Last updated: September 23, 2018
Many of us love to spend our leisure time outdoors, enjoying nature and having an adventure or two. When it's time to settle down at night, it's great to have a comfortable place to sleep. Having the best camping cot can be a great solution for sleeping and relaxing while you camp.
Whatever your camping needs, we have assembled five of the best camping cots for campers of all types. The best sleeping cots have a durable design and provide adequate weight support. Comfort is also a huge factor in deciding which sleeping cots make the cut.
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Best Camping Cots
- Thick foam mattress
- Spring coil suspension
- Fits heights up to 5’7” and weights up to 275lbs
- Compact and foldable
Best Overall Cot
Pros
- Comfortable
- Simple to open and set up
- Elevated platform
Cons
- Not suitable for people taller than 5’7”
The Coleman ComfortSmart Cot is our pick for the best camping cot overall. For the average camper, you just need something with a basic design that will elevate you off of the ground and is comfortable and sturdy. The ComfortSmart cot is ideal for this purpose. Users say the cot is more comfortable than an air mattress, and it comes with a foam sleeping pad so that you don't have to add your own. This cot bed is a breeze to open and set up when you’re ready to sleep. The instructions are simple and easy to follow, and it doesn't take too long. At 14 pounds, the cot is lightweight. It also has a durable steel frame.
This cot's only downside is its size; it can only accommodate heights up to 5’7”. For that reason, it is not a good choice for people on the taller side or people who like to have a lot of extra room to spread out while they sleep. Still, it’s a great all-around cot for sleeping outdoors for the average camper, and it's a great value for the price. With its relatively small size, it folds up easily into a compact size that will fit right into your car trunk.
- Lightweight frame
- Overhead zippered windows
- Elevated sleeping platform
- Rain fly
- Carrying bag
Best Enclosed Cot
Pros
- Good airflow
- Sturdy
- Supports up to 500 lbs
Cons
- Heavy and bulky
- Cold airflow underneath cot
This is an enclosed tent that gives you the comfort of a cot along with the security of sleeping inside a tented space, away from weather and pets. The KampRite Double TentCot is roomy enough for two people. It is made from aluminum and nylon, and it comes with windows on all four sides. The enclosure is insect proof while still encouraging airflow, and it comes with a rain fly in case of storms. The elevation gets you off of the ground for a more comfortable sleep experience.
This sleeping cot is great for campers who want to rest assured that they won't wake up with a mouse in their sleeping bag, and it's sturdy enough for two sleepers to rest comfortably. The airflow underneath the cot is great for hotter months, although some users say that being inside enclosed nylon was still too warm in hot weather. In cold weather, the cold airflow underneath the cot would be the main issue, though this is a potential problem with all cots since the cot is raised up. This Kamprite cot is on the heavier side, so it's better for people who won't have to carry it too far from their vehicle to their base camp. It does come with its own carrying bag, and it folds up easily for this purpose. For a cot, the frame itself is quite lightweight while still being sturdy.
Yahill Ultralight Folding Bed Portable Cot
- Lightweight and portable
- Small folding size
- Waterproof
- Accommodates weights up to 220lbs
- Great customer service
Best Backpacking Cot
Pros
- Sturdy construction
- Small when folded
- Accommodates taller people
- Comfortable
Cons
- Difficult to assemble
- Close to ground
For a backpacking cot, lightness and ease of transport are the most important factors. The Yahill Ultralight Portable Cot fits all our criteria. At three pounds, it's easy to carry this cot with you while you're backpacking. The size shouldn't be an issue either, since it folds up to an impressively small size. One would expect that a cot of this weight and size would be flimsy, or only able to accommodate small people, but that's not the case with the Yahill. It has a unique design that allows it to easily accommodate larger people, whether you're tall or have a little extra weight. It has sturdy construction, and there are accommodations built in so that you can increase the supports if extra weight support is needed. You'll just need to order a couple extra parts, and you're good to go.
One downside of the Yahill is that it doesn’t get you very far off the ground; users report that you can feel the ground through the cot when sitting on it but, when laying down, it is comfortably elevated. That means you won't be able to store anything underneath this cot; however, when you're backpacking, storage isn't usually the first priority of your camp site. Another con is that this sleeping cot can be difficult to assemble; it's made in China, and the instructions can be a little tricky, especially since it has an unconventional design. Some users have had problems with the supports being too flimsy, but they were impressed with the quick and effective customer service to fix the problem. Users report that this cot is surprisingly comfortable, and the comfort and convenience alone make this a top pick.
