HiStrips Onyx Beat Every Silent Alarm We Tested
We slept with it on one wrist and FitSleeps Pulse, Slumblr, RISE Band or Reformly Luna on the other.
By Jenna Morrow, Sleep Gear Reviewer
If You Only Read This
Onyx is the only one of the five that builds from a soft buzz to a strong one and lasts up to 14 days between charges, for under $40.
FitSleeps Pulse Standard is $39 and matches the 14 days, but it buzzes at one fixed strength, and the build-up only comes on the $59 Pro. Slumblr costs the least at $34.99, though it doesn't list a battery life and US orders take 12 to 15 business days. RISE Band does the most of the five, with 5 alarms, a timer and an IP65 version, and if you need more than three alarms it earns its $55, or $62 for the waterproof one. Reformly Luna has nearly the same features as Onyx, with a battery rated for 7 days, half of Onyx's 14. Onyx is $39.95 and gets you the build-up and the two weeks in one band.
The Scorecard
Eight things to check before you choose the band you'll strap on every single night.
HiStrips
Onyx
FitSleeps
Pulse
Slumblr
Alarm Watch
RISE
Band
Reformly
Luna1.
HiStrips Onyx
Editor's Pick
For the heavy sleeper who misses phone alarms and doesn't sleep alone.
✓ Battery Up to 14 days
✓ Price $39.95 (was $85)
✓ Alarms Up to 3
✓ Vibration 3 levels, builds up
✓ App None needed
✓ Display Time, date, day
My alarm was set for 5:30 on a Tuesday, an hour I usually sleep straight through. Onyx started with a faint buzz against my wrist that I slept right through, then kept getting stronger until I was sitting up in the dark. My partner rolled over and kept snoring. He didn't know I was up until he walked into the kitchen and found the coffee already made.
Onyx is a slim, ribbed band with a dot-matrix LED and a single button. You set up to three alarms on the band itself, each one repeating daily, and no app or phone gets involved at any point. At alarm time it vibrates through three intensity levels, starting gentle and climbing until you're up. The display stays dark until you press the button, then shows the time, the date and the day of the week, which is all I want at 3 a.m. when I'm working out how much longer I get.
My one real gripe is the missing snooze button. If you're a snoozer, set a second alarm a few minutes after the first, which is what I ended up doing. Each alarm also stops on its own after 2 minutes of buzzing, so a truly deep sleeper should set all three. Onyx has no IP rating. It handles hand washing and a sweaty night fine, but I took it off before the pool. The peg-and-hole clasp took me a couple of tries the first night, too.
Living with it is easy. It's rated for up to 14 days between charges with normal nightly use, and I got into the habit of putting it on the magnetic charger on Sunday nights, so it never ran flat on me. The charger and a USB cable both come in the box. You can get it in Black, Grey, Pink or White. I went with Black.
Pros
Vibration builds through 3 intensity levels, starting gentle and getting stronger until you're awake
Rated for up to 14 days between charges with normal nightly use, so a weekly top-up is plenty
Up to 3 alarms that repeat daily, all set on the band itself
LED readout shows the time, date and day at a button press
Works on its own, with no app, phone or subscription
Magnetic charger and USB cable come in the box
100-day money-back guarantee; $35.96 each when you buy two
Cons
No IP rating, so it's fine for hand washing and sweat but has to come off before you swim
Three alarms is the limit, and there's no snooze button
If you sleep through your phone and the person beside you would like to keep sleeping when you get up, Onyx is the band I'd spend my own $39.95 on.
2.
FitSleeps Pulse
Pro Upgrade Pick
✓ Battery Up to 14 days
✓ Price $39 (Pro $59)
✓ Alarms 3 (Pro: 5)
✓ Vibration Fixed (Pro ramps)
✓ App None needed
✓ Water Splash-resistant
The Pulse comes in two versions, and the one you pick decides most of this review. The Standard is $39, which is 95 cents less than Onyx. The Pro is $59. Buy two of either and you save 10%, or buy three and save 20%. That $20 gap between them pays for a different kind of wake-up, and I didn't feel how different until I'd slept in both.
