The Best Cots For Hiking and Hunting
A restful night's sleep is essential while hunting or hiking, and cots are an excellent option for keeping you off the ground and in a comfortable position. However, cots can be heavy and can be difficult to carry for travel.
We tested 10 of the best cots and rated them on comfort, the ability to move, ease of set-up, and durability.
Comfort
A good night's sleep is vital for a successful camping excursion. As opposed to sleeping on the ground, cots help you stay away from the cold and uneven terrain while providing a comfortable bed to sleep in. Find a cot that is light and also offers an adequate amount of support. This will ensure a good night's sleep. Cots that have a mattress-like top are the most popular. They are usually designed to work with an air mattress or sleeping pad, or any other forms of insulation.
Finding the right cot is important 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. These are extremely portable sleeping solutions that can be easily carried in your backpack. If you plan to combine a mix of backpacking and car camping, then consider something heavier, like the REI Kingdom Cot 3 or Coleman ComfortSmart Deluxe.
If you're looking for a more luxurious option, the top-rated cots listed here are all designed to be as like a traditional mattress as possible. Although they're heavier than their ultra-light counterparts, they're still relatively simple to transport and set up on the trail.
It is important to consider the materials and construction of the cot when selecting one. Choose cots that are made of top-quality fabrics that can withstand regular use. To ensure that your cot lasts many years, look for details like a 600D poly material and reinforced seams.
A cot should also provide adequate cushioning to protect you from the hard rough ground. Some models, like the Coleman ComfortSmart Deluxe are quilted and padded, whereas others include REI Kingdom Cot 3 have baffles that stop you from sinking into the cot. A cot should also be wide enough and long enough to accommodate your height. Choose a cot which has an adequate weight capacity to ensure it's able to support your body, particularly when traveling with a companion or pet.
Portability
The most comfortable camping cots fold up compactly and take up little space in a pack which allows you to pack more sleeping gear in your backpack. They weigh less than other camping bedding options which can quickly add up when you go on long hikes or multiple-day backcountry treks. Considering how much time you spend packing and unpacking your gear, the ability to move a cot around is a significant factor in its overall rating.
It can take just a few minutes to unfold and assemble a cot dependent on the model. Some models are more complicated and require more assembly. Other models have parts that are difficult to locate or connect. Some cots are equipped with built-in storage or other features to help reduce the time it takes to put together your bed.
The most flexible cots are those with adjustable legs, which allow you to adjust them to different ground conditions. Some cots come with a tether that keeps them steady in conditions of stormy or windy weather. These are especially helpful when backpacking as uneven or unstable terrain could compromise the stability of your shelter.
When you're choosing a cot take into consideration how often you'll be using it, as well as the place you'd like to camp. Cots that are light and compact in size are great for backpacking. However, cots with a lot of weight and with a larger sleeping space are ideal for camping in car parks or basecamps. If you plan to keep your cot at home primarily, it is worth investing in bedding that's specifically designed for the type of bed you have. This usually consists of sheets that are flat and fitted as well as a pillowcase.
If you're in search of a comfortable easy-to-set up cot that is suitable for most types of camping and camping, the Byer of Maine Easy Cot is a great choice. It folds into a case similar to the camping chair and is equipped with a strap for easy transport. The cot doesn't have the biggest sleeping platform of the top choices, but its sturdy materials and sturdy frame make it a solid choice for most camping trips.
Easy Setup
Cots are often a necessity for camping, but they also are often more difficult to set up than other types of sleeping equipment. This is due to the fact that they require you to set them up on a level surface which can be hard to find in the wilderness. Additionally, some of them have bars over their foot and head areas that you could prefer not to hit when 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 as it eliminates the need for you to figure out how to secure them while others have an easy fold-out design and just a few clicks to set them in place. Traditional cots are different. You must assemble the frame yourself and then tension the fabric, which takes a lot of energy and time.
The Alps Mountaineering Double Kwik cot is among the simplest to set-up, so it can be used both for car camping and tent camping. It can also be used on trips to backpack. It's heavier than the average camping cot, but it can be packed down to the same size as a foldable campchair's carry case. It's also extremely robust, made of a rugged and comfortable 600D polyester with an aluminum frame that isn't made of any plastic parts that are flimsy.
Another option we suggest is the Coleman Pack-Away Cot, which is another cinch to set up. It's a unibody design that eliminates bars across the feet and head. This makes it ideal for back and side sleepers. The cot can also be folded down to a compact size that's about similar to the size of the storage bag for your favorite backpack. It's heavier than some of the other cots we've tested, but it's very robust and is suitable for adults up to 225 pounds.
The Helinox Lite Cot is a lightweight cot that is extremely easy to set-up. It takes just two seconds to unfold and snap into place and only requires a few pulls to break down for storage. The legs are locked by a lever lock system that is extremely secure and offers the perfect base for your sleeping bag.
Durability
The most comfortable camping cots are built to stand up to lots of use and abuse. They have durable components, such as aluminum frames and robust fabrics. The fabric must be tightly woven to ensure that it does not break when strained by the weight of a sleeper. A high-quality cot will be made of 600D polyester that is heavy duty and can endure wear and tear. The best cots also use reinforced seams and double stitching in highly stressed areas such as pole sleeves.
They are ideal for camping as they will keep you warm and away from bugs and other creatures that may be lurking around in the dark. Cots can be a great substitute for sleeping mats and foam mattresses for hiking or backpacking. But not all cots are made to be the same and some will require you to pair them with an additional sleeping pad to ensure maximum comfort. This can be a major issue, particularly for backpackers carrying a heavy backpack.
Some cots, like the REI Co-op Kingdom Cot 3, use an air mattress to make them more comfortable and allow you to get an excellent night's sleep and don't need to bring a sleeping pad with you. However the cot is big 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 great option that doesn't require an additional pad to be comfortable. mini cot beds offers a great level of support and is extremely comfortable to sleep on. It was more comfortable for our test participants to use on hikes than an air or foam cushion.
They are ideal for guests who are who are staying in your home and you don't want to let them sleep on the floor. They're also ideal for a camper or RV because they're much more comfortable than an inflatable mattress. Additionally, they're more sturdy than tents or an air mattress, which means you don't have to worry about them shifting or blowing up in the middle of the night.