So why skimp on a sleeping pad? There are the little blue foam mats that are barely more than sleeping on the ground. They’re great for sitting on or throwing around backpacking but if you’ve got the space it’s nice to go for something bigger.

Exped have been making sleeping mats for a while now. I had an AirMat and DownMat back in the day and loved them. Smallest and lightest backpacking mattresses I had ever seen at the time.

For camping, things don’t need to be tiny or light. Exped refreshed the big and comfortable MegaMat series in 2025. I reviewed Exped MegaMat Max 2 years ago and loved it. Easily the most comfortable out of all mats tested. (Check out that test of 7 mats).

This review is on the MegaMax LXW, updated in 2025. What changes have they made? Is it still the same insane comfort and durability of the previous MegaMats? Here’s the results of the testing.

What is the MegaMat LXW?

So what is the MegaMat LXW?

MegaMat is Expeds crazy thick and comfortable air mattresses. They’re 10cm (4″) thick, covered with soft stretchy fabric, in a few different sizes.

They’re not small and light but they are extremely comfortable.

The foam inside has horizontal holes or cores cut out so it’s far smaller than just rolling up a regular foam mattress. The foam expands when you open a valve so it mostly inflates itself.

The original MegaMat came out in 2011 and was updated this year in 2025.

• Coring is slightly larger and moved so it packs smaller, inflates faster, deflates faster
• Duo valves have been replaced with dedicated inflate and deflate valves
• Thin handles are welded to both sides making it easier to carry

It’s still 8.1 R-value, 40d recycled stretch tricot polyester on top with 75d sides and bottom.

If you’re looking for one, any store that carries Exped should have them after after March 2025.

Specs

Inflating

Inflating is the same as many other mats. The MegaMat LXW has one inflate and one deflate valve. The easiest way to inflate is to let it self-inflate and then top up to your liking.

Self-inflating needs the pin to hold the valve open. It self-inflates so fast, there’s not really any point in blowing it up from scratch. After it’s self-inflated, it’s nearly enough to sleep on. A couple more breaths and it was good to go.

Comfort

The Exped mats are ridiculously comfortable and the new MegaMat LXW is no different.

The MegaMat is 10cm (4″) thick which is plenty to keep you off the ground no matter how you sleep. I sleep on my side and unless I let a lot of air out, I’m nicely off the ground. The foam inside provides some firmness while the air keeps it taught.

With the air inside, there is still a bit of air mattress feel to it. But there is far less than pure air mattresses. Using some air instead all foam means it packs down much more than just pure foam.

Inflating it completely full keeps you off the ground but also feels like sleeping on a board. If you sleep on your back, maybe that’s fine but with sleeping on my side, I let some air out so it can contour more. There’s a balance between too little and it’s wobbly and too much and it’s too stiff. A few seconds of opening the valve with the pin was great.

The material on the top is very soft. I usually sleep in a sleeping bag or with a sheet but it’s soft enough to sleep directly on the mat. It’s very quiet inside and on the bottom of the mat against the tent floor. Rolling around at night is very quiet. I have another ultralight mat that sticks against the tent floor and I have to put clothes under otherwise it wakes the whole camp up when I move.

The foam inside also helps keep the top flat and sides vertical. I’m often sleeping right on the edge of the mat and it’s stable. Some mats roll or collapse on the edges, dumping you onto the ground, forcing you to balance in the middle. The Megamat is solid edge to edge.

Deflating and Packing

Bigger mats take longer to deflate. I usually deflate in 2 passes. I open the deflate valve and quickly roll up the matt squishing out most of the air. With most of it deflated, I unroll it and do a tight roll so it fits in the bag better.

Sticking the pin in the inflate valve to hold it open can deflate faster but I found it unnecessary.

The Sidewinder bag that comes with the MegaMat is open all down one side and makes it so much easier to pack. I’ve had bags in the past that were just open at one end. Not only did they barely offer any room to put the big mat back in, it had to be wrestled back in. It takes no effort at all to get a good roll on, add the velcro strap, and tuck the mat into the bag sideways.

The buckle strap is easy to roll a couple times and fasten the clip. I wish they added 1 more roll of fabric to the bag so it was a bit easier to roll enough for a good closure.

I ended up the rolling up in one pass in 55 seconds. It’s only 10 or 15 seconds longer to do it in 2 passes and it’s easier to do and easier on the mat.

