Exped Exped MegaMat 10 Review

Exped MegaMat 10 Overview

The Exped MegaMat 10 bucks the ultralight trend, and remains crazy comfortable. In many sectors of innovation, smaller, lighter, and faster is better. The same is true for most outdoor activities, with the ultralight movement taking hold and every single product getting cut in half (at least).

For camping, though, that just isn’t the case. Deluxe comfort is becoming the pinnacle of the car camp experience, yet there’s one component that seems to elude brands: sleep. Most people that don’t like camping don’t like it because they can’t get a good night’s sleep. And it’s hard to blame them, really.

Exped, a Swiss company with a reputation for innovative design, has essentially solved the problem of sleep with the MegaMat 10. A combination of self-inflating deluxe foam, simple valves, rugged design, and the smartest carrying case in the market are the defining points of the Exped MegaMat 10. We’re talking four inches of height, oversized width and length, and an adjustable firmness that’s kind of hard to believe. “I’m a real bed!” the MegaMat 10 version of Pinocchio would say, if someone were to write a Disney-esque fable about sleeping pads. (Coming to a Barnes and Nobles near you…)

If there’s one caveat to the comfort, it is cost. You can’t get the best night’s sleep on a budget.

With the above attributes mind, we’ve awarded the Exped MegaMat 10 our Premium Pick award for the Car Camper.

If you’re curious about sleeping pad technology, and where the MegaMat 10 fits into a crowded market, check out our comprehensive guide. Scroll below for the full Exped MegaMat 10 review.

Exped MegaMat 10 LW Specifications

Gear Review of the Exped MegaMat 10

Origins: Easing You In

I was brought up a Wilderness Backpacker. Get away from the crowds, head into the woods, and disconnect from modernity. It’s only in the last ten years that I’ve experienced car camping at its finest, and I can say confidently that I no longer have a favorite outdoor experience.

The trout, bonfire, and camaraderie of car camping are just as alluring as the solitude and quietude of the backcountry. And car camping is more comfortable. It just is. That said, sleep was never really more comfortable for me, because I used the same sleeping pad for backpacking and car camping.

It’s what most people will do if they have a pad for backpacking, or if they want a cheap, small pad. A suggestion, though. If you car camp frequently, get a dedicated car camping sleeping pad. It’s akin to dropping 15 pounds off a backpacking load and will get you into the wild way more often.

Car camping with a dedicated pad, like the Exped MegaMat 10, means solid sleep.

I’ve been testing the Exped MegaMat 10 all summer. It tagged along for a handful of car camps, most notably an overnight at the Leo Carrillo campground off the scenic Pacific Coast Highway. I also let friends and parents sleep on it whenever they came through town and grilled them the following morning on its comfort.

The jury is in: the MegaMat 10 is basically a real bed.

The MegaMat 10 in its carrying case. On the move, easy to move.

Revelation: The Moment I Knew

With a high-end product, the revelatory moments typically come in waves. This was true of the MegaMat, and I could probably list every feature it has in this section of the review, but I’ll stick to one distinct experience.

Cuddle time. My partner and I occasionally head into the backcountry, but a pull-in camp spot for an easy weekend getaway is way more common. We could bring the foam topper off our mattress at home so we can sleep side by side, but that can’t fit in the car easily. So we make do with two separate sleeping pads. You put them close together, throw a blanket over your sleeping bags, and attempt to cuddle throughout the night. But it never really works.

We took the MegaMat 10 on its trial run in Leo Carrillo Campground for a celebratory birthday experience, and we were treated to the luxury of a pad that can handle more than one person.

This is just me on the Exped MegaMat 10 LW, but there’s plenty of room for a cuddle buddy. (Someone had to take the picture.)

While the MegaMat 10 LW is not big enough for two people to sleep comfortably side by side, it is wide enough and firm enough for two people to be curled up for a while. No other pad I’ve used makes this easy, mostly because the air whooshes out whenever somebody moves around.

The MegaMat mattress has give, but there is zero flop. We were using the REI Camp Bed 3.5 as my partner’s mattress, and even that pad (which is awesome) didn’t have the same cuddle factor despite the same 25-inch width. A lot of this has to do with the 3D sidewalls of the MegaMat 10, which are roughly four inches thick. The surface is stable all the way to the edge, so you know your boundary and stick to it.

The 3D walls of the MegaMat 10 are seriously thick. Four inches thick, to be exact. This is a trail running shoe for comparison.

Exped offers the LW and LXW versions of the MegaMat 10. I tested the LW, but the LXW is 30 inches wide instead of 25, so you’d have even more room to cuddle. Then there’s the MegaMat 10 Duo, which is the size of a full bed, and more than enough room for two people to lounge and sleep side by side.

If you’re looking for a pad that can hold you, your cuddle-buddy, or even a child without issue, this pad is it.

Digging Deeper

Cuddle-factor aside, the MegaMat 10 has a lot of unique features.

The valves are Exped’s proprietary flat-valve technology, which are (in my opinion) the new industry standard for sleeping pad valves . There’s one valve for inflate and one for deflate, making the process as simple as can be.

The pad uses 50D polyester on top and has a beautiful (yes, beautiful!) honeycomb pattern. It caught the light on all my trips and sort of mesmerized me. The bottom is 75D polyester, and feels almost rip-proof. I’m sure if I sliced it with a knife it would rip, but I’ve never seen a pad that has such a durable bottom.

