Exped - MegaMat Ultra

No the sleeping bag won’t help much. To get a significant bump in comfort you’ll have to jump into some heavier pads that are still compressible enough to bring backpacking. Pads like the Thermarest Neoloft or Exped Megamat Ultra. I have a Tensor All Season and find it comfortable, however my Exped Synmat 3D (older version of the Megamat Ultra) is definitely more comfortable. My brother has the Rapide SL which is similar to the Tensor in comfort.

Second for the Megamat Ultra. It’s a big jump in comfort over any ultralight pad. Depending upon how far I’m hiking I’ll bring it over my Tensor All Season which is a decently comfortable pad in its own right.

The Megamat *Ultra* is *chef’s kiss* comfy for backpacking, although definitely on the heavier side. 

Get something with a super high R rating - higher than you think you need. Look for a baffling system that is either dimpled or vertical. For whatever reason, horizontal baffles don’t have a lot of “give” to them so they are less comfortable for side sleepers in general.  Therm-a-Rest Neoair Xtherm is probably the warmest pad out there (not the highest R rating per se but the most effective insulation system means it is still warmer than other pads with higher R values). It may not the most comfortable for a side sleeper because of the horizontal baffles, however. But this is the pad you want if you want to prioritize warmth. If you want to prioritize comfort, Sea to Summit Ether Light XR Pro will probably not sleep as warm but will be more comfortable for a side sleeper because of the dimpled baffling system. Nemo Tensor Extreme Conditions is also very warm and only slightly less comfy than the Ether Light.  Exped Ultra 7R is a bit heavier and bulkier but is very comfy for a side sleeper. It uses down rather than reflective film for insulation. So it won’t be quite as crinkly as a lot of warm pads, but I’m not sure if the down insulation is more or less effective in this application.  Big Agnes Campmeister Deluxe is quite bulky and heavy for a backpacking pad but is super, super comfortable and has a very respectable R value of 7.  The other big, bulky “luxury” comfort backpacking pads - Exped Megamat Ultra and Therm-a-Rest Neoloft - are great options for comfort but with lower R values so they may be less warm than you might want.  Other things to consider - even a well-insulated sleeping pad will only stay as warm as your body is able to heat it. The bigger the pad, the more of your body’s heat it will draw away from you. So don’t buy a massively oversized sleeping pad thinking it will automatically be more comfortable. For insulating purposes, something that is only as big as you need it to be will be more efficient for your body to keep warm.  Make sure you take advantage of all the usual strategies for staying warm in the backcountry: Use your Nalgene as a hot water bottle and keep it in your sleeping bag/quilt with at night. Do some jumping jacks or other activity to get your heartrate and body temperature up before going to bed. Make sure you are properly hydrated and getting enough food to keep warm. Etc. 

I've been sleeping on a Megamat for at least 20 years - when car camping. And I do have to say - it is a really comfortable pad to sleep on.

Expeds version of neoloft. It's perfect for a hard tosser

[https://www.exped.com/en/products/sleeping-mats/megamat-ultra](https://www.exped.com/en/products/sleeping-mats/megamat-ultra) its not UL in anyway.

I second this… tried the Neoloft at an REI and the Exped MegaMat Ultra in MW and bought that instead. I’m a 99% side sleeper and the Neoloft cleft like it was going to catapult me off every time I switched sides. I feel guilty to the UL gods but the Exped is awesome. Excuses the pun but I’m tired of poor sleep!

No worries, I shouldnt have assumed. the megamat is much more comfortable. I'm both a side and back sleeper and would say if you are mostly a side sleeper (or have a big butt) I wouldnt get the klymit at all.

I just picked up an Eped megamat ultra. It’s pretty nice and pretty compact for a mat of its size. Easy to inflate 4 pumps on the stuffsack and easy to deflate n store. Gets its first tryout this weekend.

Exped MegaMat if you want a foam mat or Thermarest NeoLoft if you want an airmat. I would say those are the most comfy pads on the market right now depending on if you want foam or air.

Therm-a-Rest NeoLoft if your a back or stomach sleeper or Exped MegaMat Ultra if your a side sleeper. But if you have the space in the kayak i would go with the regular Exped MegaMat nothing beats them when it comes to comfort not even your bed at home almost 😉. Regards from a Swedish prepping/outdoor gear reviewer on YouTube 🇸🇪❤️

Therm-a-Rest NeoLoft if your a back or stomach sleeper or Exped MegaMat Ultra if your a side sleeper. But if you have the space in the kayak i would go with the regular Exped MegaMat nothing beats them when it comes to comfort not even your bed at home almost 😉. Regards from a Swedish prepping/outdoor gear reviewer on YouTube 🇸🇪❤️

Exped MegaMat Ultra is indeed super comfortable, sadly, it's also quite heavy.