Size and Weight

The MegaMat is not small and light. At 10 cm (4″) thick and 2.6 kg (5.75 pounds) it’s a big mat that’s very comfortable. This is not a good mat for lightweight backpacking. It’s amazing for car camping or using at home for an extra bed. I use it in my rooftop tent as well because the mattress in that is very thin.

I tested the LXW size and it was plenty of room. 2 people could fit but it would be a squeeze. The Duo sizes can fit 2 people comfortably.

• Single
  • MW – Medium Wide 183 x 65 cm (72 x 25.6 in)
  • LW – Long Wide 197 x 65 cm (77.6 x 25.6 in)
  • LXW – Long Extra Wide 197 x 77 cm (77.5 x 30 in) – tested for this review
• Duo
  • M – Medium – 183 x 104 cm (72 x 41 in)
  • LW+ – Long Wide Extra – 197 x 132 cm (77.6 x 52 in)
  • Queen – 203 x 152 cm (203 x 152 cm)
• MegaMat Auto (cut around wheel wells for in a car)
  • 132 cm at head (52 in)
  • 99 cm at foot (39 in)
  • 193 cm long (76 in)

Accessories

Mega Pillow

The Mega Pillow is Exped’s largest. It’s covered in fleece padding and packs down the size of a pop can. As a side sleeper I need a decent pillow to not wake up with a sore neck and back and it’s been a great addition. A good pillow has been something I’ve been spending some extra weight on. Clothes stuffed into a t-shirt isn’t cutting it any more.

Mega Pillow

Mega Pump

The Mega Pump is a small rechargeable pump that can inflate and deflate. It’s a bit bigger than a pop can and hooks onto the Exped valves.

Exped doesn’t provide adapters to all other brands and types of inflatables but does provide a link to Thingiverse where you can download instructions to 3D print many others.

Mega Pump

Mat Sheet

I don’t bring a sheet backpacking but when I’m car camping it’s nice to keep air mats cleaner with a sheet. This organic cotton one is brethable and protects the mat.

Mat Sheet

Sleeping Bag

I often just use sheets and a duvet car camping because I’ve got the space and it’s so comfortable. Sleeping bags are better if you’re short on space or have to pack it up every day. Exped has some nice 0 and -5 bags. I haven’t tested any but if the quality of their other products is any indication, they’d be high quality.

Exped sleeping bags

Who is EXPED?

EXPED founders Andi and Heidi Brun do things a little different.

For their honeymoon in 1981 hey built a log cabin with a hatchet and small saw. 9 months later they tore down the cabin, left no trace and were picked up by floatplane.

The experience they had in the wilderness shaped EXPED. They started as a distributor for other high quality outdoor products and brands. In 1997 they started making their own high quality gear.

They focus on getting outside without unnecessary frills. Staff play outside. They’ve won numerous awards for their innovative gear.

Right from the start they had a focus on sustainability. Items that last longer and are recycled and recyclable are better for the planet and the places we play.

Their sleeping mats, pillows, sleeping bags, booties and operations are C02-balanced with myclimate. Their goal is for all emissions from EXPED to be balanced by 2024.

Conclusion

Exped has made some of the highest quality outdoor gear I’ve owned. Every piece, from AirMats and DownMats back in the day up to MegaMat Max, Mega Pillow, and MegaMat in this review has been durable, easy to use, and as sustainably-made as possible.

MegaMats were really good and now updated with new handles, better valves and packability, got even better. Exped doesn’t seem to rest on their laurels, never updating their gear. They take their best and make them even better.

At $399 CAD, MegaMat (LXW size) isn’t cheap but it will last a long time properly cared for. With the thicker top and sides they’ll last longer than others. I’m careful with dogs and kids as they can rip apart air mattresses like no other. Check it’s the new version before buying.

With reviewing gear for this site and others, I have a good selection of air mattresses to choose from. I pick Exped any time I have a choice. It’s the first one I reach for if I’m making up a spare bed at home or sleeping at the campsite. The others aren’t bad, it’s just that MegaMat is the most comfortable.

Highly recommended.

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This course will walk you through every piece of hiking gear you might need for a short backpacking trip. We’ll cover what every piece of gear is and tips for buying each.

What will this guide cover?

This guide isn’t going to cover every piece of gear under the sun. First, it would take forever to put together and read. And it would be out of date before you read it. 

Second, we want to provide just enough information for you to get out and play outside. There will be plenty of time to spend hours researching the latest and lightest gear after you know more about what you need. Here we’ll focus on the basics and get you back outside.

