Ellie and Sam had spent four months converting a white van into a home. It had a bed, a tiny stove and a shelf for three books. The distance between their two pillows was about forty centimetres, and for most of the Scottish coast road, that was plenty.
The trouble was the ferry. They had booked a 6:40 crossing from Ullapool, which meant waking at 5 in a car park where the only other sound was the sea.
The Knock on the Door
The night before, Sam set his phone alarm. At 5:00 it rang inside a van made of thin metal, and Ellie sat bolt upright. Two minutes later, there was a polite knock on the side door. A man in a woolly hat from the camper next to them said, very kindly, that his wife had been awake since 4 and that she would like to have a word.
Sam apologised four times and drove to the ferry queue in a silence that was neither angry nor comfortable.
The Twist
That afternoon, in a shop in Stornoway, Ellie bought a small box she had spotted on a shelf near the till. It held a silent bracelet that buzzed on the wrist, and she gave it to Sam without a word.
The next morning, they had an early start for a hike up the hill behind the campsite. At 5:30 Sam felt a gentle buzz, slid out of bed and made the tea in the dark. Ellie woke at seven to a van with the door open, a hot mug on the shelf and a view of the whole bay.
"How long have you been up?" she asked.
"About an hour and a half," said Sam. "You didn't move."
A Quick Honest Note
Sam kept a phone alarm as a backup for the first week, which is what we would suggest to anyone. No wrist alarm can promise to wake every sleeper, and it is worth testing any new alarm before a ferry or a flight depends on it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I wake up early in a camper van without waking my partner?
A silent wrist alarm alerts only you, because it uses vibration instead of sound, so there is nothing to carry through thin walls.
Does it need a phone signal or an app?
No. That is handy in places where the signal comes and goes.
How long does the battery last?
WristUp lasts around 14 days per charge, which suits a long trip.
Try the WristUp Silent Alarm Bracelet →
Built for heavy sleepers
The silent alarm that actually wakes you up
Powerful wrist vibrations. No sound. 100-Day Money-Back Guarantee.