Best For
- Outstandingly good cooling. Arguably, the coolest mattress we’ve tested to date.
- Near instant response time, 0.2 seconds to mostly recover
Considerations
- Cooling / technology layer creates a more restrained type of contouring hug
- Very high motion transfer (due to the cooling layer)
Our verdict
The Eight Sleep mattress is a combo foam mattress with a 10″ profile and a smart system paired with it. The Eight Pod 3 system includes the mattress, the ActiveGrid topper, the (standalone) Hub, and the Eight Sleep app.
The combination of these four parts together helps to create the full eight sleep experience.
Based on our performance tests, the Eight Sleep Pod mattress earned a performance score of 8.71. This ranks it among the top 46% of all mattresses that we’ve tested to date. If we look at only specialty mattress designs, the Pod 3 scores among the top 33%.
From a pricing perspective, the mattress is a great deal above the average mattress cost. At $4,599 (special base+mattress), it is more than double the average mattress. To be fair, the base makes up a large amount of that price, and it’s something most mattresses do not have.
Overall, I was exceedingly impressed with the Pod 3 active cooling cover. In my view, that really is where all the magic happens. The all-foam mattress itself is good, just not amazing. I would love to see Eight Sleep build a high-performance hybrid mattress to go with the Pod 3 cooling cover.
Type: Specialty
Firmness: Medium-Firm (6)
Best For: All Sleeping Positions, All Body Weights
Mattress vs Cover
We tested the Eight Sleep Pod 3 review…which is the Eight mattress + the Pod 3 cover. However, you can buy the cover standalone and put it on whatever mattress you prefer.
Based on our tests and an assessment of the mattress design, it’s clear that the cooling performance is primarily driven by the Pod 3 active cooling cover.
The mattress itself, while good, isn’t a miracle worker. I’m not blown away by the 10″ profile or all-foam design. Such design aspects limits support and overall performance.
For example, a high-performance hybrid mattress will have all the benefits of hybrid cooling, plus active water cooling via the Pod 3.
With that said, let’s jump into our full battery of tests.
How is Eight Sleep Different?
The Eight Sleep Pod 3 mattress has slightly better-than-average cooling performance, but also a price tag that is quite a bit more than average—37% more than the average specialty mattress.
Advantages
Cooling is really the biggest advantage to the Eight Sleep Pod 3. The air chambers allow for fantastic flow and breathability. For the best cooling performance, it is hard to beat that of the Pod 3.
Neutral factors
This mattress has 15% less sinkage than average as well as 2% deeper bounce. Both sinkage and bounce are more preferential factors and not really “good vs. bad”, but still worth considering.
Disadvantages
Disadvantages for this mattress include higher than average motion transfer levels, slightly poorer edge support, and the higher price tag.
If you want the cooling advantage, but don’t want to splurge on the whole Eight Sleep mattress, opting for the cooling cover alone (placed on any other mattress) would be a solid option.
Performance Tests Question Mark
At NapLab, we put each mattress to the test.
We test 10 different factors that affect the performance, comfort, and value of the mattress. We then take the results of that test and compare to every mattress we’ve tested to date.
Check out the full performance table below to see how this mattress ranks:
| Factor | Eight Sleep Pod 3 | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Score | 8.71 | 8.55 |
| Price (Queen) | $3,295 | $2,407 (Specialty only) |
| Cooling – Score | 10 | 8.8 |
| Sinkage – Depth | 1.84″ | 2.16″ |
| Sinkage – Feel | Minimal | Moderate |
| Motion Transfer – Score | 5.7 | 8.2 |
| Motion Transfer – Acceleration | 14.53 m/s² | 8.65 m/s² |
| Response Time – Score | 10 | 8.9 |
| Response Time – Mostly Recovered | 0.2 sec. | 0.4 sec. |
| Response Time – Fully Recovered | 0.3 sec. | 0.9 sec. |
| Bounce – Height | 9.81″ | 9.68″ |
| Bounce – Feel | Moderate | Moderate |
| Edge Support – Score | 8.2 | 8.6 |
| Edge Support – Sitting | 4.25″ | 4.06″ |
| Edge Support – Lying | Good | Good |
| Sex – Score | 8.7 | 8.5 |
| Pressure Relief – Score | 9.0 | 8.8 |
| Comfort Layer Thickness | 4.0″ | 4.1″ |
| Mattress Thickness | 10″ | 12.0″ |
| Off-Gassing – Score | 9.2 | 8.4 |
| Off-Gassing – Smell | Strong | Strong |
| Off-Gassing – Days | 3 days | 6 days |
| Company – Score | 9.0 | 8.8 |
| Trial | 100 nights | 168 nights |
| Warranty | 10 years | 25% have lifetime warranties, average of other 75% of mattresses is 14 years |
Cooling test
Cooling Test Note: Our cooling tests were done on the coolest setting, -10 degrees.
