The Best Cots For Hiking and Hunting
If you're hiking or hunting sleeping well is crucial. Cots are a great option to keep you cozy and off the ground. However, cots can be heavy and hard to transport for travel.
We tested and evaluated 10 of the best cots in terms of comfort, portability and durability.
Comfort
A good night's rest is essential for a successful camping trip. Unlike sleeping on the ground, cots keep you off the cold and uneven terrain, while providing a comfortable place to rest in. Find a cot that is lightweight, but also provides a solid level of support. This will guarantee a good night's sleep. Cots with a mattress-like top are the most desirable. They are usually designed to be used with an air mattress, sleeping pad or other forms of insulation.
Finding the ideal cot is crucial, whether you're car camping or backpacking. Look at lightweight options like the Helinox Lite Cot and ALPS Mountaineering ReadyLite Cot for backpackers. These are extremely portable sleeping solutions that can be easily carried in your backpack. If you are doing a combination of backpacking and car camping and camping, you might want to consider something heavier like the REI Kingdom Cot 3 or Coleman ComfortSmart Deluxe.
If you're looking for a luxurious option, the top-rated cots on this list are all made to feel as like a traditional mattress as they can. They're heavier than their ultra-lightweight counterparts however, they're simple to carry and set up on the trail.
When you're choosing a cot it is also important to think about the materials and construction. Fabrics that are thin are more prone to rips and tears, so look for a cot made of high-quality fabrics that are designed to stand up to regular use. To ensure that your cot will last for many years, look for features like a 600D poly fabric and reinforced seams.
A cot should also provide adequate cushioning to keep you from the hard rough ground. Some models, like the Coleman ComfortSmart Deluxe are quilted and padded, while others include 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 for you to comfortably lie down in. Look for a cot that has a sufficient weight capacity to ensure it's able to help your body, especially in the case of traveling with a companion or pets.
Portability
The most comfortable camping cots are compact and can be placed in a smaller space in your backpack. This lets you fit more sleeping equipment into your backpack. They are also lighter than many other camp bedding options and can add up quickly on long hikes or multi-day backcountry trips. When you consider how much time you spend packing and unpacking your equipment, the portability of a cot is a significant factor in the overall rating.
It could take only a few minutes to unfold and assemble a cot, dependent on the model. Certain models are more complex and require more assembly. Other models have parts that are difficult to find or connect. Some cots are equipped with storage pockets or other features that help you reduce the amount of time spent making your bed.
Cots with legs that are adjustable are the most flexible, letting you adjust them to suit different ground conditions. Some include a tether to keep them stable during storms or stormy weather. They're especially useful for backpacking, when the security of your shelter may be weakened due to uneven or unstable ground.
Think about how often you'll use the cot as well as the place you intend to stay when you select a cot. Cots with a light design and compact fold are ideal for backpacking, whereas cots with a heavy-duty construction and a larger sleeping space are ideal for car camping or basecamps. If you intend to use your cot exclusively at home, it's worth investing in a set bedding specifically designed for the type of cot you own. This includes fitted and flat sheets and the pillowcase that matches.
The Byer of Maine easy cot is a great choice to consider if you're looking for a comfortable and easy-to-setup cot. It's also suitable for all camping types. It folds into a case that resembles the camping chair, and is equipped with a strap for easy transport. It doesn't come with the largest sleeping platform of all our top picks, but its sturdy materials and durable frame make it a solid choice for most camping trips.
Easy Setup
Cots are usually a necessity when camping, but they are often more difficult to set up than other types of sleeping gear. This is due to the fact that 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 feet and head which you might need to be careful not to hit during your sleep.
The top cots we tested were relatively simple to set-up. Some are self-standing and are a massive relief as they don't require you to figure out how to secure them and others feature a simple foldout design and a couple of clicks to put them in the proper position. Traditional cots are usually a different story as they require you to construct the frame and tension the fabric yourself, which can take quite a bit of energy and time.
The Alps Mountaineering Double Kwik cot is one of easiest to set-up, so it can be used both for camping in the car and tent camping. It can also be used on backpacking trips. It's heavier than your typical camping cot, but it can be tucked away to the same size as a foldable camping chair's carry case. It's also extremely durable, being made of tough and comfortable 600D polyester, with an aluminum frame that is sturdy.
Another model we recommend is the Coleman Pack-Away Cot, which is another cinch to set up. It has a unibody design that eliminates bars across the feet and head. This makes it ideal for those who sleep on their backs and sides. The cot folds down to a size that's about the same size as the storage bag for your backpack of choice. It's heavier than other cots that we've tested but it feels very solid and is suitable for adults weighing up to 225 lbs.
The Helinox Lite Cot is a lightweight cot that is easy to set up. 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 are locked using a unique lever-lock mechanism that is extremely secure and offers a sturdy platform for sleeping bags.
reference camping cots will stand up to a lot of abuse. These cots are constructed of strong materials like aluminum frames and tough fabrics. The fabric must be tightly woven so that it doesn't break when strained by the weight of a sleeper. A high-quality cot will be made of 600D polyester which is heavy duty and can endure wear and tear. The top cots also have reinforced seams and double stitching in high stress places like pole sleeves.
Cots are ideal for camping as they keep you off the ground, comfy and protected from bugs and other creatures that may be roaming around your campsite during the night. Cots can be a great substitute for sleeping mats and foam mattresses when backpacking or hiking. However not all cots are created equal and some will require you to use an additional sleeping pad to ensure optimal comfort. This can be a major issue, particularly for backpackers carrying a large backpack.
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 a great night's rest and not need to carry a mattress to sleep on. The cot is huge and bulky, which means it will be difficult to fit into the tent, even though it has plenty of room.
The Helinox Lite Cot offers another great option, which 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. Our test subjects who took it on hiking backpacking trips said they felt more comfortable than when using a foam or air pad.
They're ideal for guests who are staying with you, and you don't want them sleep on the floor. They're also a great option for a camper, RV or any vehicle that comes with an air mattress. They're more comfortable than inflatable mattresses. Plus, they're more sturdy than tents or an air mattress, which means you don't need to worry about them shifting or blowing up during the night.
