Exped - MegaMat Lite 12

Same. OP, given that you have the space, I would recommend memory foam or something similar. I use a 6” trifold mattress, but in your case, given that you have the space and have trouble sleeping, I would recommend a normal one-piece mattress for you. If you do use the Exped, the secret is to adjust the air pressure. Everyone is different, but for me, if I let out air until my butt just barely touched the floor while sitting on it, that would be ideally comfortable (though not as comfortable as memory foam) when I laid down on it.

After various attempts of finding the right set up: Exped on top of a cot. Watch for REI sales for the Exped, and watch the garage sale area for the cot.

Any Exped Med-Wide pads fit the bill. Incredibly comfy to boot. They are more expensive but a good nights sleep it worth it imo. Best investment I made for camping. I got my Deep Sleep for just over $100 on sale.

I have two expeds- a Megamat duo and a single. They’re the most comfortable and warm pad I’ve tried. I’ve been using them for 5 years and camp at least once a month. Our Duo sprung a leak a few years ago, which I patched, and it still works great. Pro-tip: Get the widget air pump or a Flextail Gear mini air pump. Don’t use your breath to finish inflating because it will introduce moisture into your mattress.

I’ve had my megamat 7 years and had no idea I was supposed to store it unrolled. It’s great for two adults but wouldn’t fit the two kids as well (maaaybe one kid?) We do use it at home as a guest mattress so it’s handy to have around.

In that case I can say the Exped megamat is the best I've ever tried. REI usually has one in their test area if you live near one you could check it out.

Exped Megamat sleeping pad.  Expensive, and too heavy for backpacking, but worth every penny for car camping. Nemo Fillo pillow.  Best camp pillow ever.  I bring it backpacking, camping, even for hotel stays. For a sleeping bag, try a quilt instead of a bag - much better for side and belly sleepers than a mummy bag.

Exped pads are highly underrated!

I (64M) swear by my Exped. Not cheap but comfort in a relatively small package. It comes in a bag that can be attached to anything. YMMV

I use the exped megamat on top of a cot. Best sleep in a tent I've ever had.

I’ve used the megamat and even the megamat max and can’t seem to dial in the comfort. It’s either rock hard or a waterbed for me.

Exped Megamat is my favorite one to sleep on. Don’t be fooled because it isn’t super thick - it’s amazing.

I (64M) always used a cot when camping. REI had Expeds on sale and I have read such good things about them, so I bought one. They are the best mattress for camping I have ever used. Even weighing 230lbs, side sleeper, I would have a tough time touching the ground through the mattress. They are quick to fill up with the enclosed hand pump and quick to deflate. They are light and I now prefer it over the cot that I have used for many years.

I've had a spinal fusion and have fibromyalgia. I got an Exped Mega Mat and it's been life changing. I couldn't do any camping before and now I'm super comfortable sleeping in a tent. I also bring it with me travelling now in case the beds are terrible at the hotels I'm staying at. It's been a lifesaver for me.

I had a Tensor and it was uncomfortable for me as well. I’ve found Exped inflatable pads comfortable. My favorite right now though is the Neoloft.

My exped is a piece of magic.

A sleeping pad is not the spot you sacrifice for the minuscule weight savings possible. I use an Exped mat that is like 4” thick, extra wide, XL, and insulated and I’m not even sure it’s heavier than the 1” Thermarest I used for 20 yrs prior.

The answer is exped megamat or the Nemo roamed. Expensive, but as comfortable as it can get.

Any Exped Med-Wide pads fit the bill. Incredibly comfy to boot. They are more expensive but a good nights sleep it worth it imo. Best investment I made for camping. I got my Deep Sleep for just over $100 on sale.

Sea-to-Summit Comfort Plus Insulated. It is a dual-chamber sleeping pad, so you can tune the bottom chamber to provide protection from the ground and top chamber to give you the right level of cushion. None of the other pads on the market can do this, including celebrated Therm-a-Rest and Exped offerings. Exped Megamat is still more comfortable, but it won't fit inside a kayak and weights a lot more. S2S Comfort Plus is the next best thing.

The megamat is one of the hybrid mats. I’m also a side sleeper and it’s my go-to recommendation.  I think your biggest issue is the squeaky cot. I have a basic wooden platform in the back of my 4Runner. No creaks or squeaks and the bed is raised up.  Granted I’m only 5’8 / 140lbs and only have one leg — so you being 6’4 / 260lbs might limit you on sleeping inside the car. ??

Megamat for sure. We have a double quilt that we love, the enlightened equipment accomplice

Exped is the current king of the semi self inflating mattresses but there are other worthy considerations which are more affordable, especially on sale. I went with a Lost Horizon I found on clearance for half price. Probably not as bomb proof as the Exped, but after about a dozen trips this summer it’s going strong without issues. The bottom line is these type of mattresses are exponentially more comfortable than anything else on the market. I will never go back. The only drawback is they don’t roll up small.

\+1 on getting two single mega mats and placing them together. This way, you have redundancy if one gets punctured, each person can adjust their inflation level, and one person's movement won't affect the other much.

Exped megamat.

Exactly. I picked up a used one for $106, and it is comfy, but I don’t think it’s worth double.

This is the best answer! Also some friends got the rei camp dreamer and it’s pretty similar to my exped. I would also recommend regular bedding if you can.

Buy once, cry one. I have a dozen different sleeping pad/cot/mattresses stored because I kept thinking that *this* is the one that will finally work. You know what finally worked? Dropping $500 on an Exped Megamat. I’ve been using that one for 5 years. No regrets.

We got an Exped Megamat for car camping with the little ones. We used them a lot early on but now that they’re bigger, it’s hard to justify - mostly because they take up a lot of space even when stowed. I generally opt for the ultralight route as much as I can now. Maybe it’s a reaction from having to take so much when they are really young. But in any case, the Megamat is great but expensive and bulky. I would get a pretty large tent since you’ll have a ton of shit.

Yes. They were going to honor the warranty, but it was less than a year so just easier to drop it at REI where I bought it and get a refund. Definite bummer; great mattress even at home. If they ever do a long lasting home version I'll be all over it...literally. :)

I wonder how it compares to the exped mega mat. The specs are nearly the same and that’s a very popular pad (for good reason). Thanks for putting this one on my radar!

I tried long term sleeping on an Exped. They're a seif inflating pad. It did not last a full year. The fabric in those is glued to the foam, and as it turns out tossing and turning can eventually break that bond, and the fabric blister.

Same. OP, given that you have the space, I would recommend memory foam or something similar. I use a 6” trifold mattress, but in your case, given that you have the space and have trouble sleeping, I would recommend a normal one-piece mattress for you. If you do use the Exped, the secret is to adjust the air pressure. Everyone is different, but for me, if I let out air until my butt just barely touched the floor while sitting on it, that would be ideally comfortable (though not as comfortable as memory foam) when I laid down on it.

For durability why not just buy a real bed/mattress? I love my megamat but I still like my real bed better.

Exped megamat for car camping, thermarest neoair for backpacking

Go EXPED. Best pads IMO. The vertical baffles make a huge difference and they are not crinkly at all.

I went with the Exped after feeling them out at REI…. I did have an issue with the Exped and was able to exchange it…. Remember that ultra light means it’s less durable, so tough terrain could damage an air pad while sleeping in it….