Our skilled crew has spent numerous nights making an attempt out one of the best tenting cots, on the hunt for the right backcountry mattress for any night time outdoor. From summer time nights stargazing to frigid alpine evenings at elk camp, we’ve put every of those 15 cots by means of an intensive testing course of wherein we scored them on consolation, ease of setup, sturdiness, and packability.
On the subject of deciding on a tenting cot, there’s actually greater than meets the attention, and our skilled campers have examined greater than 25 cots since 2021 in our seek for one of the best. Whether or not you’re after a deluxe padded possibility like our high decide, the REI Co-op Kingdom Cot 3, or want one thing a bit extra spend-wise, just like the Mountain Summit Gear Horizon, we’ve discovered one of the best choices for everybody.
You’ll want to learn up on every cot’s dimension, packability, consolation stage, and function earlier than making your closing resolution. A great night time’s relaxation is on the market, you simply want the precise mattress to do it in.
Editor’s Observe: We up to date this information on January 30, 2025, so as to add extra data on built-in cushioning, in addition to some extra comparisons between like choices to assist make your resolution simpler.
The Finest Tenting Cots of 2025
Finest Total Tenting Cot
Very comfy built-in sleeping pad
Spacious sleeping space
Adjustable firmness
Straightforward to assemble (as straightforward because it will get, actually)
Not as comfy for abdomen sleepers
Giant packing dimension
Heavy
Meghan LaHatte
Finest Finances Tenting Cot
Contains carrying case
Straightforward to maneuver round camp
Facet pocket for headlamp and telephone storage
Sturdy
Barely slender sleeping floor
Setup initially difficult resulting from stiffness
Not a lot space for storing resulting from x-shape crossbars
Meghan LaHatte
Finest King-Dimension Tenting Cot
Big sleeping house between a full and queen-sized mattress
Straightforward fold-out meeting
Pairs with Clothing store XXL Camp Pad
600 pound capability can accommodate two smaller campers
Giant packing dimension
Heavy at north of 25 kilos
Doesn’t slot in smaller tents
Meghan LaHatte
Finest Light-weight Tenting Cot
Lighter than many tenting mattresses
Packable compressed dimension
Comfy sleeping space
Low sleeping peak could be a profit for sleeping in backpacking tents
On the pricier aspect
A number of items (6 poles and cot)
Muscle tissues vital for setup/breakdown
Meghan LaHatte
Most Compact Full-Dimension Tenting Cot
Tremendous straightforward meeting and disassembly
Packs right into a glossy carrying bag
Sits excessive off the bottom
Exhausting to maneuver round camp
Material on bag and sleeping space susceptible to put on and tear
Meghan LaHatte
Finest Cot for Taller Campers
Packing case and dimension is handy
Comfy
Easy meeting
Capability and size supreme for plus-size customers
Lengthy dimension could not slot in smaller tents or vehicles
Powerful to totally insert sidebars into cot corners
Meghan LaHatte
Finest Cot for Automobile Sleeping
Easy meeting for on-the-fly setup
Good adjustability to accommodate totally different seat and foot-well heights
Foam cushion is cozy and straightforward to scrub
Obtainable in each 25″ and 40″ widths
Will not adapt to each automobile seamlessly
Not an excessive amount of storage beneath
Meghan LaHatte
Different Tenting Cots We Suggest
The cots we’ve awarded above are stable choices for almost any camper, however they actually aren’t the one choices in the marketplace. Take a look at our record of cots that didn’t fairly make the award minimize, however are nonetheless high-quality and simply is likely to be good on your subsequent journey.
Sturdy metal body
Very comfy with an inflatable mattress topper
Sturdy design will not be susceptible to leaks
Cumbersome each packed and in-use
Tough to scrub resulting from sewn-in mattress cowl
Meghan LaHatte
Double capability
Comfy and durable design
Bunk fashion saves flooring house
Will be arrange in numerous configurations
Heaviest cot on this record
Solely works in bigger dome-style tents, not a lot headroom
Meghan LaHatte
Very light-weight resolution to truck mattress tenting
Spectacular rigidity over a broad expanse
Inflation is an easy affair
Rugged deck materials is foolish powerful
Non-adjustable peak means you get the headroom you get
Facet pockets too cosy to get a lot into/out of
Meghan LaHatte
Very packable cot
Skill so as to add an inflatable or foam mattress
Spectacular weight capability
Powerful to seat crossbars
Not very excessive off the bottom
Meghan LaHatte
Big sleeping floor
Lever system helps with arrange
Thick and sturdy material
Heaviest single-person cot on the record
Three items (2 further poles)
It rocks backwards and forwards a bit
Meghan LaHatte
Comfy
Roomy
Facet pockets
Giant packing dimension
Heavy
Meeting requires some muscle
Meghan LaHatte
Easy arrange
Hanging pocket with three compartments
Light-weight
Reasonably priced
Can’t be adjusted flat (head at all times tilted up)
Water bottle pocket can solely match small bottles
Meghan LaHatte
Delicate mattress
Straightforward to arrange
Meghan LaHatte
Tenting Cot Comparability Chart
While you’ve received the house, tenting cots are one of many best methods to spice up the consolation of your tenting journey; (picture/Josh Boulton)
How We Examined the Finest Tenting Cots
Leaping right into a tenting cot could be a fast one-and-done solution to significantly elevate your tenting sleep expertise, however they actually aren’t all constructed the identical or meant for a similar sorts of journeys. Grandad’s G.I. cot may work in a pinch, however be a ache to determine once you’re making an attempt to get camp arrange earlier than sunset. That’s why we’ve put hours into understanding one of the best on the market, all the way in which all the way down to the nitty-gritty of material variations, weight capacities, and instruction-less ease of use.