It's a matte black silicone band with a buckle, dark until you press the button. Then an LED dot-matrix readout glows through the strap with the time. You set the alarms on the band itself. You don't need an app, a phone, Bluetooth or a subscription, and at 5:30 in the morning I liked not reaching for my phone. To charge it, you pull the module out and push it straight into a USB port. A full charge takes about an hour. FitSleeps doesn't put a wall adapter in the box, so plan on a laptop or a USB power strip.
If you sleep through nearly everything and can't stand charging gadgets, the Pro is worth the extra money. Five alarms and 20+ days per charge put it among the best-equipped bands I tested, and its buzz climbs from low to high by itself. The 2-year warranty and 100-day trial make it an easy one to try.
The Standard is where I'd slow down. It buzzes at one fixed strength every single time, and that strength never ramps up. Some mornings that strength felt right. Other mornings it jolted me awake, and the band gives you no way to soften it or let it build. Water is the second limit. The Pulse is splash-resistant and handles sweat, but it isn't made for swimming, and the waterproof upgrade is a $7.95 add-on.
Where Onyx Differs
Onyx gives you the gentle-to-strong buzz for $39.95, with three intensity levels and the same 14-day battery rating as the Standard Pulse. On the Pulse, that build-up only comes with the $59 Pro, so you pay roughly $19 more for it. Onyx stops at three alarms, so if you need five, the Pro still earns its price.
Pros
The $39 Standard lasts as long as 14 days per charge
The Pro steps up to 5 alarms and 20+ days between charges
Works with no app, phone, Bluetooth or subscription, and the time lights up on a button press
2-year warranty, a 100-day trial and free shipping in 5 to 10 business days
Cons
The $39 Standard buzzes at one fixed strength and never ramps up
A buzz that builds from low to high costs $59 with the Pro
Splash-resistant only; waterproofing is a $7.95 add-on
No wall adapter in the box, so you charge it from a USB port
3.
Slumblr Alarm Watch
Lowest Price
✓ Battery Not listed
✓ Price $34.99 (was $69.99)
✓ Alarms Count not listed
✓ Water IP65
✓ Weight 18 g
✓ Extras Step counter
Slumblr's watch costs $34.99, the lowest single-band price on this page, and all 9 colors sell for the same amount. For that you also get a step counter and an IP65 rating, which covers hand washing, face washing and light rain. It's the only band under $40 in this lineup with an IP rating at all. For someone who flinches at paying forty dollars for an alarm, that's a strong opening offer.
It looks like a basic fitness band: one silicone strap with a press-button clasp and a white LED display that shows the time. At alarm time it vibrates on your wrist without a sound, and it runs with no phone, app or subscription. It weighs 18 g, fits wrists 12 to 19 cm, and charges through a USB plug built into the band.
It suits a reader who wants to test whether a wrist buzz wakes them before spending more, or someone who likes a daily step count and wants to keep the band on while washing their hands. Owners rate it 4.5 stars across 118 reviews, which is solid for a band at this price.
My problem is everything Slumblr leaves out. It doesn't list a battery life, an alarm count or any intensity settings, so you can't tell if the buzz ever builds. The two-button setup has a real learning curve. US delivery runs 12 to 15 business days, and the 60-day refund means buying your own return label.
Where Onyx Differs
For $4.96 more, Onyx gives you numbers to plan around: a 14-day battery rating, three alarms, and three intensity levels that start gentle and build until you're up. US orders arrive in 3 to 7 business days. Slumblr ships free on one band and keeps the edge on water, since Onyx has no IP rating.
Pros
$34.99 is the lowest price for one band here, and all 9 colors cost the same
IP65 rated for hand washing, face washing and light rain
Counts your steps and shows the time on a white LED display
Light at 18 g, fits wrists 12 to 19 cm, and runs with no phone, app or subscription
Cons
Slumblr doesn't list a battery life
No stated alarm count and no intensity settings, so there's no ramp to count on
Orders to the US take 12 to 15 business days to arrive
Two-button setup takes some learning, and you pay the return label on refunds
4.
