Eight Sleep Pod 5 Review 2025
Becoming a parent sent me into a deep dive into the nuances of baby sleep. Once my children could sleep through the night, I thought I had closed the book on slumber disturbances. As it turns out, children’s sleep is an always evolving situation, thanks to sleep regressions. I’ve tested out dozens of tips to get better sleep, and found particular success after creating a relaxing night time ritual by limiting my phone usage and taking a warm bath. However, middle-of-the-night sleep interruptions were still taking a toll on my body and mind.
When I received the opportunity to test out Eight Sleep Pod 5 — a cover that wraps your mattress to track your health and optimize your temperature — I was curious to see how it could help improve my sleep. Keep reading to learn how the pod improved my overall sleep quality.
What I Like About the Eight Sleep Pod 5 Cover
I’ll be honest and say, I was shocked as I set up the cover. I’d read that it was hydro-powered, but that description went over my head. When it came time to fill the base with several canisters of water, I felt a slight panic. Flashes of jiggly water beds went through my mind, and I started to worry that the cover would have that same floating feeling. Thankfully, the cover felt neutral in the best way. It didn’t significantly change the comfort of my mattress. Overall, the set-up process wasn’t too complicated, thanks to easy-to-follow videos on the Eight Sleep app, and the is a button on the side of the cover that can be used to manually adjust the temperature. FYI: this is not a cheap investment. The price for the cover starts at $2,449 for a full bed and can go up to over $6,000 for larger beds, with ultra options including features like elevation to help with snoring.
But, for me, it was worth it. I love that the Pod creates a bedtime ritual. When I set my bedtime for 9:45 p.m., it would automatically adjust to my preferred heat (+3 degrees.) As someone who is always cold, entering into a warm bed felt like getting a hug each night. I also appreciated that it can be adjusted for different sides of the bed, between 55°F and 110°F, because my husband prefers a colder environment than I do.
Once I was asleep, the pod got to work. It tracked my temperature and made between 19 and 37 adjustments each night. In the morning, I was greeted by a text message asking if I felt too hot or cold after falling asleep. Even though I prefer to be warm, initially, I found it was too hot. I felt like Goldilocks when it unlocked the perfect temperature.
So, did it deliver better sleep? I saw an overall improvement in my sleep and a much welcomed increase in REM sleep. I even had more dreams, which is rare for me. On nights when I woke up to check on my kids, I had an easier time falling back asleep. However, the disruptions still impacted my sleep. When I slept through the night, I had sleep scores in the 80s. On nights with interruptions, I was greeted in the morning by bleak scores in the 40s or 50s. Ultimately, the cover improved my sleep, but for best results I still needed good sleep habits.
On the flip side, my husband, who drinks caffeine into the early evening, goes to sleep later than me, and looks at his phone until he goes to sleep, had daily sleep scores from 94 to 100 (except for one night when he slept in my son’s room).
Do I feel competitive that my husband it getting better sleep than me? I do. He was skeptical of the pod and yet, on the first night, he got a perfect sleep score. I suspect that my my overall lower scores may be affected by a rigorous marathon training plan I’m following. I’m curious to see how my sleep score will be affected once I scale back my exercise load.
What’s Worth Noting About Eight Sleep Pod 5
This is definitely an investment item. Because there are many affordable options to improve your sleep, this probably isn’t where most people should start on their journey to better rest.
Who Is Eight Sleep Pod 5 Best For?
Most parents I know are sleep deprived, so the cover is ideal if they’ve exhausted other methods. As a mom, I don’t want to be in such a deep slumber that I can’t hear my children, so I tend to skip supplements.
I would have loved to try this while I was pregnant, because I was hot all of the time. If you’re experiencing menopause, they have a Hot Flash Mode. The brand’s clinical study found that the pod reduces hot flashes by 55 percent, and user testing showed that 8 out of 10 women felt relief within 10 minutes. The pod would also be a solid choice for athletes looking to optimize their performance, as recovery is often key to reaching fitness goals. I found the HRV (heart rate variability) metrics on the app helpful in planning my training. If my HRV was low, I’d opt for a low-intensity workout.
Where Is Eight Sleep Pod 5 Available to Shop?
The Eight Sleep Pod 5 cover is available to shop at Eight Sleep.
Additional Details
- It is available in sizes full, queen, king, and California king.
- The cover cools or heats each side independently from 55°F to 110°F, adjusting based on biometric data to support deeper sleep.
- The Eight Sleep app controls the device.
- Autopilot, which learns what each individual needs to sleep their best and provides the appropriate optimizations in real-time, every night, is available for $17 to $33 per month.
- Two-year limited warranty included; extended warranty options available.
Rating: ★★★★★
Genevieve Farrell Roston (she/her) is an award-winning filmmaker and the director of fitness and wellness video at PS. She oversees the Webby-nominated PS Fit video series, which makes fitness fun and accessible. She has more than 10 years of experience in the entertainment industry. A certified personal trainer, she loves running, Pilates, and rest days. As a mom of two, she is an avid reviewer of children’s gear and products.
