We were very intrigued to test the Exped DeepSleep, a baby sister to one of our favorite camping mattresses. It offers the same amount of surface area to sleep on but contains one inch less of foam. How much of a difference would that make in terms of comfort, warmth, and packability? This mattress is really comfortable, but it turns out that one inch of foam makes a difference. It is not as plush while taking up almost the same amount of space. It is also a little bit cheaper than many foam mats.
Exped DeepSleep 7.5 Review
A really warm foam mattress that is a little bit cheaper than its rivals, and a little less comfortable
Price: $189 List | $189.00 at REI
Compare prices at 2 resellers Pros: Warm, comfortable, easy to use
Cons: Heavy, large packed size
Manufacturer: Exped
Compare prices at 2 resellers Pros: Warm, comfortable, easy to use
Cons: Heavy, large packed size
Manufacturer: Exped
By Laurel Hunter ⋅ Review Editor ⋅ Apr 29, 2020
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Our Verdict
Compare to Similar Products
Our Analysis and Test Results
The WL size of the Exped DeepSleep 7.5 is the same footprint as its famously comfortable bigger sibling, the MegaMat, but is equipped with 3 inches of height instead of 4. It is also significantly less expensive. While it is a comfortable camping mattress, more foam means more comfort, and the DeepSleep is a little short.
Performance Comparison
Not as comfortable as a 4-inch mattress, this foam beast is still nice to sleep on.
Comfort
If the DeepSleep were the first foam mattress you ever slept on in your camping career, you would be stoked, as it is quite luscious compared to any air mattress out there. The cover is a soft, brushed polyester that feels nice next to skin, and it is also very quiet, so it won't rustle in your ear when you sleep. This testing team, however, has been exposed to the best of the best, and it turns out that when it comes to foam, more is just better.
While the mattress is firm and will protect your bones and pressure points, as well as guard again sharp objects on the ground, it doesn't have the same amount of plushness as many of the mattresses in our test. When we lowered the level of inflation with a push to the one-way inflation valve, it didn't add much spring or bounce. Air gives the mattress life, and the best mattresses have a combination of both. The DeepSleep feels a little lifeless. We are being really, really picky, and don't mean to diminish the high level of comfort in this mat. It crushes all of the air mattresses in our test but is up against tough competition in the super deluxe camping mattress competition.
Three inches versus four. If you didn't know what you were missing, three would be great.
Ease of Use
This mattress will self-inflate most of the way if you give it a little time. We found that about 30 minutes got the DeepSleep pretty well self-inflated and then we supplemented it with about 2 minutes of breaths to get it fully inflated. If you don't have time, then you will be doing some serious huffing and puffing to get this mattress fully inflated. While Exped makes a handy hand/foot pump that snaps onto their inflation valves, it is not included with the budget-conscious DeepSleep. We would recommend purchasing this, as blowing up a giant foam mattress is super awkward and will leave you lightheaded.
Deflation, on the other hand, is easy. Simply open the one-way deflation valve and use your body weight to get out most of the air. Then roll it up to get the rest out. It comes with a velcro strap, should you need it to keep it rolled. The large stuff sack will hold the mattress even with a sloppy roll, which makes it easier to stow.
The large deflate valve lets out a lot of air.
Warmth
The DeepSleep is rated with an R-value 8.5, plenty high enough to insulate against very frigid weather. Our research shows that an R-value of 6 or higher is required to insulate against extreme cold, and R-values are exponential. We were not able to test it below freezing, but we have no reason to doubt that this mattress would be very effective in cold weather. Foam is an excellent insulator, and this mattress feels well-equipped in that department.
Versatility
The DeepSleep, while comfortable and warm, is not incredibly versatile. Weighing five and a half pounds, you probably won't carry it on your back to a remote campsite. If you typically camp close to your car, however, this may not matter. And it will make a suitable bed for unexpected guests, in a pinch.
Packed Size
While the DeepSleep packs down to 8 by 32 inches, a bit smaller than its foam rivals, it is still a big package to store and carry in the car, especially if you have enough for a whole family. If saving space is a big concern, you should probably take a look at some other options.
Big comfort and big packed size on the foam mats.
Value
The DeepSleep is significantly cheaper than some of the other foam mattresses in our review, and it is intended to be a more budget-conscious choice. With the high level of warmth and comfort, as well as the excellent reputation of Exped behind it, we feel like this is a good value.
We highly recommend the optional pump so you don't have to give CPR to your camping mattress.
Conclusion
While not quite as comfortable as the bigger foam mattresses, the DeepSleep is mighty warm and much more comfortable than any air mattress in the bunch. It is very warm and quite durable and will make almost any car camper happy.
— Laurel Hunter