This collective record of cot suggestions has been curated for a variety of customers over the course of just about three years. Since March 2021, our skilled writers have slept innumerable nights within the desert, mountains, woods, vehicles, and residences to slender down what we expect are the shining stars of the tenting cot market.
Our Testing Course of
To really assess these cots, we created a testing routine centered on the consolation, high quality, and comfort of every possibility. Every cot was examined each indoors and out for at least 5 nights (and sometimes for much longer) earlier than we rendered any sort of conclusion on them.
To get a real understanding of how straightforward a cot is to assemble, we tasked ourselves with setting them up with out directions and timed our efforts throughout a handful of testers. An analogous timed check was accomplished for tear-down (and the generally tough activity of getting the cot again into its carrying sack). Then, as scientifically as we are able to muster, we get some well-earned shuteye.
Utilizing a scale of 1-5 (1 being poor, 5 being distinctive), our testers scored the standard of their slumber and famous any particular spotlight or concern they bumped into all through the night time. And at last, to make sure accuracy, we rotated out cots to make sure our impressions had been spot-on.
Our tenting cot testing additionally prolonged to the finer particulars: We bust out the measuring tapes to show the producer’s claims about packed sizes and sleeping platform areas, weight complete cots to get an concept of how a lot muscle you’ll have to make use of to hoof them from the automotive to the campsite, and measure the deflection from a 15-pound kettlebell when positioned in the midst of the cot — to be able to replicate the burden of an elbow or hip.
All of this information may appear extraneous, however with tenting cots being so nice lately, it’s most of the time that our suggestions can come all the way down to a handful of ounces or a tough stuff sack.
Our Professional Testers
The GearJunkie crew features a broad spectrum of outside lovers. From hunters and anglers to overlanders and rock climbers, there may be one attribute that all of us have in widespread: a large number of nights spent sleeping exterior. Over a few years, we’ve tried nearly each sleep system for tenting, and cots stay a tried-and-true favourite.
Lead tenting cot tester Meghan LaHatte isn’t any stranger to the tenting scene and has lived in rural Colorado for the previous 6 years. As an avid climber, hiker, and biker, Meghan is aware of the significance of a superb night time’s relaxation underneath the celebs earlier than these action-packed days.
Her most up-to-date tenting cot testing occurred throughout tenting journeys in Colorado’s late summer time and fall, and concerned the aforementioned testing course of and tenting throughout 50-, 40-, and 30-degree nights. To raised decide every cot, she even set them up in her front room over a 5-week interval wherein she slept on them for additional inspection.
Testing tenting cots is difficult work, however somebody has received to do it; (picture/Justin La Vigne)
Purchaser’s Information: Find out how to Select a Tenting Cot
The query of tenting cots versus sleeping pads will depend on how you intend to journey. Take into account how you intend to make use of your sleeping system and take a look at the choices under.
Tenting Cot Consumer Profiles
The House-Saving Backpacker
For these seeking to convey consolation on their backpacking excursions with out sacrificing valuable pack house or their again muscular tissues, a light-weight, compact cot is the perfect selection. Cots made with lighter supplies like nylon and foldable aluminum poles are inclined to weigh much less and fold right into a compact form. When purchasing for a tenting cot, backpackers ought to hunt down merchandise weighing in at 5 kilos or much less. Something heavier will doubtless weigh you down on these multi-mile treks or take up essential house in your rucksack.
When contemplating a backpacking-friendly tenting cot, we suggest making an attempt out the Helinox Lite Cot or ALPS Mountaineering ReadyLite Cot. With the power to pack all the way down to concerning the dimension of a loaf of bread, each of those cots are designed to be thrown in or strapped to a backpack. Whereas they’re a bit pricier, you’ll be glad you spent the additional {dollars} on a superb night time’s relaxation once you’re a number of days into that journey and feeling drained.
