affordable cots (my latest blog post) For Backpackers
These cots provide an extra comfortable sleeping experience for backpackers without sacrificing their backpack space or back muscles.
Our mum tester loved this deluxe cot that looks beautiful enough to suit Scandi style nurseries, but is also extremely practical, with three mattress heights that will make it usable until your child is around four years old.
Mountain Summit Gear Horizon Cot
The Mountain Summit Gear Horizon Cot is our top budget choice is a great choice for campers seeking an easy solution to sleep. It has a straightforward setup and a great packability and is also comfortable to sleep on. This cot features a broad base that can support someone up to 6 feet tall and 300 pounds, and our testers found it solid on any terrain. It also has a handy side pocket that's great to store items such as water bottles, phone, and sleeping pads. The Mountain Summit Gear Horizon Cot although heavier than many back-packing cots, is surprisingly transportable. It can fit into the majority of car camping tents.
If you're looking for something that's a little more luxurious, we suggest the REI Co-op Kingdom Cot 3. The cot can accommodate two people and is extremely comfortable even without an inflatable mattress. The cot comes with a soft quilted surface that's comfy to lie on, and baffles on the sides that prevent you from falling off. The cot is extremely sturdy due to its sturdy aluminum and steel bars, which are connected to the massive swinging feet. Our testers found it to be simple to set up, though the last knob connecting to the main bar requires additional strength from another person.
Another excellent choice is the Byer of Maine Easy Cot, which is similar to our top pick in terms of setup and packing. It folds down similarly to a folding camp chair and the middle joints snap together quickly and easily. It's heavier and bigger than the Osage river model but it folds down into a smaller carry bag that's about the same size as a chair's carry bag. It offers a more spacious sleeping area as well as an additional storage compartment on the side which makes it a great choice for anyone looking for an easy camping bed that can also be used as a spare guestbed at home. You can also find an alternative version of this cot with an attached headrest for additional comfort.
Onwak Cots
If you're looking for a durable lightweight camping cot that is light for your outdoor requirements take a look at the Onwak Cots. This cot is made of top-quality materials, and features an unique foldable design that makes it easy to store and transport. It's also extremely comfortable and durable, and can be used as a bed or a lounge chair.
In addition to being a great cot for camping, the Onwak Cots is also perfect for hiking and backpacking. Its light aluminum or iron construction permits it to easily support heavy loads while remaining portable and affordable. The product has also been thoroughly tested to ensure superior quality and performance. Onwak makes use of only the highest quality materials to make its products, and offers reliability even when shipping bulk quantities.
The Kamp-rite Double Kwik Cot is the ideal cot for couples who love camping together. This cot is easy to install and is ready to sleep in a matter of minutes. It also comes with a range of convenient features, including the ability to wash the base of the cot, padded head section, and mesh storage hammock. It can also be used as a lounge chair and comes with a variety of recline positions to provide a customized experience.
For those who aren't looking for a cot that's as comfortable as a mattress The Coleman ComfortSmart is an excellent option. It can be set up in just two minutes. It has a wide base at each leg which can be swiveled to adjust to uneven ground. It's also affordable and can be bought with or without a mattress.
The Coleman ComfortSmart is an excellent choice for car campers. However, it's not the ideal choice for hikers who backpack or backcountry trek. It's too heavy to transport long distances. This is the reason it's best suited for those who drive into their campsites. The legs can be difficult to fold and feed back into the body of the cot for storage.
Helinox Light Cot
Helinox Cot One Convertible combines precision engineered fabric with non-stretch technologies to create a light-weight camping bed that is comfortable and durable. The patented tensioners provide great tension to the bed without adding extra weight. The tensioners also keep the bed's surface from flattening out when it is set up on uneven terrain. The only downside to this model is its higher price.
If you're a backpacker with limited funds there are other budget Cot options available. For example the OEX Ultralite Folding Cot costs less than half than the Helinox Lite Cot but is considerably heavier. The major drawback of the OEX is that it's not as straightforward to assemble and may be difficult for small framed people to bend its five aluminium leg assemblies into place.
Helinox Lite Cots feature an exclusive tensioning system that includes an adjustable lever lock that makes them much easier to put together and disassemble. This lever is located at the side of each leg. It has a pivoting arm that engages the top frame bar. The lever has an open tab on the other end which you can press to release it. The mechanical leverage of this system gives immense tension to the bed without adding bulk or stress to the legs.
The Lite Cot can also be adjusted to a different height using the leg extensions provided. This is a huge benefit if you're camping in an alpine setting where you'll have to be off the ground due to snow or uneven terrain. However, the slim profile of this cot may be a problem if a big mover during the night or if you have to share the tent with a person.
As with other cots, the Lite Cot requires some time to put it together and take it down. However, after a few hours it's a breeze to set up and take down. It's also incredibly compact and lightweight for best crib a cot. It will fit into the majority of cars, SUVs and vans, even when they're stuffed with equipment. This makes it an excellent choice for bike or car camping.
ALPS Mountaineering ReadyLite Cot
If you're looking for a backpacking cot that's easy to pack and set up, the ALPS Mountaineering ReadyLite Cot is an excellent option. Its 7000 series aluminum frame and 420D polyester honeycomb rip stop fabric make this cot very lightweight and durable. It weighs less than 5 pounds, but it can carry 300 pounds of weight. It folds into an 7 x 17 inch bag that makes it easy to carry in your backpack.
Contrary to other cots which require you to extend it from the middle and then spread it out, the ALPS ReadyLite Cot has legs that extend at the base of each side. This means all you have to do is spread out the sale cot and then tighten the straps. We found it to be one of the easiest cots to set up, although its bulkier size may make it too large to fit into some tents.
ALPS Mountaineering ReadyLite, while not as portable as other cots in this list is still the best cots uk choice for backpacking cots. Its large feet at the base of each leg swivel to adapt to uneven terrain and even allow you to sleep in the rain.