Eight Sleep Pod Review

Written by Madison Schaper, Former Staff Writer

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Our Certified Sleep Science Coaches have reviewed more than 220 mattresses in our lab, testing each one on its materials, comfort, cooling, support, and other categories.
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Just Updated

Our team recently re-reviewed the Eight Sleep Pod Cover and updated this review to include a section about senior staff writer Amelia Jerden’s experience testing the Eight Sleep Pod 3 Cover. The Cover can be purchased separately from the Eight Sleep Pod mattress and used with any bed.

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If temperature control is one of your biggest bedtime woes, the Eight Sleep Pod Pro might be for you. Built with Active Grid technology that thermoregulates on both sides of the mattress, this cover is designed to help sleepers hone in on the perfect temperature for their specific needs.

While that sounds pretty impressive, the question remains: does the tech actually work? To find out, we tested it in our Sleepopolis studio. We also tested and included in this review the Eight Sleep mattress, which you can add on to your purchase of the Pod Cover if you choose. We tested to see how this mattress performs on things like pressure relief, motion transfer, edge support, and more.

Curious to learn more? Then you better keep on reading for our full Eight Sleep Pod review. Or, if you’re short on time, you can skip right to the review summary.

Eight Sleep Pod 3 Cover

The Eight Sleep Pod cover uses water to heat and cool your mattress to your exact desired temperature. You can easily control it with an app on your phone.

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Eight Sleep Pod Cover Review Video

Eight Sleep Pod Cover

You can purchase the Pod cover separately to use on your own mattress, or you can opt to add Eight Sleep’s mattress onto your purchase of the Pod Cover. The brand says the Pod Cover is its best-selling product. Senior staff writer Amelia Jerden tested it out separately from the mattress. Here’s her experience:

How to Set Up the Eight Sleep Pod Cover

When you receive your Eight Sleep Pod Cover in the mail, it will arrive in two separate boxes. Once you unbox everything, you’ll have two cover pieces and the Hub. The Eight Sleep Pod comes with paper instructions, but you can also follow along with the instructions on the app, which you’ll have to download to control the Pod. Here’s a summary of those instructions: 

1. First put the cover on the mattress. Make sure it’s fully pulled over all the corners and then attach the straps to the loops on the sides of the cover, running the straps under the mattress. Note: Don’t tighten the straps yet.
2. Then you’ll take the upper part of the cover and lay it over the under part of the cover, which is currently on the mattress. Make sure the tubes are hanging out at the head of the bed. Then zip the upper cover onto the lower cover all the way around.
3. Now, tighten the straps.
4. Then place the Hub somewhere accessible to an outlet near your bed. Attach the water tubes to the Hub and plug in the USB. 
5. Fill the Hub’s tank with water (this is what is used to heat and cool the Pod).
6. Follow the instructions in the app to ensure the Pod is properly connected to the WiFi and that you’ve set everything up properly.
7. Then you’ll have to run the Pod through a process called priming, in which water fills the mat and pushes out any air bubbles, to ensure the Pod runs smoothly. I found this process took about three hours and you’ll have to repeat it every two to three months to maintain the Pod (the app will notify you when you need to prime again).

Using the Eight Sleep Pod Cover

Once you have the Pod cover set up on your mattress of choice, you can start using it. As mentioned above, the Pod is controlled via an app, which is the same whether you have the Eight Sleep Pod mattress or just the cover.

Overall, I found the Pod to be pretty easy to set up. The instructions were easy to follow, although I would definitely recommend setting the Pod cover up well before you plan to sleep, since the priming process does take a few hours.

As far as the heating and cooling function goes, I wasn’t sure at first how well it was working when I started testing it. Lying on the bed with the cooling turned up to 10 (the highest cooling setting), I wasn’t feeling a serious temperature shift at first. But the longer I laid on the bed, the more the cooling feel started to set in. It probably took 10 to 15 minutes before I felt the temperature, but once I did it was quite noticeable. I think this subtle shift is likely helpful for maintaining a preferable temperature, as opposed to blasting a fan or heater, which causes rapid change but can be too much after a while. And the same was overall true for the heating functions. I definitely felt a distinct difference between the level 10 cooling and level 10 heating, after trying both.