Testing out the Mountain Summit Gear Horizon Cot at a distant campsite close to Aspen, Colo.; (picture/Meghan LaHatte)
The Automobile Dweller
Who mentioned correct automotive tenting can’t be luxurious? These in search of a long-term resolution to their automotive tenting setup on the desert crag or that scenic cross-country highway journey ought to you should definitely hunt down a cot designed to slip simply into the tailgate. These inflatable, glossy cots are engineered to suit simply in your automobile, moderately than a tent. These designs are well-suited for people who’re on the transfer or not seeking to spend the additional money on a tent.
Designed for many vehicles, the REI Co-op Trailgate Automobile Sleeping Platform is a incredible possibility for traditional automotive tenting. With its handy, low-profile design, this cushioned cot is a comfortable possibility if you happen to’d moderately stargaze underneath the sunroof than within the open air. Should you’ve received a truck, you should definitely snag the FLATED Air-Deck, which is particularly designed for pickups. Both of those choices will guarantee that you’re well-rested for the next day’s climb or mountain bike journey.
The Sleeping Magnificence
Should you’re the sort of one who desires to really feel like they’re sleeping on a cloud — even whereas in the midst of the woods — you should definitely take a look at among the cushier choices listed on this information. These comfort-designed merchandise are bulkier in dimension, however made to really feel as near a standard mattress as potential. These cots may even be used as further beds when internet hosting friends in your house when there isn’t sufficient sleeping house.
Made with a literal air mattress on high, the Coleman Airbed Twin Cot is without doubt one of the most comfy cots listed on this information. As a result of it’s bulkier, this cot is healthier suited to use in a camper or indoors. However, its consolation is actually the cherry on high in terms of the glamping sundae. One other comfort-focused possibility we love is the REI Co-op Kingdom Cot 3, made with a padded materials and sized for extra distant ventures.
You actually can’t beat the consolation, ease of setup, and adjustability of a reclining cot; (picture/Meghan LaHatte)
The Weekend Warrior
We get it — when Friday afternoon rolls round, it’s time to pack up the automotive and play. For this reason if you happen to’re somebody who values a cot that’s simply packed and assembled for these shorter journeys, you need to be getting essentially the most bang on your buck. When you get to camp, you’ll need a fast setup so you will get straight to the trailhead, music competition, or seashore with no time wasted. We propose snagging a fold-out cot that packs right into a bag and assembles in simply seconds.
Fold-out cots are perfect for fast journeys the place you’ll want each ease of setup and luxury at your campsite. A few of our favourite fold-out cots are the REI Co-Op Kingdom Cot 3 and the King Camp Folding Cot. These cots will not be solely tremendous comfy and user-friendly but in addition budget-conscious choices for individuals who don’t need to utterly break the financial institution.
Fold-out cots are typically heavier, and extra cumbersome to hold so these merchandise are higher suited to automotive tenting weekend journeys. You actually can’t beat the benefit of setup and a incredible night time’s sleep whereas tenting!
If you have already got a sleeping pad, it will possibly make an important insulating companion to your tenting cot; (picture/Meghan LaHatte)
Tenting Cots vs. Sleeping Pads
Tenting Cots
Tenting cots elevate you off the bottom, offering a softer night time’s sleep. In addition they assist to forestall the chilly floor from chilling you as you catch these zzz’s.
In addition they present a a lot bigger sleeping house. This makes it much less doubtless that you just’ll roll off of it in the midst of the night time. Nevertheless, cots are typically heavy, and so they’re a lot bulkier than sleeping pads. This makes nearly all of them lower than supreme for transportable use.
For individuals who solely sleep a brief distance from their vehicles, tenting cots are an important selection. Since they gained’t be hauling their cots far, the added weight and bulk aren’t as a lot of a difficulty.
On this case, consolation and ease of setup are usually the largest considerations. As a result of tenting cots are usually a better approximation to the typical mattress, they’re normally extra comfy than sleeping pads.
Whereas sleeping pads boast built-in cushioning, they’ll at all times solely be a number of inches off the bottom, whereas cots present a extra elevated expertise; (picture/Nick Belcaster)
Sleeping Pads
Sleeping pads are a lot lighter and extra compressible than cots. They’re additionally usually softer than cots that don’t have built-in cushioning.
Nevertheless, they do require you to sleep on the bottom. This exposes you to the bottom’s hardness and may let chilly switch from the bottom into your sleeping bag.
As a result of backpackers have to hold all of their gear with them whereas they hike, weight and packed dimension are enormous concerns. Many backpackers are prepared to sacrifice the added consolation of a tenting cot for lighter and extra packable sleeping pads.
