The MegaMat Duo 10 is the bigger sibling of the Exped MegaMat 10, and the best choice for couples. This model is very comfortable and warm. But while it performs the best at these most important criteria, its larger size exacerbates its downsides. It's challenging to deflate and pack up, and it is roughly double the packed size of any other mattress. But if you need a portable bed for two people and don't want to lose a minute of sleep, this is the best choice for you.
REASONS TO BUY
Very comfortable
Super warm
REASONS TO AVOID
Takes a long time to inflate
Huge packed size
Expensive
Be Careful on Sizing - Not All Exped Duos Comfortably Sleep Two People
Note: The sizing on this pad can be a little confusing. If you want the wide version that we tested, make sure you are getting the model that is 52 inches wide. This is just a little narrower than a full-size mattress (54 inches wide) and will barely (but perfectly) fit in the back of a full-size pickup truck. The Duo also comes in a 41-inch width, which is just a little wider than a twin mattress. It's a little misleading to say that 41 inches wide is a two-person pad. Be careful when shopping.
Very packable and lightweight, warm enough for three season use
Cons
Takes a long time to inflate, huge packed size, expensive
Large packed size, pricey
Too big for some single person tents
Large packed size, expensive
Bouncy, a little noisy, not warm enough for winter
Bottom Line
A comfortable, warm model that is relatively easy to use and sleeps two
Our favorite option with well-designed valves and a pump sack for easy inflation
This plush pad is comfortable, warm, and affordable, but does take up a lot of space, even when packed
Deluxe and plush, this is a top choice for car camping comfort
A lightweight and packable mattress that is also comfortable and warm enough for most uses
Rating Categories
Exped MegaMat Duo 10
Therm-a-Rest MondoK...
REI Co-op Camp Drea...
Exped MegaMat 10
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir...
Comfort(40%)
9.0
10.0
10.0
9.0
6.0
Ease of Use(20%)
5.0
9.0
9.0
8.0
9.0
Warmth(20%)
9.0
8.0
8.0
9.0
5.0
Versatility(10%)
5.0
7.0
6.0
7.0
10.0
Packed Size(10%)
4.0
6.0
6.0
5.0
9.0
Specs
Exped MegaMat Duo 10
Therm-a-Rest MondoK...
REI Co-op Camp Drea...
Exped MegaMat 10
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir...
Dimensions
78 x 52 x 4 in
80 x 30 x 4.25 in
78 x 32 x 4 in
78 x 30 x 4 in
77 x 30 x 4 in
R-Value
8.1
7
6.6
8.1
3.7
Test Model
LW+
XXL
XL
LXW
XLarge
Length
78 in
80 in
78 in
78 in
77 in
Width
52 in
30 in
32 in
30 in
30 in
Thickness
4 in
4.25 in
4 in
4 in
4 in
Weight
10.2 lbs
5.27 lbs
6.38 lbs
6.1 lbs
2.34 lbs
Type
Pump inflation
Self inflating, inflation sack
Self inflating, inflation sack
Self inflating
Pump inflation
Packed Size
28 x 12 in
9 x 32 in
11 in x 30 in
9 x 33 in
12 x 6 in
Bed Material
Polyester, TPU polyether film laminate
Polyester
Recycled polyester
50D polyester with TPU polyether film laminate
Polyester
Valves
Two valves
TwinLock
Two valves
Two valves
TwinLock
Accessories
Stuff sack, pump sack
Stuff sack
Air pump, pillow
Mini pump, stuff sack, repair kit and manual
Stuff sack, pump, pump sack
Show full specification detailsHide full specification details
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Exped MegaMat Duo 10 is one of several mattresses in this review that are large enough for two people. Keep in mind, these mattresses are not only for couples, as a solo person can happily starfish across the whole thing in deluxe fashion, but they are designed with two people in mind. The MegaMat Duo is different from its competition in that it is a self-inflating air mattress rather than an air bed or straight-up memory foam.
It is not nearly as thick as many of the air beds but provides greater warmth and comfort due to its interior foam cushioning. The Duo 10 is easy enough to inflate with the included hand pump but a bit of a beast to deflate. It also has a relatively large packed size, but the warmth, comfort, and versatility are worth it.
Performance Comparison
The Megamat Duo perfectly fits in the back of a pickup truck, making for a wonderful night's sleep in a wonderful location!
