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Top Pros
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Reddit Reviews
LoraxNZI am 6'5" and have the Exped Ultra 5R Long Wide. Vertical. Baffles, but I like them. It's a great pad. 700g I believe. They have a mummy that's lighter. It's not too loud - I purposely bought it because it's not loud.
Sweaty-Adeptness1541I love my Exped Ultra 3R and 5R LW (77.6 x 25.6 x 3). I'm also 6'2", 225lb weight and they are perfect for me, confortable and lightweight. I'm sure the MegaMat Ultra is also very comfortable, thought the weight would be a deal breaker for me. If you are just interested in comfort, then I would also look at a large Thermarest Neoloft. [](https://valleyandpeak.co.uk/cdn/shop/files/Therm-A-Rest_NeoLoft_Sleeping_Mat_Front.webp?v=1747222905) [](https://valleyandpeak.co.uk/cdn/shop/files/14158_thermarest_neoloft_ember_regularwide_angle_gearjunkie2024.webp?v=1747836793) [](https://valleyandpeak.co.uk/cdn/shop/files/Therm-A-Rest_NeoLoft_Sleeping_Mat_Thickness.webp?v=1747836793) [](https://valleyandpeak.co.uk/cdn/shop/files/Therm-A-Rest_NeoLoft_Sleeping_Mat_Length.webp?v=1747836793) [](https://valleyandpeak.co.uk/cdn/shop/files/Therm-A-Rest_NeoLoft_Sleeping_Mat_Packsize.webp?v=1747836793) [](https://valleyandpeak.co.uk/cdn/shop/files/Therm-A-Rest_NeoLoft_Sleeping_Mat_Contents.webp?v=1747836793) [](https://valleyandpeak.co.uk/cdn/shop/files/Therm-A-Rest_NeoLoft_Sleeping_Mat_Lifestyle.webp?v=1747836793) [](https://valleyandpeak.co.uk/cdn/shop/files/Therm-A-Rest_NeoLoft_Sleeping_Mat_Pump_Sack.webp?v=1747836793) [](https://valleyandpeak.co.uk/cdn/shop/files/Therm-A-Rest_NeoLoft_Sleeping_Mat_Lifestyle_2.webp?v=1747836793) [](https://valleyandpeak.co.uk/cdn/shop/files/Therm-A-Rest_NeoLoft_Sleeping_Mat_Lifestyle_3.webp?v=1747836793) [](https://valleyandpeak.co.uk/cdn/shop/files/Therm-A-Rest_NeoLoft_Sleeping_Mat_Lifestyle_4.webp?v=1747836793) [](https://valleyandpeak.co.uk/cdn/shop/files/Therm-A-Rest_NeoLoft_Sleeping_Mat_Lifestyle_5.webp?v=1747836793) [](https://valleyandpeak.co.uk/cdn/shop/files/Therm-A-Rest_NeoLoft_Sleeping_Mat_MSR_Tent.webp?v=1747836793) [](https://valleyandpeak.co.uk/cdn/shop/files/preview_images/hqdefault_4af17b86-5265-4bb8-8ca6-4ccd61bc2141.jpg?v=1737734349)
Yes, I generally side sleep. I the vertical baffles help prevent me from sliding off and i never find that I bottom out. The ultra 3/5R models are also warmer than their R value suggests. The ASTM testing doesn’t model a person moving and pumping air around inside the mat. The synthetic insulation reduces heat transfer due to airflow unlike in many mats that have foil ‘insulation’. I think the Exped Ultra 3/5R are underrated, especially in North America. However I don’t think the 7R, with down insulation, performs as well.
upsidedowniesExped 5R LW is incredibly warm and comfy. However it doesn’t pack down particularly small, so if space economy is also a factor I would rescind the recommendation!
venturelegsI came here to make the same recommendation. Exped 5r LW. Im 6' 3" 100kg. Side sleeper. I love this mat so much.
z0hu6'1.5" here at 250 pounds. I own an exped Ultra 5R LW, Ultra 3R Duo LW, Dura 5R Duo regular, and some Nemo roamers (like megamat). When solo I use the 5R LW. When I'm tent sharing with 1 of my kids, we share the 3R Duo. When I'm with 2 kids, Dura+ultra 5R. They all feel similar to me, kinda airy feeling mattress but they don't compare to the roamers which feels like my bed at home. I inflate them pretty much to their max also, I guess I'm used to a firm mattress, which isn't the case for everyone. Still feels good to me on my side. When I sleep on the Dura 5R regular my feet hang off and it's not bad but long term I would definitely prefer the longer pad, especially in cold or wet conditions. People here mention UL being ok with shorter pads but if you are considering this megamat ultra that's not the same realm haha. I used to use a short foam pad that just went under my shoulders and butt and it's definitely not comfortable, but was definitely ultralight. Tbh I get the megamat ultra market. People who wanna go backpacking with a nice mattress a step above these other ones, but it's all about how important that is to you. I could carry that on a one or 2 nighter probably as a luxury but on 5+ nighter with a bear can, the bulk and weight would no longer be worth it for me. But if it's the only way someone could sleep, then I can see it being an option.
