The Best Cots For Hiking and Hunting
When hiking or hunting sleeping well is crucial. Cots are an excellent option to keep you cozy and off the ground. However, cots can be bulky and difficult to carry when you're traveling.
We evaluated 10 of the most comfortable co-teaching cots and scored them on comfort mobility, accessibility, ease of setting up, and durability.
Comfort
A good night's sleep on the trail is essential to enjoy your camping experience. In contrast to sleeping on the ground, cots keep you off the cold and uneven terrain, while providing a comfortable place to rest in. Choose a cot that is light but also offers a solid foundation. This will ensure an excellent night's rest. Cots with a mattress-like top are the most popular. They are often designed to be used with an air mattress or sleeping pad, or any other types of insulation.
The right cot for you is essential, whether you're car camping or backpacking. For those who are mostly backpackers, think about lightweight options like the Helinox Lite Cot or ALPS Mountaineering ReadyLite Cot, which offer an extremely portable sleeping solution that is easily carried in your backpack. If you plan to do a mix of backpacking and car camping think about something heavier and bigger like the Coleman ComfortSmart Deluxe or REI Kingdom Cot 3.
If you want a more 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 heavier than their ultra-lightweight counterparts, but they're still easy to carry and setup on the trail.
When selecting a cot it's important to take into account the materials and construction. Find cots made of top-quality fabrics that are durable enough to withstand daily use. To ensure that your cot lasts many years, look for features like a 600D poly material and reinforced seams.
A cot must also offer an adequate amount of cushioning to guard against 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 prevent 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. You should choose the cot that has the right weight capacity, especially if you are traveling with a partner or pets.
Portability
The best camping cots fold up compactly and take up a small amount of space in a pack, allowing you to fit more sleeping gear into your backpack. They are lighter than other alternatives for camp bedding, which is an advantage during long hikes or multi-day backcountry excursions. The mobility of the cot is essential when considering how long it takes to pack and unpack your equipment.
Based on the model you choose, it can take a few minutes to unroll and put up the bed. More complicated models require greater assembly, and some include parts that are difficult to locate or connect. Some cots are equipped with built-in storage or other features to help you cut down on the time it takes to set up your bed.
The most flexible cots are those with adjustable legs, which allow you to adjust them for different ground conditions. Some cots are equipped with a tether to keep them stable in conditions of stormy or windy weather. They are particularly suitable for backpacking trips, as the security of your shelter may be compromised by unstable or uneven ground.
When you're choosing a cot think about how often you'll use it and the location you'd like to stay. Cots that are lightweight and compact in size are great for backpacking. However, cots that are heavy-duty and with a larger sleeping area work better for basecamps or car camping. If you plan to use your cot for your home, it's worth investing in bedding that's specifically designed for the type of bed you have. It usually includes flat and fitted sheets and the pillowcase.
If you're in search of a comfortable easy-to-set up cot that is suitable for all types of camping The Byer of Maine Easy Cot is a great choice. It folds down into a case resembling an outdoor chair, and comes with an easy-to-transport strap. This cot doesn't have the biggest sleeping area of our top selections. However, its sturdy frames and sturdy materials make it a great choice for most camping trips.
Easy Setup
Cots are often a necessity when camping, but they are more difficult to set up than other types of 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 across their feet and head which you might prefer not to hit while you sleep.
The top cots we tested were relatively easy to set up. Some are self-standing, which is a huge relief since it eliminates the need for you to figure out how to secure them while others come with a simple foldout design and just a few clicks to get them into place. Traditional cots are a different story. You must assemble the frame yourself and then tension the fabric, which requires an enormous amount of strength and time.
The Alps Mountaineering Double-Kwik-Cot is one of the easiest to install, which means it can be used for car or tent camping, as well as for backpacking trips. It's heavier than your typical camping cot, however it can be folded down to the same size as a folding campchair's carry case. It's also extremely durable, made from an extremely durable and comfortable 600D polyester with an aluminum frame that isn't made of any plastic parts that are flimsy.
We also recommend the Coleman Pack-Away Cot. It is simple to set up. It's a unibody design that eliminates bars on the feet and head. This makes it perfect for those who sleep on their backs and sides. The cot folds down to a size that's about similar to the size of the storage bag for your favorite backpack. It's heavier than other cots that we've tested but it feels very solid and is suitable for adults who weigh up to 225 lbs.
The Helinox Lite Cot is a lightweight cot that's easy to set-up. It takes just a few seconds to unfold and snap into place and just a few twirls to take it apart for storage. The legs lock in place with a unique lever-lock system that is extremely secure and provides a solid platform for your sleeping bag.
Durability
The best camping cots will withstand a lot of abuse. They are constructed with sturdy materials such as aluminum frames and tough fabrics. Fabric must be tightly woven to ensure that it will not fall apart when a sleeping individual. A high-quality cot is made of 600D polyester that is extremely durable and can endure wear and tear. The best cots are made with double stitching and reinforced seams in high stress zones such as pole sleeves.
Cots are great for camping because they keep you off the ground, comfortable and protected from bugs and other animals that might be roaming around your campsite during the night. Cots are a great alternative for sleeping mats and foam mattresses for hiking or backpacking. However not all cots are created to be the same and some require you to use an additional sleeping pad to ensure optimal comfort. This can be a major problem, particularly for backpackers with a heavy bag.
Some cots, for instance the REI Co-op Kingdom Cot 3, use an air mattress to make them extra comfortable which means you can enjoy a great night's rest and don't need to carry a sleeping pad along with you. The cot is big and heavy, so it could be difficult to fit into a tent even if it is spacious enough.
The Helinox Lite Cot offers another great option, which doesn't require an additional sleeping pad. Its aluminum frame, which is lightweight, provides good support and is extremely comfortable to sleep on. Our test subjects who slept on it during hikes in the mountains say they felt more comfortable than when using an air or foam pad.
Cots are great for camping but they can be used in other scenarios, such as when you've got guests staying over and you don't want them to sleep on the floor. cots to tots are also ideal for an RV or camper because they are more comfortable than an inflatable mattress. Plus, they're more stable than a tent or air mattress, which means you don't have to fret about them bouncing around or blowing up in the middle of the night.