Affordable Cots For Backpackers
These cots provide the most comfortable sleep for backpackers without compromising their backpack space or back muscles.
Our mom tester loved this luxurious cot that is beautiful enough to fit Scandi design nurseries but is also super practical with three mattress sizes that will make it functional until your child is four years old.
Mountain Summit Gear Horizon Cot
The Mountain Summit Gear Horizon Cot is our
best cots budget pick and an ideal choice for campers who are looking for a simple sleeping solution. It has a straightforward setup and impressive packability and is comfortable to sleep on. This cot has a large broad base that can hold people who is 6 feet tall and 300 pounds. Our testers found it to be stable on most terrain. It has a pocket on the side for holding items like sleeping pads, water bottles, and phones. Although it's heavier than other backpacking cots however, the Mountain Summit Gear Horizon Cot is still a great option for portable storage and fits nicely into the majority of camping tents for cars.
If you're looking for something that's a little more luxurious, we recommend the REI Co-op Kingdom Cot 3. The cot is designed for two and has a sleeping area that's incredibly comfortable, even without an air mattress. The cot features a quilted surface which is a comfortable surface to lie on. It also has baffles on the sides, which help prevent the user from falling. This cot is also extremely sturdy, with thick steel and aluminum bars that connect to oversized and swiveling legs, which makes it stable on all terrains. It was simple to set up for our test subjects, but the last knob that connected the main bar needed additional strength.
Another excellent choice is the Byer of Maine Easy Cot, which is very similar to our top choice in terms of setup and packability. It folds down in a similar way as a folding camp chair and the middle joints snap together quickly and easily. It's slightly heavier and bigger than the Osage River model, however, it folds down into a smaller carry case that's roughly the same size as the carry bag of the camp chair. It has a larger sleeping area as well as a side storage pocket making it a good choice for anyone seeking an easy camping bed that can be used as a guest bed at home. You can also find a version of this cot with a headrest that is attached for added comfort.
Onwak Cots
If you're looking for a sturdy lightweight camping cot to meet your outdoor requirements, take a look at the Onwak Cots. The cot is constructed of top-quality materials, and features a unique foldable design that makes it easy to store and transport. It's also extremely comfortable and durable, and can be used as a bed or a lounge chair.
In addition to being a wonderful cot for camping, the Onwak Cots is also ideal for hiking and backpacking. Its light aluminum and iron construction makes it easy to support large loads yet still being portable. In addition, the cot has been thoroughly tested to ensure top quality and performance. Onwak makes use of only the highest quality materials to create its products and provides reliability even when shipping in bulk.
The Kamprite Double Kwik Cot makes the ideal cot for couples who love camping together. This cot can be set up in a matter of minutes and is ready to go to sleep. It has many convenient features like a washable base with a padded section, as well as a mesh hammocks for storage. It can also serve as an ottoman or a lounger, and it has various reclining positions that can be customized to your experience.
For those who aren't seeking a
cheap cot beds that is as comfortable as a mattress The Coleman ComfortSmart is an excellent option. This cot is easy to set up and will be ready for you to lie down in under two minutes. It also has a large foot at the bottom of each leg that swivels to adjust to uneven ground. In addition, it's very affordable and can be bought with or without a mattress.
The Coleman ComfortSmart is an excellent option for car campers. However, it's probably not the best option for backpackers or hikers in the backcountry. It's too heavy and hefty to carry over long distances, so it's best for those who are traveling to their campsites. Additionally legs can be tricky to unfold properly and require a bit of strength to feed them back into the body of the cot in order to store them.
Helinox Light Cot
Helinox Cot One Convertible combines high-end engineered fabric with non-stretch technology to make a light-weight camping bed that is comfortable and durable. Its patented tensioners remove the necessity for bulky cross bars and braces and provide excellent tension to the bed surface without adding extra weight. They also stop the cot from getting flat if it's set up on uneven ground. The only downside to this model is its higher price point.
If you're a backpacker on limited funds there are some other low-cost Cot options available. The OEX Ultralite Folding
mini cot beds, for example, costs less than half the cost of the Helinox Lite Cot while being significantly heavier. The major drawback of the OEX is that it's not as simple to assemble and may be difficult for small framed people to bend its five aluminum leg assemblies to fit.
Helinox Lite Cots have an exclusive tensioning system that includes an adjustable lever lock that makes them much easier to put together and disassemble. The lever is located on the side of each leg. It has a pivoting arm that connects to the top frame bar. The other side of the lever is a tab that is compressed and you depress to release it. This mechanism uses mechanical leverage to give you immense tension to the bed without adding bulk or stress to the legs.
The Lite Cot can also be adjusted to a different height using the leg extensions included. This is very helpful for camping in an alpine area where you'll need to get off the ground because of snow or uneven terrain. The low profile of the cot is not ideal for people who are active in their sleep, or who have to share a sleeping space with a partner.
Like other cots, the Lite Cot requires some practice to put it together and take it down. After a few times, it's easy to set up and then pack. It's also incredibly lightweight and compact for a cot and will fit into the majority of SUVs, cars and vans, even if they're packed with gear. This makes it a great option for car or bike camping.
ALPS Mountaineering ReadyLite Cot
The ALPS Mountaineering ReadyLite
cot beds makes a great option if you are looking for an easy-to-pack, lightweight and easy to set-up backpacking cot. It is light and durable thanks to its 7000 series aluminum frame and the 420D honeycomb rip-stop polyester fabric. It weighs less than five pounds, yet it can hold 300 pounds of weight. It folds into the size of a carry bag 7x17 inches which makes it easy to transport.
In contrast to other cots that require you to extend it from the middle, the ALPS ReadyLite Cot has legs that extend to the bottom of each side. This means all you have to do is spread the cot, then tighten the straps. It was easy to set up. However its size could not be suitable for some tents.
ALPS Mountaineering ReadyLite, while not as mobile as the other cots listed here, is still the best option for backpacking cots. Plus, its wide feet at the bottom of each leg swivel in order to adjust to uneven ground and allow you to sleep in the rain.