Best camping cots

Camping cots buying guide and which one is best

Camping cots are a great choice for getting a comfortable and good night’s sleep when you are out camping. Though there is the option of a regular sleeping mat and sleeping bag or even a camping mattress, if you really want home like comfort then you need to go in for a camping cot.

A big perceived disadvantage of camping cots is that they cannot be hauled with you when you go hiking with a backpack, but that is not totally correct as some of the compact camping cots like the KingCamp Compact Cot only weigh 4.4 lbs and has a packed size of just 14 inches by 5 inches by 5 inches.

Here is a photo of the KingCamp Compact Cot all packed up.

When it opens out it can support up to 265 pounds of weight, which is suitable for most people, and extends to 75 inches which is 6 feet and 3 inches.

Here is a photo of the KingCamp Compact cot opened up.

Another great option in the lightweight camping beds category is the Desert Walker, that weighs only 3 pounds and supports an amazing 440 lb. Here is a picture of the ultralight Desert Walker camping cot, also showing its folded and packed size which is merely 19.6 inches x 4 inches.

Camping cots buying guide

Today the variety and types of camping cots is quite diverse. You get large double bed size camping cots and extremely light compact cots too. Usually the camping cots have a metal from and either a fabric or spring coil sleeping base. Some of them have rip resistant fabric, and some have additional features like extra storage and an add on table or chair.

Weight of the cot

The first thing you need to decide is how much weight you are willing to look at in your camping cot. If you are going backpacking and plan to carry it, then an ultralight compact cot is the only option. The other camping cots which area heavier are best for camping sites and camping trips where you can drive right up to the tent you will be sleeping in.

Frame of camping cots

Camping cots usually have a metal frame which gives it shape and creates the base of the sleeping surface. The frame is either made of steel or aluminium. Aluminium frames are lighter, while steel frames are stronger but heavier.

Material of the sleeping surface

The material which forms the cover over the frame is either cotton or polyester or nylon. Cotton is stronger but difficult to keep clean. Try to choose fabric that is rip resistant and water resistant too.

Setting up of the cot

The ease of setting up a camping cot is also a point to consider. There are many camping cots merely need to be unfolded and the legs opened into place, but the more compact ones need to be set up with things like threading metal rods into the piping of the cloth etc.

How much weight can the cot support

The weight capacity of the camping cot is an important consideration. If the person who will be sleeping on it is heavier, then look for a camping cot with those specifications. Camping cots support weights ranging from 250 lbs to 600 lb for the double bed sized cots. A heavier person will actually find it much more comfortable to sleep on a  camping cot as their body will not bear down on the ground anywhere.

Camping cots are safer and more comfortable than sleeping on the ground

When you sleep on a camping cot, you have a much more comfortable experience as at no point does your body touch the ground. It protects from the heat pulling property of the ground in colder camp sites, it keeps you safe from any insects that may come into the tent, and you can layer a sleeping mat and a sleeping bag on top to make it even more comfortable. Many of these camping cots are also used as back up bed back at home, so you can be sure that they will be comfortable.

10 Best Camping Cots to buy today

To bring you a very wide and updated choice of camping cots, out list of the Top 10 Bestsellers gets updated nearly every day. These 10 camping cots represent eh current highest selling models in the market today.

It will be a very good idea to have a good look at each one of them and if you see a camping cot that meets your needs and specs, you can be sure that it is a tested, tried and reliable choice.