42 in the video review.
No Auto-Off Timers: The lack of timers is a notable downside. Timers are beneficial for conserving battery and avoiding continuous sound playback throughout the night.
Limited Sound Choice: Six sounds are somewhat limited. More sound options would be preferable for greater variety.
Lack of Bass: Like many small travel noise machines, it lacks bass. It’s less effective at blocking out low-frequency noises like bass music or heavy footsteps. It’s better suited for masking mid to high-frequency sounds.
Button Visibility and Usability: The tiny buttons are difficult to see and operate, especially in the dark.
These cons point out areas where the Travel Mini could be improved, particularly in sound variety and user interface.
Final Verdict
This section starts at 7:34 in the video review.
My final verdict on the Yogasleep Travel Mini is that it excels in portability. The night light and rechargeable battery are highly convenient features.
Fans of the larger Dohm machines will appreciate having a portable option with the recorded Dohm fan sound for travel. Just be aware of the somewhat fiddly buttons and the basic speaker, which is reflective of its budget price.
Overall, the Yogasleep Travel Mini is an excellent travel noise machine for those prioritizing portability and essential features at an affordable price.
