Exped MegaMat Max Sleeping Pad Review. Is It Worth it?

If you’re looking for a way to get the best night’s sleep while car camping, the Exped MegaMat Max sleeping pad is definitely worth considering. With its 6-inch (15 cm) thickness, R-value of 10.6, and plush foam-and-air construction, this sleeping pad is designed for comfort at camp. I’ve now spent multiple nights sleeping on mine during camping trips to Mammoth Lakes, Big Pine, and Yosemite this summer, and I can finally share my review.

What Is the Exped MegaMat Max?

The Exped MegaMat Max sleeping pad is a self-inflating camping mattress designed for people who want a more bed-like sleeping experience at camp.

Its combination of open-cell foam and air creates a thick, cushioned sleeping surface, while the 3D construction gives you a larger, more mattress-like sleeping area than many traditional camping pads.

At 6 inches (15 cm) thick, it is Exped’s plushest MegaMat option and is intended primarily for tent, cabin, and trailer camping where weight and packed size aren’t the biggest concerns.

Exped MegaMat Max Features

6-Inch Mattress Height:
The MegaMat Max is 6 inches (15 cm) thick, giving you plenty of cushioning between your body and the ground. The open-cell foam construction also adds insulation and support.

Self-Inflating Design:
Open the inflation valve, and the mattress begins filling with air on its own. The included Top-Up Pump can then be used to finish inflation and adjust the firmness.

Adjustable Firmness:
You can add air for a firmer feel or release some air if you prefer a softer sleeping surface.

3D Construction:
The vertical sidewalls help maximize the usable sleeping area and reduce the tapering you often see with traditional camping pads.

Soft Sleeping Surface:
The top uses recycled 50D tricot polyester with a stretch construction designed to provide a softer, more comfortable surface.

Foam Insulation:
The mattress uses 16 kg/m³ open-cell PU foam, providing both cushioning and insulation.

Exped MegaMat Max Specifications

• Model: LXW (Long Extra Wide)
• R-value: 10.6
• Temperature rating: -67°F (-55°C)
• Dimensions: 77.6 x 30.3 x 6 inches (197 x 77 x 15 cm)
• Weight: 7 lbs. 6.5 oz. (3.36 kg)
• Packed dimensions: 31.1 x 9.8 inches (79 x 25 cm)
• Inflation: Self-inflating with included Top-Up Pump (EXPED Widget or Mega Pump electric pumps can be purchased separately)
• Top material: Recycled 50D tricot polyester
• Bottom material: Recycled 75D polyester
• Insulation: 16 kg/m³ open-cell PU foam
• PFAS: Free
• Includes: Sleeping mat, Top-Up Pump, SideWinder stuff sack, and repair kit
• Maximum user weight: ~330 lbs (150 kg) per person

My Exped MegaMat Max Sleeping Pad Review

After purchasing my Exped MegaMat Max during the spring sale, I finally got to sleep on it for several nights in Mammoth Lakes, Big Pine, and Yosemite this summer. And now I can honestly say that the hype totally makes sense.

This is the best sleep I’ve ever had in a tent.

My first impression was that this doesn’t really feel like a camping pad. It feels like a mattress. The 6-inch (15 cm) thickness and plush construction make a huge difference, and the overall quality feels like a premium piece of gear. When I first lay down on it, I immediately thought it felt much more like my bed at home than anything I’d used for camping before.

Incredible Comfort

That first night, I had the best night’s sleep I’ve ever had while camping, and my sleep tracker agreed with me. After multiple nights on the MegaMat Max, I wasn’t just impressed by the first night. I consistently sleep better on this mattress than I did on my previous camping mattress, and even better than on my memory foam mattress at home!

I sleep comfortably without pressure points, and my back has felt great after sleeping on it. And if you’ve read my blog before, you know I had three herniated discs that forced me to be bedridden for 6 months. So my back’s comfort is crucial for me and something I am not willing to compromise on.

