Every time someone finds out I write about it sunrise alarm clockThey asked me if I had tried Hatch yet. Specifically, Restore Hatch 2 ($170)that I saw above gift guide left and right this holiday season. It’s a good device, but personally I think you can do better.
Hatch Restore is great for oversleptand it’s great if you want one sound machine. But if you really want to wake up easier, that’s not what I recommend. Mine Favorite sunrise alarm clock Both sell for over $200, which may be a little more than you want to spend. But if you’re looking for something a little cheaper (and cheaper than Hatch’s $170 price tag!) that can do all the same tricks, look no further than the Lumie Bodyclock Shine 300.
Brightside before going to bed
The way sunrise alarm clocks work is that they gradually light up over a certain period of time. Both Lumie and Hatch default to starting at about 20 minutes, and you can customize the time to be longer or shorter to slowly wake you up. It simulates a sunrise, but right next to your face and at your preferred time rather than whenever the sun actually rises. It’s especially useful during these dark winter months and if you need blackout curtains to help you sleep (or if you have a windowless room, like I did in college).
The sunrise alarm clock is said to simulate the sunrise, the very thing that creates life. So, the ability to be beautiful and bright is an obvious necessity. That’s my problem with the Hatch – it’s not bright enough to wake me up in the morning. I don’t have that problem with the Shine 300, it’s bright enough not only to wake me up but also doubles as my night light at night.
It only has a bunch of sunrise-like yellow and white shades it can do, while the Hatch can produce enough rainbow light like a smart bulb, but I find I don’t really need it. Green or purple mood lights on a daily basis. What I need is something bright enough to wake me up, especially as someone who is not a morning person.
It also has a relaxation routine, allowing you to customize the routine with sounds and dim the lights at your preferred time intervals to help you relax and fall asleep. It’s one of my favorite traits as someone who has as much trouble sleeping as waking up. I also like that I can click a button and trigger the routine on the Shine 300 whenever I’m ready.
Little oddities
Photo: Lumie; Getty Images
The main downside of not getting the Hatch is losing out on the Hatch’s larger sound library. Hatch Restore 2 gives you access to 13 wake-up sounds and 24 sleep sounds, plus you can get additional content if you subscribe Hatch+ ($5 a month). Everything with Hatch is set up through its app, which is very easy to use.
