Mastering Sleep: Eight's Technology For Restful Nights

how eight sleep works

Eight Sleep is a company that specializes in smart sleep technology. Their product, the Eight Sleep Pod, is a premium mattress cover that actively regulates your temperature and tracks your sleep data through a companion app. The Pod is equipped with a network of water tubes, known as the Active Grid, which connects to the Hub, an external reservoir that heats or cools the water. The Pod also features sensors that track sleep data such as heart rate, sleep quality, and sleep latency. The Eight Sleep Pod is designed to provide a personalized sleep experience, even if you and your partner have different preferences, and to help you optimize your sleep routine and wake up feeling more rested.

Characteristics Values
Temperature Control 55 to 110 degrees Fahrenheit
Sleep Tracking Sleep and health tracking through an app
Heart Rate Tracking Tracks heart rate and heart rate variability
Breath Rate Tracking Tracks breath rate
Warranty 2-year standard warranty; lifetime warranty with Plus subscription
Shipping Ships to the US, Canada, UK, Germany, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, France, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, and Australia
Return Policy 30-night sleep trial; full refund if returned within 30 nights
Compatibility Compatible with any mattress 10-11 inches thick; 10-16 inches thick with PerfectFit upgrade
Setup Requires setup with water and hydrogen peroxide
Noise Quiet enough that an overhead fan can drown it out
Cost $2,445 for the Pod 3 cover; $19 per month for 8+ Pro membership

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Temperature control

The Eight Sleep Pod 3 Cover is a premium, low-profile, smart mattress topper that actively regulates your temperature. It is a high-tech layer that wraps around your mattress, similar to a fitted sheet. It has a network of water tubes, known as the Active Grid, which connects to the Hub, an external reservoir that heats or cools water within a range of 55 to 110 degrees Fahrenheit. The Hub holds the water for cooling and heating and also provides connectivity to the Eight Sleep companion app. The app allows you to set a schedule for your preferred temperature, and you can also set a vibrating alarm that gradually increases the temperature on your side of the bed while vibrating softly to wake you up.

The Pod 3 Cover provides active heating and cooling, allowing you to set the temperature higher or lower depending on your preference. It is particularly useful for those who tend to sleep hot or cold and can help balance out temperature conditions in extreme climates. The temperature control is impressive, and even with additional bedding, the mattress can get uncomfortably cold or unbearably hot at maximum settings. The Pod also offers unique settings for each side of the bed, so you and your partner can have different temperature preferences.

The Eight Sleep system also includes an Autopilot feature that automatically adjusts your body temperature to reduce wake-ups, but this is only available with the 8+ Pro membership. The system can also provide a thermal alarm, gradually waking you up by making your side of the bed too hot or too cold. While this may be an effective way to get out of bed, some may find it unpleasant to start the day this way.

The Eight Sleep Pod 3 Cover consistently helps users fall asleep faster and spend more time in the deep sleep and REM stages. It is an expensive product, but for those who struggle to fall asleep or often wake up feeling too hot or cold, it could be a worthwhile investment.

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Sleep tracking

The Eight Sleep app, which accompanies the Pod, has four tabs: an overview, scheduled temperatures with manual control, alarms, and sleep tracking. The app provides broad trends over time and offers deeper explanations of the various metrics it tracks, along with advice to help you improve your sleep. For example, the app gives you a sleep score out of 100 each morning and offers charts showing your sleep stages (awake, REM, light, and deep), health metrics, sleep latency (time to fall asleep and get up), and consistency (when you turn in).

The data collected by Eight Sleep's products can be used to create more personalized products and treatments for sleep. The company believes that the data it acquires over millions of nights slept on its Pods will enable it to develop more effective and personalized products. This aligns with Eight Sleep's product philosophy of putting the product first, then the brand, and finally, performance marketing.

It is important to note that while sleep tracking can be useful, there is no one-size-fits-all set of rules for sleeping better. Individual results may vary, and the extent of improvement in sleep quality cannot be guaranteed. Factors such as lifestyle, pre-existing medical conditions, and adherence to product usage instructions can influence outcomes.

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Heart rate monitoring

Eight Sleep's smart mattress includes features such as temperature autopilot and GentleRise. Temperature autopilot learns and automatically adjusts to the user's temperature needs, while GentleRise wakes sleepers with a gradual temperature change and chest-level vibrations. The Eight Sleep Pod 3 Cover is a mattress cover that fits over a bed like a fitted sheet and contains a system of wires that pumps water throughout the cover to heat and cool sleepers. The Eight Sleep app shows broad trends over time and offers deeper explanations of the various metrics it tracks, with advice to help you improve.

