Eight Sleep Pod Pain Relief Performance
If firmness is one side of the comfort coin, pressure relief is the other. In case you havent heard the term before, it basically refers to how well a bed is able to alleviate tension at sensitive spots along the body, such as the shoulders, hips, and lower back. To assess this feel factor, I like to use a handy dandy pressure map!
Though it sounds complicated, its actually quite simple: I roll this gizmo out, hop aboard, and let the map do the rest! As I move around the structure, the gadget records the force my body is exerting on the structure, and makes a colored map of the pressure. Blue to green indicate areas of low pressure, while yellow to red indicate areas of high pressure.
Take a look at the Eight Sleep Pods pain relief performance below!
Back Pain Lying on my back, I felt as though my weight was pretty evenly distributed across the structure. Though I could feel the top foam layers filling in the space at my lumbar region for some pressure relief, the crinkly cover did make me feel a little uncomfortable. However, I would say that the firmness of the bed made it very easy to move around and change positions. I would say this is overall a good bed to relieve back pain, if you can get past the unique cover. Sleepers under 130 lb should find back pain relief when lying on their stomachs as well however that is not the case for average and heavy weight stomach sleepers as I mentioned above that this bed is too soft for these folks.
How Does The Eight Sleep Pod Compare To Other Beds
Our in-depth testing process allows us to see the differences and similarities between different mattresses. In this section, well compare the Eight Sleep Pod to other popular luxury models.
Eight Sleep Pod vs. Tuft & Needle Mint
While not a smart mattress, the Tuft & Needle Mint is an affordable, luxury all-foam mattress that may appeal to customers who are interested in the Eight Sleep Pod but prefer a traditional mattress.
At 12 inches, the Mint is an inch taller than the Pod, and is slightly firmer with a medium-firm 6 out of 10 rating on the firmness scale. The Mint features two comfort layers: 3 inches of gel and graphite-infused polyfoam, and 2 inches of gel-infused polyfoam. These infusions are part of the Mints temperature regulation system, which testers found offered a cool sleep. However, it falls short of the exceptional cooling potential of the Pod.
Since it lacks the Pods latex alternative comfort layer, the Mint is more contouring and offers sleepers a balanced feeling of sleeping both in and on their mattress. Like the Pod, the Mint is more suitable for lightweight and average weight sleepers, as our heavier testers found it lacked appropriate hip and midsection support.
Eight Sleep Pod vs. Brooklyn Spartan
Eight Sleep Pod vs. Bear Mattress
Eight Sleep does not offer old mattress removal with any order.
Does Eight Offer A Sleep Trial Return Policy And Warranty
Eight mattresses each come with a 100-night sleep trial, a return and full refund policy, and a 10-year limited warranty. The Eight sleep tracker comes with a 30-day money back guarantee and a one-year limited warranty.
Mattress returns are as expected, and typical of an online-based mattress startup: Contact customer support, arrange a mattress pickup for donation or recycling, and then wait for the refund once the return has been verified by Eight.
Returning the sleep tracker is trickier, as you may need to accomplish that yourself. Note that you should do this within the relatively shorter trial period of 30 days! Purchasing an Eight smart mattress bundle does not automatically include the Eight sleep tracker in the industry standard 100-night sleep trial.
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My Favorite Things About The Pod Mattress
I really liked Eight Sleeps app. Its compatible with IOS and Android operating systems, and it was really easy to use, even for someone like me, who is not tech savvy at all. I really enjoyed learning more about my sleep quality and finding out how much REM sleep I got each night. If youre someone interested in improving your sleep, or just a sleep health nerd like me, I think youll really like this app too!
I was also pleasantly surprised that the Pod Pro really delivered on Eight Sleeps temperature regulation promises. I did not expect this foam bed-in-a-box to be as cooling as Eight Sleep promised. But it was absolutely one of the most cooling mattresses Ive ever tested! If youre a hot sleeper you might want to check this smart bed out.
How Does The Eight Sleep Tracker Hold Up Over Time
The Eight sleep tracker has been around the longest among all the products that Eight offers. Complaints about Eight mattresses can sometimes be subjective, but thats not true for the Eight sleep tracker.
We take negative customer feedback about the Eight sleep tracker more seriously because its not about how it feels, but how it performs on an objective level.
While the Eight sleep tracker enjoyed a ton of good press and glowing reviews early on, recently it hasnt been doing so well! Users have reported incidents of inconsistent or wrong data: the sleep report showing a high score when they remember tossing and turning, the tracker incorrectly noting sleepers leaving the bed in the middle of the night, and more.
Others claim that their Eight sleep trackers simply stopper connecting to other smart devices, stopped working, or only worked half the time. They did mention that Eight support was eager to provide repair or replacements, but some experienced very long wait times.
This is not to say that all feedback about the Eight sleep tracker is negativefar from it. Rather, the negativity is just more noticeable because its usually what people focus on. In comparison, there are far less complaints about the mattresses.