Cooling performance was outstandingly good on the Eight Sleep Pod 3 mattress. During our tests, I felt no significant heat retention or heat build-up anywhere on my body.
Baseline Temp.
- 80.9° F
Max Temp.
- 87.8° F
Ending Temp.
- 83.5° F
To the contrary, there was a slight degree of coolness to the mattress. For our cooling tests, we set the Pod 3 to its coolest temperature, -10° F. Even after lying on it for 15 minutes, there is a cool feeling.
It’s not dramatic or enough to call it “cold”, but it is incredibly comfortable. That said, based on our objective data, the mattress doesn’t hit -10 degrees. The baseline temperature (the temp before anyone lied on the mattress) was 0.7° warmer than the average (based on all of our tests to date).
Baseline Temperature – the temperature of the mattress before anyone lies on it
Maximum Temperature (0 minute) – the temperature of the mattress after lying on it for 15 minutes
Ending Temperature (5 minute) – the temperature of the mattress after being lied upon and having no one on it for 5 minutes
In addition, the max temp was 87.8°F, which is 1.8° cooler than the average. While the objective surface level temperature measurements didn’t live up to the -10° setting, it is still a cool experience on the mattress.
The water acts as a heat sink, absorbing heat before running back to the pump to cool down and return in a continuous cycle.
It’s quite possible (and likely) that the cooling performance would be even better if the Pod 3 cover was placed on a high-performance hybrid mattress (as opposed to the all-foam Eight Sleep mattress).
In addition, the total level of contouring hug is also extremely restrained. In my view, the pod cover reduces the dramatic contouring hug that the mattress would create on its own.
Since the pod cover goes directly on top you have a moderately thick layer of material between sleepers and the foams.
This design creates a more restrained hug overall. It’s not a bad feel, but it certainly doesn’t have the typical high hug, high contouring feel of memory foam or even many other types of poly foam.
Motion Transfer Test
The Eight Sleep Pod 3 has a very high level of motion transfer. In our tests, we measured 14.53 m/s² of acceleration range. This is significantly more motion transfer compared to the average (based on all of our tests to date).
Accel. range
- 14.53 m/s²
Motion Duration
- 0.98 seconds
On average, we have seen 8.34 m/s² of motion transfer. As we see with the sinkage tests, the motion transfer is being significantly impacted by the active cooling layer. The Pod 3 has a taut cover.
Furthermore, there are sensors and water channels throughout the cover, all of which create an environment for extra motion transfer.
The level of motion transfer is documented in the video below
This type of active cooling cover just doesn’t absorb and disperse motion the same way that a direct foam layer is going to. Placing the pod cover on many mattresses will create extra motion.
If we look at our motion transfer chart, we can see the highest levels of motion from 0.00 to 0.22 seconds. Motion remains moderately spikey until 0.98 seconds, before returning to near zero levels.
Motion Transfer Over Time
The motion duration is a bit of a silver lining. While the motion peaks are indeed higher, the total duration is relatively restrained, especially for the highest motion spikes.
10Response Test
Response time on the Eight Sleep Pod 3 mattress is extremely fast. In our tests, we measured a mostly recovered response time 0.2 seconds and a fully recovered response time 0.3 seconds. This is basically as fast as it gets.
Mostly Recovered
- 0.2 sec.
Complete Recovery
- 0.3 sec.
The Pod 3 is tied with the fastest-responding mattresses we’ve tested to date. On average, based on all of our tests to date, we see mattresses taking 0.4 seconds to mostly recover and 0.8 seconds to fully recover.
The level of responsiveness is documented in the video below.
Overall, I’m pleased with the edge support while sitting. Lying edge support is good, but not great. While lying on my back directly on the edge I didn’t feel well supported.
When on my back, the absolute edge of the mattress sinks quite a bit more than the portion of my back closer to the middle of the mattress. This creates noted angled support when lying near the edge on your back.
Pressure Relief Test
Pressure relief on the Pod 3 mattress is excellent. The mattress does a great job at relieving pressure.
Comfort layers
- 4.0″
Support layers
- 6.0″
During our tests, I felt comfortable in all sleeping positions. While cooling doesn’t have a direct impact on pressure relief, indirectly, it allows you to remain more temperature-comfortably.
The layered design of the Eight Sleep Pod 3 creates sufficient (although not overly deep) sinkage, especially for the midsection, butt, shoulders, and other heavier parts of the body.
