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 pots to cook? 

Just like at home, you’ll need dishes and cookware on the trail for the type of meals you like to cook. If you are cooking up a gourmet meal you might need a pot, a pan and multiple stoves. 

I prefer to keep things simple and boil water for everything. That requires a stove and a pot. Most of the dehydrated food bags that I make for dinners need 400 to 700 ml of water so I need to bring a pot that big. The one I usually carry is about 700 ml so if I need a lot of water for tea and a meal, then I need to boil twice. If you bring a slightly bigger pot, you can boil once for a meal and a hot drink or 2 meals. I like carrying a smaller pot. 

If you like boiling a lot of water or cooking bigger meals, you might need a larger pot, 1.5 or 2 liters. Larger pots are less stable on small stoves and you still have to carry that large pot every day. 

Lightweight material

Backpacking pots and pans can come in many different materials. 

Stainless steel is the cheapest and heaviest. It distributes heat well if you are trying to simmer something. 

Anodized aluminum is lighter than steel and only a bit more expensive. It can be very thin but still strong. I recommend most people start with anodized aluminum cookware. It’s easy to use but still lightweight. 

Titanium is the lightest material of all and considerably more expensive than both aluminum and steel. It doesn’t distribute heat well but can boil water very quickly. 

Size

As we talked about above, pots range from 500 ml up to 2 liters or more. If you are ok with boiling twice for 2 meals, then 700 to 1000 ml (1 liter) should be enough. If you want to be able to boil water for three 700 ml meals, then you’ll need something 2.5 liters or more. Bigger pots are heavier to carry.

Measurements

When you are portioning water for dehydrated meals, you’ll need to measure the amount. They are often around 400, 500 or 600 milliliters. Some pots and water bottles have measurements on them. Just make sure that you have something to measure in the same measurement as your food is: milliliters or cups. 

Handles

Some pots have attached handles, others don’t. They may have a separate pot grabber. This is personal preference but I prefer pots with handles so I don’t lose them or have to go looking for them. They can get hot when the pot gets hot.

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Why do you need middle layers? 

On top of your base layers you’ll have midlayers, often called insulation layers. This is where you can set your temperature, keep warm, and continue wicking moisture.

Middle layers can be a thin merino shirt, a thicker fleece, a large puffy jacket, or any combination of these. If it’s warm enough you might just be wearing base layers, or a base layer with a shell on top. The benefit of using a combination of a few smaller layers is you can mix and match to deal with cold, cold/wet or warm/wet conditions.

Plan for 3 different temperatures on your trip: daytime resting, daytime moving and camp at night. Daytime resting will be cooler times early in the morning and resting at breakfast and lunch. Daytime moving will be warmer, carrying your pack, moving along the trail. Night will be the coldest time with the most insulation required.

No cotton

As with base layers, cotton clothing will hold on to moisture and suck heat from your body. The only time you might want to wear cotton is when you’re trying to cool down intentionally.

Hood or not? 

Do you want a hood on your middle layers? This is entirely personal preference. Some like it, others don’t. It can be uncomfortable to wear a thin hoodie, thick hoody and shell jacket with a hood.

Test your layers

Test the layers you’ll be using close to the 3 temperatures of your trip: moving, resting and camp. Spend some time outside in the layers you’ll be wearing during the day or at night and see what it feels like. If you are going to be at a higher altitude or near the ocean, temperatures will be cooler. 

Some fabrics work better in layers. Merino can stick to other layers of merino. Test your layers at home to make sure they feel good together and you can still move when they’re stacked up.

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Sun protection may not just be one thing for you but rather a group. It’s one of the categories in the 10 Essentials and is just focused on protecting your skin and eyes from the sun. 

It usually includes sunscreen, sunglasses, hats and clothes to keep the sun off. 

Natural sunscreens

Look for more natural sunscreens that don’t leech a bunch of chemicals into your skin and block the sun just as well as chemical sunscreens. Try to find one that doesn’t drip into your eyes when sweating. 

Multipurpose hats

I like to wear hats all the time but they can; be multipurpose, keeps the sun off during the day, rain off during a storm, warms up your head at night. Multipurpose gear takes up less space in your pack.

Cut the glare

I prefer polarized sunglasses that won’t fog when you’re hiking. The polarization will cut down the glare from bright days near water or snow or right after the rain. Anti-fogging (or enough space around the glasses for good airflow) keeps them clear when you’re moving quick. 

Bonus points if they are photochromatic and change tint with the light. You can wear them in the trees or on the beach.