Every section in this guide will cover a few key things. What the gear is, why you might need it (or not) and a couple tips on finding the right one of you. This isn’t a degree in backpacking gear. It’s just enough information so you can buy gear for a weekend on the trail and have a great time. 

This guide is divided into 5 sections: 

• Hiking
• Sleeping
• Cooking
• Clothing
• Other Backpacking Gear

Hiking gear is what you’ll need to hike and get from point A to point B. A lot of it crosses over with day hiking, like backpacks or hiking boots. If you’re just planning on day hiking and might backpack a couple times a year, you can use this gear for both. 

Sleeping gear is for staying dry and comfortable at night when you’re sleeping. Things like your tent, sleeping pad and sleeping bag will let you get a good night sleep on the trail. You don’t have to use a tent and we offer a couple alternatives in this section.

Cooking gear is for making and eating food. Some suggestions on actual food to take backpacking is here as well as stoves, pots and dishes to help you eat it. 

Clothing is its own section and spans hiking and doing anything around camp. 

Miscellaneous is all the other bits that don’t quite fit into the other categories or may span multiple. 

If you have any questions about the info in this guide or want to see more added, definitely let us know on our contact form. 

Table of Contents

• Welcome
• Hiking Safety
• The 10 Essentials
• Hiking Gear
  • Backpack
  • Hiking Boots
  • Water Bottle
  • Water Bladder
  • Camp shoes
  • Gaiters
  • Map
  • Compass
  • GPS and Phone Apps
  • First Aid Kit
  • Trekking Poles
  • Headlamp
  • Watch
  • Pack Cover
• Sleeping Gear
  • Tent
  • Sleeping Mat
  • Sleeping Bag
  • Pillow
  • Tarp
• Cooking Gear
  • Camp Stove
  • Fuel
  • Pots
  • Dishes
  • Coffee Maker
  • Water filter, drops, and tablets
  • Food
• Hiking Clothes
  • Baselayers
  • Midlayers
  • Waterproof Jacket
  • Waterproof Pants
  • Socks
  • Hat
• Other Backpacking Gear
  • Multi-tool or Knife
  • Repair Kit
  • Stuff Sacks
  • Book
  • Notebook and Pen
  • Rope
  • Music
  • Satellite Communicator or Emergency Locator Beacon
  • Bear Safety
  • Firestarter
  • Batteries and Battery Packs
  • Soap
  • Garbage Bag
• Tips to Start
• Backpacking Gear Checklist
• Time to Hike!

Wait, Who is Pack and Trail?

Next up, who are we? Who is Pack and Trail?

Pack and Trail is an online magazine that covers human-powered outdoor adventure sports like hiking, trail running, paddle-boarding, mountain biking, backpacking and camping. We dive deep into gear reviews and instructions on how to get outside so you can spend less time looking around on the internet for answers and more time getting outside.

My name is Ross Collicutt. I’m the author of this guide and the editor of PackandTrail.com. I’ve spent the last 15 years hiking, backpacking, kayaking, paddle-boarding and running around the Pacific Northwest from Vancouver Island, BC.

We’re almost there, just a little note on being safe when hiking and then we’ll hit the gear.

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Why do you need dishes? 

You probably want to eat while you’re backpacking, right? That usually requires something to eat on and with. 

This section covers cups, plates, bowls, sporks and spoons. And whether you should bring them at all.

Remember that more dishes means more to clean. The more you can eat out of a bag, the less you have to clean. 

The absolute minimum you’ll need if you are boiling water for drinks and food is a small pot. Use the pot to boil water for your bag meal and then boil again for a hot drink. Eat out of the bag and drink out of the pot. 

To eat from a bag, bring a long spoon or spork. The bags are usually tall so a taller utensil works better. Most utensils are short and result in sauce all over your hands. 

For cups, it depends on what you drink. If I’m not having anything hot to drink, I won’t bring a mug and just drink from my water bottle the whole time. I love a hot coffee in camp to start the day though so I almost always bring a lightweight mug. I boil water for coffee and then boil again for oatmeal in the pot. 

For plates and bowls, it depends on what you’re eating. If you’re eating bag meals or something in your 1 pot, you won’t need them. If you are sharing food, you might need something to put it all in. 

Only bring what you need

Once you know what you’re eating, you can plan your dishes. Only bring the necessities. If you are sharing food with someone else, share the weight and let them carry some of the dishes. 