I love that it has a cushioned, slightly molding feeling you’d get from a memory foam mattress, and it gives me plenty of support. It really has made a noticeable difference in how well I sleep at camp.

Fitbit Stats after my first night on the Exped Megamat Max

I knew I slept great upon waking, but checking my Fitbit the next morning proved it, as you can see below. I got a 91 sleep score, slept for over 9 hours, and my sleep efficiency hit 99%. If you look at my monthly chart, you can literally see the massive spike on the day I slept on this pad compared to my usual average. Safe to say the proof is in the data!

Insulation and R Value

So far, I’ve used the MegaMat Max in my car camping tent with nighttime temperatures around 50°F (10–15°C), and I stayed warm and comfortable.

I didn’t notice any cold coming through from the ground. With an R-value of 10.6 and those relatively mild nighttime temperatures, I wasn’t exactly putting its insulation to an extreme test, but feeling cold through the mattress certainly wasn’t an issue during my trips. And I can already say that I am fairly certain it will never be an issue with this mattress.

Inflating the MegaMat Max

My first MegaMat Max inflation was done at camp, which was a mistake you can read more about below.

So unfortunately, for me, it took longer than the advertised 15 minutes to self-inflate. But I know that was user error because I didn’t keep it inflated for at least 24 hours before my first use. It’s not a reflection on the sleeping pad at all.

The included pump definitely helps, but I’d personally plan for more time than 15 minutes when setting it up for the first time. If you’re trying to set up camp quickly late at night, though, you can just use the provided pump to inflate nonstop for about 5 minutes manually.

Exped offers two electric pumps to choose from that can be purchased separately if you prefer to speed things up even more. Check out the EXPED Widget or Mega Pump.

Deflating the MegaMat Max

Deflating and packing up my MegaMat Max sleeping pad takes me under 5 minutes.

I first open the out-valve. Then I fold the sleeping pad on itself and put my body weight on it (unfortunately I’m only 130 lbs) to let as much air as possible out. Then I start the rolling process from the opposite end to the valves, ensuring more air goes out with each roll.

Lastly, it’s time to fit it back inside the Exped SideWinder stuff sack, which is actually fairly easy to do, even on your own.

How to Store the Exped MegaMat Max

Proper storage is the secret to making sure your MegaMat Max self-inflates quickly on future trips. Exped actually recommends storing the pad fully inflated with both valves open (just make sure your furry roommate with claws does not have access to it!). Storing this sleeping pad deflated and tightly rolled compresses the internal open-cell foam over time, which makes it take much longer to inflate when you get to camp.

Fortunately, this is actually pretty easy for me! My bed frame lifts to open a large storage area underneath, and the LXW size fits right in that space with the valves open, and pets can’t access it there.

If you don’t have space under a bed, you can also store it loosely folded behind a couch, standing upright in a closet, or under a couch. Keeping the foam expanded between trips ensures it stays plush and ready to self-inflate fast on your next camping trip. Again, just make sure your furry friend with claws doesn’t affect access to your stored sleeping pad!

In the Stuff Sack: Size & Portability

The MegaMat Max is very portable when inside its stuff sack, but it does take up quite a bit of space in my trunk. At 7 lbs. 6.5 oz. (3.36 kg) and with packed dimensions of 31.1 x 9.8 inches (79 x 25 cm), you can see it thrown on top of my (32L and 58L) backpacks in the trunk for comparison. The flasks are 64oz.

Don’t Make The Same Mistake I Made…

I made one mistake before my first trip with this new pad: I didn’t read the instructions. I was supposed to let it self-inflate at home and leave it inflated for at least 24 hours before first use, because it helps the foam expand fully and makes the process easier and faster afterward! Ooops.

