The Best Cots For Hiking and Hunting
A good night's rest is essential when you're hiking or hunting, and cots are an excellent 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 go.
We tested and evaluated 10 of the best cots in terms of comfort, portability and durability.
Comfort
Getting a good night's rest on the trail is essential to enjoy your camping experience. In contrast to sleeping on the ground, cots help you stay away from the cold and uneven terrain, while giving you a comfortable bed to rest in. Look for a cot that is light but also offers a solid level of support. This will guarantee an excellent night's rest. Cots with an appearance of a mattress are popular and are usually designed to be used in conjunction with an air mattress or a sleeping pad to add an extra layer of insulation.
Finding the ideal cot is important for car camping or backpacking. For those who are mostly backpackers, look at lightweight options such as the Helinox Lite Cot or ALPS Mountaineering ReadyLite Cot, which offer a lightweight sleeping solution that can be carried in your backpack. If you do a mixture of car camping and backpacking and camping, you might want to consider something heavier like the REI Kingdom Cot 3 or Coleman ComfortSmart Deluxe.
If you're looking for a more luxurious option All of the cots that made this list are designed to be as similar as possible to the traditional mattress. While they're more bulky than their ultra-light counterparts they're still fairly easy to transport and put up on the trail.
It's important to also consider the materials and construction of the cot when selecting one. Look for cots constructed from high-quality fabrics that can withstand regular use. Look for details such as 600D polyester fabrics and reinforced seams to ensure that your cot will last for a long time to come.
A cot should also have a good amount of cushioning to guard against the hard, uncomfortable surface. Baby beds , like the Coleman ComfortSmart Deluxe are quilted and padded, while others, such as REI Kingdom Cot 3 have baffles that prevent you from sinking into the cot. Also, a cot must be long enough to accommodate your height and wide enough for you to comfortably lie down in. Choose a cot which has a sufficient weight capacity to be able to support your body, especially if you're traveling with a spouse or pet.
Portability
The most comfortable camping cots fold flat and take up little space inside a backpack, allowing you to fit more sleeping gear into your backpack. They are also lighter than other camping bedding options, which can quickly add up when you go on long hikes or multiple-day backcountry excursions. When you consider how much time you'll spend packing and unpacking your gear the ability to move a cot around is a significant factor in the overall rating.
It may only take a few minutes to unfold and put together a cot dependent on the model. Certain models are more difficult and require more assembly. Other models have parts that are difficult to find or connect. Some cots come with built-in storage pockets, or other features that will help you reduce the amount of time spent building your bed.
The most versatile cots have adjustable legs, which allow the user to adjust them for different terrain conditions. Some cots come with a tether that helps keep them steady in windy or stormy weather. They're particularly ideal for backpacking, where the stability of your shelter can be compromised due to uneven or unstable ground.
Think about how often you'll use the cot and where you intend to stay when you select a cot. Cots with a lightweight design and compact fold are great for backpacking, whereas the ones with a strong construction and larger sleeping area are more suitable for car camping or basecamps. If you plan to keep your cot at the home, it's important to purchase bedding specifically designed for the kind of bed you've got. This usually consists of flat and fitted sheets as well as an appropriate pillowcase.
The Byer of Maine easy cot is a fantastic choice when you're looking for a comfortable and easy-to-setup cot. It's ideal for all camping types. It folds into a case that resembles a camping chair and has straps for easy transportation. This cot doesn't have the biggest sleeping area of our top choices. However, its strong frame and durable materials make it a great option for camping trips of all kinds.
Easy Setup
Cots are a must for camping however they are more difficult to set up than other sleeping gear. This is because they require you to put them up on an even surface, which is difficult to find in the wilderness. Additionally, some of them have bars on their foot and head areas which you might prefer not to hit when you sleep.
The cots we tested were fairly easy to set up. Some are self-standing which is a relief as you don't have to think about how to secure them. Others have simple folding designs and only require a few clicks. Traditional cots, however, are often a different story as they require you to put together the frame and tension the fabric yourself and it will require a significant amount of energy and time.
The Alps Mountaineering Double-Kwik-Cot is one of the easiest to set up that's why it can be utilized for tent or car camping, as well as for backpacking trips. It's a little heavier than the average cot, but it can be folded to a size that's about the same size as the carry case of a folding camp chair. It's also extremely durable, being made 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 also has a unique construction that eliminates any bars across your feet and head which makes it ideal for sleepers who are back or side. The cot can also be folded down to a small size, which is about similar to the size of the bag that you use to store your backpack of choice. It's heavier than other cots we tested, but it's extremely sturdy and is suitable for adults weighing up to 225 pounds.
We were also impressed with the Helinox Lite Cot, which is a very light cot that is extremely simple to set up. It takes just a few seconds to unfold and snap into place and just a few twirls to disassemble for storage. The legs lock into place by a unique lever lock system that is extremely secure and offers a sturdy platform for your sleeping bag.
Durability
The best camping cots are designed to stand up to lots of abuse and use. They have durable components, such as aluminum frames and sturdy fabrics. Fabric should be tightly woven so that it does not tear under the weight of a sleeping individual. A high-quality cot will be made of 600D polyester that is strong and able to withstand wear and tear. The top cots also feature reinforced seams and double stitching in highly stressed places like pole sleeves.
Cots are ideal for camping because they keep you away from the ground, comfortable and secure from insects and other creatures that might be roaming around your campsite at night. Cots are an excellent alternative for sleeping mats and foam mattresses when backpacking or hiking. Some cots don't provide the same level of comfort, and some require an additional sleeping pad to be used alongside them. This can be a big issue, particularly for backpackers carrying a large backpack.
Some cots, for instance 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 have to bring a sleeping pad with you. However this cot is heavy and bulky, which means it isn't easy to fit it into a tent, even if the tent is plenty of space.
The Helinox Lite Cot is another excellent option that doesn't need an additional pad to be comfortable. Its lightweight aluminum frame provides a good level of support and is extremely comfortable to sleep on. It was more comfortable for our test participants to use on hiking trips than a foam or air cushion.
They're ideal for guests who are who are staying in your home and you don't want them sleep on the floor. They're also a great addition for a camper, RV or any other vehicle with a mattress. They're more comfortable than inflatable mattresses. Plus, they're more sturdy than tents or an air mattress, so you don't have to worry about them blowing up or shifting up during the night.