Just eat in the bag

If you are eating dehydrated meals in the bag, you won’t need much for dishes outside of a pot and a long spoon. This means less dishes and easy cleanup. Many of the meal bags have some sort of foil or liner inside and can’t be burned. Pack garbage out.

Different materials

Most backpacking dishes are made out of metal or plastic. Both are durable and last a long time. Try to get lightweight where you can. 

Long spoon for bag meals

The bags made for dehydrated bag meals are usually quite tall. Some companies are catching on and making short, wide bags. If you only have a short spoon, you end up with a lot of food on your hands reaching into the bags. A long spoon or spork solves this problem. 

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Why do you need gaiters?

Gaiters are like jackets for your hiking boots. They wrap around the top of your hiking boots and up your legs a bit. They keep the mud, branches and dirt out of your boots. If you’re quick, they can also keep the water out. If you’re wearing shorts, they can protect your legs from brambles and branches as well.

Gaiters prevent you from having to empty dirt and mud from your hiking boots if you’re on a muddy trail. They can be taller up to your knee or shorter and just cover your ankle. No matter the height, they cover the top of your boots and keep the crud out.

Waterproof is best

Some gaiters are waterproof and some aren’t. Waterproof ones will make your legs warmer but will keep the rain and mud out the longest. 

They do make your legs a bit warmer

If you want to keep the gunk out of your boots but don’t want the heat, look for a smaller less water resistant pair. They will be more breathable.

Just like a jacket, gaiters can be different materials

Some gaiters are water resistant, some are waterproof, some just keep the dirt out and not any sort of moisture. Just like jackets, waterproof will be the least breathable, water resistant will be more breathable and just fabric will be the most breathable.

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Why do you need fuel?

Stoves need fuel to burn. What kind of fuel you need depends on your stove. 

Canister stoves use iso-butane canisters. These are small pressurized canisters like a propane canister for your bbq. They can burn hot and fast when the canister is new but they slow down as the pressure inside gets less and less. They don’t work well in freezing temperatures. These canisters aren’t refillable. Just buy a new one when it’s empty. If you are traveling, you can’t fly with these.

Liquid fuel stoves use a fuel bottle with some sort of liquid fuel. Most stoves use white gas available from any camping or outdoors store. Some special kinds of stoves can use kerosene or diesel but most can’t.  They are refillable so you can take as much fuel as you need. You can fly with empty fuel bottles but make sure you have some documentation with the bottle to explain what it is.

Fewer large canisters, or more small canisters

For gas and liquid fuel bottles you can bring 1 large or 2 smaller containers. It’s the same amount of fuel. I prefer 2 small ones since you can split them between people and are easier to fit in between other items in your pack. 

How much do you need per day?

You’ll need to find out how much fuel to bring. We need to do a bit of math for this. We’ll multiply how much water you need by how long it takes for each boil then divide by the burn time of your stove. 

(Total liters * Boil time per liter) / total burn time of the canister = % fuel used

Let’s unpack this a bit.

First, how many liters of water do you need to boil? Add up all the water you’ll need to boil between breakfast, lunch, dinner, coffee, and tea for each person for all the days. You might end up with 3 liters each for 2 people. So 6 liters total. 

Second, multiply your total number of liters (6 liters) by how long it takes your stove to boil each liter. Stoves usually take around 3 minutes to boil a liter, say our stove takes 3.5 minutes to boil a liter. 

(Total liters * 3.5 minutes/liter)

(6 * 3.5 minutes/liter) =  21 minutes (total burn time required to boil 6 liters)

Third, we need to see what the burn time on your stove is like. For the popular MSR Pocket Rocket 2 stove, they will burn for 60 minutes on a 230 gram (8 oz) fuel canister. Take your required burn time in the step above and divide it by the total burn time for a canister. 

21 minutes / 60 minutes = 35%

So this percentage is how much of the canister you’ll need for your trip. Multiply this by the canister size to get the weight of the fuel used. 

35% * 230 grams = 81 grams of fuel for this trip.

Add a buffer

There are a lot of factors that affect how much fuel you are going to use. It’s never going to be exactly the same. Air temperature, wind, and elevation all can increase the amount of fuel to boil a liter. 

It’s always good to have a buffer of fuel. Conveniently, gas canisters can’t be refilled so I always make sure I have enough fuel in a new, full canister and then bring a small used canister to start with. This makes sure you have a buffer of extra fuel and uses up the remaining fuel in old canisters.

