How to Choose the Best Sleeping Pad for Camping and Backpacking

Elevate your current sleep system while retaining portability and compactness with the Exped MegaMat Ultra sleeping pad. It weighs just over 2 lbs. and rolls up easily.
Imported.
View the Exped MegaMat Product LineView all Exped Air PadsBest Use | Backpacking Camping |
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Sleeping Pad Type | Air |
Sleeping Pad Shape | Rectangular |
Insulated | Yes |
Insulation Type | Synthetic |
R-Value | 4.4 |
Repair Kit Included | Yes |
Stuff Sack Included | Yes |
Packed Size | Medium Wide: 7.9 x 26.4 inches Long X-Wide: 9.8 x 31.1 inches |
Sleeping Capacity | 1-person |
Pad Thickness (in.) | 4 inches |
Dimensions | Medium Wide: 72 x 25.6 x 4 inches Long X-Wide: 77.6 x 30.3 x 4 inches |
Weight | Medium Wide: 2 lbs. 0.1 oz. Long X-Wide: 2 lbs. 2.6 oz. |
Gender | Unisex |
Sustainability | Contains recycled materials |
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I bought this and the Neoloft and while both pads are very similar, the Exped wins out. It’s longer, wider and warmer. It’s also less “bouncy” when aired down. Yes, it’s a bit heavier but that’s not a huge concern of mine. It was also less expensive when on sale. It’s super comfortable as well. I’m a bigger guy at 6’1” and this is exactly what I was looking for. I’ll update the review when I get to use it in the field but my first impressions is it’s a pretty awesome pad.
Torn on this one. It’s very comfortable. I’m a side sleeper and can get a soft sleep position without bottoming out. That said, calling it a Megamat got my expectations up. This feels like a high quality air mattress, not a relative of the other Megamats. Also I knew this was big, but it is even heavier than what’s listed here by about half a pound. The LW is listed as 2lbs 2.5 oz, but I get 2lbs 10oz. on my scale. At this size and weight a self inflating pad probably makes more sense.
I bought the Exped MegaMat Ultra long x-wide after an absolutely terrible night on the Nemo Tensor LW (loud, slippery, easy to slide off of for a big guy). I've only tested this at home, but it's absurdly comfortable, obviously much wider, way less noisy, and so much better than any other sleeping bad I've owned including a pretty luxurious car camping pad. I'm 6'3" and 250 lbs, side sleeper, and cannot bottom out on this thing. It's not at all noisy like other pads although there is the slightest noise when moving around. That said, I feel so much less need to move around and readjust on this pad. I'm docking it a star because of weight. Even though I bought this knowing that I'd be accepting the weight penalty of 14 oz over the Nemo, the REI website is wrong. REI has it listed as 2 lbs 2.6 oz. This pad on my scale is 2 lbs 14.4 oz. I was willing to accept a couple of ounces over the Therm-a-Rest Neoloft Large, which would've been my other choice, but this puts it almost a full pound over the Neoloft large. I'm going to test the Neoloft as well, but it would have to be quite a bit less comfortable to justify the weight penalty. Aside from weight, it should be noted that this does not pack down anywhere near as small as the Neoloft. So if pack space is an issue, this might be a dealbreaker. For me, I would accept this given that a good night's sleep in the backcountry makes all the difference. This thing is honestly so comfortable (not to mention wide) that I might just deal with the extra weight to get those ZZZ's so I can be functional during the day and enjoy the reason I'm out there to begin with. The only thing that would steer away is if the Neoloft comes close.