Affordable Cots For Backpackers
For backpackers who want to elevate their sleeping experience without sacrificing pack space or back muscles, these cots with a more cushy design are a great option.
This deluxe crib is an excellent choice for Scandi-style nurseries. It's also practical, with three mattress heights to keep your child at ease until they reach four years old.
Mountain Summit Gear Horizon Cot
The Mountain Summit Gear Horizon Cot which is our top budget pick, is a great option for campers looking for an easy solution to sleep. It's easy to set up and impressive packability and is comfortable to sleep on. This cot has a large and wide base that can hold someone who is 6 feet tall and 300 pounds. Our test subjects found it to be sturdy on all terrains. It has a pocket on the side for holding items like sleeping pads, water bottles, and phones. The Mountain Summit Gear Horizon Cot although heavier than many backpacking cots, is still transportable. It can be easily incorporated into most camping tents for cars.
If you're looking for something more luxurious, we recommend the REI Co-op Kingdom Cot 3. The cot can accommodate two people and is extremely comfortable even without an inflatable mattress. The cot is quilted with a surface which is comfortable to lay on. It also has baffles on the sides, which help prevent the user from falling. This cot is also extremely sturdy, with heavy steel and aluminum bars that join to huge, swiveling legs, which make it stable on all terrains. It was easy to set up for our test subjects, but the last knob that connects the main bar needed additional strength.
Another excellent choice is the Byer of Maine Easy Cot, which is very similar to our top pick in terms of setup and packing. It folds down similarly as a folding camp chair, and the middle joints snap together easily and quickly. It's slightly heavier and bigger than the Osage River model, but it can be folded into a smaller carry case that's roughly the same size as the bag that comes with the camp chair. It also comes with a larger sleeping area, as well as a side pocket for storage that makes it a great option for anyone in need of a comfortable camping cot that can double as a bed for guests at home. You can even find a version of this cot with a headrest that is attached to provide additional comfort.
Onwak Cots
If you're looking for a durable lightweight camping cot that is light to meet your outdoor needs look no further than the Onwak Cots. This cot is made with top-quality materials and features an innovative foldable design that makes it easy to store and transport. It is also extremely comfortable and sturdy and can be used either as a lounger chair or bed.
In small cot beds to being a fantastic cot for camping, the Onwak Cots is also great for backpacking and hiking. Its lightweight aluminum or iron construction permits it to easily support large loads while remaining portable and affordable. In addition the cot has been thoroughly tested to ensure the highest quality and performance. Onwak makes use of only the finest materials for its products, and offers reliability even when shipping bulk quantities.
The Kamprite Double Kwik Cot makes the perfect cot for couples that enjoy camping together. This cot can be assembled in just a few minutes and is ready to sleep. It has many convenient features, including a washable denier base with a cushioned section as well as a mesh storage hammock. It can also be used as a lounge chair and has different recline positions for a custom experience.
The Coleman ComfortSmart is a great option for those who don't need a cot that is as comfortable as a bed. It's easy to set up and can be set up to sleep in just two minutes. It has a large base at each leg which 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 option for backpackers or hikers in the backcountry. It's heavy and bulky to carry over long distances, making it ideal for those traveling to their camping spots. In addition the legs can be difficult to unfold correctly, and it takes some strength to return them to the body of the cot in order to store them.
Helinox Light Cot
Helinox Cot One Convertible combines the highest quality fabric engineered by a specialist with non-stretch technology to make a light-weight camping bed that is comfortable and durable. Its patented tensioners deliver great tension on the bed surface without adding extra weight. The tensioners also stop the bed's surface from becoming flat when it is placed on uneven terrain. The only downside to this model is its premium price point.
If you're a backpacker on limited funds, there are other affordable Cot options available. The OEX Ultralite Folding Cot, for example, costs less than half the cost of the Helinox Lite Cot while being considerably heavier. The primary drawback of the OEX is its difficulty in assembly. It can be a challenge for those with smaller frames to bend five leg assemblies.
Unlike the OEX and the OEX, the Helinox Lite Cot has an exclusive lever locking tensioning system that allows it to be erected and disassemble. The lever is situated on the side of each leg and has an arm that pivots and connects with the top frame bar. The lever is equipped with an open tab at the other end that you press to let it go. The mechanical leverage of this system gives immense tension to the bed surface without adding extra bulk or strain on the legs.
Another advantage of the Lite Cot is that it can be adjusted to different heights by using the included leg extensions. This is a huge benefit when camping in an alpine environment where you may need to stand off the ground because of snow or uneven terrain. The low profile of the cot can be not ideal for people who move around a lot during their sleep or have to share a space with someone else.
The Lite Cot is no different. It takes a bit of practice to put it together and then disassemble it. After a few hours, it's easy to set up and then pack. It is also incredibly lightweight and compact for a cot and can be tucked away in most cars and vans with their gear. This makes it a great option for car and bike camping.
ALPS Mountaineering ReadyLite Cot
The ALPS Mountaineering ReadyLite Cot makes the perfect option if you are looking for an easy-to-pack, lightweight and easy to set-up backpacking cot. This cot is lightweight and durable thanks to its 7000 series aluminum frame and 420D honeycomb polyester rip-stop fabric. It weighs less than 5 pounds, yet has a 300-pound weight capacity. It folds into an 7 x 17 inch carry bag, which makes it easy to transport in your backpack.
Contrary to other cots which require you to expand it from the middle it is the ALPS ReadyLite Cot has legs that extend to the base of each side. This means all you have to do is spread the cot and then tighten the straps. We found it to be one of the most simple to set up cots however its larger size may cause it to be too big to fit in some tents.
ALPS Mountaineering ReadyLite, while not as portable as other cots listed here, is still the best option for backpacking cots. Plus, its wide feet at the base of each leg can swivel to adapt to uneven terrain and allow you to sleep in the rain.