Affordable Cots For Backpackers
For backpackers who want to enhance their sleeping experience without sacrificing pack space or back muscles, these softer cots are a great choice.
Our mom tester loved this luxurious cot that looks beautiful enough to suit Scandi style nurseries, but is also extremely practical, with three mattress base sizes that will make it functional until your child reaches four years old.
Mountain Summit Gear Horizon Cot
The Mountain Summit Gear Horizon Cot, our top budget pick, is a great option for campers seeking an easy way to sleep. It's simple to set up and pack and is comfortable to sleep on. This cot features a broad base that can support anyone up to 6 feet tall and 300 pounds. Our test subjects found it to be stable on most terrain. It also comes with a handy side pocket, which is great for storing items like phones, water bottles, and sleeping pads. Although it's heavier than other backpacking cots however, the Mountain Summit Gear Horizon Cot is still easily portable and fits well into the majority of car camping tents.
If you're looking for something a little more lavish then the REI Cooperative Kingdom Cot 3 is a great choice. The cot is able to sleep two people and is incredibly comfortable even without an inflatable mattress. The cot features a quilted surface that is a comfortable surface to lie on. It also has baffles along the sides, which help prevent you from falling. The cot is extremely sturdy, thanks to its thick steel and aluminum bars which connect to the oversized, swiveling feet. It was simple to set up for our testers, but the last knob connecting the main bar required extra strength.
Another option that is a great choice is the Byer of Maine Easy Cot, which is very similar to our top pick in terms of set-up and packability. It folds down similarly to a folding camp chair, and the middle joints snap together easily and quickly. It's a bit heavier and bigger than the Osage River model but it can be folded into a smaller carry case that's about the same size as the carry bag of a camp chair. It has a larger sleeping space and an additional storage compartment on the side making it a good option for those seeking an easy camping bed that can be used as a spare guestbed at home. The cot comes in a version with a headrest for added comfort.
Onwak Cots
If you're looking to purchase a durable, lightweight camping cot for your outdoor needs then take a look at the Onwak Cots. This cot is unique in its folding design and is constructed of high-quality materials. It's easy to store and transport. It's also incredibly comfortable and sturdy and can be used as a bed or a lounge chair.
The Onwak Cots are not just ideal for camping but also for hiking and backpacking. Its lightweight iron and aluminum construction makes it easy to support heavy loads, while still remaining portable. The product has also been thoroughly tested for its superior quality and performance. The Onwak team makes use of the finest materials to make its products and offers reliable service, even when it's shipping in large quantities.
The Kamp-rite Double Kwik Cot is the ideal bed for couples who enjoy camping together. It can be assembled in just a few minutes and is ready to sleep. It comes with a variety of useful features, including a washable denier base with a cushioned section as well as a mesh storage hammock. It can also serve as lounger or chair and comes with multiple reclining positions to customize your experience.
best cot newborn is a great option for those who don't require a cot as comfy as a bed. This cot is easy to set up and will be ready for you to lie down in under two minutes. It has a large base at each leg that can be rotated to make it more suitable for uneven ground. It's also affordable and can be purchased with or without a mattress.
The Coleman ComfortSmart is an excellent choice for car campers. However, it's not the best choice for backpackers or backcountry hikers. It's heavy and bulky to carry for long distances, which is why it's recommended for those driving to their camping spots. The legs can be difficult to unroll and feed back into the body of the cot to store.
Helinox Light Cot
The Helinox Cot One Convertible combines high-end engineering and non-stretch fabric to create an ultralight camp bed that is comfortable and durable. Its patented tensioners deliver great tension to the bed without adding additional weight. The tensioners also stop the bed's surface from becoming flat when it is set up on uneven terrain. The only downside to this model is its premium price point.
There are many inexpensive options for backpackers on a budget. The OEX Ultralite Folding Cot, for example, costs less than half the cost of the Helinox Lite Cot while being considerably heavier. The biggest drawback of OEX is its difficulty assembly. It isn't easy for those with smaller frames to bend five leg assemblies.
Contrary to OEX and the OEX, the Helinox Lite Cot has a unique lever locking tensioning system that makes it easier to erect and disassemble. The lever is located on the end of each leg. best cots for newborns has a pivoting arm which engages the top frame bar. The other side of the lever is an uncompressed tab that is pressed to let it go. The mechanical leverage of this mechanism provides an excellent tension to the bed surface without putting extra weight or stress to the legs.
The Lite Cot can also be adjusted to a different height using the leg extensions included. This is especially useful if you are camping in an alpine area in which you'll need to be elevated due to snow or uneven terrain. However, the low-profile of this cot can be a problem if you're a big mover in your sleep, or when sharing the tent with a person.
The Lite Cot is the same. It requires some practice to set it up and disassemble it. After a few uses it becomes a breeze to set up and then pack. It's also incredibly lightweight and compact for a cot. It will fit easily into the majority of SUVs, cars and vans, even when they are jam-packed with gear. This makes it an excellent option for bike and car camping.
ALPS Mountaineering ReadyLite Cot
The ALPS Mountaineering ReadyLite cot is an excellent choice for those looking for lightweight, easy to pack and set-up backpacking cot. This cot is lightweight and durable due to its 7000 series aluminum frame and the 420D honeycomb rip-stop polyester fabric. It weighs less than 5 pounds, yet it can hold 300 pounds of weight. It can be folded into the size of a carry bag 7x17 inches that makes it simple to carry.
The ALPS ReadyLite Cot is unlike other cots that require you to spread it out from the middle. Instead the legs extend at the bottom of each side. This means that all you have to do is spread the cot out and then tighten the straps. It was easy to set up. However its bigger size might not be suitable for some tents.
ALPS Mountaineering ReadyLite, while not as portable as other cots listed here, is still the best choice for backpacking cots. The large feet at the bottom of each leg can be adjusted to uneven terrain, and you can sleep in the rain.