Many pads are additionally designed so as to add among the facilities that cots present. Insulated pads are constructed for cold-weather tenting. The insulation throughout the pad absorbs among the chilly coming from the bottom, stopping it from sapping warmth out of your sleeping bag.
Inflatable sleeping pads maintain you off the bottom and permit you to sleep on a cushion. These are softer than non-cushioned tenting cots however are normally louder, because the light-weight materials could make a crunching sound once you transfer on it. The most typical description is that it’s like sleeping on a bag of chips.
Intrigued by sleeping pads? Take a look at GearJunkie’s full gear information to study extra.
Many cots gained’t be fairly as comfy as we’d all like, and including a foam or inflatable sleeping pad goes a protracted solution to including cushion; (picture/Erika Courtney)
Tenting Cots & Sleeping Pads
If luxurious is the objective and weight isn’t an possibility, a tenting cot plus a sleeping pad is the way in which to go. A tenting cot paired with a foam sleeping pad supplies one of the best of each worlds.
The cot will elevate you off the bottom and offer you a much bigger house to sleep on, whereas the pad provides a superb quantity of softness. It’s much like the operate of the field springs and mattress of your mattress at residence.
If you wish to mix a cot and a pad, examine to see if the cot you’re taking a look at has an add-on pad. Some corporations supply pads designed particularly to work with sure cots. This ensures that your pad will match completely together with your cot. Some even have securing programs to connect the pad to the cot, which prevents it from transferring round or sliding off when you sleep. For a comfortable, all-in-one pad and cot possibility, take a look at the REI Kingdom Cot 3.
Ease of Setup
Any piece of substances is ineffective if you happen to can’t set it up. The mattress of a cot is usually composed of a cloth that’s stretched tight over a body that helps your physique.
Pulling the fabric tight sufficient to help your weight requires a superb quantity of stress. Many individuals discover it difficult to drag the final part of fabric over the body, usually requiring assist from one other particular person to drag with sufficient energy.
In our expertise testing these cots, we’ve discovered that the smaller a cot packs down, the extra sophisticated it’s to arrange. Typically, there are extra items to place collectively, and there are extra elements that need to be secured to create and keep stress. Additionally, there are sometimes snap-together or folding sections that may pinch your fingers if you happen to’re not cautious.
Placing collectively the Klymit Cedar Mesa Cot goes straightforward with the snap-down crossbars; (picture/Josh Boulton)
We’ve even had a tester make the error of making an attempt to assemble a backpacking cot along with his down sleeping bag mendacity on high of it. Within the course of, he snapped two items collectively over the sleeping bag materials, inflicting a small tear within the bag.
The end result was clouds of high-quality down puffing out and filling the air within the tent each time the bag moved, which led to a late-night seek for duct tape (and lots of swearing).
As is commonly the case in terms of gear, there may be at all times a tradeoff in terms of how straightforward a tenting cot is to arrange. Basically, the larger and bulkier a cot is, the better it’s to arrange. Smaller cots require extra items to be damaged down, however they weigh much less and pack smaller. Bigger cots are more durable to hold round, however they normally require one or two steps to arrange.
Some cots are engineered with state-of-the-art applied sciences that make them simpler to assemble, particularly for individuals needing extra accessible designs and purposes. These applied sciences embody easy-lock mechanisms, adjustable springs, and pop-out assemblies.
Determine whether or not you like comfort or mobility, and select one of the best cot on your wants. On this record, each the King Camp Folding Cot and the Coleman ComfortSmart Cot stand out for his or her fast and straightforward setup.
Some meeting is required with tenting cots, however they’re all of the sweeter to sleep on; (picture/Josh Boulton)
Consolation
Once more, there’s a tradeoff right here. Bigger camp cots with loads of house and padding are universally extra comfy. Nevertheless, they’re all however inconceivable to pack with you on a protracted hike or backpacking journey. Though smaller camp cots are much more cellular, they lack the frills and creature comforts of a bigger cot. Beneath are a number of methods you possibly can contemplate your first or subsequent tenting cot when it comes to consolation.
Some cots require you to pair your sleeping pad with them for optimum use, whereas others even have built-in pads connected to the cot itself. Including a sleeping pad to your tenting cot setup may help improve the heat and luxury of your setup — particularly if you’re used to sleeping in your pad alone anyway.
Cots that don’t essentially require an added sleeping pad are inclined to have the texture of laying in a hammock. The material needs to be stretchy sufficient that your physique is comfortably supported, however not completely missing in construction that you just really feel such as you’re sinking in. We felt that the Mountain Summit Gear Horizon Cot carried out properly on this occasion.
