Best Glamping Mat

[ab1985]

I need to upgrade my sleeping situation and have narrowed my choices down to the three following mats:

1) Exped Mega Mat: http://www.moontrail.com/exped-megamat-10-lxw.php

2) Therm-a-rest Dream Time: http://www.rei.com/product/797491/therm-a-rest-dreamtime-sleeping-pad

3) Nemo Cosmo Air/Pillow Top Combo: http://www.amazon.com/Nemo-Equipmen...=1353180763&sr=8-3&keywords=nemo+sleeping+pad

I've read great reviews about all of them, but I have only touched and felt the Nemo Cosmo in person. This is not for backpacking, so I'm not overly concerned about the weight or bulk. Can anyone comment on one of these options being superior to the others, or are all premium sleeping mats created somewhat equally?

 

[mhiscox]

I have items 1 and 2; no experience with the Nemo. The Therm-a-rest Dream Time is very good, but the Exped Mega Mat is, in my opinion, in another league. It is VERY comfortable, and not that hard to deflate given the size. The price is substantial, but I will say that not only is it the best air mattress I've ever slept on, it is more comfortable than I would have imagined an air mattress could be.

In short, I'd at least test-nap the Exped; I found it quite amazing.

 

[hoser]

I think they might all give you about similar comfort. However, the Exped mat is much wider than the other two... and that makes it more luxurious. I liked the Exped enough to buy three of them for the family. They link together nicely with it's squared off edges.

My only complaint about them is the deflation time. The volume of air takes a bit of time to expel. It needs a larger deflate valve... or one that is open, like a 2 liter soda bottle. Opening the inflate valve and pushing the valve to make for a 2nd deflate valve helps but still.

 

[gophere]

The Exped is so nice, yet I have had to repair it a few times from sharp stuff.
Now the Paco pad is the best I have used.

http://www.jpwinc.com/products/products.php?cat=8&PHPSESSID=8ad9d185293967655e851376f38d8207
sent from montana, usa

 

[ab1985]

The width of the Exped is a possible drawback for my application (the only one I can see). I need one mat that can be used in both vehicles, and space is hard to come by in my 4Runner. I have been thinking about getting rid of the roll bar and back seats to reconfigure my interior layout. I'm done cutting corners with sleeping setups, so maybe the Exped should be factor in that decision making process...

 

[spressomon]

Although I'm a long time user of the Exped DAM (Down Air Mat) pad for backpacking, etc. hoser relayed, earlier this year, their new MegaMat 10 which I promptly bought for use in the back of my Land Cruiser and now in my Autohome Columbus Variant RTT. Its flat out the most comfortable inflatable/portable sleeping mattress pad I've ever used. This coming from 40-years of sleeping on numerous sleeping pads starting with 3/8" thick "Ensolite" back in the day and then to many Thermorests, etc., constantly searching for more cush as my bones have aged . I tend to roll around while sleeping including side sleeping position and this pad doesn't care about your orientation...side, back or stomach.

The slower deflation rate is worth the comfort of this mattress IMHO. I suspect at some point Exped will update with larger exhaust ports for quicker deflation...they're that kind of company

 

[mhiscox]

My only complaint about them is the deflation time. The volume of air takes a bit of time to expel. It needs a larger deflate valve... or one that is open, like a 2 liter soda bottle. Opening the inflate valve and pushing the valve to make for a 2nd deflate valve helps but still.

When I said my Mega Mat deflated well, I forgot to mention that I took out the small flap that serves as a check valve on the deflation side. This seemed to make deflation notably faster, and while I now have the possibility of air coming back in while I'm trying to deflate it, the amount is small and if I'm attending to the deflation task, not really an impediment.

That might (or might not) account for the difference of opinion.

 

[hoser]

Mike, thanks, I'll give that a try next time.

 

[targa88]

Maybe not as luxurious and not self inflating.. I have been using this pad from Cabelas for the last year.
30x73x3 inch foam.

 

[mhiscox]

Maybe not as luxurious and not self inflating.. I have been using this pad from Cabelas for the last year. 30x73x3 inch foam.

Remarkably, I have this pad as well (Glamping-R-US) and it is also very comfortable. I'd certainly consider it if my layout permitted the pad to be laid flat all the time. There is, however, no chance of getting this one into anything small enough to be easily storable. The rolled-up Exped is a sizable thing to wrangle, and this Cabelas pad is probably three times the volume.

 

[nwoods]

I'm a big fan of the REI pads. Lifetime warranty, I have owned 6 of them, only returned one after crushing a valve under something, free replacement. My family uses them in sizes 1.5 small to 2..5 regular, 2.5 XL, and the 3.5 ultra plushy
- 3.5" http://www.rei.com/product/778152/rei-camp-bed-35-self-inflating-pad
- 2.5" http://www.rei.com/product/778150/rei-camp-bed-25-self-inflating-pad

They are warm, soft, firm, easy to inflate, easy to roll up and stow. They are NOT very compact, but everything else sort of trumps that for us.

 

[jeep-N-montero]

My wife and I have a pair of the Dreamtime mats in the XL size and they are worth every penny, the memory foam on top of the self-inflating pad makes a huge difference. We actually sleep better on them than our own bed at home.

 

[Honu]

to the OP I have had all three of those you listed

the exped was the most comfy but we got new bags big agnes and they did not fit so no we have nemo pads with the pillow top the pillow top smooths things out for sure got them on amazon for a really good price to
one thing I do like about the nemo is the pack size ! nice and small where the exped megamat was a bit large rolled up along with the dream time ? if room is not a issue they are very comfy
now that we have the big agnes and nemo though we love the combo of the pad sleeve !!!

the dream time was the least comfort of the 3 but still a comfy pad just not as nice and plush feeling
the one thing I did like about the exped is the thickness all the way to the edge and the firm feeling if you get up on your knees to get out your knees did not bottom out and it was comfortable in a firm way but not hard ! also the connect system for the wife and I was nice since the square edge you never felt like there was a big dip between the pads

 

[ab1985]

we have nemo pads with the pillow top the pillow top smooths things out for sure

Glad to see a vote for the Nemo Air/Pillow Top. My local camp outfitter carries this one, and I've had a chance to test it - comfy for sure. The Nemo Fillo is the closest thing I've been able to find to my pillows at home (http://www.nemoequipment.com/nemo2012-filo-pillow) and using one of these is what got me looking at the Cosmo. It's up there in price with the Exped, but does have some advantages on paper (weight & pack size). The one piece of info I was not able to find was the R-Value (Exped is 9.5, Dream Time is 9.0). Any warmth concerns with the Cosmo vs. the other two?

 

[verdesardog]

My sleeping mat is a full buffalo hide....nice and fluffly and I can roll up in it if I need more warmth.