One thing we all need, no matter if we're world-class athletes or couch-to-5k runners, is sleep. The pursuit of improving and better understanding sleep has launched a massive industry of hardware and software dedicated to those hours when you're blissfully unconscious.
And while trackers, watches, rings, podcasts, masks, blankets, and more all promise better sleep, few of them actually deliver. Eight Sleep is the outlier that's accomplished what it's set out to do. And with the announcement of this year's upgrade, the company is introducing a whole new layer of sleep comfort and tracking (literally).
Pod 5 System
Eight Sleep’s Pod 5 is a modular, intelligent sleep system made up of a Cover, Hub, Blanket, and Base. Compatible with all mattresses and bed frames, the system is easily installed. You start by filling the Hub reservoir with water and getting it connected via the Eight Sleep app. The app walks you through the installation process, which only takes about 15 minutes, start to finish (minus the time it takes for the system to prime). The Cover fits over any existing mattress, like a fitted sheet. The Blanket connects to the Cover and can be inserted into most duvet covers. The Base fits on top of existing bed frames or can stand on its own via a leg kit.
Hub and Cover
The Pod 5 system retains all the upgrades of last year’s Pod 4: a redesigned tower that’s whisper quiet, integrated water filtering, a thinner Cover with a more efficient cooling system, and integration with the motorized Base for automatic adjustments based on snore detection.
The Pod 5 Cover does get at least one new trick though. Instead of tap zones (which users found difficult to control accurately), there's now a row of buttons on each side of the Cover to raise and lower the temperature (and the volume of the Base speaker and the Base itself).
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Blanket
The Blanket is the newest addition to the Eight Sleep line up and it could be a major game changer. After all, if your room is hot or cold, the surface you're laying on can only do so much to keep your entire body at a comfortable temperature. The Blanket adds another dimension, connecting to the Cover's system and maintaining dual comfort zones on both sides of the body for both sleepers.
The Blanket also works with most duvet covers, which is good — I know I’m going to want there to be a few layers of fabric between my cat’s claws and the water-filled coils of the Blanket. I fully anticipate this becoming his favorite spot this winter when my wife raises the temperature on her side. The only caveat is that the Blanket attaches to the system at the Base of the bed, so if your duvet cover doesn't open at the bottom, you'll need to get inventive.
Base
The Base still has the same motorized tricks. Installed either between your mattress and bed frame or on its own with optional leg kits, you can raise the head and foot of your mattress for a comfortable sleeping position and it will automatically raise the head of the bed if you or your partner is snoring. But now it has a surround-sound speaker built in through which you can stream white noise, soundscapes, or NSDR (non-sleep deep rest) content from neuroscientist and podcaster Dr. Andrew Huberman.
My one worry about the Base was that my cat could get caught if he investigated under the mattress when it was in a raised position. Luckily, the Base has a passive IR sensor that keeps it from operating when it detects heat or movement underneath. It also has safety features built in to detach the motor if it encounters resistance.
Sleep Content
Dr. Huberman’s NSDR protocol is essentially a form of yoga nidra, a practice characterized by deep breathing and body visualization, proven to help lower heart rate and increase relaxation. You enjoy the benefits of deep sleep, relaxing your fight or flight nervous system response, without having to be completely asleep. Like most meditation practices, it can help improve the quality of your sleep as well as reduce stress and anxiety.
If starting a new mental health protocol isn’t your thing, there’s white noise and soothing soundscapes that can stream through the speaker to lull you and your partner to sleep and automatically turn off or stay on throughout the night. But, like sleep positions, you and your sleeping partner will have to agree on what to listen to (or if you want to listen at all). It would be nice if you could stream other content through the speaker but alas, Eight Sleep has confirmed the speaker is compatible only with their app. I have a Headspace membership and swear by its sleepcasts to help me wind down in the evening. I’d love not to have to wear earphones to listen.
App Upgrades
Eight Sleep is also hopping onboard the health-monitoring bandwagon. While Eight Sleep has been compiling sleep metrics into a Sleep Fitness Score since the beginning, this will be the first time they’ve taken the biometric data collected and turned that into a picture of your overall wellness. Similar to Whoop or Oura, Health Check uses biometrics like heart rate, respiratory rate, heart rate variability, and sleep stages to provide you with a daily health score, all without having to wear a ring, watch, or band. In fact, Eight Sleep claims 99% heart rate accuracy, impressive for a non-wearable. Being able to get insight into how well you’ve recovered without having to wear hardware to bed is an impressive selling point.
The entire system is powered by AI algorithms that work to keep you comfortable and crunch the 6-to-9 hours of biometric data it collects every evening. What's cool is that the Hub isn't just aware of you, it also keeps track of your room temperature, making adjustments automatically as the seasons change.
Availability and Pricing
Pod 5 is available now only at eightsleep.com in the US (except for Alaska,Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and other US territories). It's also available in the EU (excluding Cyprus, Greece, and Malta), Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, the United Arab Emirates, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Monaco and Switzerland.
The pricing is where things get sticky.
You don’t have to buy all four elements of the Pod 5 system. You can get just the Hub and Cover, or add the Blanket, or add the Base. The Core package with just the Hub and Cover on a full bed is $2,849 USD (this is the only package that’s available for full beds). You can also rent the Core system starting at $209 a month (which includes an Autopilot subscription). The Plus system with the Hub, Cover, and Blanket starts at $4,099. And the Ultra package that includes the Base starts at $6,099.
Then there’s the subscriptions—It’s $199 if you want to use Autopilot, $299 if you want Autopilot plus an extended warranty, and $399 if you want to add Health Check. Yes, they list these out as “per month" but they’re billed annually, so after the 30 day free trial, you’re in for another big bill after dishing out thousands for the hardware.
Luckily, there is a trial and if you decide the Pod 5 doesn’t work for you, you can return it for free. You also aren’t beholden to subscribing to an annual plan if you decide you don’t need advanced app features like Autopilot or Health Check.
The Pod 5 is the most advanced system that Eight Sleep has released. It’s also the most expensive. It’s up to you to decide how much a perfect night’s sleep is worth.
