Eight Sleep Pod Mattress Review

The Pod offers good motion isolation. The top polyfoam layer is somewhat responsive and you’ll feel a light bounce on the surface when getting on and off the bed, but the material also absorbs movement to a noticeable degree. You and your sleep partner will notice minimal transfer across the surface. The Pod is also completely silent when bearing weight. If you tend to wake up when your co-sleeper moves around in bed, then the Pod may help reduce nighttime disruptions.

Mattresses with one to two memory foam comfort layers tend to provide the best motion isolation. Mixed-foam models like the Pod are less effective due to their polyfoam comfort components, but these mattresses still eliminate motion transfer better than most latex, hybrid, and innerspring models.

Many people feel pressure in the shoulders, lower back, hips, and other areas. This may be due to sleeping on a mattress that does not provide enough support to these areas, which in turn can interfere with spinal alignment and cause pressure to build up. For this reason, how well (or poorly) a mattress alleviates pressure depends on how much support is needed for your body type.

The 11-inch Pod has a medium firm feel, resulting in a strong, pressure-relieving balance of body-contouring and support. This makes the mattress suitable for many side and back sleepers who weigh up to 230 pounds. They’ll feel some noticeable body-contouring, but shouldn’t sink too much beneath the surface.

The Pod is one of the only mattress models on the market today that offers active heating and cooling. The external Hub connects to tubes embedded into the cover. Using the Eight Sleep app, you can program the mattress for a temperature anywhere between 55 and 115 degrees Fahrenheit (12.8 to 46.1 degrees Celsius).

The Pod’s top foam layers do absorb a bit of heat, as is often the case with all-foam models, but this should not affect the customized temperature settings unless you’re an exceptionally hot sleeper. Almost anyone should be able to find a comfortable setting for their Pod given its wide temperature range.

Edge support is a common issue for all-foam mattresses. Even with a high density, polyfoam cannot withstand compression as well as the coils or latex layers used in other mattress types. As a result, you’ll probably notice a fair amount of sinkage along the perimeter when getting on and off an all-foam bed, and you may not feel comfortable lying too close to the edges.

The Pod’s edge support is above average for an all-foam model. Featuring 7 inches of high-density polyfoam, the mattress feels fairly stable along the perimeter. You’ll feel some sinkage, but not enough to make getting in and out of bed too difficult, provided you weigh less than 230 pounds. If your weight exceeds 230 pounds, then you may not feel as comfortable on the Pod’s edges.

The Eight Sleep Pod is fairly easy to move across, which can be attributed to its mixed-foam designs. Mattresses with only memory foam layers often sink deeply, making you feel as though you’re stuck in the surface when getting in and out of bed. The Pod doesn’t sink nearly as much thanks to its semi-responsive top polyfoam layer.

That said, people who weigh more than 230 pounds will probably struggle a bit more with this mattress. If you are in this weight group, you may want to consider a mattress with a stronger support system (such as a hybrid or innerspring).

Preferences for sex certainly differ from couple to couple, but most would rather use a responsive mattress for amorous activities. Beds that respond slowly and sink deeply can make you and your partner feel like you are fighting the mattress, and this may restrict movement.

The Pod’s top polyfoam layer is fairly responsive, and most people don’t sink too deeply. The conforming layers also provide decent traction. You and your partner can remain in one part of the bed when needed and won’t slip across the surface, but you shouldn’t have trouble changing positions or moving to a different area of the mattress.

Additionally, the Pod’s above-average edge support ensures you can use most of the bed’s surface. However, if you and/or your partner weigh more than 230 pounds, you’ll probably feel more secure in the center of the mattress.

When new, mattresses with foam layers release tiny particles known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These particles are mostly harmless but they often carry an unpleasant chemical smell many liken to plastic. The Pod is no exception when it comes to these off-gassing smells. After unboxing the mattress, you’ll likely detect some strong odor that will gradually dissipate over the days to come.

The Pod’s initial smells should dissipate within one week or less. You may be able to expedite this process by placing the mattress in a well-ventilated room for at least one day before sleeping on it.