The Pod Cover itself feels pretty soft and comfortable, not altering the feel of the mattress beneath it too much. I will say you can feel some of the inner tubing a bit if you push into the cover, but it’s not overly noticeably just lying on the bed. The Hub is fairly large, about the size of a computer modem, but I think it has a pretty sleek look. The tubing also requires some room between your bed and the wall, although it should be mostly concealed behind your bed.

Should You Get Just the Eight Sleep Pod Cover?

Pros of the Eight Sleep Pod Cover

• I think the Pod Cover is a great option for people who are interested in Eight Sleep’s technology, but already like their mattress and don’t need to buy a new one.
• It allows lots of control over the temperature, as well as offering sleep tracking information.
• Plus it’s just really cool technology, if you’re the type of person who likes to use new and interesting technology.

Cons of the Eight Sleep Pod Cover

• However, it isn’t a low maintenance product, as you will have to keep the Pod clean and repeat the priming process periodically.
• It is also not a budget product, as the Pod Cover alone is more expensive than many mattresses. There may be cheaper temperature solutions for many folks on a budget.
• For some folks it may just be more complicated than is necessary to solve their temperature issues.

Eight Sleep Pod 3 Cover

The Eight Sleep Pod cover uses water to heat and cool your mattress to your exact desired temperature. You can easily control it with an app on your phone.

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Eight Sleep Pod Cover and Mattress Review

As mentioned above, you can opt to add on the Eight Sleep mattress with your purchase of the Pod. Here is writer Madison Schaper’s experience testing out the Pod Cover with the Eight Sleep mattress.

Eight Sleep Pod Mattress Review Video

Is the Eight Sleep Pod a Good Mattress for You?

Eight Sleep launched in 2014 on a mission to optimize the way folks sleep. While this aim isn’t so different from other brands on the market, what sets Eight apart is its focus on using smart technology to improve slumber. I’ll describe how that tech actually works below, but first let’s talk about who this mattress might work for.

Who I recommend the Pod mattress for

• First and foremost, hot sleepers should really like this mattress. The Pod’s Active Grid is incredibly effective at regulating temperatures.
• If you’re into the idea of sleep tracking, this mattress could be a great fit for you! The Active Grid measures sleep and provides you with new data every morning.
• I also found it super easy to move around and change positions on this bed, marking this bed as a good option for combination sleepers.
• Back sleepers might also like the firmer feel of this mattress. It should offer these folks a nice balance of pressure relief and support.

Who I don’t recommend the Pod mattress for

• If you’re looking for a mattress you can set up and forget about, this is not the bed for you. It does require minimal maintenance every two to three months to ensure it keeps running smoothly.
• I’d also say that the cover has a very unique feel; in my opinion, it felt a bit like a water bed or an air mattress, which didn’t jive with my specific sleep preferences. But, plenty of people find the Pod quite comfortable!
• This mattress might not be the best fit for folks looking for an extremely durable bed. It is an all-foam mattress, so it may need to be replaced sooner than a hybrid or latex mattress. If this is something that concerns you, take a look at our best hybrid mattress and best latex mattress roundups.
• I think the Eight Sleep pod is a bit too soft for stomach sleepers and too firm for side sleepers (but I’ll explore that in more detail below).

How Do I Set Up the Eight Sleep Pod Mattress?

When I first heard about this mattress, I was definitely wondering how the heck it worked! So let’s take a second here to talk about how to set up this smart mattress.

The Pod will arrive in two boxes. One will include the mattress, which you’ll unbox and set up like any bed-in-a-box. The Pod Pro’s Active Grid cover and Hub will arrive in a separate box.

The first thing you do when setting up your new Pod is download the Eight Sleep App. This handy app, which I’ll describe below, will give you easy step-by-step instructions on how to set up your new bed.

