Camping is so much better when you get a good night sleep. With backpacking, hiking all day almost guarantees a good night sleep. But with camping you may not be as active. Sitting around the fire all day isn’t exactly hard work.
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.
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.
Pros
- Way more comfortable than a basic sleeping pad
- Flat top, vertical sides so you don’t roll off the sides
- Inflate and deflate ports with strong valves
- Easy to let a small amount of air out by pushing in the inflate valve
- Sidewinder Bag has a huge opening so it’s easy to pack
- Soft fabric is very comfortable to sleep on
Cons
- Large compared to backpacking pads
- More expensive than a basic pad
Specs
- 2600 grams (92 oz)
- 10 cm thick (4″)
- LXW size – 197 x 77 cm (77.5 x 30″)
- Carry handles
- Open cell foam
- Top Up Pump included
- 4-way stretch face fabric
- Vertical sidewalls
- R-value 8.1
- 1 in valve and 1 out valve
- Patch kit included
- Top: Recycled 50d tricot polyester
- Bottom: Recycled 75d polyester
- PFAS free
- Bluesign approved
- myclimate product
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.
| Method | Time |
| Self-inflate | 2 min |
| Inflate from self-inflated – Blowing up | 15 seconds |
| Inflate from self-inflated – Top Up Pump | 20 seconds |
| Inflate from self-inflated – Mega Pump | 10 seconds |
| Inflate from nothing – Blowing up | 1:30 |
| Inflate from nothing – Top Up Pump | 2:45 |
| Inflate from nothing – Mega Pump | 1:20 |
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.
| Deflate and pack time | 55 seconds |
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 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.
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.
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.
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.