The Best Cots For Hiking and Hunting
A restful night's sleep is vital while hunting or hiking and cots are a great option for keeping you off the ground and comfortable. However they can be heavy and can be difficult to pack when you're on the move.
We tested 10 of the best Cots and gave them a score based on comfort and portability, ease of setup, and durability.
Comfort
A good night's sleep is essential for a successful camping trip. Instead of sleeping on the ground you can rest comfortably in a bed. Look for a cot that is lightweight and also offers an adequate amount of support. This will ensure you a restful night's sleep. Cots with a mattress-like cover are the most sought-after. They are usually designed to be used with an air mattress or sleeping pad as well as other insulation.
The right cot for you is essential regardless of whether you're camping in the car or backpacking. Consider lightweight options such as the Helinox Lite Cot and ALPS Mountaineering ReadyLite Cot for backpackers. cots to tots are extremely mobile sleeping solutions that can be easily carried in your backpack. If you do a mixture of car camping and backpacking and camping, you might want to consider something heavier such as the REI Kingdom Cot 3 or Coleman ComfortSmart Deluxe.
If you're looking for an even more comfortable option, the top cots listed here are all designed to look as close to a traditional bed as possible. While they're more bulky than their ultra-light counterparts they're still relatively easy to transport and set up on the trail.
It's important to also consider the materials and construction of the cot when selecting one. Choose cots that are constructed from high-quality fabrics that are durable enough to withstand daily use. To ensure that your cot will last for many years, look for details like a 600D poly material and reinforced seams.
A cot must also offer enough cushioning to protect you from the hard, uncomfortable 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. Lastly, a cot should be long enough to fit your height and wide enough to comfortably lay down in. Choose a cot which has an adequate weight capacity to ensure it can help your body, especially if you're traveling with a companion or pets.
Portability
The best camping cots fold down compactly and take up little space inside a backpack which allows you to pack more sleeping gear in your backpack. They are less heavy than other options for camp bedding, which is an advantage when you are taking long hikes and multi-day backcountry excursions. The flexibility of the cot's design is essential when considering how much time it takes to unpack and pack your gear.
Depending on the model that you select, it may take minutes to unfold and put up the coffin. More complicated models require greater assembly, and some have parts that are difficult to locate or connect. Some cots have built-in storage pockets, or other features that can help you reduce the amount of time spent setting up your bed.
The most versatile cots come with adjustable legs, which allow the user to adjust them for different terrain conditions. Some come with a tether to help keep them stable during storms or stormy weather. They're particularly ideal for backpacking, where the stability of your shelter could be weakened due to uneven or unstable ground.
Consider how often you will use the cot and the location you plan to camp when selecting a cot. Cots that are lightweight and compact are ideal for backpacking. However, cots with a lot of weight and with a larger sleeping area work better for camping in car parks or basecamps. If you plan to use your cot for your home, it's important to purchase bedding specifically designed to fit the type of bed you've got. This usually consists of fitted and flat sheets as well as the pillowcase.
The Byer of Maine easy cot is a great option to consider if you're seeking a comfortable and easy-to-setup cot. It's ideal for all camping types. It folds into a case similar in dimensions to a standard camping chair and comes with a strap for simple haulage. The cot doesn't have the largest sleeping surface of our top selections. However, its strong frame and durable materials make it a good option for most camping trips.
Installation is simple
Cots are a must for camping, but they are also more difficult to set-up than other sleeping equipment. This is because they require you to set them up on an even surface, which can be difficult to find in the wilderness. Additionally, some of them have bars on their head and foot areas which you might want to avoid hitting while you sleep.
Fortunately, the top cots we tested are relatively easy to set up. They are also self-standing, which is a huge relief since you don't have to worry about how to fix them. Some have an easy folding design and require just the click of a button. Traditional cots are a different story. They require you to put together the frame yourself and tension the fabric, which requires lots of strength and time.
The Alps Mountaineering Double Kwik cot is among the easiest to set up, which means it can be used for camping in the car and tent camping. It can also be used on trips to backpack. It's heavier than the average cot, but it folds down to a size that's about similar to the carry case for a folding camp chair. It's also incredibly sturdy, constructed from a tough and comfortable 600D polyester and 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 has a unibody design that eliminates bars on the feet and head. This makes it ideal for side and back sleepers. The cot is foldable down to a size comparable to the bag that you carry in your backpack of choice. It's a little heavier than other cots we tested but it feels very solid and suitable for adults up to 225 pounds.
We were also impressed with the Helinox Lite Cot, which is a very light cot that's extremely easy to install. It takes just a few seconds to fold and snap back into place. It just a few twirls to disassemble to store it. The legs lock in place by a lever lock system that is very secure and provides a solid base for your sleeping bag.
Durability
The best camping cots are able to be able to stand up to the rigors of use. They feature durable components like aluminum frames and strong fabrics. The fabric should be tightly woven so that it doesn't tear when strained by the weight of a sleeping person. A good quality cot will make use of heavy-duty 600D polyester, which will withstand lots of wear and tear. The best cots use double stitching and reinforced seams in high stress areas like pole sleeves.
Cots are ideal for camping because they keep you off the ground, comfy 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 mattresses for hiking or backpacking. Some cots don't provide the same level of comfort, and some require a separate sleeping pad to use with them. This can be a major hassle, especially for backpackers carrying a heavy bag.
Some cots, such as the REI Co-op Kingdom Cot 3, use an air bed to make them extra comfortable and allow you to get an excellent night's sleep 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 in a tent even if it's spacious.
The Helinox Lite Cot offers another great option, which doesn't require an additional sleeping pad. Its aluminum frame is lightweight and provides excellent support and is very comfortable to sleep on. Our test subjects who took it on backpacking hiking trips say they felt more comfortable than using an air or foam pad.
Cots are ideal for camping, but they can be used in other scenarios like when you have guests stay over and don't want them sleeping on the floor. They're also an excellent option to an RV, camper or any other vehicle with mattresses. They're more comfortable than inflatable mattresses. They're also more sturdy than an inflatable mattress or tent, so you won't have to be concerned when they explode or shift during the middle of night.