As a brief overview, you’ll unpack the cover and zip it onto your bed. Then you’ll plug the cover into the Hub (which looks a bit like a computer modem) and plug the Hub into the wall. Next, the App will guide you through connecting the Hub to your phone and WiFi. Once you’re connected, you’ll fill your hub with filtered water and a few tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide, choose your preferred temperature via the Eight Sleep App, and leave the bed alone for about 90 minutes.

After that, the Hub takes over! It will pump your Active Grid full of water and get connected with all the sensors in that cover. Once it’s finished priming, you’ll be able to set each side of your bed to whichever temperature you’d like using the App. According to Eight Sleep, available temperature options range from 55 to 115 degrees Fahrenheit.

Eight Sleep App

Let’s talk a little about that App now! In my opinion, it’s a well-designed application with a user-friendly interface and easy-to-follow instructions. Everything felt pretty intuitive, so I was never lost as I navigated its many features, which include:

• Easy written and video instructions on mattress set up and care.
• A temperature control panel, for setting up temps on either side of the bed.
• A heating/cooling temperature alarm feature, called Wake Up, in which sleepers can set a specific temperature to accompany their morning alarm. Plus a smart alarm option that will gently vibrate the mattress to wake you up.
• Several guided meditation and white noise tracks.
• Guided morning and night stretching and exercise routines.
• A sleep tracker portal, which provides tips and tricks for improving bedtime habits.
• The Pod now allows for constant monitoring of heart rate variability and other biometrics like resting heart rate, respiratory rate, sleep stages, and sleep time.
• A sleep score window in which sleepers can access their nightly sleep score (as derived from the sleep data picked up from the Active Grid). The app will offer tips on how to improve your sleep score once it gets to know you better.

How Firm is the Eight Sleep Pod Mattress?

Now that you know how exactly this mattress works, let’s talk about how it feels. Keep in mind that feel is subjective, and you’ll experience a bed differently depending on your body shape and preferred sleeping position. For reference, I’m 5 foot 9, 125 pounds. and sleep primarily on my side. Someone heavier than me will likely find this bed softer than I did, and someone lighter may find it firmer.

After rolling around on the Eight Sleep Pod, I decided to give it a firmness rating of 7 out 10. The industry standard for medium firmness is 6.5 out of 10, which means that this bed is just on the firmer side of medium-firm.

When I was first testing out the bed sans cover, I found it to be quite soft, so it’s interesting to see that the Active Grid is really what gives this bed its firmness (I should note that the mattress is not meant to be used without the cover, I was just doing so for curiosity’s sake). I definitely felt more “on top of” than “stuck-in” this bed, so I’d recommend it primarily for combination sleepers who move between positions at night.

Eight Sleep Pod Mattress Performance 

Aside from firmness, there are a few more factors to consider when searching for your new mattress. To really determine whether or not a bed is a good fit, it’s important to consider how it performs in different sleeping positions, how it relieves pain and pressure, and how it might feel to couples sharing the bed. So let’s find all of that out!

Testing the Eight Sleep Pod Mattress in Different Sleeping Positions

Different sleeping positions and weights require different amounts of support. Generally, light sleepers don’t require the same amount of support as heavy sleepers. Read on below to see how the Eight Sleep Pod mattress performs for sleepers of different weights.

Is the Eight Sleep Pod a Good Mattress for Light Sleepers (Under 130 lb)?

• Light Back Sleepers – I think this bed would be a great firm option for these folks. Light back sleepers should feel a combination of support and some nice comfort, keeping them well on top of the mattress.
• Light Side Sleepers – Lightweight side sleepers tend to feel mattresses firmer than advertised, making this bed too firm for these folks. Side sleepers generally prefer a softer touch — possibly a memory foam mattress — that allows sinkage at their shoulders and hips.
• Light Stomach Sleepers – Lightweight stomach sleepers may experience this mattress as truly firm, which means it will meet their needs. These sleepers should definitely feel on top of the mattress with their spine in healthy alignment.

Is the Eight Sleep Pod a Good Mattress for Average Weight Sleepers (130 – 250 lb)?