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How Firm Is The Eight Sleep Pod Mattress
Now that you know how exactly this mattress works, lets talk about how it feels. Keep in mind that feel is subjective, and youll experience a bed differently depending on your body shape and preferred sleeping position. For reference, Im 59, 125 lbs. and sleep primarily on my side. Someone heavier than me will likely find this bed softer than I did, and someone lighter may find it firmer.
After rolling around on the Eight Sleep Pod, I decided to give it a firmness rating of 7 out 10. The industry standard for medium firmness is 6.5 out of 10, which means that this bed is just on the firmer side of medium-firm.
When I was first testing out the bed sans cover, I found it to be quite soft, so its interesting to see that the Active Grid is really what gives this bed its firmness . I definitely felt more on top of than stuck-in this bed, so Id recommend it primarily for combination sleepers who move between positions at night.
How Does The Eight Saturn+ Smart Mattress Feel
Generally, all Eight mattresses offer a medium feel. The Eight Saturn definitely leans more to the firm side, though. Its as the opposite end of the Eight Mars, which provides the softest feel out of the three Eight mattress products.
The Eight Saturn is not that noteworthy, compared to the industry average Eight Jupiter and the premium Eight Mars. The feel is comparable to most regular all-polyfoam mattress. No big surprises, no big advantages.
It may be a little firmer than youd think, though! Remember that unlike the Eight Jupiter or the Eight Mars, the Eight Saturn has no memory foam layer. The top foam is the least dense and the softest of the foams that make up the Eight Saturn, but it offers more bounce and way less sinkage that youd expect.
When we checked for customer feedback, we were honestly a little surprised at the amount of glowing reviews! We were hard pressed to find negative experiences, too. Our theory is that the affordability of the Eight Saturn+ Smart Mattress package does a lot to ease the nitpicking that inevitably happens with new purchases.
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How Do I Set Up The Eight Sleep Pod Mattress
When I first heard about this mattress, I was definitely wondering how the heck it worked! So lets take a second here to talk about how to set up this smart mattress.
The Pod will arrive in two boxes. One will include the mattress, which youll unbox and set up like any bed-in-a-box. The Pod Pros Active Grid cover and Hub will arrive in a separate box.
The first thing you do when setting up your new Pod is download the Eight Sleep App. This handy App, which Ill describe below, will give you easy step-by-step instructions on how to set up your new bed.
As a brief overview, youll unpack the cover and zip it onto your bed. Then youll plug the cover into the Hub and plug the Hub into the wall. Next, the App will guide you through connecting the Hub to your phone and WiFi. Once youre connected, youll fill your hub with filtered water and a few tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide, choose your preferred temperature via the Eight Sleep App, and leave the bed alone for about 90 minutes.
After that, the Hub takes over! It will pump your Active Grid full of water and get connected with all the sensors in that cover. Once its finished priming, youll be able to set each side of your bed to whichever temperature youd like using the App. According to Eight Sleep, available temperature options range from 55 to 115 degrees fahrenheit.
Eight Sleep Pod Performance For Couples
Motion Transfer
And now lets get into motion transfer! This factor refers to the amount of movement thats detectable from one side of the mattress to the other, and could be a crucial variable for sleepers to consider if they share a bed with a child, partner, or rowdy pet.
To illustrate motion transfer, I dropped a 10 lb steel ball from heights of 4 inches, 8 inches, and 12 inches and measured the disturbance it caused: the bigger the lines, the bigger the disturbance.
These are not the best motion transfer results. Because the water in the tubes moves around when you do, youre likely to feel your partner moving around at night. If you sleep with a restless bed mate, this might pose a problem for you! You might want to take a look at one of our best mattresses for couples to find a better fit.
Sex
Generally, the best mattress for couples combines responsiveness and bounce with low motion transfer. The Pod mattress is pretty responsive, so if you share a bed and arent easily disturbed by movement, it could work for you and your partner.
Cooling
I will say that I was genuinely surprised by just how effective the Active Grid was at establishing different temperatures across the mattress. While I cant speak to the exact temperatures reached by the grid, I was impressed by the range and quickness with which they changed. So, if you want a mattress for its temperature-controlling capabilities, I think you could be well-satisfied with the Pod.
Edge Support
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Whats In An Eight Mars Mattress
The Eight Mars is a mattress made up of three layers of CertiPUR-US approved foam, plus a layer of pocketed spring coils between the middle and bottom foams.
Lets go into more detail:
- 2 inches of reactive synthetic latex foam. The top layer provides support and breathability. Its also said to be hypoallergenic and fire retardant.
- 2 inches of visco elastic memory foam. This layer sits under the more reactive latex-like foam to provide comfort and contourthat familiar hug you get from memory foamwithout the rick of excessive sinkage.
- 4-inch pocketed coil system. Individually sleeved coils typically make for better weight distribution, pressure relief, and less heat retention. The sides are bolstered by polyfoam to provide more edge support.