Test at home

Always test your stove at home. Ideally you can test an entire small canister and see how many liters of water it boils at home. Then you’ll have a good idea of how many liters it will boil for your next trip. You don’t want to find out on the trail that it doesn’t boil the same number as the manufacturer says.

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Why do you need a book? 

I always have a book when I’m backpacking. This is absolutely optional but there’s something about the peace and quiet that’s nice to maintain when out hiking. There’s going to be time to kill stuck in the tent with bad weather stuck or just a day off in camp. 

Whether you have time to sit and read will depend on the trip and the people you’re with. Some groups I’ve hiked with in the past have preferred a relaxed trip with lots of down time. Others have wanted to hike until they crash into bed after dark, and do it all again the next day. 

Small and light

I don’t recommend bringing a large hardcover because of the weight. A small paperback is usually best. 

eReaders

Some eReaders can be small and light and contain multiple books. They aren’t often waterproof and need to be packed gently in your pack. The batteries usually last weeks. 

Reading on your phone

Kindle and other books can be on your phone which you likely already have. Reading will chew through more battery on your phone so be mindful of that. If you are bringing your phone or other devices that need charging, bring a battery pack. 

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Why do you need a map? 

Navigation is one of the 10 Essentials. You always need a way to figure out where you are and where you are going that doesn’t have batteries and won’t break. GPS or phone apps are great when they work. Always have a backup. Batteries get cold or run out and electronics can break. 

Maps and compass always work no matter the weather and rarely break. Even if you only use the map 1 out of 100 trips instead of your electronics, having them and knowing how to use them may save your life. 

Buy topographic maps

If you can, buy maps that have topographic markings on them. Each line on a topographic map represents an altitude, or height, above sea level. Lots of lines close together means the area is steep and gains altitude quickly. Topo lines further apart mean the height changes slowly so it’s not very steep. No topo lines in an area means flat or close to it. 

Topo maps that show trails and access roads in your area are helpful. You get to see your route as well as what the surrounding area looks like. Remember that those roads and trails may not be there any more.

Keep your maps dry

Most maps are not waterproof so make sure you keep them in something that will keep them dry. A ziploc bag is the most basic but there are good map bags out there too.

Take a navigation course

Maps and compass take a bit of practice to learn. If you want to feel comfortable using a map and compass to get home safely, take a course and schedule lots of practice. Use it when you don’t have to so you know when you need it.

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Why do you need a notebook and pen?

I love taking notes of what happened on my trips. I journal a bit, including notes on what gear I’m using (or not) so I can refine my kit for next time. It is an optional piece of kit.

Having journals from past trips are fun mementos from the experience and a way to add some stories to photos. 

Bring a pen

A notebook without a pen isn’t much use. I like the Rite in the Rain books which work when they are wet but any old notebook and pens work well when it’s dry. 

A pen will help with filling out forms, payment envelopes at the trail or exchanging contact information with friends you meet on the trail.

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Why do you need a compass?

Some maps show trails, lake names and mountain names on them and may work for navigating without a compass but most don’t. The lakes and mountains also need to have signs for this to work. 

A compass will show you the direction you are heading and let you triangulate position off landmarks like mountains. 

Compasses also work well in bad weather or dense trees. If the weather gets very cloudy, foggy or snowy you may not be able to see any sort of landmark or figure out where north is.

Go for small, lightweight and reliable

Seeing as your maps and compass might stay in your bag a lot of the time, it’s nice to get something small and very lightweight.

Line up distant landmarks with a mirror

Some compass models come with a mirror on top that flips up. You can then hold the compass up in front of you, lining up the object you want to measure from and see the compass reflected in the mirror. This is helpful when you are finding your position on a map using landmarks around you.

Practice using the compass

It takes practice to know how to use a map and compass. Take a course and practice when you know where you are so you’ll be more comfortable in unknown terrain.

The post Backpacking Gear for Beginners: Compass first appeared on Pack & Trail.

Why do you need a coffee maker?

I don’t go far without my Aeropress coffee maker but it’s big to bring on the trail. I like the Starbucks instant coffee packets the best. Easy and fast to make without much hassle. A bit of coffee whitener or powdered milk that is shelf-safe for a week and the day can begin. If you don’t drink coffee, completely ignore this section!

Bring what you like

There are so many coffee makers on the market, it’s easy to find one you like. Practice at home and get used to using it. There can be some early mornings on the trail!

Some folks carry an Aeropress, drip cup and filters, basket filters or just instant. Whatever it is you like, there’s probably a lightweight version for the trail.

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