Hug Sleep Review

Weighted blankets are known for their calming, soothing ability to help the user get a better night’s sleep, but they can also be hot, difficult to travel with, and nearly impossible to wash. As the mother of a son who has autism, which causes him to experience insomnia and sleepwalking, I’ve been the person lugging a heavy, oversized, weighted blanket onto an airplane or into a laundromat. Quite frankly, I don’t recommend doing it.

When I heard about Hug Sleep’s Sleep Pod, (available at Amazon) the trimmed-down weighted blanket alternative that won over the sharks on the popular “Shark Tank” show, I knew my son needed to try it out. Promising to help reduce anxiety and improve sleeping habits through its unique design that mimics a hug, I wondered if it would really offer the same benefits as a weighted blanket. This Hug Sleep review answers that essential question and more.

What is Hug Sleep, and how does it work?

The Hug Sleep brand was founded by a husband-and-wife duo who also happen to be a mechanical engineer and therapist specializing in pediatric and adolescent anxiety disorders. They aimed to harness the benefits of a weighted blanket without all the complications of using one. Selling over 500,000 Hug Sleep Sleep Pods over the last four years, founder and CEO of Hug Sleep, Matt Mundt, says they’ve received great feedback from the neurodivergent community. Restful customers claim Hug Sleep helps reduce anxiety so users can fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer.

Hug Sleep’s Sleep Pods resemble a thin sleeping bag that envelops the body in a lightly compressed hug. They’re made of a lightweight, machine-washable, stretchy fabric that provides 360 degrees of temperature-controlled, deep-touch pressure therapy. According to scientific studies featured in journals like Occupational Therapy International, this pressure relieves stress, in turn, relaxing your muscles, calming your mind, and promoting better sleep.

Hug Sleep models and cost explained

Hug Sleep sells a variety of different blanket styles including:

• Sleep Pod: Has an enclosed bottom
• Sleep Pod Move: Has an opening for your feet
• Mini Sleep Pod: Focuses on hugging your body more than your legs
• Hooded Sleep Pod: Has a hood with an openable flap for feet

All of the adult products are available in three or four sizes and several different colors. There’s even a line of kids’ Hug Sleep products.

Sleep Pod prices start at $64, and—if you love accessories—there’s also an entire line of loungewear and more, including a sleep mask, carry bag, and a pillow designed to adapt to all sleeping positions.

Backed by a 30-night guarantee, if you don’t love your Sleep Pod, you can send it back for a refund. However, return shipping costs are the responsibility of the purchaser.

My Hug Sleep testing experience

I knew a Sleep Pod would be given no mercy with my son as a test subject because the insomnia and sleepwalking that accompany his autism are unrelenting and greatly disruptive to his sleep. Wrapping himself tightly in a blanket each night in an effort to calm down and fall asleep, I’ve spent the last several years sneaking into his room at night to unwrap his drenched-in-sweat body.

When the products first arrived, I wasn’t totally convinced they would work, but I was immediately impressed by their quality. The Hooded Sleep Pod Move and the Sleep Pod Mini fabric feels stretchy and buttery soft, instantly reminding me of my Lululemon leggings. After a quick wash, I elected to hang-dry them and can confirm they dried extremely quickly.

My son selected the Hooded Sleep Pod first, which I thought might take some time to adjust to. When I checked on him 15 minutes later, he was already asleep. Really? Could Hug Sleep actually be working that quickly? Not yet wanting to believe it was, I told myself he may have just been extra tired that night.

At 11 p.m. I crept into his room to check on him as I always do and was ready to peel the Hug Sleep off his sweaty body. To my surprise, he wasn’t sweating at all. What really shocked me was that, when my eyes opened at 7 a.m., I realized he hadn’t woken me up all night long. In fact, I actually got worried and rushed to his room only to find him still snoozing away.

Throw confetti! Where’s the marching band? How is this happening? But, because I’m still a skeptic at heart, I wasn’t fully ready to commit yet. This was a fluke, right? He doesn’t typically even like to be touched, so there’s no way a hug is helping him sleep better, is there? Three weeks later, I am happy to report he has not sleepwalked even once. He’s falling asleep faster and staying asleep longer.

As if that wasn’t enough, my younger son, who has a physical disability that causes him to sensory seek physical input, stole the Sleep Pod Mini. Now he’s sleeping better too. In fact, he loves it so much he wears it while doing his homeschool work, and I can’t deny it does improve his focus. Also, because I decided to test out Hug Sleep’s uniquely designed memory foam Pod Pillow, I’m sleeping a bit better myself as well.

What we like about Hug Sleep

If you’ve been following along so far, you already know I’m happy as a clam with Hug Sleep Sleep Pods, but here’s what I love most.

It’s practical

After testing out Hug Sleep, I’ve been left wondering how weighted blankets survived this long. They are typically cumbersome, hot, and tough to wash, which encompasses everything Hug Sleep is not. Breathable, easy to toss into the wash with the rest of your load, and small enough to stash in a suitcase without sacrificing space, Hug Sleep Sleep Pods, are easy-peasy and much appreciated.

The pods are thoughtfully designed

As shown in the above product list, there’s a Sleep Pod for all sleeping styles, from optional foot coverings to hoods. The fabric truly does breathe, yet it somehow keeps you warm but not sweaty. Plus, with the available variety of sizes and colors, there’s an aesthetic for everybody and every body.

We also tested out the Hug Sleep pillow, and, while I wasn’t originally in the market for a pillow, I couldn’t believe how great its design worked for accommodating different sleep positions. I may even purchase one for myself and for another family member.

Sleep Pods worked for us

While I can’t speak for everyone, I have met few people with poorer sleep quality than my son. That said, I can see how the science behind Hug Sleep makes it work for some. My son is sleeping better and sounder than ever, and he’s not waking up in a sweaty mess. Aside from sleep, he often climbs into his Sleep Pod when he needs a moment to calm down, suggesting to me that replicating a hug to cause a release of serotonin does, in fact, calm him.

What we don’t like about Hug Sleep

As with any product, there’s bound to be something not to like. With Hug Sleep, there’s only one potential flaw I can think of.

It may not be suitable for all neurodiverse needs

Not all individuals who have neurodiverse needs like the feeling of being touched, so sensory avoiders may not appreciate Hug Sleep. For what it’s worth, my son is a hardcore sensory avoider, but the Sleep Pod didn’t bother him for sleeping. However, no two individuals are alike, and compression isn’t for everyone. In some cases, it might actually cause anxiety.

Should you buy Hug Sleep?

Yes, as long as you don’t mind being hugged

I know this article probably reads a bit one sided, but I promise it was written with no bias in mind. As someone who doesn’t need compression to sleep, I truly didn’t expect Hug Sleep to work. However, from what I’ve observed at home, it really does help my sons. Unlike some other products I’ve tested, this one won’t be tossed aside now that my work is done. My son is sleeping better, and—more importantly—he’s waking up rested and in a better mood. But, as I cautioned earlier, it’s important to consider the needs of the user, because not everyone likes to be hugged.

With that concession in mind, would I still recommend Hug Sleep? I’m pretty sure you can guess my answer, but I would definitely recommend letting a Sleep Pod tuck you in at night. After all, with a 30-night satisfaction guarantee, there’s little to lose sleep over.