Aside from weight, R value, and bulk, I would say the rest is subjective. I'm not doing much ultralight camping stuff atm so I am using a bit heavier Exped Ultra 5R and I love the thing, I fill it up to the max and it feels like I am on a real bed. Some pads if I fill them up to the max they are super uncomfortable.
I've never tried 7R but can't tell the difference really on my mats, aside from the material. I got a dura 5R duo, ultra 5R single, ultra 3R duo. (Family of 5 in 2 tents) I find them super comfortable but I inflate them pretty much to their max. Even sleeping on my side feels comfortable for me, but that will differ for everyone. I'm not sure if it's because prior to this, I was just sleeping on a z rest which I could never go back to.
AhrithulI've got an Exped 5R in a long/wide size. It's listed as 77.6" x 25.6" x 3". I had a 7R a couple of years ago in the same size. It was a 3.5" thick mattress though. Honestly they've been some of the comfiest sleeping pads I've owned. I'm pretty much the same size as you are as well. I'm 6'2" and 215. I've never found the size of the pad to be too short or narrow. And I toss and turn like I'm clothes in a dryer. There's plenty of thickness to keep you from sinking in even if you're a side sleeper. The only downside to the pad is it's packed size. Which is bulkier than the traditional suggested sleeping pads, but it's really not that bad for what you get. Also I just looked at the Megamat. The 5R has a higher r-value, is still 3" vs 4", but that megamat packed size isn't worth the extra space at all in my opinion. I think the bulk of the megamat will cause more problems than it solves in the long run.
BobsMnI like my Exped 5R. 2 valves. a really nice inflation bag. Not very expensive. Comfortable. Just finished a trip in Alaska with it. Temps were 1C to 10C. Mine is the Long and Wide model and it comes in at 785 grams. Insulation rating of 5R. I'm an all over the place sleeper. I use an Enlighted Equipment quilt (with a foot box) instead of a bag.
I love my Exped. I have the 5R and the 7R. I like the size of the 5R better.
Healthy-Olive2614Short version: Yes. Like a lot of people have said, making adjustments to improve comfort is really worthwhile, and the anxiety will subside over time. Though I've only got back into this quite recently, I used to do a lot of camping as a kid and I was surprised how easily things came back to me. I did have a terribly anxious night when I thought I'd lost my keys somewhere in the middle of nowhere and would have to deal with that hassle the following day. I hadn't - they'd just got under my sleeping mat and I found them in the morning. Exped 5R LW btw - before deciding to give this a go, one thing I heard again and again was how important having something decent to sleep on was, and I'm 20something years older than I was when I was trolling round Glencoe on my D of E gold expedition with one of those rollup foam things! The time after, I had a very rough night due to unexpectedly terrible weather out on Dartmoor, but sticking my earbuds in and zoning out listening to something familiar got me quite a decent amount of sleep despite the atrocious conditions. My night that broke the 20+ year seal was also my first night camping somewhere unfamiliar alone. I'd done a couple of nights out in my own garden so I knew I wouldn't have a problem with any of the main kit, but my anxiety about being caught out somehow on my own led me to overcompensate by cramming way too much stuff into a pretty uncomfortable rucksack I'd picked up very cheaply years ago for a festival "just in case". For example, I knew there were streams all over the place where I was going and I had a water filter, yet for some reason I still lugged two litres of water from home - why?! Though I really did enjoy that night once I'd resigned myself to the fact I had no choice but to deal with the keys issue the next day, I learned a lot from it and made adjustments for next time in terms of what I take, but also in terms of what I can handle, both physically and mentally. I've just tried to do that every time since and I'm hoping to build on that over time. I'd love to go back to Scotland and have a go at the West Highland Way, but being realistic with myself, I need to get some much longer distance overnighters and weekenders under my belt first.
Rankings by Use Case
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