These are the 8 Best Camp Cots in 2022.
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The Osage River Folding Camping Cot has a trouble-free setup and it’s incredibly comfortable to sleep on.
Travel + Leisure / Jennifer May
If you’re ready to upgrade your sleeping arrangements while spending time outdoorsA camping cot can literally elevate your quality of sleep. A camping cot is the closest portable thing to a typical bed, so it’s a must-have for campers who don’t feel like roughing it on the ground.
A team of outdoor enthusiasts tested 19 different camping cots in order to determine which one is the most comfortable, durable, and easy to assemble for your next camping trip. The Osage River Comfortable and Lightweight Standard Folding Camping Cot The cot was easy to assemble and is comfortable to sleep on in a tent. It earned our top spot. Seven additional cots made it onto our list, including picks for campers who want to spend more on a lightweight option or a double cot for two. Even a cot so comfy it could replace an air mattress for your house guests!
OSAGE RIVER Standard Folding Camp Cot
Best Overall
Why We Love it: The cot was simple to set up and large enough to fit our 6-foot tall tester.
Here are some things to consider: It’s a little too big to carry long distances.
Osage river Standard Folding Camping Cot won the most votes in all categories of testing, and was the easiest to set up and take down. It is very easy to put together the cot by placing the canvas fabric on top of the metal frame. Then, when it is time to fold down, the cot folds back down. The cot is easily transported to and from the car with its carry bag. Although it might be a little big to carry far distances, it’s extremely portable for car campgrounds or to use around the house. Our testers said they wish they’d bought two of these comfortable cots for their home years ago.
The cot was used during the testing by our tester. a camping trip and was impressed that the size is convenient for both placing in a tent and getting a comfortable night’s sleep. “I’m 6 feet tall and this cot is plenty long enough for me to fit comfortably on it. I set it up in a small-ish four-person tent and you could easily fit two of these side-by-side in there,” said our tester. The build and materials of the cot feel exceptionally sturdy and durable, so we’re confident it will last for years to come. And if you weren’t already sold, the affordable price of this cot makes it a no-brainer.
Price as of publication: $55
Dimensions: 75 x 28×18.5 inches| Weight: 12.45 pounds | Capacity: One person
L.L.Bean Easy Cot
Best Overall, Runner-up
Why We Love it: The canvas material and frame feel very sturdy and last a long time.
Here are some things to consider: It’s on the larger side.
According to our tester, L.L Bean’s Easy Cot was “super easy” to set up, requiring the same low effort as unfolding a camping chair or table. When the cot is unfolded, we think there’s plenty of room for one person thanks to the generous 79-inch length. This was one of the biggest camping cots we tested, so even when it’s folded up, it takes up a little more space than we wish, but our tester said it still fits nicely in their storage closet in an apartment. The canvas material is very taut and sturdy. Our tester was able to sleep well with just a blanket. “I actually haven’t used a cot while camping, normally I use an air mattress. [I’m] never going back. The cot is way easier to set up and take down,” our tester raved. Although the heftier size and price were the ultimate reasons why this cost wasn’t our top pick, we still think it’s an excellent option if you have extra storage space for it.
Price at the time of publication: $140
Dimensions: 79 x 30x 17 inches| Weight: 21 pounds | Capacity: One person
Helinox Lite Camp Cot
Best indulgence
Why We Love it: It is very lightweight, weighing in at 2.13 pounds. The comfort it offered our tester was unmatched.
Here are some things to consider: To unfold the cot for the first time, it takes extra strength.
You can save money on camping cots by purchasing the Helinox Lite Cot. This lightweight, comfortable cot is well worth it. Helinox is well-known for lightweight outdoor gear and this 2-pound cot lives up to that reputation. It was used by our test subject. a camping trip We slept in a tent that could accommodate two people. The tent’s width was 23.5 inches. However, two cots could be easily stored in the tent. “I’ve been blown away by the comfort of this cot. There have been times when I’ve felt like I preferred it more compared to my normal mattress in my bed,” our seriously impressed tester said. “This [cot] It is lighter than backpacking pads but weighs significantly less than air mattresses. The long thin design of it when it’s in its carrying case is ideal for sliding long-ways into a backpacking backpack.” The only downside is that it takes some extra strength to unfold the cot the first few times, but after a while, it gets less strenuous to put together.
Price at the time of publication: $280
Dimensions: 73 x 23.5″ x 5 Inches| Weight: 2.13 pounds | Capacity: One person
Hang Pham / Travel + Leisure
Related:
ALPS Mountaineering Camp Cot XL
Best for Extra Space
Why We Love it: Campers who need extra space will find plenty of room thanks to the length and width.