With a easy flip, the REI Kingdom Cot 3 is prepared for an evening underneath the celebs; (picture/Andrew Potter)
When contemplating the consolation of a tenting cot, it’s additionally clever to consider its general dimension. Should you are inclined to toss and switch or sprawl out when sleeping, snagging a wider or double-size cot would most likely be your best option for you. King-size cots just like the Teton Sports activities Clothing store XXL Camp Cot are essential if you’re planning on sharing your cot too.
Lastly, it’s straightforward to neglect concerning the peak from the bottom when buying round for a tenting cot. Since you’re elevated off the bottom, you gained’t really feel any protruding rocks, sticks, or lumps as you usually would sleeping on the tent flooring.
The airflow underneath your cot even helps regulate physique temperature by protecting you cool when it’s heat and defending you from the frosty floor through the winter. When contemplating peak off the bottom, remember the fact that a shorter cot could be higher suited to tenting in a automotive, whereas a taller one can work greatest inside a taller dome-style tent.
Should you’re going backpacking, consolation is secondary to ease of transport. Ideally, you’re going to need to go along with a cot that’s light-weight and packs all the way down to a manageable dimension. Should you’re tenting subsequent to your automotive, consolation is a precedence, so contemplate the extra particulars under.
From this record, we’d contemplate the Coleman Airbed Twin Cot among the many most comfy camp cots in the marketplace resulting from its further cushiony utility.
Tenting cots fluctuate in consolation, and the size and depth of your journey will decide what sort of cot you possibly can afford to hold with you; (picture/Justin La Vigne)
Heat
It’s price noting that sleeping on a tenting cot is very similar to sleeping in a tenting hammock. With out the insulation of the bottom beneath, you’re extra more likely to grow to be chilly. It’s necessary to both convey an underquilt or pair your cot with an insulated sleeping pad.
Tenting cots with built-in sleeping pads will usually be hotter than these with out as the additional cushioning helps you insulate physique temp. These thicker pads just like the one discovered on the REI Co-op Kingdom Cot 3 paired with a heat sleeping pad would maintain you lots cozy throughout some winter tenting motion, whereas the slimmer cushioning on the Mountain Summit Gear Horizon Cot could be good for summer time tenting with out an extra sleeping pad.
Tenting cots with out connected sleeping pads are nice for absolutely customizing your sleeping setup so that you don’t get too frigid or toasty whereas making an attempt to catch these Zs. What we love concerning the ALPS Mountaineering ReadyLite Cot is the choice to insert a sleeping pad into the platform, making for a safe match that can maintain your physique lots insulated with out slipping out from underneath you.
No matter you resolve when contemplating heat in a tenting cot, it’s at all times clever to convey further sleeping baggage, blankets, and insulation, particularly if you happen to’re winter automotive tenting. You possibly can at all times shed a number of layers, however there’s not a lot you are able to do if you happen to haven’t introduced the right provisions to remain cozy.
Sleep Space
Earlier than shopping for a cot, you’ll need to first make sure that the cot is large enough so that you can sleep on with out resting on the body. Most cots are lengthy sufficient to suit individuals as tall as 6 toes and run simply over 2 toes large.
Should you’re on the taller or wider aspect, many cots such because the Klymit Cedar Mesa Cot supply XL or XXL variations. These cots are usually longer and wider to accommodate bigger individuals. Throughout testing whereas elk looking within the highlands of Colorado, tester Sean McCoy introduced alongside the Cedar Mesa for 14 days straight, and the additional house garnered rave evaluations from even the biggest 6-foot, 200-pound hunters.
On this record, the Teton Sports activities Clothing store XXL Camp Cot gives a whopping 81 inches from head to toe. Should you’re undecided whether or not a cot will fit your needs, search for the specs on-line. The specs web page will present the cot’s dimensions, so that you’ll be capable to see whether or not it’s a superb match for you.
Some cots have wider sleeping areas, whereas others have extra slender areas for resting on; (picture/Meghan LaHatte)
Cushioning
Most cots don’t have cushioning — the sleeping space is a chunk of fabric like polyester material stretched tight to supply help. Many campers discover these cots to be too agency, in order that they’ll add a sleeping pad of some form to supply cushioning.
Should you’d choose to sleep on one thing that looks like your mattress at residence or need an additional mattress for visiting of us, search for a cot that comes with cushioning, which is able to usually be extra foam added to the sleeping floor. Cots just like the REI Co-op Kingdom Cot 3 or Coleman ComfortSmart Cot each go this route, and whereas the packed dimension is a bit bigger, the trade-off is actually in consolation.
You’re additionally liable to avoid wasting cash going the all-in-one route, as properly. A stable budget-friendly sleeping mattress just like the REI Co-op Camp Dreamer XL continues to be $179, so paying the $199 for the Kingdom Cot makes lots of sense in our books.
