The Best Cots For Hiking and Hunting
When hiking or hunting getting a good night's rest is vital. Cots are an excellent option to ensure you're comfortable and off the ground. However, cots can be heavy and can be difficult to carry for travel.
We evaluated 10 of the most comfortable co-teaching cots and scored them on comfort mobility, the ability to move, ease of set-up and durability.
Comfort
A restful night's sleep is essential to enjoy your camping excursion. Unlike sleeping on the ground, cots help you stay away from the cold and uneven terrain while providing a comfortable place to sleep on. When choosing a cot, make sure you choose one that is lightweight and offers a sturdy level of support to ensure you get an excellent night's sleep. Cots that have a mattress-like top are the most popular. They are typically designed to work with an air mattress, sleeping pad or other insulation.
The right cot for you is important regardless of whether you're camping in the car or backpacking. Look at lightweight options like the Helinox Lite Cot and ALPS Mountaineering ReadyLite Cot for backpackers. They are extremely portable sleeping solutions that can be carried in your backpack. For those who do a mix of backpacking and car camping look into something heavier and bigger like the Coleman ComfortSmart Deluxe or REI Kingdom Cot 3.
If you're looking for a more luxurious option The cots featured on this list are designed to feel as close as possible to a traditional mattress. Although top ranked cribs than their ultra-light counterparts, they're still fairly easy to carry and set up on the trail.
When you're choosing a cot it is also important to think about its materials and construction. The fabric's fragility can lead to tears and rips, so choose a cot with high-quality materials that are designed to withstand the rigors of daily 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. Other models, such as REI Kingdom Cot 3 have baffles that stop you from sinking into the cot. Lastly, a cot should be long enough to accommodate your height and wide enough to comfortably lie down in. You should choose a cot with an adequate weight capacity, especially if traveling with a friend or pet.
Portability
The most comfortable camping cots fold down compactly and take up a small amount of space inside a backpack and allow you to fit more sleeping gear in your backpack. They also weigh less than other camping bedding options, which can add up quickly during long hikes or multi-day backcountry treks. When you consider how much time you're spending packing and unpacking your gear the portability of a cot is a significant aspect in the overall rating.
It can take just several minutes to fold and put together a cot dependent on the model. More complicated models require more assembly, and some include parts that can be difficult to locate or connect. Some cots are equipped with storage pockets, or other features that help you minimize the amount of time you'll spend making your bed.
The most flexible cots have legs that can be adjusted, allowing the user to adjust them for different terrain conditions. Some cots have a tether that helps keep them steady in conditions of stormy or windy weather. They are particularly suitable for backpacking trips, as the security of your shelter may be weakened due to uneven or unstable ground.
Consider how often you will use the cot as well as the place you intend to camp when selecting a cot. Cots that are lightweight and compact in size are great for backpacking. However cots that are built to last and with a larger sleeping area work better for basecamps or car camping. If you intend to use your cot for the home, it's important to purchase bedding specifically designed for the kind of bed you have. This includes fitted and flat sheets and the pillowcase that matches.
The Byer of Maine easy cot is a great option to consider if you're looking for a comfortable and easy-to-setup cot. It's also suitable for most camping types. It folds into a case resembling a camping chair and has a strap for easy transport. This cot doesn't have the biggest sleeping platform of all our top picks however its robust materials and durable frame make it a great choice for any camping trip.
Easy Setup
Cots are usually a necessity for camping, but they also are often more difficult to set up than other types of sleeping gear. This is due to the fact that they require you to put them up on an even surface, which can be hard to find in the wilderness. Some of them have bars across their feet and head which you might want to avoid hitting during your sleep.
The top cots we tested were fairly easy to set-up. Some are self-standing which is a major relief since it eliminates the need for you to figure out how to secure them while others have a simple foldout design and just a few clicks to put them in place. Traditional cots are a different story. You must assemble the frame yourself and then tension the fabric, which requires lots of energy and time.
The Alps Mountaineering Double Kwik cot is among the simplest to set up, which means it can be used both for camping in the car and tent camping. It is also suitable for backpacking trips. It's heavier than your typical camping cot, but it can be packed down to the same dimensions as a folding campchair's carry case. It's also extremely durable, being made of tough and comfortable 600D polyester and an aluminum frame that is sturdy.
We also recommend the Coleman Pack-Away Cot. It is easy to set up. It's a unibody design that eliminates bars on the head and feet. This makes it perfect for back and side sleepers. The cot can be folded down to a size that is similar to the bag that you carry in your backpack of choice. It's a little heavier than other cots we've tested, but it feels very robust and is suitable for adults up to 225 pounds.
We were also impressed with the Helinox Lite Cot, which is a very light cot that is very easy to install. It only takes some time to unfold and snap it into place and then a few pulls for it to be broken down. The legs lock in place using a lever lock system that is extremely secure and offers a solid base for your sleeping bag.
Durability
The most comfortable camping cots are built to withstand a lot of abuse and use. These cots are made with durable materials like aluminum frames and sturdy fabrics. Fabric should be tightly woven so that it doesn't fall apart under the weight of a sleeping individual. A high-quality cot will be made of 600D polyester which is extremely durable and can endure wear and tear. The top cots also have reinforced seams and double stitching in high stress areas such as pole sleeves.
They are ideal for camping, as they keep you comfortable and free of bugs or other creatures that could be lurking around at night. They also offer a great alternative to sleeping bags and foam pads if you're backpacking or hiking. Some cots don't provide the same comfort and some require a sleeping pad to use alongside them. This can be a huge hassle, especially for backpackers who are already carrying a heavy pack.
Some cots, such as the REI Co-op Kingdom Cot 3, use an air mattress to make them more comfortable and allow you to get a great night's rest and not need to bring a sleeping pad with you. However, this cot is quite big and bulky, so it's not easy to fit it into a tent even if your tent has plenty of space.
The Helinox Lite Cot offers another excellent option that does not require an extra sleeping pad. Its aluminum frame is lightweight and provides a good level of support and is extremely comfortable to sleep on. It was more comfortable for our test subjects to use on hiking trips than a foam or air cushion.
Cots are ideal for camping however they can also be used in other situations like when you're having guests stay over and you don't want them sleeping on the floor. They are also ideal for a camper or RV because they're much more comfortable than inflatable mattress. They're also more stable than an inflatable mattress or tent which means you don't need to worry if they blow up or shift during the middle of night.