Ratings Breakdown

Performance Ratings

Next, let’s take a closer look at our performance ratings for the Eight Sleep Pod mattress. These ratings are based on findings from our internal and external testing teams, along with verified customer and owner experiences.

Durability

Since it was only launched relatively recently, we’ve rated the Eight Sleep Pod’s durability based primarily on what we know about its construction and materials.

As a smart mattress, the Pod has two areas where durability is a concern: the mattress itself, and its technological components. All-foam mattresses like the Pod are known to be less durable than beds that use other construction types, since synthetic foams have a shorter lifespan than other materials.

Sagging is also a concern, due to relatively weak edge support from the polyfoam core. Given what we know about the foams used in the Pod, we expect it will have an average lifespan for an all-foam mattress: about five to seven years.

The durability of the Pod’s technological components is harder to estimate. (Its smart technology is covered by a separate 1-year warranty, and Eight Sleep provides troubleshooting support for operating problems.) Our testers were impressed by the technological components, sharing that their primary concern was whether the hose, which connects the mattress with the hub, may leak over time.

Given the quality of the Pod’s construction, and positive reports from our testing team and verified customers, we’ve awarded the Pod a ‘good’ rating for the durability of both its technology and the mattress itself.

Motion Isolation

Testers who sleep with a partner found that the Eight Sleep Pod offers superb motion isolation. While they could feel when their sleep partner got out of bed, this was due to the mattress dipping rather than referred movement. Changing positions in the night caused little motion transfer, with even our light-sleeping testers reporting no disturbances.

All-foam mattresses tend to score well in this category, so these results were expected, but our team was glad to see that the Active Grid technology did not seem to affect the Pod’s motion isolation.

Off-Gassing

Tuck’s sleep testers reported that the Eight Sleep Pod has an odor upon unboxing which is similar to rubber or plastic. Though unpleasant, this smell is due to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which are relatively harmless and are a product of foam manufacturing.

For most of our testers, the odor had faded enough after 12 hours that they had no concerns about sleeping on their new mattress. After a further 24 hours, or 36 hours in total, the VOCs dissipated entirely and the bed was odor-free.

Pressure Relief

Although the Eight Sleep Pod does not have the deep conforming qualities of many synthetic foam mattresses, our testing team discovered that it still offers substantial pressure relief.

The Pod’s cover includes its technological components, which means they rest on top of the comfort layers. Testers reported that this arrangement slightly decreases conforming, as the Active Grid is thin and pliable but still less adaptable than foam.

However, the Pod is constructed to provide pressure relief despite its lack of conforming. It features an upper comfort layer of synthetic latex alternative, which, although bouncier and less cradling than memory foam, still compresses beneath weight to gently hug curves and prevent pressure points. These qualities are emphasized by the additional comfort layers of polyfoam and memory foam, which create a subtle but highly supportive cradling effect.

Temperature Neutrality

After putting the Eight Sleep Pod’s temperature regulation controls to the test, our team was highly impressed with its performance. The mattress responds very quickly to temperatures set through the app, and our testers found it took only minutes to cool down or warm up significantly. Set temperatures were also maintained throughout the night, providing testers with a comfortably cool or cozily warm sleep.

Setting up the Eight Sleep app requires users to fill out a survey, which then suggests an ideal temperature range. Some of our testers were comfortable in that range, while others selected a temperature which was warmer or cooler. However, none of our testers found the temperature to be uncomfortable, even closer to the extremes.

The closest the Pod came to becoming uncomfortable was when our testers used the thermal alarm function, which does intentionally make the mattress unappealingly warm or cold.

While the latex alternative foam used in the comfort layering is more temperature neutral than most other synthetic foams, the bulk of the Pod’s score in this category can be attributed to its thermoregulation technology. Ultra-thin tubes run through the Pod’s cover, all of which are connected to a water supply in the mattress’s hub.

To cool or heat the bed, the hub sends cold or warm water through these tubes based on the temperature users set using the Eight Sleep app. Separate temperatures can also be set for each side of the bed, accommodating couples with different preferences.

