| Manufacturer | Eight Sleep |
|---|---|
| Type | Water-cooled and heated mattress cover with Hub, with sleep tracking |
| Series | Pod |
| Released | 27 July 2022 |
| Price at launch | Cover $2,095 (Full), $2,195 (Queen) and $2,395 (King and California King). UK and EU from £2,145 / €2,595. |
| Predecessor | Eight Sleep Pod Pro |
| Successor | Eight Sleep Pod 4 |
| Status | Replaced by Pod 4 in May 2024 |
| Versions | Pod 3 Cover. A Pod 3 mattress was also sold, in the US only, and was phased out in 2023. |
| Who it suits | Hot sleepers and couples who want each side of the bed at its own temperature, with sleep tracking and nothing to wear. |
Specifications and features as at launch.
Expert opinion
Eight Sleep Pod 3 is a water-cooled and heated mattress cover that sets each side of the bed to its own temperature and tracks sleep through ballistocardiography, which senses the tiny movements of each heartbeat, so nothing is worn. Autopilot adjusts the temperature through the night as you move between sleep stages, and the bed can warm gradually to wake you.
The Hub is a bedside unit that circulates the water, and it makes a slight hum. The Cover is the sensible choice over the Pod 3 mattress because it adds the same technology to the mattress you already own. Pod 3 effectively needs a membership for Autopilot.
Deciding whether to buy? Pod 3 has been replaced three times, most recently by Pod 6.
What’s new
Hardware
- A dual-band Wi-Fi chip in the Hub that adds 5 GHz support and improves mesh network support.
- More sensitive sensors and a faster processor for real-time data.
- The Active Grid layer, which wraps around any mattress like a cover.
Specifications
| Temperature | |
|---|---|
| Method | Water circulated through the Active Grid layer by the Hub |
| Range | 13 to 43°C (55 to 110°F) on each side |
| Zones | Two, one per side |
| Cover | |
| Fit | Zips over your existing mattress, with straps for a snug fit |
| Water | About one litre |
| Sensing | Ballistocardiography: heart rate, HRV, breathing and movement |
| Sensors | Twice as many as the previous generation, per Eight Sleep. The exact number is not published. |
| Wearable needed | No |
| Connectivity | |
| Wi-Fi | Dual-band, 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz |
| Ownership | |
| Membership | Autopilot needed for automatic temperature control |
| Warranty | 2 years, extended to 5 years with the Enhanced membership |
| Trial | 30 nights for the Cover |
| Maintenance | Refill the Hub with water about every six months |
| © the5krunner. Link required. | |
Features
Temperature
- Autopilot warms the bed before you get in, cools it as you enter deep sleep and warms it before you wake.
- A thermal alarm raises the bed temperature to wake you, and a vibration alarm is also available.
- The Hub has a dimmable light that shows whether the bed is heating or cooling.
Sleep and health tracking
- Sleep stages, heart rate, HRV and breathing for each side of the bed.
- Sleep reports and trends in the Eight Sleep app.
Connect
- IFTTT support for automations, and links to Apple Health and Google Fit.
- Guided breathing, sleep sounds and pre-sleep stretching routines in the app.
Further reading
- Eight Sleep scientific validation: HRV and sleep benefits
- Bed cooling systems compared
- Eight Sleep specifications
Related
The current model is Eight Sleep Pod 6.
Eight Sleep Pod 6
Excellent. Expensive. Silent.
Quick answers
What is the temperature range of Eight Sleep Pod 3?
Each side of the bed can be set from 13 to 43°C (55 to 110°F).
How does Eight Sleep Pod 3 track sleep without a wearable?
It uses ballistocardiography, which senses the tiny movements of each heartbeat through the mattress cover.
Has Eight Sleep Pod 3 been replaced?
Yes. Pod 4 replaced it, followed by Pod 5 and Pod 6.
Small things I always use
- Garmin 90-degree charging adapter: Charges your Garmin with any USB-C cable. Essential when travelling. I use one.
- Body Glide: The blue anti-chafing stick swimmers and runners carry. I use it.
- Speedo earplugs: Fewer ear infections and no cold-water dizziness. I use them.
- Dryrobe Advance: My winter changing robe for open-water swims. I use one. A cheaper option is the AONYIYI changing robe.
- Maurten: Race fuel that stays easy on the stomach. I use them.
- Beet It Sport nitrate shots: Beetroot shots I take in the days before a race. I use them.
- Garmin charging puck: The quickest way to top up before a session. I use one.
- Injinji: Toe socks that stop rubbing, so you run more. I use them.
- Ultimate toe protectors: Stop black toenails on long runs. They work. I use them.
- Compressport R2 v2 calf sleeves: My calf sleeves of choice. I use them.
- Cellucor C4: My pre-workout before hard sessions.
- TPU tubes: Schwalbe Aerothan, Tubolito and Pirelli SmarTube. Light, tiny spares. I use all three.
- G8 insoles: Adjustable arches, perfect position. I use them.
- Cycplus Cube: A 97g electric pump that gets a road tyre rideable in two minutes. I carry one. 5% off with code THE5KRUNNER.
Health, recovery and sleep
- Kineon MOVE+: Red and infrared light for sore knees, Achilles and other joints after hard training. I use it.
- FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus: Shows how my blood sugar responds to diet. Occasional use.
- hDrop: Measures my sweat loss in summer and indoors. I use it.
- Fourth Frontier Zone: Checks my heart under load in hard sessions.
- Oura Ring 5: My partner’s recovery tracker of choice.
- Eight Sleep: A cooling mattress cover my partner and I use nightly.
Watches and sensors
- Polar H10: My daily driver for waking HRV.
- Polar Verity Sense: My backup arm-worn HR sensor.
- Nomad bedside charger: Charges my iPhone and Apple Watch overnight. I use it, and many of their bands.
- Train.Red: The best muscle oxygen sensor I’ve used. Occasional use.
- Tymewear: Accurate heart rate and reliable ventilatory zones. I use it to pace endurance rides over an hour.
- Garmin Forerunner 970: A pro-grade triathlon watch. I use this.
- Apple Watch Ultra 4: My daily smartwatch. No phone needed on rides.
On the bike
- Continental GP5000 for everyday riding, and Aero 111 on the front for special occasions. I use both.
- Helmets: Specialized S-Works Evade 3 for road riding, and Rudy Project Wing for TT-style races. I use both.
- Ravemen FR300: A front light that mounts under your Garmin or Wahoo. I use one.
- Ravemen FR1000: The light and the computer mount in one unit, so nothing else goes on the bars. Better than mine.
- Ravemen FR1500SE: 1,500 lumens hanging under your Garmin, for proper night rides.
- Ravemen FR1100SE: 1,100 lumens under your Garmin, and up to 46 hours on slow flash.
- Ravemen FR500: A brighter FR300 with the same mount.
- Wahoo TRACKR Radar: I use it on one bike and Varia on the other. They perform the same.
- Garmin Varia RTL515: Radar that warns you of cars from behind. I use this model.
- Wahoo ELEMNT Roam 3: The bike computer that’s easy to use. I use mine on most rides.
- Favero Assioma Pro RS2: Accurate power pedals that swap easily between bikes. I use this model.
Home and indoor training
- NPE Runn: Makes my basic treadmill smart, sending more accurate speed and distance to my watch and Zwift. I use it.
- Google Wifi: Keeps Zwift connected in my pain cave. I use it.
- Apple TV 4K: Zwift on the big screen. I use two.
- Google Nest Doorbell (wired, 2nd gen): My video doorbell, running in both Google Home and Apple Home via Starling. I use it.
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