The Best Cots For Hiking and Hunting
A restful night's sleep is critical while hunting or hiking, and cots are an excellent option to keep you off the ground and comfy. However, cots are bulky and difficult to pack for travel.
We compared and rated 10 of the top cots in terms of durability, comfort, portability and ease of use.
Comfort
Sleeping well on the trail is essential to enjoying your camping experience. As opposed to sleeping on the ground, cots help you stay away from the cold and uneven terrain while providing a comfortable bed to sleep on. When selecting a cot, ensure that it is lightweight and provides an adequate amount of support to ensure you get an enjoyable night's sleep. Cots with an appearance of a mattress are desirable and are often designed to be used with an air mattress or sleeping pad to add an extra layer of insulation.
Whether you're backpacking or car camping, choosing the right cot for your needs is crucial. Consider lightweight options such as 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 car camping and backpacking, then consider something heavier, like the REI Kingdom Cot 3 or Coleman ComfortSmart Deluxe.
If you're looking for a more comfortable option, the top cots listed here are all made to look as close to a traditional bed as possible. They're heavier than their ultra-lightweight counterparts, however, they're easy to carry and setup on the trail.
When choosing a cot, it's important to take into account the materials used and the construction. Find cots made of high-quality fabrics that can withstand the rigors of use. To ensure that your cot will last for many years, look for details like a 600D poly fabric and reinforced seams.
A cot must also offer enough cushioning to keep you from the hard and uncomfortable ground. small cot beds , such as the Coleman ComfortSmart Deluxe, are padded and quilted, while others, like the REI Kingdom Cot 3, feature baffles to keep you from sinking in. Also, a cot must be long enough to meet your height and wide enough for you to comfortably lie down in. Find a cot that is able to support your weight to ensure it's able to support your body, particularly when traveling with a spouse or pets.
Portability
The best camping cots fold down compactly and take up very little space in a pack, allowing you to fit more sleeping gear into your backpack. The cots are lighter than other options for camp bedding, which can be an advantage when you are taking long hikes and longer backcountry excursions. The flexibility of the cot's design is essential when considering the amount of time it takes to pack and unpack your equipment.
It can take just a few minutes to unfold and assemble a cot, depending on the model. Some models are more complicated and require more assembly. Some have components that are difficult to find or connect. Some cots are equipped with built-in storage, or other features that can help you reduce the time to put together your bed.
Cots with adjustable legs are the most flexible they can be adjusted to suit different ground conditions. Some cots have a tether that keeps them steady in stormy or windy weather. They're particularly useful for backpacking, when the stability of your shelter could be weakened due to uneven or unstable ground.
When choosing a cot, take into consideration how often you'll be using it and where you plan to stay. Cots that are lightweight and compact fold are ideal for backpacking, whereas those with a robust construction and a larger sleeping space are better suited to car camping or basecamps. If you intend to use your cot primarily at home, it's worth investing in a set of bedding specifically designed for the type of cot you have. This includes fitted and flat sheets and a matching pillowcase.
The Byer of Maine easy cot is a great option if you are seeking an easy-to-setup and comfortable cot. It's ideal for all camping styles. It packs down into a case similar in size to a standard camping chair and has a strap attached to make it easy to transport. The cot doesn't have the biggest sleeping platform among all our top picks however its robust materials and durable frame make it a solid option for camping trips of all kinds.
Easy Setup
Cots are often required when camping but they also tend to be 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 a level surface which can be hard to find in the wilderness, and some of them have bars over their head and foot areas which you might need to be careful not to hit when you sleep.
Fortunately, the most comfortable cots we tried are simple to install. Some are self-standing, which is a huge relief since you don't need to worry about how to secure them. Some have a simple folding design and require only the click of a button. Traditional cots are different. You have to 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, meaning it can be used both for car camping 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 size as a folding camping chair's carry case. It is also extremely durable, being made of tough and comfortable 600D polyester, with strong aluminum frame.
Another model we recommend is the Coleman Pack-Away Cot, which is a breeze to set up. It's a single-body design that eliminates bars across the feet and head. This makes it ideal for side and back sleepers. The cot can also be folded down to a small size that's roughly similar to the size of the bag that you use to store your favorite backpack. It's heavier than other cots we tested, but it feels very solid and is suitable for adults of up to 225 lbs.
The Helinox Lite Cot is a lightweight cot that's simple to set up. It only takes the time of a few minutes to unfold and snap it into place and then a few pulls for it to be broken down. The legs lock into place with a unique lever-lock system that is extremely secure and provides a solid platform for your sleeping bag.
Durability
The most durable camping cots can be able to stand up to the rigors of use. They feature durable components like aluminum frames and strong fabrics. Fabric must be tightly woven to ensure that it does not break under the weight of the sleeping person. A high-quality cot is made of 600D polyester that is extremely durable and can stand up to wear and tear. The best cots are made with double stitching and reinforced seams in high stress areas like pole sleeves.
Cots are great for camping as they keep you off the ground, comfortable and secure from bugs and other animals that may be roaming around your campsite at night. Cots can be a great substitute for sleeping mats and foam bags when backpacking or hiking. Not all cots provide the same comfort and some require a separate sleeping pad to be used alongside them. This can be a major hassle, especially for backpackers who are already carrying a heavy backpack.
Some cots, such as the REI Co-op Kingdom Cot 3, use an air bed to make them extra comfortable which means you can enjoy a good night's sleep and not need to carry a sleeping pad with you. This cot is large and bulky so it may be difficult to fit in the tent, even though it is spacious enough.
The Helinox Lite Cot is another great option that doesn't require an additional pad to be comfortable. Its aluminum frame is lightweight and provides excellent support and is comfortable to sleep on. Our testers who slept on it during backpacking hiking trips say they felt more comfortable than using a foam or air 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, camper or any other vehicle with an air mattress. They're more comfortable than inflatable mattresses. Additionally, they're more stable than a tent or air mattress, so you don't need to worry about them blowing up or shifting up during the night.