Sea To Summit Ether Light XR (XT is the old model, definitely go for the XR it's lighter, warmer and pack smaller) is a great all-rounder, one of the best actually when it comes to comfort-weigh-pack size ratio. Other good all-rounders are REI Helix and Zenbivy Ultralight Mattress, both of these has very similar comfort but are slightly heavier. If you seek ultimate comfort there would be there competitors: Zenbivy Flex Air Mattress, ThermaRest NeoLoft and Exped MegaMat Ultra. Each of these are basically best of the class, which one would be the best comes down to personal preferences as each of them using different baffle construction.

I’m currently aware of the following 30-inch wide inflatable sleeping pads: the Zenbivy Light Mattress, Big Agnes Campmeister Deluxe, and Exped MegaMat Ultra. While options like the Klymit Static V Luxe and Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Topo Luxe XL also meet the width requirement, I tend to avoid them as they aren’t particularly comfortable in practice. That leaves us with three strong contenders: * **Big Agnes Campmeister Deluxe** This is a very comfortable mattress overall. One standout feature is its use of dimple baffles, which I personally prefer for their plush, stable feel. However, one downside is the height discrepancy: the pad is 4 inches high at the sides but only about 3.5 inches in the center. Additionally, it can be a bit noisier than other pads due to the heat-reflective film inside. * **Exped MegaMat Ultra** This mattress has the largest usable surface area of the three thanks to the 3D construction of the sides and the most stretchable material. The large baffles can make it a little too balloon-like for some, if you turn a lot while sleeping it's especially noticeable. It's definitely a better mattress for side sleepers than back sleepers. * **Zenbivy Light Mattress** This is the oldest design among the three and uses the least elastic material. While it doesn’t stretch much, the smaller baffles and stiffer fabric reduce bounce, making for a more stable surface. However, its lower profile may not provide enough support for side sleepers who prefer more cushion and a higher inflation height under their hips. None of these pads are perfect, it always comes down to compromise and personal preference. Personally, I would really welcome a 30-inch wide version of ultralight pads like the Zoom UL or Ether Light XT. Unfortunately, ultralight pad manufacturers continue to overlook those of us with broader shoulders or gym bros who also care about weight but need more space to sleep comfortably.

Both pads have their drawbacks. The Flex Air is only comfortable when it's not fully inflated, but because it's a relatively thin pad, side sleepers may still feel the ground underneath. Additionally, when under-inflated, it doesn’t come close to providing the listed R-value. On the other hand, the Neoloft is thicker, warmer, and generally more comfortable. However, it lacks good edge support, so if you tend to twist and turn during the night, it may not be the most stable option. Interesting third option would be Exped Megamat ultra, it's very comfortable sleeping pad and definitely more stable than Neoloft.

Exped Megamat Ultra is a new pad so really no long term reviews available yet as people could have couple of weeks on it at best, I personally used it for 2 weeks. You can definitely feel it's a thin fabric as Big Agnes Campmeister Deluxe feel much more robust.

I'm heavily leaning towards the Exped now as I am a hard-core side sleeper, and I think the extra thickness and stretch will be helpful for that. Completely incapable of sleeping on my back because of fibromyalgia pressure points. I have to have my top leg out at a 90 degree angle and bent as well 🦵 to further spread my body weight to sleep at all, and generally need a quite soft sleeping surface. My hips actually end up mostly facing down like a stomach sleeper's would, but my torso and head are on their side. Let me know if you think I'm on the right track with the megamat ultra for my needs. It seems like you're partial to the Campmeister, but probably have different sleep needs yourself. Thanks so much for your thorough comment; it has been extremely helpful to me!

Thanks, I'm going to go with the Exped. The point of UL for me is comfort. I will make sacrifices to cut weight for every single other thing in my pack to make the hiking more enjoyable, but not my sleep system. For me personally, I feel way stronger on trail with an extra pound and a half or two in my pack, but having gotten a great night sleep compared to a lighter pack with a restless night.

Great info. I sleep super hot so warmth isn't as much of an issue. Regardless, supposedly the Campmeister has fixed BA's notorious issue with sleeping cold. Saw a review where a fella slept on ice on a frozen lake within the Arctic circle and said he was warm. Im still leaning towards the exped because its a bit lighter and 0.5" thicker. How would you compare the amount for stretch and give in the exped to the neoloft?

I did and it's by far the most comfortable pad I've ever tried. Same sort of stretch as the neoloft, but it's way more edge stable so you can use the whole surface when you deflate it to sink in. I've found it to be warmer in the real world than the neoloft as well even thought the R values suggest otherwise.