If you’re reading this, you likely own a super cushy Exped MegaMat or MegaMat Max . . . but you’re also wondering if you should spend more to get the Mega Pump? In my opinion, the short answer is yes, for several reasons. The biggest reason is that you can inflate the MegaMat much faster with the Mega Pump than any other way, and it’s especially handy if you have the thicker MegaMat Max.
However, you might also be wondering this: If the Exped Mega Mat and Mega Mat Max air mattresses are supposedly self-inflating, why do I need a separate pump? If you’re skeptical, read on and I’ll get into some of the problems with self-inflation and even share some video of the Mega Pump inflating my MegaMat LXW.
Note: If you’re early in the buying process and you’re not sure if a MegaMat air mattress is right for you, be sure to check out my in-depth MegaMat air mattress review to learn why the MegaMat is my favorite air mattress for camping.
Self-inflation Problems With the Exped MegaMat
To inflate an Exped MegaMat in a perfect world, you simply open up the inflate valve, spread the MegaMat out, and let the interior foam expand, which draws air into the mattress. So far so good.
Problem is, after the MegaMat has been rolled up for a week or two, it tends to want to stay rolled up. The foam can be, as Exped says, sluggish. It basically takes a while for it to expand back into its normal shape, which mostly “inflates” the mat. As the foam ages, it also can lose some of its bounce-back resiliency. This means the one-way valve might not have enough suction behind it to pull air in. Exped has an answer, though, in the form of a little plastic wedge that’s attached to the IN valve. Use it to prop the valve open, and the mattress will suck in air more efficiently.
So, technically, you can mostly inflate a MegaMat without a pump even if your foam isn’t super springy. However, if you don’t want to plan ahead for inflation and don’t have a lot of patience to wait around for the foam to expand (like me), the Mega Pump transforms MegaMat inflation into a pleasant process that takes about 90 seconds:
Check Exped Mega Pump availability and pricing here at REI!
What If I Can’t Protect the Foam Perfectly?
But wait, there’s more to the self-inflation story. To maintain optimal spring to your foam for self-inflation over many years, Exped recommends storing the mat with the valves open, fully unfurled. Yeah, I understand the physical properties of foam at play here, but no, I’m not going to store the MegaMat inflated. I don’t have that kind of room and I want it ready to go camping on a moment’s notice.
If you’re worried about ruining the foam, I don’t think that’s much of an issue. When friends ask me about this, my answer is always the same: “I believe the foam is more useful for insulation and slowing internal airflow when you move in your sleep, making it more stable. I don’t like to wait for it to expand and I’m not worried about it because I like to use a pump.” Of course, I know I’m not being optimal here, so I’m certainly not going to blame Exped if my mat doesn’t self-inflate easily in 10 years. Either way, I’ll be using the Mega Pump anyway.
Makes Deflation and Storage Much Easier
I tend to use the Mega Pump for inflation more than deflation, but for those who have a hard time rolling and pushing air out of a big mattress, the Mega Pump is a boss. It’s powerful enough to deflate a MegaMat LXW in under a minute, making it easy to roll and place into its stuff sack.
If you have a much larger 2-person Duo version, the Mega Pump might be a true game changer for you because you’ll be able to reduce the larger size much faster, making the bulk more manageable. A fully compressed air mattress is much easier to fold, roll, and get it back into its stuff sack.
Matching Valves
Most air mattress manufacturers make their own valve systems, so you typically need to buy a pump that’s made to fit their valves specifically. The Mega Pump easily snaps onto all current MegaMat version valves. I like how I don’t have to hold it in place in order to pump or deflate. Depending on other air mattresses that you might have, Exped also includes a few basic adapter tubes that you might be able to use it to get a large volume of air into or out of non-Exped air mattresses.
Alternative Options
The smaller Exped Widget Pump is powerful enough to inflate and deflate MegaMats, but the Exped Ultra Pump & Lamp is not. The Ultra Pump is made for lightweight air mattresses that don’t have foam inside, so don’t buy the “Ultra” if you have a MegaMat.
The Exped Widget Pump is a viable competitive option. It includes a built-in 100 lumen lamp and can charge cell phones, too. The battery is 3600 mAh, which is more than the Mega Pump’s 2500 mAh battery. The 2025 updated version of the Widget Pump now has improved inflation pressure of 4 kPa, giving more oomf to inflate larger MegaMats. For comparison, the Mega Pump is still a bit more powerful at 5 kPa — so I recommend the Mega Pump for larger Max and Duo mat versions.
Both are very good, but I prefer the rounded tube-like design of the Mega Pump, and I want the most power for increased speed and versatility.
Conclusion
While you can let the interior foam self-inflate an Exped MegaMat with time and patience, then use the included foam/fabric mini pump to top it off to your desired level of firmness, I prefer to get it done quickly with the Mega Pump. Operation is simple, attachments are easy, and the rechargeable battery has a runtime of 25 minutes, which is enough time to inflate and deflate a single MegaMat around 10 times. Very highly recommended.
Check current shipping, pricing, and availability of the Mega Pump at REI here!
