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sleep pod

Eight Sleep Pod Cooling System Review: The Smart Bed Gets Cool

I have reviewed several bed climate control solutions on this site. 

I’ve found that the most effective solutions for cooling or warming the bed are those that use air or water. They provide precise temperature control and a wider temperature range compared to cooling toppers or pads.

The Eight Sleep Pod uses water, similar to the famous ChiliPad Cube.

But that’s where the similarities end. The Eight Sleep Pod is much smarter (it also integrates smart sleep tracking tech), works more reliably, and comes with the convenience of wireless control from your Smartphone.

But the most significant difference between the Eight Sleep Pod and other bed cooling systems is that it is a complete sleep package.

It’s not just a cooling topper; it’s a mattress as well. Meaning these both are integrated into one product.

So expect to pay a bit more than you would for a cooling topper only.

On the upside, you get a high-quality foam mattress, a smart climate control system, and sleep tracking at a bargain price.

The best thing about the Eight Sleep Pod is that it works great for all kinds of sleepers, not just those who sleep hot.

If your bedroom feels chilly during winter or you live in a cold climate, the Eight Sleep Pod is perfect. You can make it as toasty as you want.

Read on to learn how the Eight Sleep Pod system works and whether it’s the right one for you.

Pros

  • Wide temperature range – perfect for summer cooling and winter heating.
  • Easy to control via the smartphone app.
  • Smart home integration.
  • Quiet.
  • Dual zone control available for couples.

Cons

  • Not available as a standalone cooling system. You also have to buy the Eight Sleep mattress.
  • Expensive.

How the Eight Sleep Pod Heats and Cools

sleeping pod bed

The Eight Sleep Pod consists of two parts.

There is a foam mattress and the high-tech part on top, what Eight Sleep calls the Active Grid.

The Active Grid is where all the magic happens.

Within the active grid is a network of tiny tubes that carry water. The hub, which is the central power unit that you set up beside the bed, cools or warms the water depending on the temperature you’ve selected.

It then pumps the water through the tiny tubes to cool or warm the bed.

But that’s not the only cool (no pun intended) feature about the Eight Sleep Pod. The tech section of the bed also contains sleep trackers.

The sleep trackers track various sleep metrics, including respiration, heart rate, and sleep movement.

By analyzing these metrics, the connected app (for iOS and Android) allows you to monitor your sleep quality.

Come to think of it, and you can use the data to see whether the cooling and warming is improving your sleep.


Best Features 

eight bed

1. Wide Temperature Range 

The Eight Sleep Pod has one of the widest temperature ranges of any bed climate control system: 55F to 115F.

This range makes the Eight Sleep Pod perfect for just about any location and situation.

Whether you live in the punishing heat of California or you often brave the harsh winters of Alaska, the Eight Sleep Pod is perfect.

The Eight Sleep Pod can also help if you have pain problems in your back, joints, or muscles. Warming the bed can reduce pain, improve blood flow, and help you sleep better.

2. Dual Zone Temperature Control

sleeping pod bed

All mattress sizes have a split temperature zone, meaning couples can control their half of the bed.

This feature is great for couples who have different sleep preferences. You can set your side to cool during the warm-up their half.

3. Wireless Smartphone Control and Monitoring 

Controlling the bed temperature is easy. There’s no clunky remote control you have to point at the hub or dials to turn.

Instead, the Eight Sleep Pod works wirelessly.

When you set it up, you’ll need to connect it to your home network and then link your phone to it.

Download the free Eight Sleep app to set your preferred temperature.

The app has a lot of cool features. My favorite is the smart temperature mode.

Using analytics, the Pod learns about your sleep preferences and automatically adjust the temperature through the night to improve the quality of your sleep.

The app works great and is easy to use. Adjusting the temperature on your side of the bed is super easy.

4. Smart Home Integration

Eight Sleep

If you don’t want to use the app (e.g., if you don’t sleep with your smartphone nearby), you can control the temperature via a virtual assistant like Alexa or Google Assistant.

Check the manual for instructions on how to link the Eight Sleep Pod to your Amazon Echo or Google Home.

You can also connect it to a Nest smart thermostat and Philips Hue lights so that everything works together seamlessly to create the perfect sleep environment.

The manual will guide you on how to create an automated nightly routine that activates when it’s time for bed or when you say a certain voice command.

5. Comfy Mattress

All the tech is cool and all but what about the mattress? Is it any good?

