Karissa Abigail asked 1 year ago
The Best Cots For Hiking and Hunting
A good night’s rest is essential when you’re hiking or hunting, and cots are a great option for keeping you off the ground and comfortable. However, cots can be bulky and challenging to pack when you’re traveling.
We evaluated 10 of the most comfortable cots and rated them on comfort mobility, the ability to move, ease of set-up, and durability.
Comfort
A good night’s rest is vital to fully enjoy your camping trip. Instead of sleeping on the ground you can rest comfortably in a bed. Find an cot that is not heavy, but also provides a solid foundation. This will ensure an excellent night’s rest. Cots with mattresses are especially attractive and are typically designed to be used in conjunction with an air mattress or sleeping pad for an extra layer of insulation.
Finding the ideal cot is essential, whether you’re car camping or backpacking. For those who are mostly backpackers, consider lightweight options such as the Helinox Lite Cot or ALPS Mountaineering ReadyLite Cot, which offer an extremely portable sleeping solution that can be carried in your backpack. If you do a mixture of backpacking and Cots4tots.co.uk car camping, then consider something heavier, like the REI Kingdom Cot 3 or Coleman ComfortSmart Deluxe.
If you want a more luxurious option, all of the cots on this list are designed to feel as close as possible to the traditional mattress. They’re a bit heavier than their ultra-lightweight counterparts, but they’re still easy to carry and setup on the trail.
When choosing a cot, it is also important to think about the materials used and the construction. Find cots constructed from high-quality fabrics that can withstand the rigors of use. To ensure that your cot lasts many years to come, look for specifics like a 600D poly material and reinforced seams.
A cot should also provide enough cushioning to shield you from the hard and uncomfortable ground. Some models, such as the Coleman ComfortSmart Deluxe, are padded and quilted, while others, like the REI Kingdom Cot 3, feature baffles to keep your feet from sinking. A cot should be long enough to meet your height and wide enough to comfortably lie down in. Find a cot that is able to support your weight to be able to support your body, particularly when traveling with a companion or pet.
Portability
The best camping cots fold down compactly and take up little space in your backpack and allow you to fit more sleeping gear into your backpack. They weigh less than other camping bedding options which can quickly add up on long hikes or multi-day backcountry trips. When you consider how much time you’ll spend packing and unpacking your equipment, the ability to move a cot around is a major factor in the overall rating.
It could take only some time to fold and assemble a cot, dependent on the model. Certain models are more complex 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 to help you cut down on the time it takes to put together your bed.
Cots with legs that can be adjusted are the most flexible that allow you to adjust them to accommodate different terrain conditions. Some cots are equipped with a tether that keeps them in place during windy or stormy weather. They are particularly useful when backpacking since uneven or unstable ground can affect the stability of your shelter.
Consider how often you will use the cot and the location you plan to stay when you select a cot. Cots that are lightweight and compact in size are great for backpacking. However cots that are built to last and have a larger sleeping space are ideal for basecamps or car camping. If you intend to use your cot exclusively at home, you should consider investing in a set bedding that is specifically made for the type of cot you own. It usually includes sheets that are flat and fitted and the pillowcase.
The Byer of Maine easy cot is a fantastic choice when you’re seeking an easy-to-setup and comfortable cot. It’s also suitable for most types of camping. It folds down into a carry case that’s similar in dimensions to a standard camping chair and has an attached strap for simple haulage. This cot doesn’t have the biggest sleeping area of our top selections. However, its strong frames and sturdy materials make it a great option for most camping trips.
Easy Setup
Cots are usually a necessity when camping, but they are often more difficult to put up than other kinds of sleeping equipment. It is because you have to put them up on an even surface that can be difficult to locate while camping. Some of them also have bars on the foot and head that you might not want to strike when sleeping.
The top cots we tested were fairly easy to set-up. Some of them are self-standing which is a major relief as it doesn’t require you to figure out how to secure them, while others have a simple foldout design and a couple of clicks to get them into the right position. Traditional cots, however, are often a different story because they require you to construct the frame and tie the fabric by yourself and could take a lot of energy and time.
The Alps Mountaineering Double Kwik cot is among the easiest to set up, which means it can be used for car camping and tent camping. It can also be used for backpacking trips. It’s heavier than a typical camping cot, but it can be packed down to the same size as a folding campchair’s carry case. It’s also extremely durable, made of tough and comfortable 600D polyester, with a sturdy aluminum frame.
We also recommend the Coleman Pack-Away Cot. It is easy to set up. It’s a single-body design that eliminates bars across the feet and head. This makes it perfect for back and side sleepers. The cot folds down to a size similar to the bag that you carry in your preferred backpack. It’s a little heavier than other cots we tested but it feels very sturdy and is suitable for adults who weigh up to 225 pounds.
The Helinox Lite Cot is a lightweight cot that’s simple to set up. It takes just 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 are secured with a lever-lock system which is extremely secure and offers an excellent base for your sleeping bag.
Durability
The most comfortable camping cots are designed to stand up to lots of abuse and use. They have durable components, such as aluminum frames and strong fabrics. Fabric should be woven tightly so that it will not tear under the weight of the sleeping person. A good quality cot will use heavy-duty 600D polyester, which is able to withstand a lot of wear and tear. The best cots use double stitching and reinforced seams in high-stress zones like pole sleeves.
They are perfect for camping as they keep you comfortable and free of bugs and other creatures that could be lurking around in the dark. Cots can be a great substitute for sleeping mats and foam mattresses when backpacking or hiking. But not all cots are made in the same way, and some require you to use an additional sleeping pad to provide maximum comfort. This can be a big issue, particularly for backpackers carrying a heavy backpack.
Some cots, like the REI Co-op Kingdom Cot 3, use an air bed to make them extra comfortable which means you can enjoy an excellent night’s sleep and don’t need to carry a mattress with you. The cot is huge and bulky, which means it will be difficult to fit in a tent even if it’s spacious.
The Helinox Lite Cot is another great option that doesn’t require an additional pad to be comfortable. Its aluminum frame is lightweight and offers a great level of support and is extremely comfortable to sleep on. It was more comfortable for our testers to use for hiking trips than a foam or air cushion.
Cots are ideal for camping, but they can also be used in other scenarios for instance, when you’re having guests stay over and you don’t want them sleeping on the floor. They are also a great addition to a RV or camper since they are more comfortable than inflatable mattress. They’re also more sturdy than the tent or air mattress and you don’t have to fret whether they explode or shift during the middle of the night.