Exped - LuxeMat

I’ve had a DIY platform in a Subaru Outback, a go fast camper, and have done plenty of ground tenting on all manner of CCF, air mattress, and inflatable pads. Spent plenty of nights on the cold hard ground, too. Currently I’m rocking a springbar tent and the exped luxe mat. There are trade offs to everything, there’s no one perfect solution - it doesn’t exist no matter how many times someone says the words “game-changer”. Sleeping in the vehicle can create condensation, feel like a coffin, and take up valuable cargo space but it’s simple, reliable, and super cozy when done right. RTTs are expensive and suck to drive with, but they’re fun and can be easy to deploy. A canvas tent is what I’ve settled on due to its dead simplicity, the ability to stand up inside, and the fact that it can be thrown in a closet when not in use. My springbar sets up in less than 5 minutes, doesn’t require any guylines and doesn’t even have rain fly. It’s so stupidly simple it makes me giggle every time I set it up. The long/extra wide exped is literally like a plush mattress from home. Super cozy, super effective, super simple, but quite costly. I bought a topper for the back of my truck but never built it out for sleeping in, and sold it a week after I bought it. The sleep setup in the bed would have just taken up too much cargo space in my 5” bed. It’s a really sweet option if you have the right vehicle for it though. Good luck!

I started with the mega may duo and loved it. Then my cat decided to use it as a climbing wall. It was just under 5-year warranty, and ExPed fixed it for free. It took several months to get it back. So I needed something for the wife and I, and I picked up the LuxeMat mats that zip together, and boy did my wife love it! No longer do you feel when your partner rolls or moves in the middle of the night. Each person can also select the hardness for their own comfort. Expensive, but it’s cheaper than 6 nights in a hotel, and was very comfortable even when it dipped into the 40s over night. Slept on them for 6 nights straight with no problems. Looking forward to using these for the foreseeable future.

There are generics that are almost as good. I have the lxw and wish mine was smaller. I've carried it a bit but just a bit smaller would be nice. I found mine unused but on marketplace.

Two x-large expeds and you'll wake up happy.

Air mattresses with Foam do not transfer any movement. Like an exped / lost horizon

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.

I can't remember if ours is an exped or not, but it's a double size one for my wife and I. I remember kind of cringing at the price initially, I think I paid double what our sleeping bag cost. Total game changer. We sleep so comfortably, even in 30 F temperatures.

I've had great success with Thermarest, REI, and Exped self inflating mattresses. All have good customer support too. I wouldn't ever bother with an all air mattress. Poor insulation, rotten in cold. Get a FlexTail pump.

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.

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 used one for a bit and it definitely collects condensation. It did feel good for my back though. Ended up investing in an Ex Ped camping mattress, full size for me and my spouse. Takes up the same amount of space in the car but fits 2 people and no condensation problem. Also purchased a $20 rechargeable micro air pump to inflate it fast. They’re not the cheapest, but also didn’t get sore back after a week on it.

I'd say Exped but the "self-inflate" part is a lie. Otherwise they're the best