The Best Cots For Hiking and Hunting
If you're hiking or hunting sleeping well is essential. Cots are a great option to keep you cozy and off the ground. However, they are heavy and can be difficult to carry on the road.
We evaluated 10 of the most comfortable cots and rated them on comfort and portability, ease of setup, and durability.
Comfort
Getting a good night's rest on the trail is crucial to enjoying your camping experience. In contrast to sleeping on the ground, cots keep you from the cold and uneven terrain while providing a comfortable bed to sleep on. When selecting a cot, ensure that it is lightweight and offers solid support to ensure you get a great night's rest. Cots that feature an appearance of a mattress are attractive and are typically designed to be used in conjunction with an air mattress or a sleeping pad to provide an additional layer of insulation.
Finding the ideal cot is essential for car camping or backpacking. For those who are mostly backpackers, look at 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 are doing a combination of car camping and backpacking and camping, you might want to consider something heavier such as the REI Kingdom Cot 3 or Coleman ComfortSmart Deluxe.
If you're looking for a more luxurious option, all of the cots that made this list are designed to be as similar as possible to a traditional mattress. They're a bit heavier than their ultra-lightweight counterparts, but they're still simple to carry and set up on the trail.
When choosing a cot, it's important to take into account the materials used and the construction. Fabrics that are thin are more prone to rips and tears, so look for a cot with high-quality fabrics that are designed to withstand regular use. To ensure that your cot lasts for many years to come, look for specifics like a 600D poly material and reinforced seams.
A cot must also offer an adequate amount of cushioning to shield you against the hard rough surface. Some models, like the Coleman ComfortSmart Deluxe, are quilted and padded, while others, like the REI Kingdom Cot 3, come with baffles to stop your feet from sinking. A cot should be long enough to accommodate your height and wide enough to comfortably lay down in. Choose a cot which has an adequate weight capacity to ensure it's able to support your body, especially in the case of traveling with a companion or pets.
Portability
The most comfortable camping cots fold down compactly and take up very little space in your backpack, allowing you to fit more sleeping gear into your backpack. They are also lighter than other camping bedding options, which can add up quickly on long hikes or multi-day backcountry excursions. Considering the amount of time you'll spend packing and unpacking your equipment, the ability to move a cot around is a significant aspect in its overall rating.
Depending on the model that you select, it may take a couple of minutes to unfold and set up the bed. Some models are more complicated and require more assembly. Some have components that are difficult to find or connect. Some cots come with built-in storage or other features to help you cut down on the time it takes to put together your bed.
The most flexible cots have adjustable legs, which allow you to adjust them to different terrain conditions. Some include a tether to keep them stable during storms or turbulent weather. They are particularly useful when backpacking since uneven or unstable ground could compromise the stability of your shelter.
Consider how often you'll use the cot as well as the place you intend to camp when choosing a cot. Cots with a light design and compact fold are great for backpacking, while those with a robust construction and a larger sleeping space are ideal for car camping or basecamps. If you plan to use your cot primarily at home, it's worth investing in a set of bedding designed specifically for the type of cot you own. This includes flat and fitted sheets, as well as the pillowcase that matches.
The Byer of Maine easy cot is a great option to consider if you're looking for an easy and comfortable cot. It's also suitable for all types of camping. It folds down into a case that resembles a camping chair, and has an easy-to-transport strap. The cot doesn't have the largest sleeping surface of our top choices. However, its strong materials and durable frames make it a great option for most camping trips.
Easy Setup
Cots can be a necessity for camping, but they are also more difficult to set-up than other sleeping equipment. This is because they require you to set them up on a level surface which is difficult to find in the wilderness, and some of them have bars on their head and foot areas that you could need to be careful not to hit while you sleep.
Fortunately, the most comfortable cots we tried are simple to set up. Some are self-standing which is a relief as you don't need to worry about how to secure them. Others feature an easy folding design and only require a few clicks. Traditional cots are not always the best choice because they require you to put together the frame and then tie the fabric by yourself, which could take a lot of strength and time.
The Alps Mountaineering Double Kwik cot is among the simplest to set up, which means it can be used for camping in a car or tent camping. It is also suitable for trips to backpack. It's a little heavier than the average cot, but it can be folded to a size that's about the same size as the carry case for the folding camping chair. It's also incredibly durable, made from a tough and comfortable 600D polyester with an aluminum frame that isn't made of any plastic parts that are fragile.
We also recommend the Coleman Pack-Away Cot. It is easy to set up. It also has a unique design that eliminates bars that run across your head and feet which makes it ideal for back and side sleepers. The cot folds down to a compact size that's roughly similar to the size of the bag that you use to store your favorite backpack. It's a bit heavier than some of the other cots we tested but it's very robust and is suitable for adults up to 225 pounds.
We were also impressed with the Helinox Lite Cot, which is a cot that is light that's extremely easy to install. It takes just a few seconds to fold and snap into place and only requires a few pulls to take it apart to make it easier to store. The legs are secured using a lever lock system that is very secure and provides an excellent base for your sleeping bag.
Durability
The most durable camping cots can stand up to a lot of abuse. cheap cots are constructed of durable materials like aluminum frames and strong fabrics. Fabric should be tightly woven so that it will not fall apart when the sleeping person. A good quality cot will make use of the heavy-duty 600D polyester, which will withstand lots of wear and tear. The best cots are made with double stitching and reinforced seams in high-stress zones such as pole sleeves.
Cots are ideal for camping as they keep you off the ground, comfy, and safe from bugs and other animals who might be swarming around your campsite during the night. They are also an excellent alternative to sleeping bags and foam pads if you're hiking or backpacking. But not all cots are made in the same way and some require you to pair them with an additional sleeping pad to provide optimal comfort. This can be a big issue, especially for backpackers carrying a heavy bag.
Some cots use an air mattress to make them more comfortable. This lets you get a good night's sleep without the need to bring an extra sleeping mat. However the cot is big and bulky, so it isn't easy to fit it into a tent, even if your tent has plenty of space.
The Helinox Lite Cot is another great option that doesn't require an additional mattress to be comfortable. Its aluminum frame, which is lightweight, provides good support and is extremely comfortable to sleep on. Our test subjects who took it on hikes in the mountains say they felt more comfortable than using a foam or air pad.
Cots are great for camping however they can also be used in other scenarios for instance, when you've got guests staying over and don't want them to sleep on the floor. They're also ideal for an RV or camper because they're more comfortable than inflatable mattress. They're also more stable than the tent or air mattress and you don't have to be concerned when they explode or shift in the middle night.