The Best Cots For Hiking and Hunting
When you're out hunting or hiking, a good night's sleep is crucial. Cots are a great option to ensure you're comfortable and off the ground. However, cots are bulky and hard to transport for travel.
We compared and rated 10 of the top cots on the quality of their comfort, portability, and durability.
Comfort
Getting a good night's rest on the trail is essential for enjoying your camping experience. Unlike sleeping on the ground, cots help you stay away from the cold and uneven terrain while giving you a comfortable bed to sleep in. Find a cot that is light, but also provides a solid level of support. This will ensure a good night's sleep. Cots with a mattress-like cover are the most desirable. They are typically designed to be used with an air mattress or sleeping pad, or any other insulation.
If you're backpacking, or car camping, finding the best cot for your needs is key. 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 carried in your backpack. If you plan to are combining car camping and backpacking look into something larger and heavier, such as the Coleman ComfortSmart Deluxe or REI Kingdom Cot 3.
If you're looking for a more luxurious option, all of the cots on this list are designed to feel as close as possible to a traditional mattress. Although they're more heavy than their ultra-light counterparts, they're still fairly easy to transport and set up on the trail.
When you're choosing a cot it's important to take into account its materials and construction. Find cots constructed from high-quality fabrics that can withstand regular use. Look for details like 600D polyester fabrics and reinforced seams to ensure your cot will last for a long time to be.
A cot should also provide enough cushioning to keep you from the hard rough ground. Certain models, such as the Coleman ComfortSmart Deluxe are quilted and padded, whereas others, such as REI Kingdom Cot 3 have baffles to prevent you from sinking into the cot. 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 has a sufficient weight capacity to be able to support your body, particularly if you're traveling with a partner or pets.
Portability
The best camping cots are compact and require less space in your pack. This allows you to pack more sleeping gear into your backpack. They are less heavy than other options for camp bedding, which is an advantage during long hikes and longer backcountry trips. The flexibility of the cot's design is important when you consider how much time it takes to unpack and pack your equipment.
Depending on the model you select, it may take a couple of minutes to unfold and put up a coffin. More complicated models require greater assembly, and some include parts that are difficult to locate or connect. top rated cots have built-in storage pockets or other features that will help to reduce the amount of time spent building your bed.
The most flexible cots come with adjustable legs, which allow you to adjust them to different ground conditions. Some cots have a tether that keeps them in place during stormy or windy weather. These are especially helpful when backpacking because uneven or unstable terrain can affect the stability of your shelter.
When selecting a cot, think about how often you'll use it, as well as the place you'd like to stay. Cots that are lightweight and fold compactly are perfect for backpacking. However cots that are built to last and have a larger sleeping area work better for basecamps or car camping. If you intend to use your cot mostly at home, it's worth purchasing a set of bedding specifically designed for the cot you have. This usually consists of sheets that are flat and fitted and a pillowcase.
The Byer of Maine easy cot is a great option when you're looking for an easy and comfortable cot. It's ideal for all camping types. It folds into a case similar to a camping chair, and has a strap for easy transport. This cot doesn't have the largest sleeping surface of our top choices. However, its strong frames and sturdy materials make it a great option for camping trips of all kinds.
Easy Setup
Cots are usually a necessity when camping, but they are often more difficult to put up than other kinds of sleeping gear. This is because they require you to set them up on an even surface, which can be difficult to find in the wilderness, and some of them have bars over their foot and head areas which you might prefer not to hit while you sleep.
Fortunately, the most comfortable cots that we tested are easy to set up. Some are self-standing which is a great relief because you don't have to think about how to put them in place. Some have a simple folding design and require only a few clicks. Traditional cots are a different story. They require you to put together the frame by yourself and then tie the fabric, which requires lots of energy and time.
The Alps Mountaineering Double Kwik cot is among the easiest to set up, meaning it can be used for camping in a car or tent camping. It is also suitable for backpacking trips. It's heavier than your typical camping cot, however it can be tucked away to the same size as a folding campchair's carry case. It's extremely durable, constructed of a rugged and comfy 600D polyester, with a sturdy aluminum frame.
We also recommend the Coleman Pack-Away Cot. It is simple to set up. It's a unibody design that removes bars across the feet and head. This makes it perfect for side and back sleepers. The cot can also be folded down to a small size, which is about the same as the bag you carry in your backpack of choice. It's a little heavier than other cots we've tried, but it's very sturdy and is suitable for adults who weigh up to 225 pounds.
We were also impressed by the Helinox Lite Cot, which is a cot that is light that is extremely simple to set up. It takes only the time of a few minutes to unfold and snap into place and then a few tugs for it to be broken down. The legs are secured with a lever-lock system which is extremely secure and provides the perfect base for your sleeping bag.
Durability
The best camping cots are able to stand up to a lot of abuse. They are constructed with sturdy materials such as aluminum frames and strong fabrics. Fabric should be tightly woven so that it will not fall apart when the sleeping person. A good quality cot is made of high-end 600D polyester that can withstand a lot of wear and tear. The most durable cots have double stitching and reinforced seams in high stress zones such as pole sleeves.
They are perfect for camping because they will keep you warm and away from bugs and other creatures that may be lurking in the night. Cots can be a great substitute for sleeping mats and foam bags for hiking or backpacking. There aren't all cots that offer the same comfort, and some require a sleeping pad to be used with them. This can be a major problem, particularly for backpackers carrying a heavy bag.
Some cots have an air mattress to make them more comfortable. This allows you to have a restful night's sleep without the need to bring a sleeping mat. However this cot is large and bulky, so it's not easy to fit it into a tent even if the tent is plenty of space.
The Helinox Lite Cot is another fantastic option that doesn't require an additional pad to be comfortable. Its aluminum frame is lightweight and provides excellent support and is very comfortable to sleep on. It was more comfortable for our test subjects to use on hiking trips than an air or foam cushion.
They're also ideal for guests who are staying in your home and you don't want to have them sleep on the floor. They're also a great addition to an RV, camper or any other vehicle with a mattress. They're more comfortable than inflatable mattresses. They're also more stable than the tent or air mattress which means you don't need to fret when they explode or shift in the middle night.