Therm-a-Rest LuxuryMap vs Exped MegaMat
In short: The Therm-a-Rest LuxuryMap costs $40 less; the Exped MegaMat is warmer by 2.1 points of R-value; the Therm-a-Rest LuxuryMap saves 6.0 oz; the Exped MegaMat is 4 inches thick against 3.
| Spec | Therm-a-Rest LuxuryMap | Exped MegaMat |
|---|---|---|
| Approx. price | ~$220 | ~$260 |
| R-value | R 6 | R 8.1 |
| Season band | Winter | Winter |
| R-value standard | ASTM F3340 | ASTM F3340 |
| Weight | 4 lb 3 oz | 4 lb 9 oz |
| R per ounce | 0.09 R/oz | 0.11 R/oz |
| Thickness | 3 in | 4 in |
| Pad type | camping mattress | camping mattress |
| Inflation | self-inflating | self-inflating |
| Dimensions | 77 × 25 in | 72 × 25.6 in |
| Packed size | 26 × 9.5 in | 26.5 × 7.9 in |
| Insulation | Pressure-mapped die-cut open-cell urethane foam | Vertically laminated open-cell foam |
| Top fabric | 50D | not published |
Shaded cells mark the row where one has a measurable advantage. Weight, thickness, girth and shape are left unshaded on purpose: heavier is sometimes tougher, wider is sometimes warmer, and calling a winner on those would be an opinion dressed as a measurement.
What each one does well, and costs you
Therm-a-Rest LuxuryMap
- R-value 6 is more than most people will ever need out of a car-camping pad, winter included.
- Zoned foam densities do a real job — the hips sink less than a uniform 3-inch pad would allow.
- About a pound lighter and a few inches shorter packed than the MondoKing, which matters in a full trunk.
- Three widths up to 30 inches, so a restless sleeper or a big frame is covered.
- Three inches is enough for most people but not for heavy side sleepers, who should spend the extra on the MondoKing.
- Four pounds in the Large — a car-camping pad only, despite the reasonable packed size.
- Self-inflation is partial; expect to finish it by mouth or with a pump sack that isn't included.
Exped MegaMat
- R-value 8.1 with four inches of foam — the warmest self-inflating pad here, rated by Exped to roughly -40 °F.
- Vertically laminated foam holds its shape under a hip where a plain foam slab bottoms out.
- A Top-Up pump is built into the mat, so finishing the inflation doesn't need lungs or a separate sack.
- Three widths up to 30 inches, and a Duo version for two.
- Fabric and foam are built to a decade-scale standard rather than a season.
- Four and a half pounds and a 26.5-inch roll: strictly a vehicle mattress.
- $260 to $280, and the Duo and Max versions climb from there.
- Needs to be stored unrolled with the valve open, which takes real closet space.
- Getting it back into its bag after a trip is a two-person job the first few times.