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While long associated with children's playrooms and college dorms, bean bag chairs aren't just for kids anymore. One of the most popular bean bags for adults is the Moon Pod, a viral teardrop-shaped lounge chair designed to make you doze off into a weightless-like sleep.
The Moon Pod is the brainchild of John Fiorentino, the same creator behind the Gravity Blanket, which our Good Housekeeping Institute experts dubbed the best weighted blanket. Fiorentino's latest design seeks to relieve stress and back pain by mimicking the soothing benefits associated with floatation therapy.
To vet those claims, we tapped someone who tested the chair for a year: Grace Wu, a product analyst at the GH Institute Textiles, Paper & Apparel Lab. She led bean bag testing in our most recent evaluation, collecting data on everything from ease of setup to overall comfort. That also includes feedback from consumer testers who tried the bean bag IRL.
Read on for whether we thought the Moon Pod worth the investment, ahead.
What's the difference between a Moon Pod and a bean bag chair?
While it looks like any run-of-the-mill bean bag, Moon Pod is filled with expanded polystyrene beads that lends it an airier feeling, says Wu. That's compared to standard bean bags that are typically filled with polystyrene beads (which are denser).
"It's hard to believe, but you can feel the engineering that went into the Moon Pod," said Wu. "It doesn't feel like a typical bean bag chair. The fill has this pressure-relieving quality that's distinctive. I always feel calm and relaxed within seconds of laying on it."
The Moon Pod fits only one person. So, if you're looking to cuddle up to someone, the brand's Super Moon Pod seats two. Both come in navy and grey, but the Moon Pod also offers pink and light blue. Another difference between the two: The standard Moon Pod also comes assembled, while the Super Moon Pod needs to be assembled with its two bean bags and cover — our testers found setup easy.
Weighing just 12 pounds and measuring around four square feet, the Moon Pod is easy to move around your home, whether it's used in a home office or a game room. That's significantly lighter than comparable options, like the 35-pound Lovesac CitySac and the 33.25-pound Big Joe bean bag.
Is the Moon Pod really that comfortable?
Yes! Survey says that the Moon Pod is "insanely comfortable." GH testers gave the Moon Pod high marks — 4.6 out of 5 stars — on comfort and support when lounging or lying down. They also appreciated the firmness of the Moon Pod, rating it a 4.4 out of 5.
"I refuse to sit or lounge on anything else within the vicinity, including our $4,000 leather sectional," Wu says. "It also feels like it's actually supporting my back. [It's] super life-changing for lounging."
It can be propped against a wall for more support while gaming or working. But due to its amorphous shape that conforms to your body, Wu recommends using the Moon Pod for lounging and napping rather than sitting upright.
Is it hard to get up from a Moon Pod?
While you may never want to leave the Moon Pod chair (given its comfortability), we actually found it physically difficult to do so. Wu notes that a few testers, including herself, needed to push off something from the surrounding area or grab onto other furniture to stand up from the Moon Pod. For that reason, we do not recommend the Moon Pod for people with mobility issues.
Is the Moon Pod good for your back?
Wu says the Moon Pod's unique fill is designed to conform to your body and make you feel like you're floating. It's worth noting that testers said the Moon Pod's firm density provided ample back support compared to other bean bag chairs they'd tried.
While the Moon Pod won't solve any chronic back pain issues or substitute a mattress, it does offer targeted relief to the lower back and neck while lounging and napping. You can also purchase Moon Pod accessories, like the Crescent back rest, for additional support.
How do you clean the Moon Pod?
Each Moon Pod has a removable cover, which one GH tester found simple to clean in her standard washing machine. Per care label instructions, wash in cold water with like colors and tumble dry on low. Note that the inner shell and beads should not be washed.
If you plan on using the Moon Pod on a patio or at the beach, you may want to snag one of the brand's water-resistant outdoor covers. Wu says the outdoor cover "feels more smooth and substantial than the normal cover" and also appears more durable and less likely to snag due to the tighter knit construction.
Is the Moon Pod worth the money?
Agreed upon by everyday consumers and our Textiles Lab experts, the Moon Pod is worth the splurge. One GH tester, in particular, preferred the Moon Pod more than any single bean bag they'd tried. Usually a restless sleeper, they said it even lulled them to a peaceful afternoon nap.
"[Its] fill truly supports your back and body with that pressure-relieving feel," they added. "The zero-gravity experience is exhilarating and more comfortable than anything I’ve ever sat on, including couches."
That said, there are a few caveats to note before investing in a Moon Pod — mainly the price. Ringing in at $399 for a standard Moon Pod, it's one of the more expensive bean bag chairs we tested. Accessories like the outdoor cover and crescent back rest also add to the cost. For this reason, we recommend waiting for a sale to buy the Moon Pod. Some GH testers also found the Moon Pod an eyesore, but its "unparalleled" comfort and support made up for its perceived aesthetic shortcomings.
The bottom line: While the Moon Pod certainly isn't the cheapest bean bag chair on the market, its impressive support, easy maintenance and durability make it a worthy addition to your home.
Why Trust Good Housekeeping
Grace Wu is a product analyst within the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles, Paper & Apparel Lab. She regularly conducts testing on fabric-based products, using specialized equipment and consumer tester data. Before joining Good Housekeeping's team, Grace earned a master of engineering in materials science and engineering from Cornell University.
Lauren Gruber is an associate commerce editor at Hearst Magazines, where she has covered popular products, such as BEIS luggage, Vessi shoes and more. When writing up this review of the Moon Pod, she collaborated with Wu for her expert commentary as well as in-Lab consumer testing data to help inform this story.
Lauren is a Brooklyn-based journalist and Associate Editor at Hearst. You can find her previous work at Entertainment Tonight, Shop TODAY, USA Today, Self Magazine, L’Officiel USA, V Magazine, and Modern Luxury Media.
Grace Wu (she/her) is a product reviews analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute's Textiles, Paper and Apparel Lab, where she evaluates fabric-based products using specialized equipment and consumer tester data. Prior to starting at Good Housekeeping in 2022, she earned a master of engineering in materials science and engineering and a bachelor of science in fiber science from Cornell University. While earning her degrees, Grace worked in research laboratories for smart textiles and nanotechnology and held internships at Open Style Lab and Rent the Runway.
