Camping with a Double Sleeping Bag & Mattress: Nemo vs EXPED

Nemo Jazz Double Sleeping Bag + Roamer Double Sleeping Pad

When it comes to camping as a couple, a pad and bag combo that are designed to work seamlessly together can definitely come in handy. Fortunately, that describes the Nemo Jazz Double and the Nemo Roamer Double perfectly. As in, the two-person sleeping bag is outfitted with pad sleeves on the underside so you can secure it to the pad that’s sized to match. That means no slipping and sliding or accidentally rolling off the pad in the middle of the night (or stealing half the bag from your partner). But just because they’re designed to go together doesn’t mean they half to, so we’ll break down the mattress and the bag separately, starting with the bag.

Frankly, compared to the Exped, the Nemo Jazz is the higher quality sleeping bag. As in, the fabric is top tier and silky, there’s a built-in hood across the top for a bit more warmth (not that it will be quite as cozy as an individual mummy bag), and there’s a removable snap-in top sheet that’s easier to take out and wash than laundering the whole bag (which you should still do from time to time).

Each sleeper has their own two-way zipper that goes down each side and around their feet so they can vent the bag however they want (just the feet, just the torso, or the whole dang body), and a nice little extra draft collar that keeps you extra cozy and tucked in on cold nights. And it did seem to keep us cozy down to the comfort rating, which is right around freezing. There’s no cinch cord in the color to really batten down the hatches and trap body heat, but the draft collar certainly helped keep out the cold and made the bag feel more like curling up in our bed at home.

On warm nights, you can throw off the top layer entirely and just use the stretchy jersey top sheet.

When it comes time to pack up, the whole double bag packs easily into a duffle-style stuff sack that doesn’t compress, but is easy to stuff in a cargo box or the back of a car (and helps ensure the insulation stays lofty for years to come).

The Nemo Roamer Double self inflating mattress (which also comes in a single “XL wide” size) is a self-inflating pad that puts a premium on comfort. It’s insulated, so super cozy on cold nights, and 4″ thick for ultimate comfort. The self inflation feature works to get it most of the way there, but you’ll need to top it up to reach your desired firmness. Thankfully, it comes with a pump sack to help with that so there’s no huffing and puffing required. There’s also a micro-adjust valve if you need to let out just a touch of air to find that comfort sweet spot.

It’s also close in size to a queen mattress, so is roomy enough for two and easy to inflate and deflate. There are even instructions printed on the pad, though they’re honestly a bit cryptic. In any case, it offers a pleasant medium firm/soft sleeping surface and we slept comfortably all night long.

Stats

Nemo Jazz Double Sleeping Bag

• Comfort temp rating: 32°F
• Weight: 9lbs 5oz
• Packed size: 33 x 16 x 16″
• Fits Sleepers: 6’6″ long, 129″ wide
• Sustainability: 100% recycled Stratofiber™ synthetic insulation, 100% recycled, ultra-soft machine-washable sheet, shell, soft taffeta liner, and luxurious sheet are 100% recycled polyester fabrics. Comes with a lifetime warranty.
• Price: $349

Nemo Roamer Double Sleeping Mat

• Dimensions: 78 x 52 x 4 inches (Queen size)
• R-Value: 6.0
• Weight: 8lbs 4oz
• Packed size: 26 x 11″
• Sustainability: fabric top and rugged 75D bottom fabric are made from bluesign® certified 100% post-consumer recycled materials, lifetime guarantee.
• Price: $399

Exped MegaSleep Duo + Exped MegaMat Duo

For a more traditional and multi-functional camping-style double sleeping bag and mattress, take a look at the Exped MegaSleep Duo 2-person sleeping bag and MegaMat Duo self-inflating pad. They may not look like they have all the bells and whistles and connectable functionality as the Nemo, but stick around, because they plenty of their own highlights. Especially the two-person bag.

While it’s not constructed in as impressively premium a way as the Nemo, and while it doesn’t look as sleek, the MegaSleep Duo is still surprisingly functional AND versatile. There’s no mummy hood–it’s more of a standard rectangle camp sleeping bag–but there are drawstrings and cinch locks on both the bottom and top sheet that made it easy to cinch the opening on extra chilly nights to keep drafts in and body heat out. We did find the thin cords dangled in the way a bit when pulled tight, but it turned out not to be much of an issue once we got comfortable.

Speaking of top and bottom sheets, they are supremely versatile. For starters, each side (red and blue) can be completely removed from one another and each folded in half and zipped up to create two individual sleeping bags or left unzipped to be used as two separate blankets. Second, one of the sides (blue) is rated for 40ºF and the other (red) is rated for 25ºF, so depending on which side is on top, one bag can be suitable for an impressively wide range of temperatures. We are obsessed with this functionality. What’s more, the warmer configuration (red side up) kept us plenty cozy in temps in the low 30’s.

As for storage, it comes with a stuff sack that slightly compresses the bag for easy packing.

As for the MegaMat Duo, take note that there are multiple sizes of this 2-person sleeping pad, which car campers will be happy to know since space is often more limited if you’re turning the back of your van/SUV/truck into your bedroom. We tested the M size (as opposed to the LW+ or Queen). The bag was a bit too big for the M pad and hung over the sides, but the queen size is a much better fit, so we will include those dimensions below.

This camping mattress is also self-inflating, but there’s a trick: you have to not only open the inflate valve, but tuck the pull tab on the valve cover into the hole under the silicone flap in order to actually let air in. When done correctly, it did self inflate, but like most self-inflating pads, needs a bit of a top-up to reach a desired firmness. Fortunately, the pad comes with a handy little hand pump for the task (or you can just get a rechargeable powered pump–the Exped pump works perfectly and comes with adapters for other mattresses–to make quick work of it).

It offered comparable medium soft/firm support and was comfy for many nights in a row.

Stats

Exped MegaSleep Duo

• Dimensions: 82.7 x 133.9″ (fits up to 6’5″)
• Temperature rating: 25°F or 40°F (reversible)
• Weight: 7lbs 8oz
• Pack size: 16.5 x 8.7″
• Sustainability: PFAS-free, shell + liner fabric recycled polyester, OEKO-TEX® 100 certified. Fill 100% recycled polyester, bluesign® approved. Climate offset.
• Price: $249

Exped MegaMat Duo

• Dimensions: 80 x 59.8 x 4″
• R-Value: 8.1
• Weight: 11lbs 14oz
• Packed size: 31.5 x 11.8″
• Sustainability: Top made of partially recycled polyester and TPU polyether film laminate that are OEKO-TEX® 100 certified, bottom made of recycled and TPU polyether film laminate that are bluesign® approved, foam insulation OEKO-TEX® 100 tested. PFAS-free and climate offset.
• Price: $519

Bottom Line

So what’s the best camping mattress for couples? And the best sleeping bag for couples?

• The Exped system is by far the most versatile and multi-functional. It functions as a warm bag for more seasons (cold and warm), can be turned into a blanket or separate bags, and can easily be used with other pads.
• The Nemo system has integrated features like a pillow sleeve and sheet, and feels more high quality, but isn’t quite as versatile.

Both full setups are priced similarly. By which I mean the Exped bag is less expensive than the Nemo, but the Exped pad is more expensive (unless you opt for the M size, which is quite a bit less expensive). For the least expensive full size setup, you could pair the Nemo pad with the Exped bag! Bonus: they both fit beautifully in three-person camping tents with plenty of room left over for bags and accessories.

Whatever you choose, sleep comfortably out there whether you’re flying solo or couples camping, and wander on.