Here are some things to consider: It’s heavy to carry around and feels bulky.
The Alps Mountaineering Camp Cot XL is 86 inches in length and 40 inches wide. We love it! The cot was easy to assemble and disassemble, as it only has a few parts. However, two people might find assembly easier due to the heavier materials. The extra-taut canvas is worth the extra effort to attach it to the frame. Although the cot is comfortable, you can add cushioning to your bed. Therm-a-rest pad You could also make it more comfortable by adding a blanket. Additionally, our tester noted that in a six-person tent, the cot took up a good amount of space, so you’ll want to make sure you have enough room to fold it out comfortably.
Price as of publication: $200
Dimensions: | Weight: 19 pounds | Capacity: One person
Hang Pham / Travel + Leisure
Kamp-Rite Double Kwik – Cot
Best Double
Why We Love it: The set-up is intuitive and very simple.
Here are some things to consider: It’s noticeably heavy because it’s two cots in one.
The Kamp-rite Double Kwikcot is a must have for couples who like to camp together. Its intuitive design makes it easy to put together and disassemble the two-in-one cot. Because the cot is the size of two put together, you’ll need quite a bit of space to set it up, and since it weighs 33 pounds, you might need two people to carry it. Although it’s a little heavy, our tester found that it was still portable enough to transport between the car and the tent, but you might not want to go much further with it. The cot was used to camp in a 4-person tent. Our tester found it too narrow to comfortably fit. Thanks to the reinforced plastic, sleep was very comfortable and durable. They feel durable enough to withstand many camping trips.
Price as of publication: $190
Dimensions: 85 x 55x 19 inches| Weight: 33 pounds | Capacity: Two people
Byer of Maine Easy Cot
Best for Car Camping
Why We Love it: The instructions for setting up the cot are simple and only took seconds.
Here are some things to consider: Some trips are impossible because of its heavy weight.
Tent-making is no easy task. car campingThe Byer of Maine Easy Cot may be your best choice. This cot was the easiest to set up of all the ones we tried. It took only seconds to get the bed in place. The instructions are easy to follow and they’re printed on the side of the bag to make the setup that much more trouble-free. Keep in mind that the cot itself weighs 21 pounds, which is on the heavier side, so we think it’s best suited for campers who don’t have to carry the cot far (or at all for car camping). The cot was extremely comfortable to sleep on, according to our tester. They did add a Therm-a-rest for extra cushioning, but we don’t think that’s necessary for a good night of sleep. “This cot was set up in a matter of seconds — it’s hands down the easiest cot I’ve ever used. It’s definitely bulkier than the backpacking cots I’ve used in the past, but it didn’t take up a ton of room in the back of my hatchback and was easy to stack with other similar-sized gear,” our tester shared.
Price as at publication: $105
Dimensions: | Weight: 21 pounds | Capacity: One person
Kate Donovan / Travel + Leisure
FE Active Folding Camping Cot
Best lightweight
Why We Love it: It’s noticeably lightweight and the carrying bag makes it even easier to transport.
Here are some things to consider: It takes some time to set it up and take it down.
We believe the lightweight FE Active Folding Camping Cot will be a good choice for hikers, backpackers and campers looking to have a cot that’s easy to move around. The cot is lightweight at 4.6 pounds. Our tester loved the included carrying bag for extra portability. “The bag is the perfect fit to carry all of the items for the cot. It is hard to break down the cot, but the portability portion is prime for a hike,” our tester shared. It is difficult to attach the canvas to the base due to its tautness. However, it becomes easier after a few attempts. The cot is very comfortable, even though it is tightly woven around the base. It has the right balance of stiffness with cushioning. It feels sturdy and didn’t wobble when we sat or slept on it, and our tester felt confident in its durability.
Price at the time of publication: $52
Dimensions: | Weight: 4.6 pounds | Capacity: One person
Related:
Mountain Summit Gear Horizon Cot
Best Multi-use
Why We Love it: It is so comfortable and simple to set up, that even house guests can sleep on it.
Here are some things to consider: The bag feels heavy to transport around.
Whether you’re going on a camping trip or looking to add an extra place to sleep in your guest room, the versatile Mountain Summit Gear Horizon Cot is a solid choice. The setup was easy and fast, taking only a few minutes to put together the four-piece set. According to our tester, the size of the cot is “perfect,” and they were able to get plenty of sleep on it since it’s not too big or too small. Our tester added that “the cloth is taut and the legs give great stability, even when on uneven ground. There was no sinking when sleeping on the cot for hours.” The cot weighs 18 pounds, which was noticeably hefty when we carried it in the bag, so we think it would be best for campsites These cots can be set up in your house or are easily accessible from the car. The comfort matched with the simple setup makes this cot the best option for a multi-purpose cot that’s long-lasting.
