Is Moon Pod the best bean bag chair out there?

I’ve always loved the idea of curling up in a bean bag chair with a good book or my favorite TV show. Unfortunately, I’ve never quite found a bean bag chair that’s lived up to my fantasies. So, when I got the chance to test out the Moon Pod, a bean bag chair in which you reportedly float, I said, “Yes!”

What is a Moon Pod?

Moon Pod is a zero-gravity bean bag chair that weighs 12 pounds and measures 4 sq. ft. You may have seen it on Kickstarter in 2018, or, more recently, as an ad in your Instagram feed.

The American brand’s founder, entrepreneur John Fiorentino is also behind Kickstarter sensation Gravity Blanket, which tops Reviewed’s list of the best weighted blankets. He’s made millions of dollars investing in and inventing products that focus on supporting customers mentally and physically.

Fiorentino advertises, “you don’t sink, you float,” claiming that the Moon Pod mimics the sensations of flotation therapy, which is known to reduce stress and anxiety. He also contends that its supportive structure responds to any body shape and movement, offering unparalleled reinforcement and adaptive flexibility, so much so that it can help relieve back and neck pain while you rest.

The Moon Pod adapts into three positions: sit (for working), recline (for relaxing), lay down (for sleeping).

What are Moon Pods filled with?

Most bean bag chairs contain beads made of expanded polystyrene (EPS). The Moon Pod contains proprietary high-density, high-friction EPS filler beads and a dual sac construction to give it that weightless sensation while sitting in it.

How my Moon Pod arrived

I live in a house that’s set about 25 yards back from a busy street. Consequently, my driveway is really long. When the Moon Pod arrived, I was not home and the delivery driver didn’t bring the huge, rectangular box all the way to my front steps—I’m not sure why, because although it was bulky, it was extremely light and easy to carry.

When opening the box, do not, I repeat, do not use a blade or other sharp object on the packaging tape. If you do, you run the risk of slicing open the Moon Pod’s sac and ruining the bean bag chair.

As for assembly: It’s easy until the end. You simply unwrap the bean bag from its clear plastic bag, and then unwrap the bean bag’s cover, which is folded separately in a different plastic bag.

The difficulty arises when you have to fit the Moon Pod inside the cover. If you’re trying to do it on your own, as I did, good luck. It’s worse than stuffing a sausage. Instead, find a friend to help you, otherwise it will take you about 10 minutes and a lot of patience to get the cover zipped all the way closed.

How I used the Moon Pod

As soon as I zipped the Moon Pod its final inch to closing, my 8-year-old daughter vaulted—literally vaulted—over my shoulder and onto it. Surprisingly, she didn’t roll out of it or bounce off the coffee table. The Moon Pod just sighed and hugged her. I’m serious. It really sighed, like it was happy for the abuse.

Since then, I’ve been testing out the Moon Pod and its variety of positions for about three weeks.

Sitting

I spent an afternoon sitting in the Moon Pod and working on my laptop. I positioned my legs in front of me, bent at the knee, and put my laptop on my knees. The Moon Pod held its shape and solidly supported my back in this upright position. It even prevented me from slouching, which I’ve been known to do in an office chair.

I also didn’t slowly slide into a reclined, horizontal position, which is something that happens almost immediately in my daughter’s more traditional bean bag chair.

After sitting in the Moon Pod for about 30 minutes, I started to feel some pressure on my tailbone area, and my butt fell asleep. I stuck it out for two hours, but then I needed to get up.

At 5 feet, 2 inches tall, I’ve got short legs, so working with my laptop propped on my knees didn’t bother me. But, for someone with longer legs, like my 6-foot-tall husband, working in a seated position in the Moon Pod might not be a comfortable option.

When he tried it, he felt like he was too tall. He wanted more support for his upper back and somewhere to put his arms while typing. He also had a hard time finding a comfortable position for his legs—basically, the laptop was too low on his lap and too far from his face, so he had to hunch over while working.