Edge Support

During testing, the Eight Sleep Pod was let down by its poor edge support. Testers who sat on the sides of the mattress found that it dipped significantly beneath their weight. This is a concern since dipping can make it more difficult to stand up, in addition to causing the mattress to sag over time.

Our team also found that sleeping close to the bed’s edges resulted in a feeling of “roll-off,” as the high-density polyfoam core was not supportive enough to provide ideal stability.

For most people, the Pod’s poor edge support will not impact their sleep experience, but heavier sleepers and couples are more likely to have concerns. More weight compounds the lack of support near the edges, and couples may feel as though they are not able to take advantage of the full sleep surface.

Noise

The Tuck sleep testing team was impressed, though not surprised, by the Eight Sleep Pod’s high score in this category. Our testers found that, like many all-foam mattresses, the Pod is nearly silent and is unlikely to develop noises over time. No testers reported hearing any sound while in bed, and climbing into bed caused only a soft noise similar to rustling bedding.

Since the Pod lacks springs, and the foam muffles most sounds from bed foundations, even very light sleepers are likely to find this mattress extremely quiet.

Since it uses a water pump for its temperature control features, the Pod has another area where noise might be a concern. Luckily, our testers reported that the heating and cooling system works silently, and we don’t expect the water pump to develop noisy faults.

Sex

Although the Eight Sleep Pod’s top comfort layer is a latex alternative, it received lower marks in this category due to faults shared with many other all-foam mattresses. The Luracor foam is bouncier and more responsive than most other synthetic foams but lacks the resilience of true latex.

The lower comfort layers compound this quality – although they do not provide contouring, they compress enough to mitigate much of the surface bounce.

Due to its polyfoam support core, the Pod also has poor edge support. Since a relatively wide margin of the sleep surface is less stable, couples are restricted and must stay closer to the center of the bed to feel secure.

Sleeper Ratings

Body shape, weight, and sleep position preference can all impact which mattress is most suitable for any given sleeper. In order to remain objective, all the beds we review are sleep-tested by a diverse team encompassing many weight categories and sleep position preferences.

Lightweight Sleepers – Less than 130 lbs.

With its medium firmness level and all-foam construction, the Eight Sleep Pod was most suitable for our sleep testers below 130 pounds. Testers in this category found that the Pod gently cradled them without significant contouring due to the latex alternative comfort layer. This allowed them to sink just enough into the mattress for pressure relief while still receiving the correct amount of support.

Side, back, and stomach sleeping testers all agreed that the Eight Sleep Pod offered a good balance of comfort and support, and no one position was more suitable than the others. The firmness level (and foam density) is a good fit for this weight category, compressing enough for comfort but not so much as to lose structural integrity.

Average Weight Sleepers – 130 to 230 lbs.

Back and side sleeping testers in this weight category reported that the Eight Sleep Pod offered them a very good combination of pressure relief and support. Side sleepers praised the way the foam comfort layering was able to adjust to their curves and prevent pressure points at their hips and shoulders, while back sleepers noted the mattress’ lower back support was key to avoiding next-day stiffness.

Although average weight stomach sleepers also enjoyed the Pod, they did share some concerns. While the top comfort layer (a latex alternative) was supportive, the lower memory foam comfort layers compressed enough to let their hips fall out of alignment with their spine, resulting in some discomfort. Sleepers at the heavier end of this weight range may also receive less support from the Pod less than their lighter peers.

Heavyweight Sleepers – More than 230 lbs.

Medium firmness mattresses like the Eight Sleep Pod are often less suitable for heavier sleepers, a tendency which held up in our sleep testing. Foam loses some of its supportive qualities when highly compressed, making it feel softer but less comfortable overall.

Our side sleeping testers in this weight group, for example, found that the mattress flattened under their curves rather than smoothly adapting to them, causing some discomfort and the development of pressure points. For stomach sleepers, the softer foam caused spinal misalignment. However, our heavier side-sleepers and stomach-sleepers still felt that the Pod offered a good sleep, even if it wasn’t ideal.

Tuck’s back sleeping testers in this category were less enthusiastic. They found that the mattress flattened beneath them, causing a significant loss of support which lead to lower back and hip pain the next morning.

Pricing and Discounts

Full $2,295

Queen $2,495

King $2,795

Cal King $2,795