• Average Weight Back Sleepers – I think average weight back sleepers will really benefit from this bed. Its firm build will conform to their hips slightly while not allowing extensive sinkage, keeping their body weight evenly distributed.
• Average Weight Side Sleepers – Average weight side sleepers should look for a mattress with a softer touch that will offer more pressure relief. I’d steer these sleepers to one of our best mattresses for side sleepers.
• Average Weight Stomach Sleepers – Although the poly foam layers are sturdy, this all-foam construction is going to be too soft for average weight stomach sleepers. These sleepers might be better fit on one of our best mattresses for stomach sleepers.

Is the Eight Sleep Pod a Good Mattress for Heavy Sleepers (over 250 lb)?

• Heavy Back Sleepers – Unfortunately, I don’t think the Pod will work for sleepers over about 250 pounds. Because it’s an all-foam mattress, it won’t be supportive enough for these folks, and may start to sag prematurely. I’d recommend one of our best mattresses for heavy people instead.
• Heavy Side Sleepers – See above.
• Heavy Stomach Sleepers – See above.

Eight Sleep Pod Pain Relief Performance

If firmness is one side of the comfort coin, pressure relief is the other. In case you haven’t heard the term before, it basically refers to how well a bed is able to alleviate tension at sensitive spots along the body, such as the shoulders, hips, and lower back. To assess this feel factor, I like to use a handy dandy pressure map!

Though it sounds complicated, it’s actually quite simple: I roll this gizmo out, hop aboard, and let the map do the rest! As I move around the structure, the gadget records the force my body is exerting on the structure, and makes a colored “map” of the pressure. Blue to green indicate areas of low pressure, while yellow to red indicate areas of high pressure.

Take a look at the Eight Sleep Pod’s pain relief performance below!

Back Pain – Lying on my back, I felt as though my weight was pretty evenly distributed across the structure. Though I could feel the top foam layers filling in the space at my lumbar region for some pressure relief, the crinkly cover did make me feel a little uncomfortable. However, I would say that the firmness of the bed made it very easy to move around and change positions. I would say this is overall a good bed to relieve back pain, if you can get past the unique cover. Sleepers under 130 pounds should find back pain relief when lying on their stomachs as well; however that is not the case for average and heavy weight stomach sleepers — as I mentioned above that this bed is too soft for these folks.

Shoulder Pain – As I mentioned above, this is quite a firm bed, so I definitely felt some jamming at my shoulders as I turned onto my side. Strict side sleepers will likely need a bed that offers more cushion around their pressure points. One of our best mattresses for side sleepers might do the trick. While I don’t recommend this mattress for side sleepers with pain, I would recommend it for back sleepers with shoulder pain who should feel that pain dissipate as they are evenly distributed across the mattress.

Hip Pain – Though the firmness of the bed did support a fairly neutral spinal alignment, I could still feel my hips sinking slightly out of line with my shoulders. This is not an ideal feel for strict stomach sleepers, who need a taut structure for even alignment across the back. One of our best mattresses for stomach sleepers might be a better fit. On the other hand, back sleepers with hip pain might be quite happy with the firm build that will distribute their weight evenly, helping to reduce pain. In the same way I do not recommend this mattress for side sleepers with shoulder pain, I also do not recommend it for side sleepers with hip pain. This mattress is just too firm to release pressure at these joints.

Eight Sleep Pod Performance for Couples

Motion Transfer

And now let’s get into motion transfer! This factor refers to the amount of movement that’s detectable from one side of the mattress to the other, and could be a crucial variable for sleepers to consider if they share a bed with a child, partner, or rowdy pet.

To illustrate motion transfer, I dropped a 10 pounds steel ball from heights of four inches, eight inches, and 12 inches and measured the disturbance it caused: the bigger the lines, the bigger the disturbance.

These are not the best motion transfer results. Because the water in the tubes moves around when you do, you’re likely to feel your partner moving around at night. If you sleep with a restless bed mate, this might pose a problem for you! You might want to take a look at one of our best mattresses for couples to find a better fit.