Reclining

When I used the Moon Pod to recline, it completely enveloped me, molding to my body with just enough give to be comfortable as well as solid.

In the recline position, I used it primarily while relaxing and watching TV, although I also read a book in it.

My most comfortable position had my back at a 135-degree angle. From here, I could raise my head and carry on a conversation with anyone in the room without changing my position, and sip a drink. I could also support my head on either side of the Moon Pod, if I wanted to.

After a couple episodes of “Homeland” (or “America’s Funniest Videos” on Disney+), I continued to feel super comfortable while reclining, without shifting around or having to get up.

Sleeping

The possibility of sleeping in the Moon Pod was hardest to wrap my brain around. I’m a side sleeper, not a back sleeper, and I don’t like the idea of snoozing with my whole front side vulnerable.

With that said, I laid the Mood Pod horizontally on the floor and did a trust fall back into it. It caught me and snuggled me right in. And, laying there didn’t make me feel as exposed as I thought it would.

But, I still couldn’t sleep in it, despite trying a few different positions.

I started on my back, which rested my chest and my head at a higher point than my lower half; it felt a little like laying there with my back arched. I tried laying on my side in the Moon Pod, which had my arms curled awkwardly up by my face and left my top leg swinging around. And, I even tried my front, which proved to be the most comfortable position, but still wasn’t very, and it caused a crick in my neck.

My much-larger husband also tried to sleep in the Moon Pod, but it just wasn’t long enough for him. He had to prop his feet up on pillows to feel comfortable.

Does the Moon Pod do what it claims?

For all the abuse it took from my family, the Moon Pod never lost its shape or density, nor did it settle into a less supportive form.

While I can’t speak from a medical standpoint to confirm or deny that the Moon Pod contributes to long lasting benefits for anxiety sufferers or people living with back and neck problems, I have tried flotation therapy.

In my opinion, Moon Pod does mimic the sensation of floating in both the recline and lay down positions. It’s not so much that you feel like you’re in a swimming pool, moreso that you’re being supported effortlessly, and there’s no heavy, weighted feeling at any particular point along your back, butt, neck or head.

What I like

The Moon Pod shines brightest when using it in its “recline” position. My daughter fights me for it when we sit down in the evenings to watch movies together, preferring it over our other options: a couch and a large armchair.

The Moon Pod also makes a great addition to an open-plan office or your home study as a temporary place to park for a one-on-one when you want a short-term change of scenery from your cubicle, standing desk, or meeting room.

I like that the Moon Pod is easy to move around and store; it stands up vertically on its own, and you can tuck it into a corner or a closet until you need to use it.

I also like how simple it is to clean this bean bag chair—provided you don’t spill anything on it. The cover is made of a blend of polyester, cotton, and spandex, and it’s really soft. You can toss it right into the washing machine for a cold cycle and tumble dry on low to remove any pet hair, cracker crumbs, or spots.

What I don’t like

While I did enjoy breaking up my day by working for a half-hour here and there seated in the Moon Pod, I did not enjoy sitting straight up in it for extended periods of time. For me, the trade off of a very straight back (certainly a good thing!) was the added pressure on my tailbone area, which quickly caused discomfort.

The Moon Pod’s price tag is steeper than it should be. I don’t know if it’s my Puritan sentimentally or what, but spending hundreds of dollars on a bag of filler while we’re in a recession—no matter how comfortable that bag is—is a big ask.

Should you order a Moon Pod?

Absolutely, if you can rationalize the price. It’s a TV night game-changer and a must-have accessory for your reading nook.

If you plan to use it in lieu of a desk, then I say hard no.

The Moon Pod is listed for $399, but the website consistently offers an approximate 25% discount, bringing it down to $299.

If you need something a bit bigger, there's the Super Moon Pod, which can fit for two people. Need something smaller? They make an ergonomic backrest, the Crescent, which is a great choice if you're looking for an airplane pillow.

Get the Moon Pod for $299 Get the Super Moon Pod for $499 Get the Crescent ergonomic backrest for $139

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Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.