Affordable Cots For Backpackers
These cots offer an extra comfortable sleeping experience for backpackers, without compromising their space in their packs or back muscles.
Our mum test-taker loved this luxury cot which is gorgeous enough to be a perfect fit for Scandi style nurseries, but is also extremely practical, with three mattress heights that will keep it functional until your child is four years old.
Mountain Summit Gear Horizon Cot
The Mountain Summit Gear Horizon Cot is our top budget pick and is a great choice for campers who are seeking a basic sleeping solution. It's simple to set up and transport and is comfortable to sleep on. The cot's wide, large base can support people up to 6 feet tall and 300 pounds. Our test subjects found that it was sturdy on most kinds of terrain. cot sales has a handy side pocket that's great for holding gear like water bottles, phone, and sleeping pads. The Mountain Summit Gear Horizon Cot, while bulkier than some back-packing cots, is surprisingly 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. This cot is built for two people and has an extremely comfortable sleeping area that's comfortable even without an air mattress. The cot has a quilted surface that is a comfortable surface to lie on. It also has baffles along the sides, which prevent you from falling. The cot is also robust, with a thick steel and aluminum bars that connect to large, swiveling legs, making it stable on most terrain. It was easy to set up for our test subjects, but the last knob that connects to the main bar required additional strength.
Another option that is a great choice is the Byer of Maine Easy Cot, which is similar to our top pick in terms of set-up and packability. It folds in a similar fashion similar to a folding camping chair. The middle joints snap in a snap. It's a little heavier and bigger than the Osage River model but it packs down into a smaller case that's roughly the same size as the bag that comes with a camp chair. It also comes with a larger sleeping area, as well as an additional storage compartment on the side that makes it an ideal option for anyone in need of a comfortable camping cot that can double as a guest bed at home. This cot is available in a version that has a headrest to provide additional comfort.
Onwak Cots
Onwak Cots are a great camping cot for those who require a sturdy, lightweight cot. This cot is unique in its folding design and is made of top quality materials. It's easy to store and transport. It is also extremely comfortable and durable, and can be used as a lounge chair or bed.
The Onwak Cots are not only great for camping, but also great for backpacking and hiking. Its light iron or aluminum construction allows it to easily support heavy loads while remaining compact and affordable. The product has also been thoroughly tested for its superior quality and performance. The Onwak team uses the highest-quality materials to craft its products and provides an efficient service, even if it's shipping in bulk.
The Kamprite Double Kwik Cot makes the ideal cot for couples who love camping together. This cot is easy to put together and ready for sleeping within minutes. It also has a number of convenient features, including a washable denier cot base, padded head section, and a mesh storage hammock. Additionally, it can be utilized as a lounger and has different recline positions for a custom experience.
The Coleman ComfortSmart is a great alternative for those who don't need a cot that is as comfortable as a bed. This cot is easy to set up and will be ready to lie down in under two minutes. It has a wide base on each leg that can be swiveled to adjust to uneven ground. It's also reasonably priced and comes with or without a mattress.
The Coleman ComfortSmart is an excellent choice for car campers. However, it's probably 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 to their camping sites. The legs can be difficult to fold and feed back into the cot body to store.
Helinox Lite Cot
Helinox Cot One Convertible combines the highest quality fabric engineered by a specialist with non-stretch technologies to create an ultra-lightweight camp bed that is durable and comfortable. Its patent-pending tensioners eliminate the need for bulky crossbars and braces and provide excellent tension to the bed's surface without adding extra weight. The tensioners also keep the surface of the cot from flattening when it is placed on uneven terrain. The only downside to this model is its cost.
There are many budget-friendly options for backpackers on a tight budget. The OEX Ultralite Folding Cot, for instance, is less than half the cost of the Helinox Lite Cot while being substantially heavier. The main drawback to the OEX is that it's not as simple to put together and it can be difficult for smaller-framed people to bend its five aluminum leg assemblies to fit.
Unlike the OEX model, the Helinox Lite Cot comes with a unique lever locking tensioning system that allows it to be erected and disassemble. This lever is located on the left side of each leg. It has an arm pivoting that connects with the top frame bar. The lever has an open tab on the other side that you press to let it go. The mechanical leverage of this mechanism provides immense tension to the bed surface without adding extra bulk or stress to the legs.
The Lite Cot can also be adjusted to a different height using the leg extensions that come with it. This is a huge benefit when camping in an alpine area where you'll need to stand off the ground because of snow or uneven terrain. However, the slim profile of this cot may be a problem if you're moving a lot in your sleep, or when you share a tent with someone.
Like other cots the Lite Cot requires some time to put it together and take it down. But after a few uses it's easy to set up and take down. It's also extremely light and compact for a cot, and can fit into most cars, SUVs and vans, even when they are jam-packed with gear. This makes it an excellent choice for bike and car camping.
ALPS Mountaineering ReadyLite Cot
If you're looking for a backpacking cot that is easy to pack and set up it's the ALPS Mountaineering ReadyLite Cot is an excellent choice. It is light and durable due to its aluminum frame 7000 series and 420D honeycomb polyester rip-stop material. It weighs less than five pounds, but can support 300 pounds of weight. It can be folded into an a7x17 inch carry bag which makes it easy to carry.
The ALPS ReadyLite Cot is unlike other cots, which require you to spread it out from the middle. Instead the legs extend at the bottom of each side. This means that all you need to do is spread the cot out and then tighten the straps. We found it to be one of the simplest cotes to set up however its larger size may make it too large to fit in some tents.
ALPS Mountaineering ReadyLite, while not as mobile as the other cots listed here, is still the best option for backpacking cots. Additionally, its large feet at the base of each leg swivel in order to adapt to uneven terrain and even let you sleep in the rain.