Price as at publication: $100
Dimensions: 75 x 27.55x 14.5 inches| Weight: 18 pounds | Capacity: One person
Other Camping Cots we Tested
Coleman Pack-away Camping Cot: It was easy to put together, and the size is ideal for a four-person tent, but it wasn’t as comfortable as we hoped it would be.
Coleman Trailhead II Cot: We found this cot to be very comfortable to sleep on, but it does require two people to set it up and it’s on the heavier side.
Luno Air Mattress 2.0: We love that the air mattress comes custom-fit to your car, but we’re worried that it could possibly tear or get a hole over time, and the $330 price tag felt a bit steep for an air mattress.
Coleman Airbed Cot: The cot is very easy to assemble. It comes with an air mattress and a cot, so it can be cumbersome to transport and carry.
John Somerall / Travel + Leisure
Our Testing Process
Our experts tried 19 different camping chairs from top brands such as Coleman and L.L. Bean. Bean and Helinox. Our testers evaluated the camping cots based on their portability, ease-of-use, comfort, size and durability.
Hang Pham / Travel + Leisure
To determine the portability of the cot, we had our testers carry it around in the case and then place it on a car roof or in a carrier. The lightweight cots we chose were easy to transport and even more so, the carry bag. The cots were then taken out of their bags and put them in a box to test how easy it was to set up and take down camping cots. Our testers carefully observed how long it took to unroll the cots and how difficult it was to place the canvas on the frame. When the cots were unrolled, we measured their size. The best cots are those that can be used as a bed and don’t take up too much space.
Hang Pham / Travel + Leisure
We then spent at least 30 minutes on each cot and a whole night there to assess the quality of the frame and the comfort of the canvas. Our test subjects had a great night’s sleep with the best cots that met their comfort criteria. The cots that felt the most durable didn’t wobble when we moved around and the canvas felt tough and durable when we spread it over the base of the cot. Our testers then determined the cost of each cot in order to compare its performance to the cost.
Jennifer May / Travel + Leisure
Tips to Buy a Camping Cot
Take into account the space you have.
It’s important to double-check the dimensions of your cot and the space that it will go in whether that’s a tent, car, or room in a home. One cot may fit into a tent for two or four people, but it might not be possible to fit the other in the same space.
It is essential to have simple setups and breakdowns
We found that the best cots were easy to set up, as no one wants to spend a weekend attempting to set up a camping cot. enjoying the outdoors. While some cots might have a slight learning curve at first, it’s ideal to have one that can be unfolded and folded up in a matter of minutes to make camping easier.
Consider the distance that the cot will travel.
Some cots can be cumbersome to carry far distances due to the weight, so if you like to hike into the campsites or backpack, be sure to pick a cot that doesn’t weigh a lot. If you’re planning on transporting the cot a few feet from the car to a campsite, the weight and size may not be a crucial factor.
Most Frequently Asked Questions
Is a camping cot required to have a mattress?
<p>A good camping cot should provide enough comfort to allow you to sleep with a blanket or sleeping bag. However, if you want to upgrade your sleeping arrangements, another layer of cushioning like a foam pad or Therm-a-rest can add <a href=”https://www.travelandleisure.com/trip-ideas/nature-travel/luxury-campsites-glamping” data-component=”link” data-source=”inlineLink” data-type=”internalLink” data-ordinal=”1″>a little extra comfort</a>. </p>
Are camping cots any more comfortable than air mattress?
<p>It all depends on what you like to sleep on. A camping cot may be more comfortable for you, especially if your preference is for a firmer mattress. Air mattresses are easier to store, but you run the risk of it deflating or getting a hole, which can happen when you’re camping or using the mattress often. Plus, you can always add more cushioning to a camping cot, but you can’t make an air mattress tauter. </p>
Travel + Leisure: Trustworthy
Anna Popp Commerce writer Travel + LeisureThere she reviews and writes about travel products. Growing up, Anna spent every summer camping with her family in Oregon. This experience has given her a keen interest in camping gear and helped her get a good nights sleep. Anna collaborated with travel editors to determine which camping cots were the best. This was based on the tests that our outdoor gear testers performed.
Next: The Best Tents for Every Camping Trip
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