Most cots are made with out included cushioning, whereas some others have further padding; (picture/Meghan LaHatte)
Weight & Packed Dimension
A lot of the tenting cots are designed for automotive tenting, the place pack dimension and weight are much less of a difficulty. Tenting cots are typically on the bigger aspect, weighing anyplace from 12 kilos on the decrease finish to round 30 kilos on the upper finish.
Components comparable to materials, material, and design issue into the burden of a tenting cot. Tenting cot frames made with supplies like metal can be heavier than these manufactured from aluminum. Cot materials like canvas and polyester have a tendency so as to add on weight in comparison with lighter nylon and mesh. Take into account the place you’ll be utilizing your tenting cot and the way the general design could have an effect on your means to hold it to your campsite or backpack with it by means of the wilderness.
Most tenting cots collapse into tenting chair-size baggage, whereas others fold flat for simple packing and maneuverability; (picture/Meghan LaHatte)
Talking of packing, a few of these cots are higher suited to simply be tossed in a automotive moderately than packed in a backpack or duffel. The Coleman ComfortSmart Cot folds flat, however not sufficiently small to suit simply in any type of baggage.
Fortunately, it’s not tremendous heavy at 20 kilos, however it might undoubtedly use some straps so it may very well be worn like a backpack. In the meantime, the Mountain Summit Gear Horizon Cot is a fold-out possibility that’s tremendous straightforward to hold when packed resulting from its sling-style carrying case.
For looking purposes, packed dimension usually is the make-or-break cause for whether or not a cot comes alongside to the yurt or not. Take into account that you just’ll want to have the ability to load up your cot onto no matter ATV you’ll be driving in on, and that the majority camping-style cots of the folding fashion are too massive to perform this. Look to extra packable cots just like the Klymit Cedar Mesa Cot for one of the best looking utility, a cot that our elk-fanatic tester known as “one of the best cots he’s ever slept on.”
Additional nonetheless on the opposite finish of the spectrum, some tenting cots can pack as small as a camp chair or sleeping bag, making it price it to throw in your backpack for an extended mileage tour. The ultralight Helinox Lite Cot actually soared on this entrance because it solely weighs in at 2 kilos, 12 ounces, and matches beautifully in our backpacks with out taking on an excessive amount of actual property.
The ultralight Helinox Lite Cot is gossamer sufficient to tackle sure hike-in journeys; (picture/Justin La Vigne)
Automobile Tenting
Should you plan on tenting subsequent to your automotive, the principle factor to think about is how a lot house you’ve gotten out there in your mode of transportation, and whether or not you’ll have sufficient room on your cots and the remainder of your gear. In case you have ample house, consolation usually turns into the primary precedence.
Select the largest, cushiest cot yow will discover, and don’t fear concerning the weight. Simply ensure you have sufficient room in your automotive for it.
Our go-to selection for soft automotive tenting? The ultra-adaptable REI Co-op Trailgate Automobile Sleeping Platform. And if you happen to’re seeking to shack up within the truck mattress? Go for the set-and-forget ease of the FLATED Air-Deck.
The adjustable legs of the REI Co-op Trailgate Cot are made to adapt to a wide range of totally different automobile backseats; (picture/Katie Griffith)
Hike-In Tenting
Individuals who camp in spots that require a brief hike from the automotive have extra concerns. If it’s a must to hike to your campsite, guarantee that your tenting cot is mild sufficient to hold to the location. Additionally, make sure that the cot isn’t too cumbersome to hold alongside the opposite vital gear.
The Mountain Summit Gear Horizon Cot has an easy-to-carry case for these walk-ins to camp; (picture/Meghan LaHatte)
Search for a tenting cot that’s stowed in a bag, ideally one with handles or a shoulder strap. You’ll be glad about particulars like this when it’s time to hike your gear out of your automotive to the campsite.
The Klymit Cedar Mesa Cot is an outstanding selection if you happen to’re in search of a tenting cot that’s mild sufficient to hold with out getting winded. The included dealt with carrying case made organising camp tremendous straightforward and handy with out too many journeys hauling gear from the automotive.
The Mountain Summit Gear Horizon Cot has an included sling bag that’s roughly the identical dimension as a champ chair. This made carrying it into the campsite a breeze whereas protecting our palms free for different gear, permitting for much fewer journeys to the automotive.
Backpacking
Basically, tenting cots will not be very appropriate with backpacking. Cots are heavy and hulking — two phrases that backpackers keep away from in any respect prices.
If backpacking is your main fashion of tenting, and also you completely should sleep on a cot, contemplate one of many light-weight cots we profile above. The Helinox Lite Cot or ALPS Mountaineering ReadyLite cots are mild sufficient to take into the backcountry, however are nonetheless comfy sufficient to sleep on if you happen to sometimes go automotive tenting.