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This is where we start to get into the differences between day hiking and backpacking. Day hiking you go out, hike, then come home to sleep. Spending nights out in the wilderness for 1 or more days requires equipment to sleep.

• Tent
• Sleeping Mat
• Sleeping Bag
• Pillow
• Tarp

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Why do you need a waterproof jacket? 

It’s hard to stay warm when you’re wet. A waterproof jacket and pants keeps you dry in bad weather. 

You might not need a waterproof jacket and pants for every trip. In the Pacific Northwest where I hike, it can rain any day of the year. Being caught out in the rain without a waterproof jacket and pants is not fun. 

A bonus of the waterproof jacket is that it will trap in heat as well.

I usually spend a bit more on a waterproof jacket if I wear it skiing or around town. If your waterproof pants are only for hiking then you might be able to get away with a cheaper pair.

Look for Waterproof

Not all jackets are waterproof. If they say ‘water resistant’ then it’s not going to keep you dry for long. That said every jacket has its limit to how much water it can keep out. Gore-Tex is one of the most trusted names in waterproof jackets and for good reason. Jackets with Gore-Tex membranes will keep water out longer than nearly any other kind of jacket. 

Lightweight

Jackets sit in the bottom of your pack when it’s not raining, snowing or very cold. Having something small and light will take up less space. 

Breathable

Some jackets have waterproof membranes that are breathable as well. This means they keep water out but allow moisture like sweat out from the inside. This prevents the soggy feeling inside as it traps moisture. Typically the more you spend on a jacket the better it will breathe. 

Venting

Moving in waterproof jackets can be like hiking in a plastic bag. Make sure you can vent heat and moisture from inside without taking the jacket off. Usually this is with zippered vents under the arms. If you can’t vent, you’ll be stuck in the heat and the moisture. 

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Why do you need a firestarter? 

Part of the 10 Essentials is something to light fire with. If you get stuck out in the wild for any length of time, you’ll need some way to keep warm and be seen. A fire is a good way to do that. 

If you are using a stove to cook food, you’ll likely need a way to start it as well. Some stoves come with built-in lighters. These can also fail. 

I usually carry a BIC lighter because they’re easy to use and a flint rod for backup. Regular lighters often don’t work if they get wet. 

Keep them dry

Lighters don’t work well when they’re wet so keep them in some sort of dry bag out of the elements. If your pack gets soaked will your lighter still be dry?

Bring a backup

Lighters and piezo igniters can break or get wet. Always have a spare on you or at least in the group. 

Built-in igniters often fail

Built-in igniters only have one purpose but a lighter or flint can light a stove and a fire. 

Bring some dry tinder 

If you do need to start a fire and all the wood around you is wet, it’s nice to have some dry firestarter tinder with you. Wax and dryer lint can make good firestarter. Other products are made with dry sawdust and burn for a bit while you get wet twigs lit.

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Other options are a hammock with a tarp over it, or just a tarp over a sleeping bag and mat. Most people start with a tent. 

Tents give you lots of protection from the weather, bugs and small animals. 

A shelter is also part of the 10 Essentials that you should have with you at all times. It doesn’t have to be a full blown tent but a small emergency tarp or bivy works when you’re day-hiking. When you’re backpacking, you already have a tent or hammock!

Why do you need a tent? 

Sleeping in the woods requires some sort of shelter. You have a choice here. 

Lightweight

Tents are one of the heaviest things in your pack. Try to get as light as you can afford. Like all outdoor gear, lighter usually means more expensive. A bigger size also means heavier. Nice 2-person tents can be found between 2 and 4 pounds. 

Some tents can use trekking poles for some of the poles and leave the dedicated tent poles at home. This is usually a bit more work to set up but will save some weight.

How many people?

Tents are built for how many people they can hold. Many backpacking tents are 1-, 2- or 3-person. Check the floor measurements of the tents you’re looking at and see how large it is. They won’t be huge. Often just the size of 2 sleeping mats. Sometimes the 2-person tents feel more like a 1.5 person tent. 

How many doors?

Some 2-person tents have 1 door, some have 2. 2 is nice for getting into and out and having 2 vestibules, the covered area outside the tent door. 2 doors will make a tent slightly heavier but is more convenient to use. 

Can you split up the parts?

Most tents come in 3 parts: mesh body, waterproof fly, poles and pegs. Usually you can split these up between the people sleeping in the tent to even out the weight. Put the body and the fly into separate bags if you want, or all in its own compression sack to squish smaller.

You could also share the weight of other things. One person carries the tent, the other the cooking gear. Distribute the weight of shared gear as much as possible. 

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