Our Verdict
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Exped MegaMat Duo | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards | Best for Two People | Best Overall Camping Mattress | Best Bang for the Buck | Packability on a Budget | Soft Cozyness at a Great Price |
| Price | $450 List Check REI (on sale!) | $290 List Check REI (on sale!) | $130 List Check Price at Amazon | $100 List Check Price at REI | $67 List Check Price at Amazon |
Overall Score ![]() |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | Add this to your cart if you need a camping mattress for two people | Our favorite option with well-designed valves and a pump sack for easy inflation | A top-scoring camping mattress that’s much more affordable than the competition | This summertime camping mattress lands at the intersection of affordability and packability | The most comfy soft pad we tested, and it won't pop. But it is bulky |
| Rating Categories | Exped MegaMat Duo | Therm-a-Rest MondoKi... | Lost Horizon Air & F... | Coleman Cozy | HomeMate CertiPUR-US |
| Comfort (40%) | |||||
| Ease of Use (20%) | |||||
| Warmth (20%) | |||||
| Versatility (10%) | |||||
| Packed Size (10%) | |||||
| Specifications | Exped MegaMat Duo | Therm-a-Rest MondoKi... | Lost Horizon Air & F... | Coleman Cozy | HomeMate CertiPUR-US |
| Thickness | 4.0 in | 4.3 in | 4.5 in | 3.5 in | 3.0 in |
| Length | 78 in | 80 in | 80 in | 74 in | 75 in |
| Width | 53 in | 30 in | 29.5 in | 24 in | 30 in |
| Weight | 9.7 lb | 5.3 lb | 9 lb | 2.6 lb | 9 lb |
| R-Value | 8.1 | 7 | 13 | 3+ | None |
| Packed Size | 28 in x 12 in | 9 in x 32 in | 27 in x 9 in | 6 in x 11 in | 30 in x 17 in |
| Type | Inflation sack | Self inflating, inflation sack | Self, pump, or inflation sack | Pump inflation | Memory foam |
| Test Model | LW+ | XXL | Single | Standard | Single |
| Bed Material | Recycled 50 D tricot polyester, TPU polyether film laminate | Polyester | 30D & 75D fabric | Brushed knit fabric | Polyester with TPU |
| Valves | Three valves | TwinLock | One valve | One valve | None |
| Accessories | Stuff sack, inflation cushion, compression straps | Stuff sack | Stuff sack, pump | Stuff sack, pump sack | Stuff sack |
Our Analysis and Test Results
Comfort
Comfort is one of the MegaMat Duo's best attributes. We consider it a luxury mattress in both cushion and stability, with isolation across the entire mattress so one person rolling over doesn't cause the other camper to move. We measured it at roughly 4 inches thick and loved the blend of foam and air, which felt comfortable on our shoulders while side sleeping. While it didn't feel as comfy as our at-home mattress, we got full nights of rest throughout testing, and it is one of the only mattresses in our lineup that is wide enough to fit two people.
If you are the type of camper who wants to get as close as possible to at-home comfort, you can also use this for one person, and it was even comfy for guests staying at our testers' homes. We measured it at about 53 inches wide, which is slightly narrower per person than a single mattress (about 28 to 30 inches); however, it's up to 20% wider than some two-person models. If you're debating whether to buy a mattress like this or two single camping mattresses, keep in mind the gap between the two pads can be annoying.
Ease of Use
Despite how large the MegaMat Duo is, it's impressively easy to use. It self-inflates, and if you want to fine-tune the firmness, it includes an inflation cushion that pumps air in easily. For the sake of testing, we even used this cushion to inflate the entire mattress, though most campers might prefer to let the self-inflation system do the work.
The MegaMat Duo's inflation valve is large enough to work in cool temperatures and even in the dark, when you're in a hurry to go to bed after a long day. When it was time to deflate the MegaMat, the two exit valves made it easy to flatten and reduced the wrestling needed to get all the air out. The extra-large storage sack has a roll-top closure and accommodated the MegaMat Duo even when we didn't compress it perfectly, though the two included compression straps were helpful during pack-up.
The MegaMat Duo's side handles also make it easy to carry from the car or lakeside campsite to a tent, and you can even use them to slide the mattress around inside a tent or guest room.
Warmth
The MegaMat Duo has a reported R-value of 8.1 from Exped. We also tested it firsthand in cooler weather, and it kept us warm (with appropriate bedding) on chilly desert nights, during higher-elevation car camping, and even when sleeping out under the stars.
Exped reports this mattress is usable down to -40 degrees Fahrenheit, though we'd steer you toward a warmer mattress if you're expecting those kinds of temperatures. We felt a few cool spots on the MegaMat Duo below about 30 degrees, especially if only one person was sleeping on it. For camping near or inside your vehicle, this should keep you warm from spring to fall; if you're staying out in the winter, you can still use the MegaMat, though you might need to put foam padding between it and the ground.
Versatility
As long as you're keeping the Exped MegaMat Duo close to the car, it's bound to meet your needs. As a two-person model, we loved it for family getaways with the dog, mountain biking weekends, and even van camping. While the MegaMat's bulkier packed size might limit how far you can drag it to a tent away from the road, it also offers more surface area than much of the competition.
At about 53 inches wide, the Exped MegaMat Duo is also a great guest bed for hosts without space for a traditional mattress or Murphy bed. The MegaMat is certainly not as comfy as a “real” mattress, but if guests are just visiting for a few nights, it might be a perfect fit for your needs.
Packed Size
This is the toughest metric for the Exped MegaMat Duo. It's one of the largest inflated mattresses in the review's lineup, so it has a lot of material to pack down. This camping gear category isn't typically very packable anyway, but the MegaMat is substantially harder to fit into a vehicle than some single-person pads.
We measured the packed dimensions of the Exped at about 27.5 inches long by about 12 inches wide in the “LW+” size. However, when we weren't as effective at packing it down, it was about 24 inches wide. As is often the case with close-to-the-car camping, how crucial the packability of your next camping mattress is simply depends on your vehicle size and how much storage space you have at your home.
Should You Buy the Exped MegaMat Duo?
This is a great buy for two people who want a durable, comfy camping mattress. It isn't nearly as packable as some of the competition, but it offers a ton of sleeping room once inflated. The MegaMat Duo will put a substantially larger dent in one's wallet, so if you're on a tighter budget and need to snag other camping gear this season, it might be worth looking into a less-expensive option.
What Other Camping Mattresses Should You Consider?
For a more packable two-person mattress, the Nemo Roamer Double is a great choice and weighs substantially less than the MegaMat Duo. It doesn't have as much inflated width as the MegaMat, but it'll fit inside a cramped car more easily. If price is your biggest hesitation with the MegaMat, consider buying two of the single-person Lost Horizon camping pads. Even if you buy two of them, it's substantially less expensive.











