The Best Cots For Hiking and Hunting
When you're out hunting or hiking getting a good night's rest is vital. Cots are a great option to ensure you're comfortable and off the ground. However they can be heavy and challenging to pack when you're traveling.
We tested 10 of the best co-teaching cots and scored them on comfort and accessibility, ease of setting up, and durability.
Comfort
top rated cots on the trail is crucial to enjoying your camping experience. As opposed to sleeping on the ground, cots help you stay away from the rough and cold terrain while providing a comfortable bed to rest in. Choose a cot that is lightweight but also offers an adequate amount of support. This will guarantee an excellent night's rest. Cots with mattresses are especially desirable and are often designed to be used with an air mattress or sleeping pad to provide an additional layer of insulation.
Finding the right cot is crucial regardless of whether you're camping in the car 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 plan to are combining car camping and backpacking look into something heavier and larger, such as the Coleman ComfortSmart Deluxe or REI Kingdom Cot 3.
If you're looking for a more luxurious option All of the cots featured on this list are designed to feel as close as they can to a traditional mattress. They're a bit heavier than their ultra-lightweight counterparts however, they're easy to carry and setup on the trail.
It's important to also consider the materials and construction of the cot when selecting one. Look for cots made of top-quality fabrics that can withstand regular use. To ensure that your cot lasts many years to come, look for specifics like a 600D poly fabric and reinforced seams.
A cot should also have an adequate amount of cushioning to shield you from the hard rough surface. Some models, 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 fit your height and wide enough to comfortably lay down in. Look for a cot that has an adequate weight capacity to ensure it can support your body, particularly when traveling with a companion or pet.
Portability
The most comfortable camping cots are lightweight and take up less space in your pack. This allows you to fit more sleeping equipment into your backpack. They are also lighter than many other camp bedding options which can quickly add up on long hikes or multi-day backcountry trips. When you consider how much time you're spending packing and unpacking your gear the mobility of a cot is a significant factor in the overall rating.
It can take just several minutes to fold and assemble a cot depending on the model. More complicated models require more assembly, and some come with parts that can be difficult to locate or connect. Some cots come with built-in storage or other features to help you cut down on the time it takes to put together your bed.
The most flexible cots have adjustable legs, which allow the user to adjust them for different terrain conditions. Some come with an anchor to keep them stable during storms or turbulent weather. They are particularly suitable for backpacking trips, as the stability of your shelter can be compromised by uneven or unstable ground.
When selecting a cot, think about how often you'll use it and where you plan to camp. Cots with a lightweight design and compact fold are great for backpacking, whereas the ones with a strong construction and a larger sleeping space are more suitable for basecamps or camping in cars. If you plan to use your cot for home primarily, it is worthwhile to invest in bedding specifically designed for the kind of bed you have. This includes fitted and flat sheets as well as an appropriate pillowcase.
If you're looking for a comfy and easy-to-set-up cot suitable for a variety of camping The Byer of Maine Easy Cot is a great choice. It folds down into a case that resembles an outdoor chair, and comes with an easy-to-transport strap. It doesn't come with the largest sleeping platform of all our top picks but its strong frames and sturdy materials make it a solid choice for most camping trips.
Easy Setup
Cots are often required for camping, but they also are often more difficult to install than other types of sleeping gear. This is because they require you to set them up on a level surface which is difficult to find in the wilderness. Additionally, some of them have bars across their head and foot areas that you may prefer not to hit while you sleep.
The cots we tested were fairly easy to set-up. They are also self-standing, which is a huge relief since you don't have to worry about how to secure them. Others have simple folding designs and only require a few clicks. Traditional cots are a different story. You must assemble the frame yourself and then tension the fabric, which requires an enormous amount of energy and time.
The Alps Mountaineering Double Kwik cot is among the easiest to set up, meaning it can be used both for camping in a car or tent camping. It can also be used for trips to backpack. It's a bit heavier than the typical cot, but it folds down to a size that's about the same as the carry case for a folding camp chair. It's also incredibly sturdy, constructed from a rugged and comfortable 600D polyester with an aluminum frame that doesn't contain any plastic parts that are fragile.
Another option we suggest is the Coleman Pack-Away Cot, which is another cinch to set up. It also has a unibody construction that eliminates any bars that run across your head and feet, making it perfect for back and side sleepers. The cot folds down to a size comparable to the size of your backpack of choice. It's a bit heavier than other cots we've tested but it feels very solid and is suitable for adults weighing up to 225 lbs.
We were also impressed with the Helinox Lite Cot, which is a cot that is light that is extremely simple to set up. It takes just a few moments to unfold and snap it into place and then a few pulls for it to be broken down. The legs lock into place by a unique lever lock system that is extremely secure and provides a sturdy platform for sleeping bags.
Durability
The best camping cots are built to withstand the rigors of use and abuse. They have durable components, such as aluminum frames and robust fabrics. Fabric should be woven tightly so that it doesn't break when an individual sleeping. A high-quality cot will be made of 600D polyester that is extremely durable and can stand up to wear and tear. The top cots also have reinforced seams and double stitching in high stress places like pole sleeves.
Cots are great for camping because they keep you off the ground, comfy, and safe from bugs and other animals that might be roaming around your campsite at night. They also provide an alternative to sleeping bags and foam pads if you're backpacking or hiking. But not all cots are created in the same way, and some require you to add an additional sleeping pad for optimal comfort. This can be a big problem, particularly for backpackers who carry a large bag.
Some cots, such as the REI Co-op Kingdom Cot 3, use an air bed to make them more comfortable which means you can enjoy a good night's sleep and not need to carry a sleeping pad with you. However the cot is big and bulky, so it can be hard to fit it into a tent, even if your tent has plenty of space.
The Helinox Lite Cot is another fantastic option that doesn't require an additional mattress to be comfortable. The lightweight aluminum frame offers excellent support and is very comfortable to sleep on. Our testers who used it on hiking backpacking trips said they felt more comfortable than using an air or foam pad.
Cots are a great option for camping, but they can also be used in other circumstances, such as when you've got guests staying over and don't want them to sleep on the floor. They're also a great addition to a camper or RV because they are more comfortable than inflatable mattress. Plus, they're more sturdy than tents or an air mattress, which means you don't have to fret about them shifting or blowing up during the night.