Exped MegaMat Duo 10: Definitive Review (2024)
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The Ultimate Exped MegaMat Duo 10 review. We recently tested 43 of the top-selling camping mattresses on the market in 2024.
Our Goal?
To find the most comfortable camping mattress for couples.
IN FACT:
This is the exact same mattress I use when camping with my wife.
In this review we’ll show you:
- How comfortable and warm the MegaMat 10 is
- What the build quality is like
- How it holds up against the competition
- Lots more
So if you want to feel like you’re sleeping in your own bed, and you’re looking for the best camping mattress for couples on the market today, you’ll love this review…
So let’s dive down and find out why we selected the Exped Megamat 10 as the Editor’s Choice in this category.
- Manufacturer: Exped
- R-Value: 9.5
- Dimensions: 77.6 inches long by 52 inches wide by 3.9 inches high
- Weight: 9 lbs 14.7 oz
Bottom Line : The Exped Megamat 10 is the best mattress – perfectly suited for couples in terms of comfort and warmth
Pros
- A high R-value of 9.5
- Extremely comfortable.
- Big enough for two people
- High-quality materials
- A five-year warranty
Cons
- The large size makes it heavy
- Inflation time is on the higher side
Our Verdict: Exped MegaMat Duo 10
Camping together can be such an exciting adventure for couples.
But, it can turn into a battle for space while sleeping. To ensure the correct dose of comfort and ample space, you need to pick the right camping mattress.
Enter the Exped Megamat 10.
Due to the size and comfort of this mattress, the TopNotch team agreed it’s comparable to a queen-size bed.
Exped Megamat 10 sits in the premium camping pad category, luxurious, incredibly plush and made with high-quality materials.
Firstly, the overall dimensions easily sleep two and with extra cushioning than most other mattresses you’re guaranteed a restful night.
Secondly, it’s uber warm with an R-value of 9.5 making it a great companion no matter what the weather for all year-round camping.
Lastly, it has a self-inflating design, unlike an air bed – saving you the trouble of manually pumping – it’s very user-friendly,
What does this mean?
The Exped Megamat 10 isn’t as thick as air beds
BUT:
It gives you greater comfort because of its inner foam cushioning, (something they lack) and superior warmth.
We tested this mattress in some wild locations including one trip in the Glacier National Park (which was pretty badass).
We found the generous cushioning a big plus.
We used the mattress while camping on uneven rocky beds and woke up ache-free.
(This mattress sure did withstand some outdoor use and abuse).
Truth is, the cozy feel offered by the mattress made it a challenge for us to leave the comfort of the tent for the cold early morning starts.
If you’re backpacking you should steer clear of the MegaMat 10 LW+ – simply too heavy – but for car camping she’s pretty perfect.
The TopNotch team all came away with high praise:
The overall excellent quality and the top level of comfort makes it the Topnotch Editor’s Choice in our list of best camping mattresses.
NOTE: This mattress isn’t only for couples, a single guy or gal wanting extra space will love to starfish across the whole mattress!
RELATED: 8 Best Camping Mattress
Our Analysis, Comparisons & Test Results
For the Megamat review our team headed out across two continents. From the Stoney Indian Pass in the Glacier National Park to the rugged trails along the Ngozumpa Glacier in Nepal, we set up camp with our selection of beds.
The high quality of the product was wholeheartedly appreciated by our team. They loved the perfect blend of warmth and comfort it offered.
However, carrying the Exped Megamat lw around whilst backpacking wasn’t easy. In fact, the weight of the unit does restrict portability – hence it’s great for car camping where weight isn’t an issue and comfort is the goal.
In line with our standards – this unit was rated against the five different metrics.
Judging it alongside some of the other products of the same category also allowed us to perform a competitive analysis.
So what else did the field-tests reveal about this mattress?
Let’s find out…
Comfort
‘Extremely comfortable’ ‘As good as my bed at home’ ‘A great night’s sleep in the Outdoors’ – this was what the TopNotch team had to say about the Exped Megamat 10.
For many campers, the comfort factor comes first. They’ll love this mattress because of its plush feel.
The top surface is a combination of 50 D Polyester and TPU Polyether film laminate. You’ll find it delivers a soft texture against the skin.
Comfort Rating
What else?
The 3.9-inch thickness feels firm and provides great support for two people.
The best part is…
…the cushioning of air and foam has been designed to provide the right level of support to the main pressure points of the body. Be assured that your hips, shoulders, and feet will be well supported.
The vertical sidewalls also ensure that the thickness remains uniform across the entire width.
Note: finding the right combination of air and foam for the best comfort can take some time, luckily, the Megamat inflate valve system has a rubber flap.
This stops the air from escaping when you’re inflating and helps you blow the mattress up as rigid as you like.
