The Best Cots For Hiking and Hunting
If you're hiking or hunting, a good night's sleep is crucial. most recommended cribs are an excellent option to keep you comfortable and off the ground. However, they are heavy and difficult to pack on the road.
We tested 10 of the best Cots and gave them a score based on comfort and accessibility, ease of setting up, and durability.
Comfort
Getting a good night's rest on the trail is crucial to enjoying your camping experience. As opposed to sleeping on the ground, you can sleep comfortably in a bed. Look for a cot that is lightweight, but also provides an adequate amount of support. This will ensure an excellent night's rest. Cots with a mattress-like top are the most sought-after. They are often designed to be used with an air mattress or sleeping pad as well as other insulation.
The right cot for you is crucial for car camping or backpacking. Think about lightweight options such as the Helinox Lite Cot and ALPS Mountaineering ReadyLite Cot for backpackers. These are extremely mobile sleeping solutions that can be easily carried in your backpack. If you plan to combine a mix of backpacking and car camping you should consider a heavier option like the REI Kingdom Cot 3 or Coleman ComfortSmart Deluxe.
If you're looking for a luxurious option All of the cots on this list are designed to feel as close as they can to the traditional mattress. They're heavier than their ultra-lightweight counterparts however, they're simple to carry and set up on the trail.
It's important to also consider the cot's materials and construction when selecting one. Flimsy fabrics are prone to rips and tears so look for an cot that is made of top-quality materials that are made 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 must also offer enough cushioning to keep you from the hard rough ground. Some models, such as the Coleman ComfortSmart Deluxe, are cushioned and quilted, whereas others, like the REI Kingdom Cot 3, have baffles to prevent you from sinking in. A cot should also be wide and long enough to fit your height. It is recommended to choose the cot that has the right capacity for weight, especially if traveling with a companion or pet.
Portability
The best camping cots are compact and can be placed in a smaller space in your pack. This lets you fit more sleeping equipment into your backpack. The cots are lighter than other alternatives for camp bedding, which can be a big advantage on long hikes and longer backcountry trips. Considering how much time you're spending packing and unpacking your gear, the mobility of a cot is a significant aspect in the overall rating.
It may only take several minutes to fold and put together a cot depending on the model. More complicated models require more assembly, and some include parts that are difficult to locate or connect. Some cots are equipped with built-in storage or other features that can help you reduce the time to set up your bed.
The most versatile cots have legs that can be adjusted, allowing you to adjust them to different terrain conditions. Some also include a tether to keep them stable during storms or windy weather. They're particularly ideal for backpacking, where the stability of your shelter could be weakened by uneven or unstable ground.
Think about how often you'll use the cot and where you intend to camp when selecting a cot. Cots with a lightweight design and compact fold are ideal for backpacking, whereas cots with a heavy-duty construction and a bigger sleeping area are ideal for car camping or basecamps. If you plan to use your cot at your home, it's important to purchase bedding specifically designed to fit the type of bed you have. This includes fitted and flat sheets and a matching pillowcase.
If you're looking for a comfortable and easy-to-set-up cot suitable for most types of camping, the Byer of Maine Easy Cot is a fantastic choice. It folds down into a case that resembles an outdoor chair, and has a strap for easy transport. It doesn't come with the biggest sleeping platform of the top choices but its strong frames and sturdy materials make it a great choice for any camping trip.
Ease of Setup
Cots are often a necessity for camping, but they are also more difficult to set-up than other sleeping gear. This is because they require you to place them on a level surface, which can be difficult to find in the wilderness, and some of them have bars on their foot and head areas that you may want to avoid hitting while you sleep.
The best cots that we tested were fairly easy to set-up. Some of them are self-standing, which is a huge relief since it doesn't require you to figure out how to secure them and others feature an easy fold-out design and a couple of clicks to get them into place. Traditional cots are different. You must assemble the frame by yourself and then tie the fabric, which requires a lot of strength and time.
The Alps Mountaineering Double Kwik cot is among the simplest to set up, meaning it can be used for car camping and tent camping. It can also be used for trips to backpack. It's heavier than the typical cot, but it folds down to a size that's about the same size as the carry case for a fold-down camping chair. It's also extremely sturdy, constructed from a tough and comfortable 600D polyester and an aluminum frame that isn't made of any plastic parts that are fragile.
We also recommend the Coleman Pack-Away Cot. It is simple to set up. It also has a unibody design that eliminates bars between your feet and head, making it perfect for sleepers who are back or side. The cot can be folded down to a size comparable to the storage bag of your favorite backpack. It's heavier than the other cots we've tested but it's extremely sturdy and is suitable for adults of 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 install. It takes just two seconds to unfold and snap back into place. It only requires a few pulls to take it apart to make it easier to store. The legs lock into place by a unique lever lock system that is extremely secure and provides a solid base for your sleeping bag.
Durability
The most durable camping cots can withstand a lot of abuse. These cots are made with durable materials like aluminum frames and strong fabrics. The fabric must be tightly woven so that it will not break in the rigors and strain of a sleeper. A high-quality cot will be made of 600D polyester that is strong and able to endure wear and tear. The top cots also feature reinforced seams and double stitching in highly stressed areas such as pole sleeves.
Cots are great for camping because they keep you off the ground, comfy, and safe from bugs and other creatures that may be roaming around your campsite at night. Cots are a great alternative for sleeping mats and foam bags for hiking or backpacking. But not all cots are made to be the same and some require you to pair them with an additional sleeping pad for optimal comfort. This can be a major hassle, especially for backpackers carrying a heavy bag.
Some cots, like the REI Co-op Kingdom Cot 3, use an air bed to make them more comfortable and allow you to get a great night's rest and don't need to carry a mattress with you. However this cot is big and bulky, so it's not easy to fit it into a tent, even if the 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 is lightweight and provides great support and is comfortable to sleep on. Our test subjects who took it on hikes in the mountains say they felt more comfortable than when using an air or foam pad.
They are also ideal for guests staying over, and you don't want them sleep on the floor. They're also a great addition to an RV or camper because they're much more comfortable than inflatable mattress. They're also more sturdy than an air mattress or tent which means you don't need to fret when they explode or shift in the middle night.