About this review: This review is my honest opinion of the sleeping pad which I purchased with my own money in March of 2019.

My take

The Exped MegaMat 10 is a great car-camping sleeping pad for side sleepers or anyone who needs extra cushioning or room while sleeping.

About the gear

• Model: 2019 Exped MegaMat 10
• Size: Medium Wide (26in x 72in x 3.9in)

Test conditions

• When I bought it: March 2019
• Days tested: 30+ nights
• Total pack weight: 4lb 9oz
• Used for: Car camping, tent camping, and travel
• Where I’ve used it: Desolation Gray Canyon (Utah), Sawtooth National Recreation Area (Idaho), dorm rooms, Airbnbs, Cache National Forest (Utah), and BLM (Bureau of Land Management) camping outside of Moab, Utah
• Seasons I’ve used it in: April-October in conditions from below freezing to the 70s

About me

• Height: 5ft 6in
• Weight: 225lbs
• Experience: 21 years

How it performs

What I was looking for

I was looking to upgrade my Therm-a-Rest BaseCamp mattress to something thicker that would be more comfortable for sleeping on my side. I was hoping to get a sleeping pad that was more cushioned and a bit wider so that I could sleep more comfortably.

Why I chose this gear

I decided to buy the MegaMat after several years of lusting after it. I didn’t consider any other options since I had the MegaMat in mind for so long before I finally decided to purchase it.

What I love about it

• Durability: The MegaMat 10 has been quite durable for the three years that I have been using it. It came with a repair kit, and I haven’t needed to use it yet. The two separate one-way valves both still work well as does the mini pump that it came with.
• Insulation and R-value: It is highly insulated and has a super-high R-value of 8.1. I’m sure it would keep me warm in temperatures much lower than I have tested it in. That high of an R-value is unnecessary for June in Moab, but I didn’t feel like the pad got too hot those nights.
• Comfort: The MegaMat is the ultimate comfort pad. I prefer to sleep on it over most beds at friends’ houses or Airbnbs. It is nearly 4 inches thick, so even a heavier person like me can sleep on my side with no issues. The top fabric material is quite soft and provides enough grip that I don’t slide off of my pad very easily if I’m on level ground.
• Shape: The large rectangular shape of this pad is very comfortable to sleep on in almost any sleeping position, but it does make it a heavier and less packable option.
• Noise: The MegaMat is very quiet since it has a foam core.
• Features: It has two separate valves, one for inflation and one for deflation, so it is very easy to inflate or deflate. There are also rubber seals in the valves so I can micro-adjust the firmness quite easily. The included mini pump is sometimes a bit tricky to attach but once it is on, it works quite well. I will put it on the ground and use one hand to push down on it or hold the pump between my hands and push them together.
• Ease of use: The pad is self inflating and takes about 15 minutes to get fully self-inflated. I like a firmer sleeping pad so I will use the mini pump to get it to my desired thickness before bed. That usually takes me less than 30 seconds. Once inflated, it stays inflated very well. I’ve had mine set up for four nights straight and never needed to add more air into it.
• Car camping: The MegaMat is ideal for car camping. It is extremely comfortable and easy to use. It will stay inflated for many nights without needing any extra air.
• Other: It is also a great sleeping pad for road trips or if I have guests that need a place to sleep. I’ve used mine in dorm rooms, at friends’ houses, for sleeping in my car, and instead of uncomfortable sofa beds while traveling.

Issues I’ve encountered

• Weight: It is definitely on the heavy side at just over 4 ½ lbs but totally worth it for car camping or other short transports. The MegaMat is very insulating and thick so that contributes to the weight.
• Packability: The packed size is on the larger side at about 27in x 8 in in the stuff sack. The side-loading stuff sack included with the mat has a pocket to store the pump and repair kit. This side-loading bag is nice because if space isn’t an issue I can be pretty lazy when deflating the pad and know that it will still fit into the bag. There is also enough room in the bag for the MegaMat sheet that I purchased to help protect the sleeping surface when I am sleeping directly on the mat and not in a sleeping bag.
• Backpacking: This is NOT a backpacking sleeping pad. It is very heavy and very large to carry for long distances.
• Mountaineering: This is too large and heavy of a pad for mountaineering in my opinion, but if you are willing to carry the weight, it is very insulating.
• Thru-hiking: It’s too large and heavy for thru-hiking.
• Other: My Megamat does have a few stains on it after three years of use and the suede-like top fabric was resistant to my stain removal attempts. This is the main reason why I bought the sheet that is sized for it, so hopefully I can prevent future stains when I am sleeping directly on it. (After writing this, I went to take a picture of the stains and could not see any so I guess my cleaning attempts did work??)

Favorite moment with this gear

My favorite moment with my MegaMat was the first night I slept on it. We were at Sand Wash the night before launching a nine-day Desolation-Gray river trip. After a long day of rigging boats and hauling gear, I was ready for bed. I had unrolled my MegaMat to start inflating and by the time I was ready for bed, it was ready for a few final pumps of air and I was good to go. I slept like a brick (that’s a good thing) and woke up the next morning ready to paddle!

Value for the money vs. other options

I think it is a great value for a high quality, durable, easy to use, and comfortable product. It is comparable to the Therm-a-Rest MondoKing, which I have also tested, and I think that the MegaMat is more comfortable. The included pump for the MegaMat is also much more user friendly than the inflation bag that comes with the MondoKing.

Final verdict

Overall the Exped MegaMat 10 is a great sleeping pad for those looking for comfort and ease of use when weight and size are not important factors.