I opened the MegaMat Max for the first time at camp and expected it to self-inflate relatively quickly. It was 3 pm when I unrolled it in the tent, opened the in-valve, and went for a quick hike to let it do its thing. But when I came back an hour later, it had barely inflated at all… So I used the manual pump about 20 times to give it a boost and went back out for a walk. After that, I checked on it about every hour, giving it a few more pumps each time. It was slowly progressing, but not to the level it needed to be. It was around 8.30 pm when it was finally ready to be slept on, so I ended up waiting roughly 5.5 hours for that very first inflation.

To be fair, I could have just used the top-up pump more to get it inflated faster (one of the official Exped videos on YouTube claims it can be fully inflated with the manual pump in about 5 minutes of constant pumping). However, I only saw that video after my trip! Since it was early in the afternoon when I first set it up, I didn’t want to force the process too much, as I wasn’t sure if heavy pumping right out of the box would affect the mattress’s durability long-term.

So don’t make my mistake: set it up at home before taking it camping for the first time. But even if you do end up in the same boat, don’t worry, the wait is totally worth it!!!

Would I Buy It Again?

Yes, absolutely.

After multiple nights on the Exped MegaMat Max, I’m 100% happy with my purchase. I’ve even already recommended it to several people I met while camping and to friends who are looking for a more comfortable car camping setup.

If you want the closest thing to a real bed while car camping, I think the Exped MegaMat Max is very hard to beat.

Pros & Cons of the Exped MegaMat Max Sleeping Pad

In my opinion, the Exped MegaMat Max Sleeping Pad is the best mattress you can buy to sleep in a tent, but here are my pros and cons about it.

FAQs About the Exped MegaMat Max Sleeping Pad

What is the difference between the MegaMat and the MegaMat Max?

The MegaMat Max gives you a 50% thickness increase (15 cm / 6 in vs. 10 cm / 4 in) and a higher R-value (R10.6 vs. R8.1) over the standard MegaMat. That extra 2 inches of cushion means your hips and shoulders won’t sink through to the hard ground if you sleep on your side.

Is the Exped MegaMat Max an air mattress or self-inflating foam?

The Exped MegaMat Max is a self-inflating sleeping pad made of open-cell 3D foam with integrated air channels.

Does the MegaMat Max fully self-inflate, or do I need a pump?

The MegaMat Max is a self-inflating sleeping pad. The open-cell foam does most of the expanding on its own, but the included Mini Pump comes in handy to top it up to your preferred firmness manually, or to speed things up if you need to use it right away instead of waiting for it to self-inflate.

Is the Exped MegaMat Max worth the price?

100% yes! The Exped MegaMat Max sleeping pad has given me the best night’s sleep ever in a tent. It’s extremely comfortable; it’s still early days for me, but it appears to be durable, and it has 4-season insulation (R-value of 10.6+) for cold-weather ground sleeping.

Is the MegaMat Max suitable for backpacking or just car camping?

The Exped MegaMat Max sleeping pad is fairly bulky, which makes it unsuitable for backpacking. It’s built for maximum luxury tent camping (with a car nearby), vehicle camping, and home guest setups, not lightweight backcountry travel. However, if you’re looking for comfortable sleeping pads for backpacking, check out Exped’s backpacking offering here!

How do you easily pack down the MegaMat Max?

After opening the out-valve, fold it in half and put your whole body weight on it to get as much air out as possible. Then start rolling it from the end opposite the valves, making sure all the air squeezes out one roll at a time. It takes about 3 to 4 minutes!

Final Thoughts about the Exped MegaMat Max Sleeping Pad

The Exped MegaMat Max Sleeping Pad has given me the best nights of sleep I’ve ever had in a tent, and I am so pleased with my purchase. I honestly cannot recommend it enough to anyone looking for a new mattress for car camping. Just be prepared that it may take a little more time than anticipated to self-inflate the first few times. If you’re able to inflate it at home and leave it inflated for a while, you’ll find that it’s much faster at camp. But either way, you won’t be disappointed with your purchase! Go get yours now!