RISE Band
Most Alarms
✓ Battery 15 to 20+ days
✓ Price $62 (IP65) / $55
✓ Alarms Up to 5
✓ Water IP65 version
✓ Warranty 2 years
✓ Weight 19 g
RISE is the strongest rival on this list, and it packs in more features than Onyx. You get up to 5 alarms plus a timer and a stopwatch, and the vibration builds from a soft pulse to full strength. Owners back it up, too: 4.72 stars from 1,626 reviews. You pay for all of that. The regular band is $55, and the IP65 waterproof version is $62.
The band is soft silicone with an LED clock and a single button, and you set every alarm on the band itself. Nothing pairs with a phone. It weighs 19 g, and one size fits wrists from 5.3 to 9.3 inches. My first test was a 5:30 alarm on a weeknight. The buzz started as a nudge and kept climbing until I was sitting up, and the person next to me never moved.
RISE designed it with deaf and hard-of-hearing sleepers in mind, and I'd hand it to anyone who can't count on hearing an alarm at all. It's also the right buy if three alarms won't cover your week, say a 5:00 for early shifts, a 9:00 for late ones, and a backup a few minutes after each. If your band will see water, get the IP65 waterproof version. The 2-year warranty is a nice cushion too.
It slips in the details. RISE's own pages disagree on the battery: one says 20+ days, the instructions say about 15. A full charge takes 45 minutes, but the module plugs straight into a USB-A port and there's no wall charger in the box, so a laptop with only USB-C ports won't help you. The 100-night trial is generous, though you pay return shipping if it goes back. One owner with limited hand dexterity found the clasp hard to work.
Price is what keeps it at #4. For a deaf or hard-of-hearing sleeper, or a shift worker who needs four or five alarms, I'd pay the extra and not think twice. If you wake at one time on weekdays and another on weekends, most of what you're paying for will sit unused.
Where Onyx Differs
Onyx builds its buzz from gentle to strong too, and it comes with a magnetic charger and cable in the box. It stops at 3 alarms and has no IP rating, so I keep mine out of the shower. If three alarms cover your week and the band stays dry, Onyx does the core job for $15 to $22 less.
Pros
Up to 5 alarms, plus a built-in timer and stopwatch
Vibration builds to full strength
IP65 waterproof version for $7 more than the regular band
2-year warranty and 4.72 stars from 1,626 reviews
Cons
$55 for the regular band, $62 for the waterproof one
RISE's own pages disagree on battery: 20+ days or about 15 days
No wall charger in the box; it plugs into USB-A
100-night trial, but you pay return shipping if it goes back
5.
Reformly Luna
Ramp-Up Basic
✓ Battery Up to 7 days
✓ Price $39.99 (was $85.99)
✓ Alarms Up to 3
✓ Vibration 3 levels, builds up
✓ App None needed
✓ Water Daily wear, no swim
Luna costs $39.99, four cents more than Onyx, and it works almost exactly like it. Reformly is mostly a Pilates equipment brand, and Luna sits in its devices range. I was curious how a fitness company would handle a wrist alarm, and it got me up every morning I wore it. Two bands save you 10% and three save 20%.
You set it on the band itself, with no app and no phone in the loop. It holds up to 3 alarms. The vibration has 3 intensity levels and builds gradually, and heavy sleepers can set it to repeat at intervals so a missed first round comes back. A white LED shows the time. To charge it, you push the module out of the strap and plug it into a USB port. My 6:15 alarm started as a faint tremor and got firm enough to get me out of bed, and nobody else in the room noticed a thing.
Battery is where Luna falls behind. It's rated for up to 7 days, so mine went on the charger every weekend. It's black only. It's water-resistant for daily wear and has no IP rating, so keep it out of the pool. Reformly doesn't publish a weight or a band size either, which leaves you guessing about fit until it's on your wrist. Charging means pushing the module out of the strap and plugging it into a USB port.