Sex 

Generally, the best mattress for couples combines responsiveness and bounce (which is good for sex) with low motion transfer. The Pod mattress is pretty responsive, so if you share a bed and aren’t easily disturbed by movement, it could work for you and your partner.

Cooling

I will say that I was genuinely surprised by just how effective the Active Grid was at establishing different temperatures across the mattress. While I can’t speak to the exact temperatures reached by the grid, I was impressed by the range and quickness with which they changed. So, if you want a mattress for its temperature-controlling capabilities, I think you could be well-satisfied with the Pod.

Edge Support

Edge support is a measure of whether or not you’ll be able to sleep all the way on the side of your bed and still feel supported. A bed with great edge support is often more durable because you’ll be able to distribute your weight across its entire surface area, which prevents premature sagging.

The Pod had good edge support for an all-foam mattress. It might not be quite supportive enough for heavy folks, but average-weight sleepers should be able to spread out all the way to the edges of this mattress.

What is the Eight Sleep Pod Mattress Made Of?

The Pod is an 11-inch all-foam mattress that zips into Eight Sleep’s special Active Grid cover. You can actually buy the cover separately from the mattress if you want to add it to a mattress you already own and reap the benefits of the Pod’s cooling technology without replacing your entire bed. Below, I’ll take you through each layer of the Pod Pro mattress and active grid so you have a better idea of how this high-tech bed works!

Cover — The mattress cover functions mostly as a sleeve for the Active Grid we’ve been discussing so far. It’s made from a knit polyester blend, which, while soft on its own, loses some of its coziness when combined with the grid.

Active Grid — The grid is a special mattress topper made up of special sensors and water tubes. This grid pumps warm or cool water through its tubes to offer temperature regulation to both sides of the mattress. Sensors in this technology layer track your sleep metrics and give you personalized tips about your sleep patterns and sleep fitness.

Comfort Layer — Underneath the cover, you’ll land on a layer of soft poly foam. This layer allows for a bit of sinkage and give. I wouldn’t necessarily equate it to a contouring feel, but you should experience some nice cushioning on this layer.

Transition Layer — Beneath the top layer, you’ll find yet another layer of poly foam. This one has a much quicker response to pressure than the one above it, which helps bring some lift to the structure.

Base Layer — The Pod’s base is made of standard high-density polyfoam, but it’s loaded with the Pod’s SmartTemp AI to collect temperature data throughout the night. This base hooks up to the Pod’s Hub.

Hub — The Pod’s Hub is a special water pump placed next to the mattress. You’ll fill it with water and 3 percent hydrogen peroxide every two to three months. The Pod uses the water to regulate the temperature of your mattress. The Pod makes some soft noise while priming, but overall is pretty quiet throughout the night. I didn’t feel disturbed by it at all.

Eight Sleep Pod Unboxing and Off-Gassing

The Eight Sleep Pod is a bed-in-a-box mattress, which means it will arrive compressed and will have to be unboxed at home. As with all bed-in-a-box mattresses, you’ll need to wait at least 24 hours for this bed to fully decompress. 

As with many new mattresses, the Pod will likely emit a smell when it is first unboxed — this is known as off-gassing. Although this smell is harmless, it does give the unpleasant “new mattress” smell. If you experience off-gassing, I recommend leaving the mattress in a well ventilated room and within a few days the smell should be completely gone!

My Final Thoughts about the Eight Sleep Pod Mattress

All reviews must come to an end, and here we are at ours. After examining every inch of the Eight Sleep Pod’s construction and feel, it’s time to answer the question you came here asking: Should you buy this mattress? I can’t make that decision for you, but I can leave you with a few final thoughts to help you get there on your own.

My favorite things about the Pod mattress

I really liked Eight Sleep’s app. It’s compatible with iOS and Android operating systems, and it was really easy to use, even for someone like me, who is not tech savvy at all. I really enjoyed learning more about my sleep quality and finding out how much REM sleep (aka deep sleep) I got each night. If you’re someone interested in improving your sleep, or just a sleep health nerd like me, I think you’ll really like this app too!