The Eight Sleep Pod 3 Cover also has sensors that track temperature (ambient and body), heart rate, heart rate variability (HRV), respiratory rate, movement, and sleep stages. The Pod 4 gives you a sleep score out of 100 and offers charts showing sleep stages (awake, REM, light, and deep), health metrics, sleep latency, and consistency. The Eight Sleep Pod 4 Cover and Hub is a more recent version that improves on the Pod 3 by being quieter and more comfortable, and it adds handy manual controls.

In June 2022, Eight Sleep introduced new heart rate and heart rate variability algorithms. According to the company, Eight Sleep's sleeping heart algorithm has a mean absolute error of less than one beat per minute (bpm), a mean absolute percent error of 1.5%, and a mean error of -0.3 bpm compared to an electrocardiogram (ECG). Its heart rate variability algorithm has a mean error of -2.5 milliseconds, a mean percent error of 6.8%, and a correlation value of 0.90 compared to a gold-standard ECG.

Sleep trackers can be used to monitor an individual's heart rate during sleep. This data can be used to assess an individual's training status and overall health. The data gathered by smart bed companies could potentially be used to diagnose sleep disorders and predict illnesses in the future.

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Breath rate monitoring

Understanding Respiratory Rate:

Respiratory rate refers to the number of breaths a person takes per minute. It is considered one of the vital signs that indicate overall health. A typical respiratory rate for a resting adult ranges between 12 and 20 breaths per minute. However, it's important to note that this can vary depending on factors such as age, physical activity, and altitude.

Eight Sleep's technology for monitoring breath rate is embedded in its Pod's Active Grid Cover. This sensing technology can monitor various biometrics, including breath rate, without requiring the user to wear any additional devices. The Pod measures respiratory rate in real-time throughout the night on a minute-by-minute basis.

Benefits of Breath Rate Monitoring:

Comparison with Other Methods:

Eight Sleep's non-wearable technology offers a more seamless and comfortable approach to breath rate monitoring compared to traditional wearable devices. The Pod's sensing technology ensures that users can obtain accurate breath rate data without having to wear any additional devices or sensors. This enhances the overall sleep experience by providing biometric insights without disrupting sleep comfort.

In summary, Eight Sleep's breath rate monitoring technology, integrated into the Pod's Active Grid Cover, offers a seamless way to track respiratory rate during sleep. By providing valuable insights into overall health and potential sleep disorders, this technology empowers individuals to take a more proactive approach to their sleep health and overall well-being.

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Cost and value

The cost of the Eight Sleep Pod 3 Cover is a steep $2,445, with an additional $19 per month for the 8+ Pro membership, which includes the Autopilot feature. This price does not include the cost of the mattress, which the Pod 3 Cover fits over like a sleeve. The Pod 2 and Pod 3 Covers are compatible with any mattress 10 to 11 inches thick, while the PerfectFit upgrade can accommodate mattresses between 10 and 16 inches thick. The Pod 4 is also available for a simple monthly fee, ideal for those who don't plan on staying in their current home or bed for long.

The Eight Sleep Pod 3 Cover is expensive, and one reviewer notes that it costs more than a brand-new mattress. However, the same reviewer's boyfriend, who also tested the product, highly recommended the Pod 3 Cover, saying that if money is not an issue, it is an obvious purchase for anyone who cares about their sleep. Another reviewer, who was initially frustrated with the product, eventually concluded that it was worth the hefty price tag.

The Pod 3 Cover is shipped for free to the US, Canada, the UK, Germany, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, and Australia. It comes with a 30-night sleep trial, during which it can be returned for a full refund. Eight Sleep also offers a standard two-year warranty for manufacturing defects, with a lifetime warranty available with the Plus subscription. A 6% discount is available to military personnel, students, first responders, and healthcare workers.

While the Pod 3 Cover is a significant investment, it may be worth the cost for those who struggle to fall asleep or wake up too hot or cold. The product consistently helps users fall asleep faster and spend more time in the deep sleep and REM stages. It also reduces sleep disturbances and helps users gain up to an extra hour of sleep per night. The temperature regulation and sleep tracking features, as well as the gentle alarm function, contribute to a better night's sleep.

Frequently asked questions

Eight Sleep is a smart sleep technology company that has developed a mattress cover with active heating and cooling capabilities, as well as sleep and health tracking. The cover fits over your mattress like a sleeve and can be controlled via a companion app.

The Eight Sleep Pod Cover has water tubes that run through it, known as the Active Grid. This grid connects to an external reservoir called the Hub, which heats or cools the water. The temperature can be controlled through the Eight Sleep app and can be set to anywhere between 55 to 110 degrees Fahrenheit. The cover also has sensors that track your sleep data, including heart rate and breathing rate.

Eight Sleep aims to improve your sleep quality and sleep environment by allowing you to personalize your bed temperature. It also provides detailed sleep data and insights, helping you understand your sleep patterns and make adjustments to your lifestyle and bedtime routine.

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