The Cedar Mesa Cot balances general consolation with a compact carrying dimension; (picture/Josh Boulton)
Looking
Distant looking outposts accessed by truck, ATV, or pack animal will be made all of the extra livable with the addition of some cots to your wall tent. Monitoring can take it out of you, and that’s even earlier than the actual work begins, so investing in a cushty, but packable, cot will make your hunt all the higher.
Should you’re going mild and rucking into your basecamp, lots of the backpacking-style cots will make the grade, however for vehicle-assisted hunts, transferring as much as the consolation of a extra well-rounded cot is properly definitely worth the weight.
Packability is the secret in terms of cots for looking, and also you’ll have to intention for a cot that may slot in your side-by-side, or within the panniers of your trusty stead. The Cabela’s Large Outdoorsman Cot is our go-to for damn-the-weight endeavors for really massive hunters, however the cot we find yourself reaching for most frequently for a hunt is the Klymit Cedar Mesa Cot, a platform that collapses down impressively for the additional massive sleeping house it supplies.
Sturdiness
Cots made with these versatile pucks as toes are nice for conforming to uneven floor and defending your tent flooring; (picture/Meghan LaHatte)
Sturdiness varies extensively with tenting cots. We’ve discovered that there’s a proportional relationship between weight and sturdiness with this kind of gear. Typically, the heavier a cot is, the more durable it’s.
Heavy automotive tenting cots are made up of sturdy frames composed of metal or metal alloys. These heavier metals give the cot an exceptionally sturdy construct. This makes them extra immune to drops, exhausted campers flopping down on them, roughhousing children, and no matter different vigorous actions a mattress may face.
Lighter cots have frames which can be constructed with aluminum or another light-weight materials. The lighter weight is nice for trekking it into the woods, however they’re usually far more fragile.
Light-weight cot frames are sturdy sufficient to help campers’ weight whereas they sleep however should be handled with extra respect. In our testing, we’ve discovered that these lighter-weight cots are greatest eased into when it’s time for mattress.
When on the point of snuggle into your light-weight cot, you should definitely sit down within the center first. Our lead tester made the hilarious mistake of sitting on the top finish of 1 cot and fairly actually somersaulted backward, albeit not very gracefully, touchdown with the cot on high of her.
Should you’re tenting subsequent to your automotive and weight isn’t any concern, you possibly can go for a heavier cot and tough it up a bit. On this record, the Coleman Trailhead II Cot is supremely sturdy, however it weighs a hefty 21 kilos. If a lighter, extra packable cot just like the King Camp Folding Cot higher fits you, just remember to’re extra cautious with it than you’d be with a 30-pound behemoth.
On the subject of sturdiness, it’s onerous to beat the additional powerful exterior materials of the FLATED Air-Deck; (picture/Nick Belcaster)
Equipment
If you wish to elevate your tenting expertise and maximize the performance of your cot, contemplate the equipment that come included or as add-ons for an additional worth. These equipment can embody aspect tables, storage compartments, pockets, sleeping pads, and different purposeful components.
Designed with hanging aspect pockets on your telephone and headlamp, the Mountain Summit Gear Horizon Cot and Klymit Cedar Mesa Cot are good for these trying to find minimalistic equipment for simply the requirements.
Actually need to go all out with the equipment? Take into account the customizable bunk mattress fashion Disc-O-Mattress. You possibly can order this pet with further material cupboards, organizers, and sleeping pads that heighten tenting to an additional stage of luxurious.
Some tenting cots are adjustable to numerous positions, whereas others stay flat; (picture/Meghan LaHatte)
Value & Worth
The tenting cots that we profile right here signify an correct sampling of the costs you’ll see when purchasing for a cot. They fluctuate in worth from $45 to $80 for easy, no-frills fashions, however cots can attain $300 and above on the increased finish. When purchasing for a tenting cot, weigh the options you want towards how a lot cash it’s a must to spend.
Finances
If you need a easy cot to maintain you off the bottom once you sleep subsequent to your automotive, begin with the lowest-end cot and take into consideration what you’d like so as to add to it. A easy automotive tenting cot consists of a folding body with materials stretched over it and may price someplace south of $100. They usually will sport metal or aluminum frames, with plastic hinges being widespread on lower-end fashions.
On this record, the Mountain Summit Gear Horizon Cot is our Finest Finances decide at simply $100, and gives up a superb bit with out sacrificing energy. With this cot, you’ll largely lose out on a bit little bit of sleeping house, and the tenting chair-like help construction doesn’t permit for a lot storage beneath it. The REI Co-op Campwell Cot will run you a similar quantity and can commerce off some added space for storing under for a much less user-friendly design that isn’t the simplest to select up and transfer.