Normally, I’d prefer a standalone cooling pad that you can use with any mattress. That way, you don’t have to spend a lot of money on a new mattress.

But the Eight Sleep mattress is so comfortable that I think it’s worth spending more on the complete bundle.

Compared to the tech part of the bed, the mattress is…boring. It has no particularly interesting feature or technology.

But it is comfortable, and that’s all that matters.

It is an all-foam mattress consisting of polyfoam and memory foam. It hits the sweet point in terms of comfort –soft enough to hug your body and relieve pressure yet firm enough to provide back support.

The 5” high-density ensures the mattress doesn’t sag. It also provides compression support for couples and heavier sleepers.

Everything is wrapped in a soft cotton-knit cover that is highly breathable.

6. Advanced Analytics 

eight bed

Back to the tech part of the Eight Sleep Pod, we haven’t yet talked about the sleep tracking feature.

It’s not a must-have for sleep quality, but it’s nice to have it. You can see how well you are sleeping and get advice, via the app, on how to improve your sleep quality.

The mattress tracks various metrics, including how much you move during sleep, your heart rate, your breathing, and your sleep cycles.

To make the most use of all this data, however, you’ll have to spend a bit more money. For $5 a month, you’ll become an 8 Plus member.

Membership provides much more than basic sleep data.

One of the things you’ll get is a sleep fitness score, which combines all your sleep metrics into a score representing your average sleep quality.

By tracking your daily sleep fitness score, it’s easy to monitor your sleep quality.

You can track daily, weekly, and monthly trends.

Other membership benefits include personalized sleep coaching, sleep programs, and a growing library of sleep-related content.

7. Thermo Alarm

The heating/cooling feature has another use – like an alarm.

When the thermo alarm is activated, the Pod will start lowering the temperature an hour or so before your target wake up time.

It keeps lowering the temperature gradually until you wake up.

This is a much gentler way to wake you up compared to a shrill alarm tone. You wake up feeling more rested and refreshed.


Setting up the Eight Sleep Pod 

sleep eight

You don’t have to worry about setting up the Eight Sleep Pod. When it is delivered, it’ll also be set up for you.

This includes unboxing the mattress, placing it on the bed, setting up the hub and connecting it to your home network.

For now, Eight Sleep is not charging anything for shipping and delivery. So take advantage before its company introduces a cost for set up, which most mattress companies charge.

The only thing you’ll need to do after setting up is to refill the hub with water occasionally.

The app will send you an alert when the water level gets low.

Sound Level

Pod bed

Similar to other water-based bed climate control systems, the Pod barely makes any noise. The only sign it’s working is a cooling or warming bed.

Benefits 

  • Versatile temperature options from 55F to 115F.
  • Wireless temperature control via app.
  • Dual zone temperature control for couples.
  • Comfortable medium-firm mattress.
  • Quiet operation.

Concerns

  • Expensive.
  • Not ideal for those who are just looking for a cooling/warming topper and don’t need a new mattress.

Warranty and Care 

eight sleep review

As I mentioned, the only maintenance you need to do is occasionally add water to the hub. The app will tell you when it’s time to refill it.

Other than that, the Pod is pretty low maintenance.

Eight Sleep highly recommends using a waterproof mattress protector to avoid damaging the sensors underneath the cover.

Make sure it’s light and breathable so that it doesn’t interfere with the heating and cooling performance.

You have 100 days to test the mattress at home. If you don’t like it, returns are free.

If you decide to keep it, the mattress will be covered by a 10-year warranty. But that’s just the foam part of the mattress.

The smart Active Grid layer has a separate 2-year warranty.


Overall Rating 

The Eight Sleep Pod works way better than basic foam cooling pads or electric blankets.

It responds instantly, quickly warming or cooling the bed to help you sleep better and more deeply.

We love the full temperature range, and the many smart features integrated into the mattress. The sleep metrics are especially helpful for those who are trying to improve their sleep quality.

On the downside, the Pod is a steep investment because it comes complete with a mattress.

Maybe in the future, the company might decide to sell the climate control system separately.

For now, I still think it’s worth it. And anyway, it’s a chance to upgrade your aging mattress.


Where to Buy One

Eight Sleep

The best place to buy this Eight Sleep Pod Cooling System is online, where you'll often find the best deal.

About the Author Tom Hanson

I’ve worked as an HVAC tech in Phoenix, AZ for the past 10 years. I created CoolAndPortable.com to help home owners select the right portable air conditioner, cooler or air purifier for their needs & budget in just a few minutes.

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