- 3 inches of high density support polyfoam. The bottom layer of any mattress is always going to be for foundational support. Its there to increase the durability of the product. Upper layers support the sleeper the lowest one supports the structure of the mattress itself.
These layers are stacked together and wrapped in a chemical-free, fabric-knit fire sock. The non-removable mattress covernot the technology layer, lets be clearis said to be made from a custom hand-sewn fabric. Eight says that it is flexible and also fire retardant.
Because you cant completely take off the mattress cover, only spot cleaning is recommended.
Sleeping Style And Body Weight
Side Sleepers: Generally, side sleepers prefer mattresses with softer surface feels. This position requires extra cushioning for the shoulders and hips in order to align the spine properly, so firmer mattresses may not provide enough padding for side sleepers. The Pod is very well suited to side sleepers who weigh up to 230 pounds. This models medium feel and close conforming ensures ample padding for the shoulders and hips.
If youre a side sleeper who weighs more than 230 pounds, the bed still provides adequate support, but theres a chance the Pod will feel too soft and sink excessively beneath your shoulders and/or hips.
Back Sleepers: Back sleepers usually prefer firmer mattresses than side sleepers. This position promotes spinal alignment on its own, so enhanced support is needed to prevent the torso and waist from sinking too deeply beneath the surface.
We recommend the Pod for most back sleepers, particularly those under 230 pounds. This model conforms to a noticeable extent, but it wont sink too much for back sleepers and should keep their bodies on an even plane. However, the Pods medium firm feel may be a bit too soft for some back sleepers, who may want to opt for a firmer mattress instead.
| Under 130 lbs. |
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What Does The + After An Eight Mattress Name Mean
When theres a plus sign added to the end of the Eight mattress name, it means that its being sold with the sleep tracker.
For example: The Eight Jupiter+ smart mattress includes both the Eight Jupiter mattress and the Eight sleep tracker. Note that you can buy the Eight sleep tracker on its own. You can also purchase any of the Eight mattresses without an accompanying sleep tracker.
Final Words On The Eight Saturn+ Smart Mattress
The Eight Saturn+ smart mattress is a great deal. For the price of an average foam mattress, you get an Eight mattress and the Eight sleep tracker. Whats not to like? In fact, if youre not in the market for a sleep tracker, even just the Eight Saturn mattress is a great purchase. Its easy on the budget, and just as risk-free as any other mattress-in-a-box model.
The bottom line: We admit that our customer support experience wasnt the best, but with such a simple design, theres no reason to not give this mattress a chance. This gets higher marks than the other two Eight mattresses simply because of its affordability.
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Eight Sleep Mattress Future Proof
Unless youve been living under a rock, youd already know about The Eight Sleep Mattress. Founded in 2014, Eight Sleep mattresses have already become one of the most desirable mattresses around the globe. With its data driven approach to sleep, it has completely changed the bed in a box tradition. If youre planning to get yourself a memory foam mattress or if you already own a memory foam mattress and you think your mattress cant get any better, then take a look at this mattress and decide for yourself.
Eight Sleep Mattress currently features a trio of mattresses which are The Mars, The Jupiter, and The Saturn. Each of the mattress comes with an optional sleep tracker which overlays the mattress and has to be attached to an internet-enabled hub which interfaces with an app on your smart phone. This sleep tracker is available individually as well which is great for someone who loves their current mattress but want to experience smart sleep with this tracker without actually having to buy a new mattress.
Construction
Mattress with Technology
You can also set alarm on the Eight App which will wake you up everyday at the right time. The smart layer continuously analyses your sleep stages and it will wake you up while your lightest sleep within half hour before your alarm. You can choose from different custom ringtones that are designed to wake you up in whatever mood you choose.
Firmness
Motion Transfer
Other Features
How The Pod Pro Works
The Pod Pro improves on the original, award-winning Pod with new hardware and software. It optimizes sleep quality through personalized temperature control, health monitoring and improved comfort.
The Mattress
Five layers of CertiPUR-US®-certified foam for the ideal medium firmness and contouring support. Encased in a premium and breathable cover.
The Active Grid cover with Comfort Blendâ¢
Water flows from the Hub to this thin and contouring layer to keep you at your ideal temperature. It also includes the sensors that track your biometrics, and an integrated layer of foam for superior comfort.
The Hub
Water flows through the Hubâs hydro-engines to the Active Grid to keep the bed as warm or cool as you desire. Fits next to your night stand. Refill with water every 2-3 months.
The App
Control the Pod’s settings and access your sleep reports and insights. Use the app remotely to set the Pod temperature for you and your partner from anywhere in the world. Available for iOS and Android.
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How Much Does The Eight Jupiter+ Smart Mattress Cost
Like many of its competitors, Eight offers free shipping and free returns. On the official website, the Eight Jupiter+ smart mattress is listed at $1,099. The price point is the same on Amazon, as of this writing. Wed also like to point out that its easier to navigate to product pages for just the Eight Eight mattress and the Eight sleep tracker there. For some reason, its more difficult to find them on the official website.