With all that said, the contouring hug is far more generalized around the body. It’s more similar to latex in this respect, and less similar to memory and poly foam.
This generalized contouring hug is a consequence of the cooling technology layer. This type of a hug isn’t necessarily bad, but it is more unique. Some sleepers really love it, but those who love the high hug, high contour feel of memory foam may find the pressure relief disappointing.
9.2Off gassing test
Off-gassing on the Pod 3 was excellent for an all-foam mattress. Out of the box, there was a fairly strong smell. The smell lasted for 3 days.
Initial Smell Strength
- Strong
Off gassing period
- 3 days
If you find yourself sensitive to strong off-gassing smells, you can set up the mattress in a well-ventilated space (without bedding) for this time frame. Turn a fan on and keep those fumes circulating around to help it off-gas more quickly.
Company
The company score takes a look at factors that may influence your experience with the mattress.
Factors include length of the trial period, warranty, shipping / return costs, and country of origin.
| Company Factor | Factor Weight | Score | Data |
|---|---|---|---|
| Returns | 40% | 10 | $0 |
| Trial Period | 30% | 8.0 | 100 nights |
| Warranty | 20% | 8.0 | 10 years |
| Shipping | 10% | 10 | $0 |
| Country of Origin | 0% | USA |
The company score was great with Eight Sleep. They offer a 100-night trial period, which is shorter than the 165-night average trial, but still a decent amount of time. It also comes with a 10-year warranty.
Shipping is free and returns are free as well if it doesn’t work out. There’s really not much to complain about with these company policies.
How firm is the Eight Sleep Pod 3? Question mark
The Eight Sleep Pod 3 has a 6 firmness, but a very restrained contour and hug.
The cover dramatically ages the way a mattress like this would feel without it. It’s not nearly as dramatic or sharp a contouring hug as normal memory foam, or even poly foam is for that sake.
Support & Sleeping Positions Question Mark
Support on the Eight Sleep Pod 3 mattress is excellent. During our tests, I felt well supported in all sleeping positions.
The App
The last part of the Eight Sleep system is the app. This app serves a number of free functions including:
- Dual zone cooling and heating
- Sleep tracking
- Personalized health reports
- Gentle wake-up alarm (chest level vibration)
You can also opt for the paid version of the app (8+ Pro) for the following exclusive features:
- Automatic temperature adjustments
- Digital coaching to get better sleep
- Data insights about sleep health
- Sleep content (ie: meditation, sleep sounds, etc.)
Setting up the app takes about 15 minutes and the app does a good job of guiding you through the steps for completion.
Product evolution
Eight Sleep first launched in 2015. In 2015 they launched with their first smart cover. That first cover included a:
- Smart alarm
- Sleep tracking
- Temperature control
However, the early temperature control was very basic compared to today’s Pod. Over the years Eight’s technology and performance has improved dramatically. In February 2019 they launched the Pod series mattress and cover.
The model has been continually revised and improved since launch. The Eight Sleep Pod 3 that we tested was launched July 2022.
Other Mattresses to Consider
Not sure if the Eight Sleep Pod 3 is the right pick for you? Check out these three other top-rated mattresses you might want to consider.
Frequently Asked Questions
Still have questions? Check out some of the top FAQs on the Eight Sleep Pod 3 mattress below and get the answers you’re looking for.
How much does an Eight Sleep Pod 3 mattress cost?
Here are the current prices, with any sales or promotions reflected below:
- Twin: Not available
- Twin XL: Not available
- Full: $2,995
- Queen: $3,295
- King: $3,695
- Cal. King: $3,695
*Note: Sales prices are subject to change without notice or warning.
Can you buy the cover separately from the mattress?
Yes. The Pod 3 cover is sold separately from the Eight Sleep mattress. You can put this cover on any kind of mattress.
How much does the Eight Sleep Pod 3 COVER ONLY cost?
Here are the current prices for the Eight Sleep pod 3 (cover only), with any sales or promotions reflected below. The exact prices range depending on the exact thickness that you need:
- Twin: Not available
- Twin XL: Not available
- Full: $1,745 – $2,145
- Queen: $1,845 – $2,245
- King: $2,045 – $2,445
- Cal. King: $2,045 – $2,445
*Note: Sales prices are subject to change without notice or warning.
Why is it called Eight Sleep?
The company was named “Eight Sleep” in regards to the eight hours of sleep that adults are generally supposed to get each night.
Does Eight Sleep work without wifi?
No. The Eight Sleep system will not work to its fullest potential without a wireless network connection.
Can you feel the sensors on the mattress?
No. The sensors are virtually undetectable on the surface of the mattress.