Mid-Tier
Need added cushioning or group choices? Be ready to spend a bit bit extra on an upgraded possibility, someplace within the vary of $150-300. These cots additionally have a tendency so as to add extra sleeping house and are sometimes 30″ or wider — making them extra cozy for spreading out on. Specialty cots just like the Teton Sports activities Clothing store XXL ($180) and Helinox Lite Cot ($300) additionally present up on this worth vary and are made for these in search of an enormous sleeping floor, or backpack-able weight and dimension.
The REI Co-op Kingdom Cot 3 ($199) has been our high decide for 2 years working, and it lands smack-dab in the midst of the value vary for cots. For the cash, it gives up every little thing we expect a cot sleeper is in search of.
Premium
Searching for a cot that’s mild and straightforward to hold right into a walk-in campsite? Or a specialty-use possibility so as to add a sleeping platform to your automobile? These choices will price a bit bit extra due to the light-weight supplies and design that go into the development. These usually price north of $300 and above with add-ons like rainflies or built-in tents.
The REI Co-op Trailgate Automobile Sleeping Platform ($350-450) is ideal for including a stage floor to the again of your day by day driver, and for individuals who camp out of their pickups, there’s the FLATED Air-Deck ($549-699).
At $250, the Cedar Mesa is on the high of the value vary, however supplies a sturdy sleeping floor and durable legs for the value; (picture/Josh Boulton)
Regularly Requested Questions
Comfy is a subjective time period. It might probably rely upon many issues, comparable to how agency or mushy you like your sleeping house, in addition to whether or not you sleep in your again or aspect.
The most typical grievance about tenting exterior is how agency sleeping programs are, so a cot with some cushioning is right. Our selection for essentially the most comfy is the Coleman Airbed Twin Cot for its mushy cushioning, contouring, and adjustable incline settings, in addition to the REI Co-op Kingdom Cot 3, for a smaller-packing possibility.
Cots are so comfy that even your furry companions will need a style of the luxurious life; (picture/Meghan LaHatte)
As a result of they carefully mimic the texture of sleeping in your mattress at residence, cots are an especially comfy possibility for automotive tenting. As soon as assembled, most tenting cots can simply be thrown in your tent, automotive, or underneath the celebs. Nevertheless, as we’ve acknowledged above, conventional tenting cots are too heavy and hulking for backpacking.
There are a number of ultralight “backpacking cots,” however many backpackers select sleeping pads as a result of they’re lighter and extra packable.
A great full-size air mattress is the closest you will get to sleeping in your mattress at residence. Nevertheless, they’re cumbersome, and so they normally require an exterior energy supply to totally inflate. They’re additionally tough to scrub after a tenting journey.
Tenting cots are sometimes much less comfy than an air mattress however are extra sturdy, simpler to move, and simpler to arrange. A high-quality cushioned tenting cot can come near, and even surpass, the consolation of an air mattress, plus they take a lot much less time to arrange. The cushioned design of the REI Co-op Kingdom Cot 3 stood out for us.
Most of the tenting cots that we’ve got examined are usually round 25 inches in width. That is large sufficient for many campers. Should you want a wider cot, many cots supply bigger variations for greater sleepers. These can vary from 30 inches to over 40 inches in width. The 40-inch Cabela’s Large Outdoorsman Cot is an ideal instance.
In case your tenting journey had some sudden moisture or your mud-covered pup hopped up in your tenting cot for some snuggles, you’ll most likely need to take cautious measures to offer it a superb cleanup as soon as residence.
Earlier than trying to scrub your tenting cot, you should definitely examine the producer’s directions first as there may very well be some pointers or restrictions pertaining to your cot’s supplies. Should you’ve solely received some small stains or grime in your cot, we suggest spot cleansing previous to doing a full-on wash down. This may be completed by placing some delicate dish cleaning soap on a fabric and evenly dabbing the fabric earlier than making use of some water.
If spot cleansing gained’t fairly do the job, examine to see in case your cot’s material supplies are machine or hand washable. You’ll want to keep away from utilizing any harsh detergents, bleach, or excessive warmth. When drying you should definitely dangle dry your cot out of any direct daylight that might doubtlessly trigger the material to fade or harm the finishes.
For cleansing the steel legs and hinges, we suggest wiping them down with a moist fabric and promptly drying them with a towel to keep away from any rusting or long-term harm to the mechanisms.
Holding your tenting cot clear and saved in a dry place will guarantee its longevity for a lot of tenting journeys to return.
Profit from your own home away from residence by selecting one of the best tenting tent on your journey. We discovered the highest automotive tenting and household tenting tents for each finances and use.
From packable sleeping pads to ultracomfortable air beds, we examined and located one of the best tenting mattresses and sleeping pads to suit each journey and finances.