Coleman Airbed Cot - Queen
- Airbed and cot combination for maximum comfort
- Versatile design
- Steel frame supports up to 600 lbs, and fits heights up to 6’2”
- Side tables with cup holders
Most Comfortable Cot
Pros
- Spacious and comfortable
- Can split into separate airbed and cot for twice the space
- Tables with cupholders
- Pump for inflation and deflation
Cons
- Heavy
- Noisy mattress
The Coleman Airbed Cot is the best camping cot for camping in luxury. This cot will offer you the best sleep possible when you’re away from home in the elements. By combining an airbed and cot into one sleep platform, this bed will give you the most comfort that you can hope for. It comes in a roomy queen size, so you can easily sleep with two people. In addition, the frame is sturdy and durable enough to accommodate two sleepers. Many users report that it’s lasted for several years.
Because it combines two sleeping surfaces in one, it isn't realistic to think you can carry the Coleman large distances. At nearly 43 pounds, it's much too heavy and bulky to carry on a hike. Instead, it's best for those who will be camping near their vehicle, and those who want a comfortable and convenient sleep experience outdoors. The only other possible con of this sleeping cot is that it can be noisy when you move around at night. If you're a light sleeper, this may be a problem.
Not only is the Coleman Airbed Cot big enough for two, but it’s also versatile. You can leave the airbed on the cot for maximum comfort, or you can separate them for double the sleeping space. This camping cot is ideal for those who want a comfortable and convenient sleep experience outdoors.
TETON Sports Outfitter XXL Camping Cot
- Extra large design
- Weight capacity up to 600lbs
- Steel supports
- Easy assembly
Best Extra-Large Cot
Pros
- Sturdy
- Huge
- Comfortable
- High off the ground
- Quick set-up
Cons
- Does not come with any padding
- Heavy
If you need some extra room to stretch out when you sleep, the Teton Sports Outfitter XXL Camping Cot is a great solution. A truly roomy camping cot can be hard to find, which makes this one all the more special. The most common word users use to describe this cot is "huge." With an 85"x40" sleeping area, the Teton cot can accommodate taller folks with room to spare, and its sturdy steel supports can hold weights up to 600lbs. With such a generous size, you can even fit two people on it if need be. It’s also easy to set up, though you will likely need two people. For a huge cot, it folds up pretty impressively, too.
The main downside of the Teton XXL Camping Cot is that it doesn't include any padding with the platform, and the bare cot is not comfortable enough to sleep on by itself. Teton Sports makes a matching mattress pad that you will have to buy along with the cot. With the mattress pad added, though, users found that this camping cot was quite comfortable throughout the night, and it felt sturdy enough even with an added weight load. At 26 pounds, this cot is too heavy to carry for any sort of long distance, so it's ideal for those who are camping near their vehicle. As a bonus, this cot has plenty of clear space underneath which you could use for extra storage at your campsite.
The Best Camping Cots for All of Your Camping Needs Summary
Whether you need a cot for backpacking or simply relaxing at base camp, our camping cot reviews will point you in the right direction for finding the best camping cot for your specific needs. Make sure to buy a cot that will fit your weight and size, and consider whether you'll be sleeping alone or sharing your cot with a friend. If you need to carry your cot long distances, a lighter cot is best. If you'll be near your car, it's worth it to splurge on a bulkier and more comfortable option.
We chose the best cots for a variety of circumstances. We have the best cot for comfort, the best camping cot for backpacking purposes, the best sleeping cot with an enclosed space, the best camping cot with an extra-large space, and the best overall sleeping cot. Our camping cot reviews are thorough, informative, and succinct. Read each description to find the ideal sleeping cot for your camping needs.
A comfortable sleeping cot can make all the difference in your camping experience. Stop waking up with back aches and cramps from sleeping on the ground in the cold, and you may find that sleeping outdoors is a lot more cozy than you could have ever imagined.
There are a huge range of advantages to sleeping on a cot instead of in a sleeping bag. Cots will get you off of the ground while you sleep, and they often have padding for extra comfort. They're more comfortable than sleeping on the ground or using an air bed, and they fold up for easy transport. It's important to choose the right sleeping solution when you camp, and for many people, the comfort of using a cot outweighs the cons such as added weight.
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