The 8Sleep Pod 4 mattress topper changes the temperature of the mattress using water coils that are embedded in the fabric. When connected to the app, it intelligently regulates bed temperature throughout the night to prevent wakeups, and increase deep, REM, and light sleep. Temperature control can be separated on the left and right side for 2 people sleeping on the bed at the same time.
Why it’s BLUE Certified
- Test of time: Nightly for 1.5+ years, 3 different household moves
- Repurchase test: Yes — would buy again at full price
- Shared off-camera: Yes — recommended privately and purchased for 2 different family members
- Earned its spot: I’ve tested other sleep and temperature solutions, and none measured up to this. I found other products (like cooling sheets alone or cooling bed fans) to be less reliable, require more maintenance, or minimally improve sleep.
What it solves
Eliminates sleep disruption caused by overheating or temperature swings. Instead of reacting after you wake up uncomfortable, it proactively adjusts bed temperature to keep you asleep.
Personal insights This product has massively improved sleep for both me and my fiancée and gives me more energy upon waking, less brain fog, and more fulfilled sleep. In the beginning I even experienced more vivid dreams, which according to experts, is a sign of good health.
Tradeoffs:
- High upfront cost (≈ $3,049 as of 1/1/26)
- Basically mandatory yearly subscription (≈ $20/month)
- Moving is quite cumbersome, but possible. I’ve moved it ~3 times, but it is somewhat difficult to drain. I personally couldn’t fit it into the included moving pouch since it wasn’t fully drained. </aside>
Worth it for:
- Light sleepers
- Couples with different temperature preferences
- People with low energy in the morning caused by poor sleep quality
- Anyone who treats sleep as a health and productivity lever
- Data nerds (like me) who want to optimize longevity
- People whose sleep is disrupted by temperature or experience other heat issues (e.g., hot flashes) </aside>
Not worth it for:
- People who already very sleep well
- Anyone who finds sleep metrics stressful or prefers not to track data
- Anyone strongly opposed to subscriptions </aside>
Practical notes:
- Buy the cover + hub, not the full system that includes the 8Sleep mattress — use your own mattress and save money
- Use two mattress protectors (one under, one over) for peace of mind
- Avoid pets roughhousing on the bed (sharp pressure or claws can increase risk of a leak)
- I have 2 large dogs and haven’t had any issues with leaks
- Leaks appear to be rare and most often associated with improper moving or sharp contact
- Minimal ongoing maintenance once set up
- Setup time: ~1 hour
Bottom line: If sleep quality materially affects your health, energy, or work, this is one of the few upgrades that justifies its cost. If sleep isn’t a problem for you, or it’s not worth the ~$4,000 investment, skip it.
