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The Best Cots For Hiking and Hunting
If you're hiking or hunting, a good night's sleep is vital. Cots are an excellent option to keep you comfortable and off the ground. However, they are heavy and difficult to pack on the road.
We compared and evaluated 10 of the best cots in terms of comfort, portability and durability.
Comfort
A good night's sleep on the trail is vital to enjoying your camping experience. Unlike sleeping on the ground, cots keep you off the cold and uneven terrain, while providing a comfortable bed to rest in. When choosing a cot, ensure that it is light and offers a sturdy level of support to ensure you get a great night's rest. Cots that feature an appearance of a mattress are popular and are usually designed to be used in conjunction with an air mattress or sleeping pad to add an extra layer of insulation.
Whether you're backpacking or car camping, finding the best cot for your needs is key. For those who are mostly backpackers, think about lightweight options such as the Helinox Lite Cot or ALPS Mountaineering ReadyLite Cot, which offer a lightweight sleeping solution that is easily carried in your pack. If you do a mixture of car camping and backpacking, then consider something heavier such as the REI Kingdom Cot 3 or Coleman ComfortSmart Deluxe.
If you're looking for a luxurious option, the top-rated cots listed here are all designed to look as like a traditional mattress as possible. They're heavier than their ultra-lightweight counterparts however, they're easy to carry and setup on the trail.
When selecting a cot it's also important to consider the materials and construction. Look for cots made of high-quality fabrics that can withstand the rigors of use. Look for details such as a 600D polyester fabric and reinforced seams to ensure your cot will last for many years to come.
A cot should also have adequate cushioning to guard from the hard and uncomfortable surface. Certain models, such as the Coleman ComfortSmart Deluxe are quilted and padded. Other models include REI Kingdom Cot 3 have baffles that prevent you from sinking into the cot. A cot should be long enough to accommodate your height and wide enough to comfortably lie down in. Look for a cot that has an adequate weight capacity to be able to support your body, especially when traveling with a spouse or pets.
Portability
The most comfortable camping cots fold down compactly and take up a small amount of space inside a backpack, allowing you to fit more sleeping gear into your backpack. The cots are lighter than other options for camp bedding, which is an advantage during long hikes and multi-day backcountry excursions. The portability of the cot is crucial when you think about how much time it takes to unpack and pack your gear.
It can take just some time to fold and assemble a cot dependent on the model. More complicated models require more assembly, and some include parts that can be difficult to locate or connect. Some cots come with built-in storage or other features to help reduce the time to set up your bed.
Cots with legs that can be adjusted are the most flexible that allow you to adjust them to fit various ground conditions. Some cots come with a tether to keep them steady in conditions of stormy or windy weather. These are especially helpful when backpacking since uneven or unstable ground can affect the stability of your shelter.
When you're choosing a cot take into consideration how often you'll be using it and where you plan to stay. Cots that are lightweight and fold compactly are perfect for backpacking. However, cots that are heavy-duty and have a larger sleeping area are better suited for basecamps or car camping. If you plan to use your cot for home primarily, it is worth investing in bedding that's specifically designed for the kind of bed you've got. This typically includes fitted and flat sheets as well as a pillowcase.
If you're in search of a comfortable easy-to-set up cot that is suitable for a variety of camping The Byer of Maine Easy Cot is a great choice. nursery cots folds down into a carry case that's similar in size to the standard camping chair, and has a strap attached for simple haulage. This cot does not have the biggest sleeping area of our top selections. However, its strong materials and durable frames make it a great option for most camping trips.
Easy Setup
Cots are often required when camping, but they tend to be more difficult to put up than other kinds of sleeping equipment. This is due to the fact that they require you to place them on an even surface, which is difficult to find in the wilderness, and some of them have bars across their foot and head areas that you could want to avoid hitting while you sleep.
The best cots that we tested were fairly easy to set up. Some of them are self-standing and are a massive relief since it eliminates the need for you to figure out how to secure them, while others come with simple foldout designs and a few clicks to put them in the proper position. Traditional cots, however, are often a different story since they require you to construct the frame and tie the fabric yourself and will require a significant amount of energy and time.
The Alps Mountaineering Double Kwik cot is among the simplest to set up, meaning it can be used for camping in a car or tent camping. It is also suitable for trips to backpack. It's a bit heavier than the average cot, but it can be folded to a size about the same size as the carry case for the folding camping chair. It's also incredibly sturdy, constructed from an extremely durable and comfortable 600D polyester with an aluminum frame that doesn't contain any plastic parts that are fragile.
Another model we recommend is the Coleman Pack-Away Cot, which is another cinch to set up. It also has a unique construction that eliminates the need for bars that run across your feet and head, making it perfect for back and side sleepers. The cot is foldable down to a size similar to the size of your backpack of choice. It's heavier than some of the other cots we've tried, however it's extremely sturdy and is suitable for adults weighing up to 225lbs.
We were also impressed by the Helinox Lite Cot, which is a light cot that is extremely simple to set up. It takes just some time to unfold, snap into place, and then a few pulls for it to be broken down. The legs are secured by a lever lock system that is very secure and provides the perfect base for your sleeping bag.
Durability
The most comfortable camping cots are built to stand up to lots of abuse and use. They are constructed with durable materials like aluminum frames and tough fabrics. Fabric should be woven tightly so that it does not tear under the weight of a sleeping individual. A high-quality cot will be made of 600D polyester which is strong and able to stand up to wear and tear. The most durable cots have double stitching and reinforced seams in high stress zones like pole sleeves.
They're great for camping because they will keep you warm and free of bugs or other creatures that may be lurking around in the dark. Cots are a great alternative for sleeping bags and foam mats when backpacking or hiking. There aren't all cots that provide the same comfort and some require a separate sleeping pad to be used with them. This can be a huge hassle, especially for backpackers carrying a heavy pack.
Some cots, like the REI Co-op Kingdom Cot 3, use an air bed to make them more comfortable which means you can enjoy a great night's rest and don't need to carry a sleeping pad to sleep on. However the cot is large and bulky, so it can be hard to fit it into a tent even if the tent is plenty of space.
The Helinox Lite Cot offers another fantastic option, and does not require an additional sleeping pad. Its aluminum frame, which is lightweight, provides a good level of support and is extremely comfortable to sleep on. Our testers who slept on it during hikes in the mountains say they were more comfortable than using a foam or air pad.

Cots are a great option for camping however they can also be used in other circumstances like when you're having guests stay over and you don't want them sleeping on the floor. They're also an excellent option for a camper, RV 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 during the middle of the night.