I'd point someone toward Luna if they want the gentle-to-strong buzz at this price and don't mind a weekly charge. Anyone who travels a lot, or hates remembering to charge things, will hit that 7-day limit first.
Where Onyx Differs
Onyx is $39.95, within 4 cents of Luna, and matches it on alarms and on the gentle-to-strong buzz. It's rated for 14 days a charge, twice Luna's 7, and comes in four colors.
Pros
$39.99, with 10% off two bands and 20% off three
3 intensity levels that build until you wake up
Up to 3 alarms, with repeat intervals for heavy sleepers
Everything is set on the band, and the LED shows the time
Cons
Rated for up to 7 days a charge, half of what Onyx is rated for
No IP rating, and Reformly publishes no weight or band size
Only sold in black, while Onyx comes in four colors
The module comes out of the strap every time you charge it
Why HiStrips Onyx Ranks #1 This Year
Line all five up on a nightstand and the basics match. Every one buzzes on your wrist without a sound and shows the time, and none of them needs an app. So we ranked them on how each band wakes you, how long a charge lasts and what you pay.
One: It starts gentle, then builds.
Onyx opens with a light pulse on your wrist and steps up through three levels until you're awake. On my 5:30 alarm the first level was enough most mornings, and when it wasn't, the next one got me up. FitSleeps Pulse Standard buzzes at one fixed strength from the first second. Slumblr doesn't list any intensity settings at all.
Two: Up to 14 days on a charge.
Onyx is rated for up to 14 days on a charge with normal nightly use, and FitSleeps Standard matches it. Reformly Luna is rated for 7, which puts it on the charger every week. Slumblr doesn't list a battery life at all. RISE's own pages disagree with each other: 20+ days in one spot, about 15 in its instructions.
Three: Both of those, for under $40.
At $39.95, Onyx is the only band under $40 that does both. RISE does both too, and adds two more alarms plus a timer, but it costs $55, or $62 for the waterproof version. FitSleeps charges $59 for the Pro if you want its ramp. That's about $19 more than Onyx.
Four: 100 days to change your mind.
Onyx comes with a 100-day money-back guarantee. If you and your partner get up at different times and each want one, the 2-pack brings it down to $35.96 a band, and that order ships free.
HiStrips Onyx is the band for heavy sleepers who sleep through phone alarms and for anyone up before their partner. If you need more than 3 alarms or a waterproof band, RISE fits better. Everyone else, start with Onyx.
Before You Buy
It's an alarm you wear. At the time you set, the band buzzes on your wrist, starting gentle and getting stronger through three levels until you wake, with no sound alarm. You can set up to 3 alarms that repeat daily, and each one buzzes for 2 minutes before it stops. Press the single button and the LED shows the time, date and day of the week. It doesn't track your sleep, and you set everything on the band itself, with no phone or app.
Heavy sleepers are who it's built for. The buzz is right on your skin and climbs through three levels until you're up, and it keeps going for 2 minutes. There's no snooze button, so if you tend to drift back off, set a backup alarm a few minutes later.
The buzz stays on your wrist and Onyx has no sound alarm, so a partner usually sleeps on while you get up. That's why I started testing these in the first place: my 5:30 phone alarm was waking two people every weekday. With the band on, most mornings it was just me awake.
Onyx is rated for up to 14 days of normal nightly use between charges. I got in the habit of charging mine every Sunday night. It charges with the magnetic charger and USB cable that come in the box, so keep that charger somewhere you'll find it again.
It's water-resistant for daily wear, so hand washing and sweat are fine. It isn't designed for swimming, and Onyx doesn't list an IP rating, so I take mine off before a shower. If you want a waterproof one, RISE sells an IP65 version for $62.
Important: HiStrips Onyx and the other bands reviewed on this page are consumer alarms worn on the wrist. None of them is a medical device, and none is meant to diagnose, treat or manage any sleep disorder or hearing condition. If you regularly sleep through alarms or wake up exhausted, talk to your physician about it. Prices, bundle deals, shipping and return terms were checked in October 2026 and can change at any time, so confirm the current details with each brand before you order.
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