I was also pleasantly surprised that the Pod Pro really delivered on Eight Sleep’s temperature regulation promises. I did not expect this foam bed-in-a-box to be as cooling (or warming) as Eight Sleep promised. But it was absolutely one of the most cooling mattresses I’ve ever tested! If you’re a hot sleeper you might want to check this smart bed out.

My Pod mattress complaints

Personally, I thought the Active Grid layer of the Pod had a bit of an air mattress-like feel when all the tubes were filled with water. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but if you’re someone who prefers a more traditional memory foam or innerspring mattress feel, you might not like the Pod. Check out our best memory foam mattress and best innerspring mattress reviews if this sounds like you!

If you’re not someone who can commit to refilling the Pod’s Hub with filtered water and hydrogen peroxide every few months this mattress is probably not the best option for you. You need to keep up with maintenance to ensure the Hub continues to work properly (and to ensure you don’t start growing any bacteria in the Pod’s water tubes). I also wished Eight Sleep had included hydrogen peroxide in the box, or made it clear that you need to purchase it before setting up. On the other hand, if you’re building your dream smart home, this bed should fit right in!

How Much Does the Eight Sleep Pod Cost?

Pricing is an important consideration when you’re choosing a new mattress. Take a look at the chart below to learn more about what the Eight Sleep Pod Pro mattress costs. And make sure to click our Eight Sleep coupon below for the best deal.

Prices listed are before offer or discount on each size.

And if you’re considering purchasing just the Pod Cover, here is a break down of prices for just the Cover.

Eight Sleep Policies and FAQs

Does the Eight Sleep Pod come with a mattress warranty?

Yes, the Pod comes with a 10-year warranty. However, the Pod Cover is only covered by a 2-year limited warranty, so keep that in mind when purchasing.

Does the Eight Sleep Pod come with a sleep trial?

Yes, the Pod mattress comes with a 100-night sleep trial period. The Pod Cover comes with a 30-night trial period.

How does the Eight Sleep Pod ship?

The Eight Sleep Pod is a bed-in-a-box mattress and will ship compressed in a box. It will arrive in two boxes. One will include the compressed mattress, and the other will include the Pod Cover and Hub. The Pod ships for free.

How does the Eight Sleep Pod work?

The Eight Sleep Pod uses its hub and Active Grid to track sleep and control the temperature of the mattress. You can track your sleep score from the Eight Sleep app on your phone.

Is the Eight Sleep Pod loud?

No, there is a soft sound as the hub pumps water through the active grid, but the mattress is pretty quiet.

Does the Eight Sleep Pod sleep cool?

I was pleasantly surprised with the Eight Sleep Pod’s ability to cool down my bed.

Eight Sleep Pod Mattress Vs

It’s always a good idea to compare your mattress to a few other beds on the market before purchasing. Below, I’ll compare the Eight Sleep to the Saatva Solaire and the GhostBed 3D Matrix mattresses.

Eight Sleep vs Saatva Solaire

• The Solaire is a smart adjustable bed that allows you to change the firmness level of each side of the mattress.
• Like the Pod, the Solaire sleeps cool. Though the Pod offers more personalized cooling options than the Solaire.
• Couples with different firmness preferences are great candidates for the Solaire.
• Learn more in the full Saatva Solaire mattress review.

Eight Sleep vs GhostBed 3D Matrix

• Like the Pod, the GhostBed is an exceptionally cooling mattress. But the Pod probably sleeps a bit cooler than the Matrix.
• The GhostBed feels softer than the Pod mattress.
• The GhostBed is a great option for sleepers who like a memory foam feel.
• Find out more in the full GhostBed 3D Matrix mattress review.

Voila! That’s it for my Eight Sleep Pod review. Check out the Pod’s performance ratings below for a few final thoughts about this bed.

Madison Schaper

Former Staff Writer

About Author

Madison is a former Staff Writer at Sleepopolis who covered mattresses, bedding, and sleep accessories.

Side Sleeper