Is Best Cots As Important As Everyone Says?

The Best Cots For Hiking and Hunting

If you’re hiking or hunting getting a good night’s rest is vital. Cots are a great option to keep you comfortable and off the ground. However they can be heavy and challenging to pack when you’re traveling.

We tested and scored 10 of the best cots for durability, comfort, portability and ease of use.

Comfort

A good night’s sleep is essential for a successful camping trip. In contrast to sleeping on the ground, cots help you stay away from the cold and uneven terrain, while providing a comfortable bed to sleep on. Look for an cot that is not heavy and also offers a solid level of support. This will ensure you a restful night’s sleep. Cots with mattresses are especially popular and are usually designed to be used in conjunction with an air mattress or sleeping pad for an extra layer of insulation.

Finding the ideal cot is important for car camping or backpacking. For those who are primarily backpackers, consider lightweight options like the Helinox Lite Cot or ALPS Mountaineering ReadyLite Cot, which provide a very portable sleeping solution that can be easily carried in your backpack. If you do a mixture of backpacking and car camping you should consider a heavier option such as the REI Kingdom Cot 3 or Coleman ComfortSmart Deluxe.

If you’re looking for an even more luxurious option, the top-rated cots listed here are all made to look as like a traditional mattress as they can. While they’re more bulky than their ultra-light counterparts they’re still relatively simple to transport and put up on the trail.

When you’re choosing a cot it’s also important to consider the materials and construction. Find cots made of top-quality fabrics that can withstand regular use. To ensure that your cot lasts for many years to come, look for specifics like a 600D poly fabric and reinforced seams.

A cot should also provide a good amount of cushioning, to protect you from the hard rough surface. Certain models, such as the Coleman ComfortSmart Deluxe are quilted and padded, whereas others like the REI Kingdom Cot 3 have baffles to prevent you from sinking into the cot. A cot should be long enough to accommodate your height and wide enough for you to comfortably lie down in. You should choose a cot that has a sufficient capacity for weight, particularly if you are traveling with a friend or pets.

Portability

The best camping cots are lightweight and take up less space in your backpack. This lets you pack more sleeping gear into your backpack. They are lighter than other alternatives for camp bedding, which can be an advantage when you are taking long hikes and multi-day backcountry excursions. The portability of the cot is important when you consider the amount of time it takes to unpack and pack your equipment.

It can take just several minutes to fold and put together a cot dependent on the model. Certain models are more difficult and require more assembly. Some have components that are difficult to find or connect. Some cots have built-in storage, or other features to help cut down on the time it takes to set up your bed.

The most flexible cots come with adjustable legs, which allow you to adjust them for different ground conditions. Some include a tether to keep them stable during storms or turbulent weather. They’re especially useful for backpacking, when the stability of your shelter can be weakened due to uneven or unstable ground.

Consider how often you will use the cot and the location you plan to stay when you select a cot. Cots that are light and fold compactly are perfect for backpacking. However cots that are built to last and have a bigger sleeping area are better suited for basecamps or car camping. If you intend to keep your cot at the home, it’s important to purchase bedding specifically designed for the type of bed you’ve got. This includes fitted and flat sheets and the pillowcase that matches.

If you’re looking for a comfortable easy-to-set up cot that is suitable for most types of camping The Byer of Maine Easy Cot is a great option. It packs down into a carry case that’s similar in size to the standard camping chair, and has an attached strap for easy transport. This cot doesn’t have the biggest sleeping platform among the top choices however its robust materials and durable frame make it a good choice for most camping trips.

Easy Setup

Cots are a must for camping however they are more difficult to set-up than other sleeping equipment. It is because you have to place them on an even space, which is difficult to find when camping. Some come with bars for the foot and head that you may not want to strike when you sleep.

Thankfully, the best cots that we tested are simple to set up. They are also self-standing, which is a huge relief since you don’t need to worry about how to secure them. Others have an easy folding design and require just the click of a button. Traditional cots are different. You have to assemble the frame yourself and tension the fabric, which takes lots of energy and time.

The Alps Mountaineering Double Kwik cot is among the easiest to set-up, so it can be used both for car camping and tent camping. It is also suitable for backpacking trips. It’s heavier than a typical camping cot, but it can be tucked away to the same size as a foldable campchair’s carry case. It’s also extremely durable, being made of a rugged and comfy 600D polyester and strong aluminum frame.

Another option we suggest is the Coleman Pack-Away Cot, cots4tots.co.uk which is another cinch to set up. It has a unibody design that eliminates bars on the feet and head. This makes it ideal for side and back sleepers. The cot can be folded down to a size similar to the size of your favorite backpack. It’s a bit heavier than some of the other cots we tested however it’s extremely robust and is suitable for adults weighing up to 225 pounds.

We were also impressed with the Helinox Lite Cot, which is a cot that is light that is extremely simple to set up. It only takes the time of a few minutes to unfold and snap into place and then a few nudges for it to be broken down. The legs are locked by a unique lever lock system that is extremely secure and provides a solid platform for sleeping bags.

Durability

The most durable camping cots can withstand a lot of abuse. They are constructed with strong materials like aluminum frames and tough fabrics. Fabric should be tightly woven so that it does not fall apart when the sleeping person. A high-quality cot is made of 600D polyester that is strong and able to endure wear and tear. The top cots also have reinforced seams and double stitching in high stress areas such as pole sleeves.

Cots are great for camping as they keep you away from the ground, comfortable and protected from bugs and other animals that may be roaming around your campsite during the night. They are also an excellent alternative to sleeping bags and foam pads when you’re backpacking or hiking. There aren’t all cots that provide the same level of comfort, and some require an additional sleeping pad to use alongside them. This can be a major problem, particularly for backpackers who carry a large bag.

Some cots, for instance the REI Co-op Kingdom Cot 3, use an air bed to make them extra comfortable which means you can enjoy an excellent night’s sleep and don’t have to carry a sleeping pad along with you. However the cot is heavy and bulky, which means it’s not easy to fit it into a tent, even if your tent has plenty of space.

The Helinox Lite Cot is another fantastic option that doesn’t require an additional sleeping pad to be comfortable. The lightweight aluminum frame offers excellent support and is very comfortable to sleep on. Our testers who used it on backpacking hiking trips say they felt more comfortable than when using an air or foam pad.

Cots are great for camping, but they can also be used in other scenarios, such as when you’re having guests stay over and you don’t want them to sleep on the floor. They’re also ideal for a camper or RV because they are more comfortable than inflatable mattress. They’re also more sturdy than an inflatable mattress or tent, so you won’t have to worry if they blow up or shift during the middle of night.