Exped Mega Backpacking Pillow Evaluate

Bottom Line

The Exped Mega Pillow stands out for backpackers and car campers who want an uber-comfortable air pillow that’s almost as big as their pillow back home. As we’ve learned to expect from Exped, the Mega Pillow leans into comfort and support. It combines a thick, extra-large sleeping platform with a velvety face fabric that caresses our faces when it’s time to catch some z’s. For Gear Analyst Jory Brass, this was the most luxurious air pillow in our latest testing lineup, based on two months of backpacking and car camping across New Mexico’s mountains and high desert. 

However, the Exped Mega Pillow is also one of the more expensive pillows we tested. With average weight and packability, it’s not the best buy for ultralight backpackers. We recommend it for weekend warriors who value comfort and support and prefer air pillows to foam camping pillows. Based on side-by-side testing, it ranked relatively high in our guide to the best camping and backpacking pillows.

How We Tested

CleverHiker gear analyst Jory Brass adventured through New Mexico’s Gila Wilderness backpacking and car camping with the Exped Mega. During testing, he examined support, comfort, ease of use, and weight/packability. The results of his field and lab tests are below.

Comfort

Exped’s Mega Pillow boasts significant comfort for an air pillow. Several of CleverHiker’s gear analysts prefer the feel of foam pillows for a comfortable night’s sleep. However, the Mega Pillow surpassed the other air pillows in comfort during our side by side tests. In addition to testing each pillow individually, our analyst also spent a night rotating through each of the large air pillows in our guide to compare their comfort. By the end of the night, the Exped Mega Pillow was under his head – while the other pillows were stacked along the edge of the tent.

At 20.5 x 12.6 x 4.7 inches, the Mega Pillow provides one of the largest sleeping surfaces of the pillows we tested. Steep-sided baffles helped support the neck when we slept on our sides, while the air valve made it easy to fine-tune the inflation to our desired level of softness and support. The face fabric also performed better than the competition. The combination of the soft tricot nylon and the subtle padding of synthetic insulation took the edge off the inflated bladder. This camp pillow paired especially well with the Exped MegaMat for a solid night of sleep in the Chihuahuan Desert at the foot of the Organ Mountains.

Air pillows can feel too firm for some campers and backpackers – especially if they’re fully inflated. However, this pillow’s shape and premium materials mitigated much of that discomfort, giving it a slight comfort boost over others.

Weight & Packability

Compared with other camping and backpacking pillows in our review, the Exped Mega Pillow placed around the middle of the pack in weight and packability. According to our gear analysts’ kitchen scale, the pillow weighs 6.8 ounces in its stuff sack. Its packed size is slightly narrower and shorter than a Nalgene bottle. 

That’s doable for the average backpacker but too big and heavy for the ultralighters who post their pack weights on social media. The Exped Mega Pillow is not as light or packable as similarly sized options, but it’s easier to cram into a backpack. Compared to car camping pillows, the Mega doesn’t take up mega-space. It’s significantly smaller than the compressible foam pillows we’ve tested and reviewed. That’s respectable for a camp pillow that prioritizes comfort and support over weight and packability.

Support

The Exped Mega Pillow is one of the more supportive pillows we tested in this season’s lineup. Air pillows may not be the most comfortable choice, but air resistance provides more support than compressible foam. With a 4.7 inch height, the Mega is thicker than most camp pillows we tested, so it feels quite supportive. That above average thickness can be especially helpful for side sleepers, who generally prefer more substantial camp pillows to keep their neck supported and aligned. 

Compared to other luxury pillows in our line up, the Mega Pillow is not as supportive. For backpackers, car campers, and overlanders who want a mix of comfort and support, the Exped Mega Pillow is certainly a contender.

Ease of Use

No camp pillow is particularly complex, but the Exped Mega Pillow is especially easy to use. There’s no hidden stuff sack or valve that needs an instruction manual to inflate and deflate. This pillow packs down easily into an external stuff sack that’s branded and color-matched for easy identification. The one-piece valve makes it especially easy to fine-tune the pillow’s inflation level: simply blow into the opening to inflate and use your finger to press down on the valve stem to let out air. 

We like how that simple valve allows us to adjust the air pressure overnight without even lifting our heads off the pillow. The only downside is the lack of a second dump valve to deflate the pillow rapidly. That’s no big deal, though – it only takes ten seconds to deflate the pillow by pressing on the valve stem.

Should You Buy the Exped Mega Pillow?

Exped markets the Mega Pillow as a luxury camping pillow for those who want to splurge on comfort. Based on our side by side testing, its comfort compares favorably to other air pillows.

Its weight and packability are mediocre by backpacking standards, but it’s a good option for space-challenged van lifers and overlanders who appreciate how air pillows pack down smaller than foam camping pillows. Overall, the Exped Mega Pillow makes sense for car campers and backpackers who don’t mind paying a premium for a moderately packable pillow with solid comfort and support.

What Other Camping Pillows Should You Consider?

Check out our full guide to the Best Backpacking and Camping Pillows for all the pillows we’ve tested and recommended. Here are three other standouts that are similar to the Exped Mega Pillow:

HEST Camp Pillow Review: Over two years of testing, CleverHiker Gear Analysts have been blown away by the comfort of the HEST Camp Pillow. It’s not nearly as light or as packable as the Exped Mega Pillow. However, if you’re after a luxury sleep experience at a drive-up campsite, the HEST Camp Pillow is hard to top for comfort. 

Therm-a-Rest Compressible Pillow Review: This is a plush alternative to the Mega Pillow. This compressible pillow is softer than the Mega air pillow but not quite as light, packable, or supportive. Thanks to its comfort, however, the Therm-a-rest Compressible Pillow is one of our top picks for camping pillows. 

Sea to Summit Aeros Down Deluxe Pillow: The Sea to Summit Aeros Down Deluxe Pillow offers similar support and comfort with its thin layer of down cushioning. It also edges the Exped Mega Pillow in weight and packability, making it a little more appealing to backpackers.