This is a little apples to oranges in so much as a doubles pad is likely warmer with a partner; but I just tried out the Exped 6.5 Duo with my wife in Patagonia this week. Our lowest night was around 35f plus some wind chill sneaking through the tent. We were extremely comfortable with a 15 deg enlightened quilt.
Exped Ultra 3R Duo for most 3-season conditions
The 6.5 version if you need it for colder.
Double mat is a huge quality of life improvement over 2 double mats assuming you share a quilt.
Exped Ultra Duo pads are the lightest two person pads with reasonable r-values that I'm aware of. Personally, I like CCF pads for kids though.
I've shared a two person quilt (UGQ Tango) with my 5yo when I've taken the kids out solo, but mostly they use their own quilt (UGQ Youth Bandit).
We have a Tarptent Double Rainbow; there’s plenty of choice for 2 man tents, but fitting in an Exped Synmat Duo wide (130cm) was important to us. The double mat is great as no gaps, but each side inflates separately. We’ve had sleeping bags with left and right zips, but now use a double quilt. We also have the two person Dutchware Double Dutch hammock setup which we love - separate hammocks with a spreader bar but one bugnet so you are under the same canopy. This was actually our photo on the Dutchware insta page https://www.instagram.com/p/CZUpiG3sgOq/?igsh=MW1rMDh2Y3B2c2d1Zw==
The Thermarest self inflating is rubbish. Just some thin foam that helps to expand and suck air into the pad. But you still need to inflate it further. My exped mat is filled in a minute with the pump sack.
We have several exped mats. As others have mentioned, the ultra are light weight for backpacking. We have an ultra duo and an ultra 3r, both are very comfortable.
If you are sleeping in your car, the megamat auto is amazing. I also have the megamat luxemat dou and find the megamat auto to be more comfortable. We have used the auto version in our tent as well. The regular megamat is very very comfortable and I highly recommend it.
I had an Exped Ultra for many years, which was pretty comfortable, but wasn't a big fan of the vertical baffles. When it finally failed, Exped replaced it with a duo Ultra. Good customer service.
Since then I've had the Thermarest nxt and a ZenBivy which I didn't find comfortable. I bought the Nemo Tensor Extreme last week from Backcountry for 20% off. I haven't really had it out, but I highly recommend it. Six foot, 200# side sleeper. I don't have to keep it rock hard.
I had an Exped Ultra for many years, which was pretty comfortable, but wasn't a big fan of the vertical baffles. When it finally failed, Exped replaced it with a duo Ultra. Good customer service.
Since then I've had the Thermarest nxt and a ZenBivy which I didn't find comfortable. I bought the Nemo Tensor Extreme last week from Backcountry for 20% off. I haven't really had it out, but I highly recommend it. Six foot, 200# side sleeper. I don't have to keep it rock hard.
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