The honeycomb pattern of the MegaMat 10 is unique and enticing. It’s on the Sidewinder Stuff Sack, too.

The MegaMat 10 comes with the Sidewinder stuff sack (which I’ll detail below), the Mini Pump, and a repair kit. The Mini Pump is handy and pretty fun — just snap it into the flat inflation valve and give it a dozen pumps until you’ve reached full inflation.

The Mini Pump.

Finally, the MegaMat 10 has an R-Value of 9.5. You read that right. It’s one of the warmest pads on the market, and will keep you warm (with the appropriate sleeping bag or quilt) in any temperature.

Comfort

Honestly, it’s as comfortable as the fancy latex mattress I have at home. The foam has give and firmness, and I have yet to feel any lopsided-ness when rolling around. The four full inches off the ground also means you can sleep on pretty much any surface and retain the comfort.

Durability

While I haven’t put this thing to years of use, I have trekked it to multiple campsites, used it in my home for a handful of nights, and examined the materials thoroughly. It looks about as bomb-proof as any sleeping pad can be.

My cat likes to sleep on it when she can, and she’s not declawed. Sketchy, I know, but it’s not even close to showing a hole.

Inflation and Deflation

Self-inflating sleeping pads are the peak of luxury in the frontcountry. Set up your tent, roll out the MegaMat 10, and open the “inflate” valve. You hear the soft whooshing of air and know that when you come back it’ll be mostly inflated.

That said, the MegaMat 10 takes longer to self-inflate than other pads I’ve used. It has a lot of foam. The pad is mostly inflated in 15-20 minutes, rather than the 3-5 minutes of other, smaller pads.

After that you do need to top off the pad with the Mini Pump or with your breath — either works. The Mini Pump requires a dozen (or so) pumps, and it’s a bit laborious. The design is very clever, but it doesn’t put in as much air per pump as you’d think. Feel the mattress to see how firm it is, then use the inflate flat valve to adjust as needed (just press it to release some air).

Inflating the MegaMat 10 with the Mini Pump takes a bit of time, but is fairly easy.

For deflation, close the inflate valve, open the deflate valve, and fold it up. It works best if you fold it in half over itself, then in quarters, etc. until most of the air is out. All in all this takes about five minutes.

My favorite part of the deflate and inflate of this pad — and other Exped flat valve pads — is that the air never enters or escapes when you don’t want it to. Air can only go into the pad when the inflate valve is open, and it can only go out when the deflate valve is open.

The pad is folded over itself here, but note the inflation (left) and deflation (right) flat valves. Open one to inflate, open the other to deflate. Simple.

Packability

While the MegaMat 10 doesn’t pack down tiny, it does pack away in seconds because of its stuff sack. Exped calls this updated sack the Sidewinder Stuff Sack, and it completely changes the pack-up experience.

Here’s the MegaMat 10 with Mini Pump stuffed into the Sidewinder Stuff Sack. Fits lengthwise, not shoved in from the top.

I am notorious for not rolling up pads small enough. I just don’t take the time to get them as small as possible so they can fit in their super-tight stuff sacks. I’d rather be on the road, drinking tea, or hiking.

The Sidewinder inverts the age-old stuff sack on its head: put the entire pad in at once lengthwise. No more sticking it down a long tube. This allows you to roll the pad hastily and still fit it in easily, or take your sweet time and get it compact as possible. It has a roll-top closure to accommodate whatever size you’ve rolled it to, and a handy carry strap.

Stuff the rolled up pad lengthwise in the Sidewinder Stuff Sack, roll the top closed, then put on shoulder for easy carry.

Grievances

I have no real issues with the MegaMat 10. It is durable, reliable, and as comfortable as a real bed! That said, if I had to get nitpicky, I’d pick on two things.

First, the inflation time is a little longer than I’d like. I pulled into a campsite at 10 p.m. one night, quickly set up the tent, and opened the pad. I didn’t want to wait for it to self-inflate for 15 minutes, I wanted to sleep. I had to blow it up by mouth, as that’s the fastest method. This was easy and took about five minutes, but if the self-inflate time was brought down it’d be near perfect.

Second, it’s not a small pad. This isn’t really a fault, just an observation for potential buyers. Even when it came in the mail, and was packed as tightly as possible, the MegaMat 10 (in any size) is quite large.

All packed up next to the tent it’s not overly large, but this pad is much larger than almost any comparable sleeping pad. Take note when you’re packing and when you’re filling up your in-tent space.

Final Word

You can’t get a better car camping sleeping pad — the Exped MegaMat 10 is simply the most comfortable experience around. In fact, if you’re frequently in the outdoors and considering a new mattress for your bedroom, get this instead.

Where to Buy Exped MegaMat 10

We tested the Exped MegaMat 10 LW version in Green, which has a 25-inch width and a 76-inch length. You will find the MegaMat 10 series also offered in Ruby Red and in MW and LXW, which vary the width and length. The construction of these pads is identical, so pick the size that is best suited for you.

Exped also makes the MegaMat 10 Duo, which is a couple’s sleeping pad and the size of a Full Bed.

Compare Exped MegaMat 10 prices below.

Editor