The Best Cots For Hiking and Hunting
When hiking or hunting sleeping well is essential. Cots are a great option to keep you comfortable and off the ground. However, they are heavy and difficult to pack for travel.
We compared and scored 10 of the best cots for durability, comfort, portability and ease of use.
Comfort
Sleeping well on the trail is crucial to enjoy your camping experience. Instead of sleeping on the ground you can rest comfortably in a bed. When selecting a cot, make sure you choose one that is lightweight and provides an adequate amount of support to ensure a great night's rest. Cots with mattresses are especially popular and are usually designed to be used in conjunction with an air mattress or a sleeping pad to provide an additional layer of insulation.
The right cot for you is crucial for car camping or backpacking. For those who are mostly backpackers, look at lightweight options such as the Helinox Lite Cot or ALPS Mountaineering ReadyLite Cot, which provide a very portable sleeping solution that can be easily transported in your bag. For those who combine backpacking and car camping think about something larger and heavier like the Coleman ComfortSmart Deluxe or REI Kingdom Cot 3.
If you're looking for a luxurious option All of the cots that made this list are designed to be as similar as they can to the traditional mattress. They're a bit heavier than their ultra-lightweight counterparts, however, they're easy to carry and set up on the trail.
It is important to consider the cot's materials and construction when choosing one. Choose cots that are made of top-quality fabrics that can withstand the rigors of 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 protect you from the hard and uncomfortable ground. Certain models, such as the Coleman ComfortSmart Deluxe are quilted and padded, whereas others include REI Kingdom Cot 3 have baffles that prevent you from sinking into the cot. Lastly, a cot should be long enough to meet your height and wide enough to comfortably lay down in. top ranked cribs should select a cot with an adequate weight capacity, especially if traveling with a friend or pet.
Portability
The most comfortable camping cots are small and take up less space in your backpack. This lets you pack more sleeping gear into your backpack. They weigh less than many other camp bedding options, which can add up quickly on long hikes or multi-day backcountry trips. Considering the amount of time you spend packing and unpacking your equipment, the mobility of a cot is a significant aspect in its overall rating.
It could take only some time to fold and put together a cot depending 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 will help to reduce the amount of time you spend setting up your bed.
The most versatile cots are those with legs that can be adjusted, allowing you to adjust them to different terrain conditions. Some also include a tether to keep them in place during storms and turbulent weather. They're particularly useful for backpacking, when the stability of your shelter can be weakened by unstable or uneven ground.
Consider how often you will use the cot as well as the place you intend to camp when choosing a cot. Cots that are light and fold compactly are perfect for backpacking. However, cots that are heavy-duty and with a larger sleeping area work better for car camping or basecamps. If you intend to use your cot at your home, it's worthwhile to invest in bedding specifically designed for the type of bed you've got. This typically includes flat and fitted sheets as well as a pillowcase.
The Byer of Maine easy cot is a great choice to consider if you're seeking an easy and comfortable cot. It's also suitable for all types of camping. It folds into a carry case that's similar in dimensions to a standard camping chair and comes with a strap for easy transport. This cot doesn't offer the largest sleeping space of our top choices. However, its strong materials and durable frames make it a great option for camping trips of all kinds.
Easy Setup
Cots can be a necessity for camping but they can be more difficult to set-up than other sleeping gear. This is due to the fact that they require you to put them up on a level surface, which can be hard to find in the wilderness, and some of them have bars on their head and foot areas that you could want to avoid hitting when you sleep.
The best cots that we tested were relatively easy to set-up. Some of them are self-standing which is a major relief as it eliminates the need for you to figure out how to secure them and others feature an easy fold-out design and a few clicks to put them in the right position. Traditional cots, however, are often a different story because they require you to assemble the frame and tie the fabric by yourself and can take quite a bit of strength and time.
The Alps Mountaineering Double-Kwik-Cot is one of the easiest to install and can be used for car or tent camping, as well as for backpacking trips. It's heavier than a typical camping cot, but it can be packed down to the same size as a folding camping chair's carry case. It is extremely durable, constructed of a rugged and comfy 600D polyester and an aluminum frame that is sturdy.
recommended cribs suggest is the Coleman Pack-Away Cot, which is another cinch to set up. It has a unibody design that removes bars across the head and feet. This makes it ideal for side and back sleepers. The cot can also be folded down to a small size, which is about the same size as the bag you carry in your favorite backpack. It's heavier than the other cots we've tested, but it's extremely sturdy and is suitable for adults weighing up to 225lbs.
We were also awestruck by the Helinox Lite Cot, which is a very light cot that's extremely easy to install. It takes just two seconds to unfold and snap back into place. It just a few twirls to take it apart for storage. The legs are locked with a lever-lock system which is extremely secure and provides a solid base for your sleeping bag.
Durability
The most comfortable camping cots are designed to withstand the rigors of use and abuse. These cots are made with strong materials like aluminum frames and strong fabrics. The fabric must be tightly woven so that it doesn't break in the rigors and strain of a sleeping person. A high-quality cot will be constructed of 600D polyester, which is strong and able to stand up to wear and tear. The best cots use double stitching and reinforced seams in high stress zones such as pole sleeves.
They are ideal for camping as they will keep you warm and free of bugs and other creatures that might be lurking in the night. They are also an alternative to sleeping bags and foam pads when you're hiking or backpacking. However there are a few differences between cots. Not all cots are created to be the same and some require you to pair them with an additional sleeping pad to provide optimal comfort. This can be a major hassle, especially for backpackers carrying a heavy backpack.
Some cots, like the REI Co-op Kingdom Cot 3, use an air mattress to make them more comfortable and allow you to get a good night's sleep and not need to carry a sleeping pad to sleep on. This cot is large and bulky so it may be difficult to fit in a tent even if it's spacious.
The Helinox Lite Cot is another great option that doesn't require an additional sleeping pad to be comfortable. Its aluminum frame, which is lightweight, provides good support and is extremely comfortable to sleep on. Our testers who took it on hiking backpacking trips said they were more comfortable than using a foam or air pad.
Cots are great for camping but they can also be used in other circumstances for instance, when you have guests stay over and you don't want them sleeping on the floor. They are also an excellent addition to an RV or camper because they're much more comfortable than inflatable mattress. Additionally, they're more stable than a tent or air mattress, which means you don't have to fret about them shifting or blowing up during the night.