Credit: Chris McNamara
Comfort
The foam that fills this mattress serves many fine purposes. Not only does it insulate from the ground, but it provides a good amount of padding, especially at those pressure points, like the hips, feet, and shoulders, where your weight sinks deeper into the pad. It also evens out the cushioning under your body, dampening the air mattress effect. We felt that the most comfortable way to use this pad was much less inflated than other mattresses. This way, your body is equally supported by the air and the foam, and more importantly, the mattress wasn't so full of air that when one part of your body sinks into the pad, the other parts would naturally rise with the displacement. Luckily, the inflate valve has a rubber flap to impede air from escaping while inflating, allowing you to blow this thing up as rigid as you want it. You can then adjust the inflation by letting small amounts of air escape as you lie on it until it feels just right.
Additionally, the face fabric is smooth and comfortable to the touch, without a hint of rubbery, nylon-y, or plastic-y feel. The foam does a great job of absorbing the movement of the other person without disturbing you, and we gave it the highest possible score in this metric.
Plenty of room for two on this double mattress.
Credit: Laurel Hunter
Ease of Use
While it isn't all that hard to inflate and deflate this beast, it does take the proper strategy and a bit of time. For inflation, it is best to open the inflate valve, roll out the mattress, and let it self-inflate for a while as the foam cushioning inside expands. Propping the inflate valve open with the supplied toggle helps speed up this process. You will want to allow it to inflate for at least ten minutes, preferably more. When the pad is brand new or has been stored really tightly, it's helpful to let it self-inflate for up to an hour to open up the cells to air.
Now, inflate it the rest of the way with the provided "mini-pump," a small, whoopee cushion-like device that works as a tiny hand or foot pump. While we like how small this pump compresses, it still takes some patience and the willingness to stomp on a whoopee cushion a few hundred times to fully inflate this mattress. An accessory pump that plugs into your car or is battery-powered will save a lot of time.
The mini-pump works well to inflate this mattress, but it takes some time.
Credit: Laurel Hunter
To deflate the Duo, the technique we found most convenient is to open the deflate valve, roll up the mattress, and lie on top of it, forcing much of the air out. Then, unroll the mattress, fold it in half and roll it into a smaller package. This process takes a few minutes. The less you deflate the pad, the faster it will inflate the next go-around.
It takes some wrangling to deflate and pack up this big mattress.
Credit: Laurel Hunter
Warmth
The ample foam cushioning that is found inside this mattress helps it provide an R-value of 8.1, a very high rating. R-value is a measurement of how well any given material, or combination of materials, impedes heat (or cold) transfer. The higher the number, the better a job it does. The ground, or metal frame of a vehicle, that is underneath your car camping mattress is always going to be colder than you are, so a critical function of your mattress is to insulate you from absorbing that cold. This mattress does an excellent job at that task, earning the highest score in this metric.
Versatility
We could only give the Megamat Duo a middling score for versatility. This mattress is gigantic when packed down and is very heavy as well, ensuring that you won't end up carrying it anywhere (it is as big as a backpack!).
It doesn't separate into two mattresses for individual use. This bed needs to be used near, or inside of, the car, limiting its versatility. However, it can be used in any season due to its great insulation, something that cannot be said of the air bed alternatives.
The Exped MegaMat 10 Duo is big enough for two people and smaller than two single Exped MegaMats. Both offer a large amount of real estate for a deluxe night outdoors.
Credit: Laurel Hunter
Packed Size
As you might expect from a foam mattress big enough to sleep two, the packed size of the MegaMat Duo is huge. However, it is still smaller than two single foam mattresses of equal warmth and comfort. Additionally, the stuff sack is large and very easy to get the pad into. Once it's 90% deflated, you can get it into the bag, but you will need a large space to store it when it is not in use.
Not tiny even when packed! But smaller than two single mattresses of the same type.
Credit: Laurel Hunter
Value
The Exped Duo is an expensive purchase. A good night's sleep is invaluable, however, and if you camp a lot or sleep in your van, you will want the best. Because we think this is the top mattress you can buy for two people, and it is still quite a bit cheaper than buying two single-person mattresses of the same quality, it is a good value.
Conclusion
Compared to the other two-person options available today, namely inflatable air beds, even those that are insulated, this mattress is light years more comfortable. If you need a mattress for two people, this is, without a doubt, the one we would recommend.
A selection of two-person camping mattresses, with our favorite on top.
GearLab is founded on the principle of honest, objective, reviews. Our experts test thousands of products each year using thoughtful test plans that bring out key performance differences between competing products. And, to assure complete independence, we buy all the products we test ourselves. No cherry-picked units sent by manufacturers. No sponsored content. No ads. Just real, honest, side-by-side testing and comparison.
