Struggle with sweaty nights? It’s time to look at the BedJet and Eight Sleep bed cooling systems.
Our editors and experts handpick every product we feature. We may earn a commission from your purchases.Learn more.
Struggle with sweaty nights? It’s time to look at the BedJet and Eight Sleep bed cooling systems.
Our editors and experts handpick every product we feature. We may earn a commission from your purchases.Learn more.
It’s not fun being a hot sleeper. Nights are too short to toss, turn, kick off the blankets, and eventually wake up to adjust the thermostat. Thankfully, there are bed cooling systems that beat sweaty, stuffy nights once and for all.
But when it comes to two of the most popular bed cooling system brands—BedJet and Eight Sleep—which is the better choice? Our editors tested systems from both to tell you how each performs. Say goodbye to uncomfortable sleep, and keep reading for our BedJet vs. Eight Sleep comparison. Below, we review two of the best bed cooling systems you can buy
The BedJet 3 is a compact machine that blows cold (or hot) air through a nozzle and into your sheets. It works in tandem with your regular bedding, and it’s compatible with just about any mattress, whether you’re a college student on a twin or a couple sharing a California king.
The Eight Sleep Pod 3 Cover cooling system is slightly different. It’s essentially a smart cooling mattress pad. It uses water tubing to heat and cool, but don’t let that deter you. The cover is hardly detectable and compatible with any sheet set.
The BedJet 3 Climate Comfort Sleep System is frequently on sale on the brand’s website. You can also shop the system on Amazon.
The Eight Sleep Pod Cover is more of a splurge. You can shop the Pod 3 Cover on the brand’s website. A monthly subscription unlocks all the sleep features, including new ones in future updates.
Much like a portable air conditioner, the BedJet 3 system uses an electric, compact machine to blow cool (or hot) air through the sheets. On the other hand, the Eight Sleep Pod 3 Cover uses a machine (the pod) and discrete water tubing (embedded in the cover) to adjust its temperature based on different circumstances, such as local weather and sleep stages.
Another big difference between BedJet and Eight Sleep is the price. The BedJet 3 costs around $500, while the Eight Sleep Pod Cover 3 retails for more than $2,000. Lastly, we think BedJet has a simpler system than Eight Sleep’s water-controlled design. With either one, cooler nights are ahead.
Both the BedJet and Eight Sleep systems are controllable through an app with similar features, and both provide a similar cooling experience.
Using a remote, an app or the machine itself, you can adjust the temperature on the BedJet 3 exactly to your liking. You can also program the settings and schedule the system to turn on before bedtime. The BedJet remote lets you control the temperature by degree, set a timer, adjust the airflow and program biorhythm sleep temperatures.
Similarly, the Eight Sleep Pod 3 Cover lets you adjust the temperature and preset schedules via an app. While it doesn’t come with a remote, the app has some intricate settings, especially if you subscribe for a membership. The Eight Sleep membership lets you see all kinds of scientific sleep health metrics. Co-sleepers can also adjust the system to different settings on different sides of the bed. A 12-month subscription is required for new Pod purchases, but you can cancel anytime.
Two of our editors tested the BedJet and Eight Sleep bed cooling systems on their own beds for several nights.
Shopping Editor Stephanie Hope tested the BedJet 3 during the first unbearably hot weeks of summer. It takes about 10 minutes to set up, but the benefits last night after night. “Once plugged in and connected to the remote, the rest of the setup was incredibly easy,” Stephanie says.
“I was immediately impressed on the first night,” Stephanie says. “It cooled down my body temperature, and for the first time in a decade, I did not sweat excessively through the night. The cool sheets kept my body regulated to a comfortable temperature, even on the hottest nights. I love being able to control it with the remote to change the fan speed, temperature and setting to my liking.”
While it might not replace an air conditioner, hot sleepers will love the freshness between the cooling bed sheets. “The BedJet 3 efficiently cools me down, providing exceptional airflow throughout the bed, which has significantly improved my sleep,” says Stephanie in her BedJet review. “I wake up feeling refreshed and energized—without any pesky night sweats.” Her only complaint with the BedJet is that it didn’t fit easily underneath her low bed frame.
Shopping Editor Mary Henn tested the Eight Sleep Pod 3 Cover. The one-inch foam sheet attaches like a fitted sheet, but the setup wasn’t quite as easy as placing the cover on a mattress. Priming the Pod 3 Cover takes up to four hours and requires water and peroxide (the peroxide ensures the water runs clean).
After the Pod 3 Cover primes two to three times, it’s ready for sleep. “I used the cooling mode on the first night, and my (skeptical) partner—who’s typically a very hot sleeper—loved it,” Mary says. “On the coolest settings, the Pod 3 Cover gets so chilly it almost feels damp. My partner loved this because it kept them from waking up sweaty.”
“I also love warming my bed after a nightly shower or bath—it takes bedtime coziness to a whole new level,” says Mary in her Eight Sleep review. “I’ve tried sheets and comforters in the past, and I’ve also tried heated blankets. The Eight Sleep system blows those types of products out of the water (pun intended).”
Her initial complaint, much like Stephanies, was that the hub attached to the Pod Cover is about the size of an old computer monitor, so it doesn’t fit under her bed. Another potential issue is the lack of a guest mode option. There is no option to control each side of the bed without the other person (your significant other) creating an account to control it. This could be particularly frustrating if you have different people staying over and would like to avoid their side of the bed being too cold.
For a bed cooling system, the BedJet 3 does the job, Stephanie says. However, it’s not an actual air conditioner, so the air outside the bed isn’t affected.
The Eight Sleep Pod 3 Cover needs to be refilled every three to four weeks. Remember to only use distilled water and hydrogen peroxide when refilling.
To give each bed cooling system a proper review, each of our shopping editors used the BedJet 3 and Eight Sleep Pod 3 Cover during some of the hottest weeks of the year. They tested each system on existing mattresses in their own homes to ensure authentic reviews. Notoriously hot sleepers tested each system to determine if it could relieve those who wake up sweaty at night.
Additionally, each editor had the cooling systems shipped to their homes, where they unboxed and assembled each. That way, they could review the entire buying process from delivery to setup and use.
When it comes to whether the BedJet vs. Eight Sleep is the best product for hot sleepers, that depends on your needs and budget. The BedJet 3 is more affordable and doesn’t require much maintenance or upkeep. It gets the job done without a bunch of bells and whistles. The Eight Sleep Pod 3 Cover is a luxury bedding item and requires monthly refills. The Eight Sleep also comes with extensive health-tracking metrics, which is to be expected at a more expensive price point.