As if that’s not enough:
As you lie on your mat you can then let air escape until it’s just how you like it.
The double-width, a perfectly level surface, and extreme comfort make the unit stand out from the competition.
Basically, for couples to sleep comfortably without invading each other’s space, the Exped Megamat 10 is a great mattress.
We tested different weights and found the most comfortable set up was less inflated than other air mattresses we tested. Your body will be equally supported by the foam and the air.
Ease of Use
With the self-inflating design, the Megamat is simple to inflate and deflate.
However, due to the large size, you’ll find the pad takes a bit of time in the inflate process.
The inflation valve is easy to use and tapping on the one-way flap allows the release of air for adjusting the firmness.
Ease of Use Rating
But hold on – there’s more
The inflate process will take you at least 10 minutes, a few of the team ended up taking a little longer.
TOP TIP: When you first purchase the Megamat, help the foam expand with a few pumps.
We really liked the bonus of the attached mini pump, saving us the effort of manually inflating it with our own breath, it’s also helpful for fine-tuning the firmness.
Point to be noted: Exped advises against blowing into the mat using your mouth. It can result in moisture build-up inside the mattress, thereby affecting the performance.
Now, what about the deflation process?
It’s very simple.
The technique our TopNotch team found the easiest:
Open the deflation valve and roll the mattress over applying some pressure by laying on it, forcing the air out.
Rolling it up isn’t the easiest of tasks due to its size.
Since it’s designed for couples, working together – one on each end – is the best way we found to roll it up effectively.
The whole process takes just two minutes.
NOTE: The less you deflate the mattress, the faster it takes to inflate next time
Warmth
The Exped Megamat 10 sleeping pad comes with great insulation.
The R-value of the mattress, which is a measure of how it impedes heat (or cold) transfer, is at a higher end – 9.5.
The higher the R-value, the better job the pad does.
Warmth Rating
What makes it so warm?
Good question.
The unit uses ‘opencell’ PU foam with a density of 16 kg/m² for the best results.
And there’s more good news.
The TopNotch team liked the fact that the material is Oekotex 100 certified which ensures it’s free from any harmful substances.
Providing protection from cold is a primary function of a camping mattress.
Right?
And this unit excels in that department.
Coming back to our field tests…
Even on freezing nights, our team found the unit was warm. There was no trace of any cold from coming up from the ground.
At the end of the day…
..the critical function of a camping mattress is to insulate and impede heat (or cold). The Mega Mat 10 mattress does an excellent job earning full marks in this category.
Versatility
In case you’re wondering about versatility…
We found from our trials this is not exactly a mattress you’ll want to take backpacking.
At above 9 pounds, the 10 is one of the heaviest units we tested. All the other units in the same category are comparatively lighter.
Versatility Rating
Bottom Line:
Car campers won’t mind the weight and will love the comfort factor…
So, unless you are off backpacking on the trails I wouldn’t worry here.
On the positive side, the bottom fabric of the Megamat 10 is 75 D Polyester which is extremely durable. In addition, the material is also hydrolysis resistant.
We can assure you even when used on rough or rocky terrain, the unit didn’t get damaged. The TopNotch team agreed that it’s built to last a long time.
Another plus – it can be easily used in a home environment as a substitute bed, thanks to the high level of comfort.
Packed Size
Packing this unit up is not an easy task.
In reality, the packed size of this mattress exceeded all the other competitor products we tested.
Thankfully, the carrying bag is large enough for the unit to fit in easily. The bag also comes with a shoulder strap and an internal storage pocket.
Packed Size Rating
The good news is…
… We found that even if you don’t deflate it fully, the mattress can still fit inside the bag.
But, even when packed, Exped Megamat Cot is almost as big as a backpack. Make sure you have sufficient space in your car.
Conclusion: Exped Megamat 10 Duo
So, it all boils down to this.
There’s no doubt that the Exped Megamat 10 is one of the best choices for couples when it comes to spending a warm and comfortable night.
Besides, the use of high-quality materials ensures the mattress will provide years of reliable service.
In addition, we appreciated the design of the valve-system and the ease of use it offers.
More good news…
.. the unit comes with a whopping five-year warranty.
The fact is, that the Exped Mega Mat 10 is not for those for where size and weight matters. But – It’s been solely designed for couples or people who want to revel in comfort.
While the handling of the unit is challenging, the TopNotch team found it as a high-quality mattress that delivers supreme comfort.
Hence we marked it as the Topnotch Editor’s Choice in our list for the best camping mattresses.
If you’re looking for a luxury camping mattress for two there’s no better choice than the Exped Megamat 10.
Other Versions
There are multiple versions of the Exped Mega Mat 10 that differ in overall dimensions. So if you’re buying the Megamat for a couple, make sure that you choose the “long wide” Duo version.