The best camping cots have trouble-free setups and are noticeably comfortable to sleep on.
Anna Popp is a Commerce Writer at Travel + Leisure where she tests, researches, and writes about travel products. Since living overseas in 2018, Anna has been a travel writer and began reviewing products in 2021. Heavy Duty Camp Bed
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If you’re ready to upgrade your sleeping arrangements while spending time outdoors, consider getting a camping cot to (literally) elevate your sleep. A camping cot is the closest portable thing to a typical bed, so it’s a must-have for campers who don’t feel like roughing it on the ground.
Our team of outdoor enthusiasts tried 19 camping cots to find out which ones are the most comfortable, durable, and easiest to put together for your next camping trip. The Osage River Comfortable and Lightweight Standard Folding Camping Cot earned its spot as our top pick by being exceptionally easy to put together and comfortable to sleep on inside of a tent. An additional seven cots landed on our list as well, with picks for campers looking to splurge on an ultra-lightweight option and a double cot for pairs. We even found a cot that is so comfortable, it could easily replace the air mattress you use for house guests.
The cot is a breeze to set up and was long enough to comfortably fit our 6-foot-tall tester.
It’s a little too big to carry long distances.
From setup to breakdown, the Osage River Standard Folding Camping Cot was a tester favorite, earning the highest scores in every one of our testing categories over our six-month testing period. We discovered that the cot can easily be assembled by stretching out the canvas fabric over the metal frame that folds out, and it simply folds back down when the time comes. It's super convenient and easy to get in and out of its storage bag and it takes less than a minute to set up and fold up. The cot fits perfectly in its carrying bag and is easy to transport to and from the car. Although it might be a little big to carry far distances, it’s extremely portable for car campgrounds or to use around the house.
We used the cot during a camping trip and were impressed that the size is convenient for both placing in a tent and getting a comfortable night’s sleep. One six-foot tall tester said it was plenty long enough for them to fit comfortably on it. The build and materials of the cot feel exceptionally sturdy and durable, so we’re confident it will last for years to come. And if you weren’t already sold, the affordable price of this cot makes it a no-brainer.
Price at time of publish: $59
The Details: 75 x 28 x 18.5 inches | 12.45 pounds | One person
The frame and canvas material feel exceptionally sturdy and durable.
It’s on the larger side.
L.L.Bean’s Easy Cot was super easy to set up, requiring the same low effort as unfolding a camping chair or table. When the cot is unfolded, we think there’s plenty of room for one person thanks to the generous 79-inch length. This was one of the biggest camping cots we tested, so even when it’s folded up, it takes up a little more space than we wish, but it still fits nicely in storage closets in an apartment. The canvas material is especially taut and the frame is sturdy, and we got a good night of sleep while laying on it with just a blanket. Although the heftier size and price were the ultimate reasons why this cost wasn’t our top pick, we still think it’s an excellent option if you have extra storage space for it.
Price at time of publish: $140
The Details: 79 x 30 x 17 inches | 21 pounds | One person
The cot is extremely lightweight at just 2.13 pounds, and the comfort it provides is unmatched.
It takes some extra strength to unfold the cot the first few times.
If you have some wiggle room in your camping cot budget, the Helinox Lite Cot is worth the splurge thanks to its ultra-light weight and comfortable design. Helinox is known for its lightweight outdoor gear, and we found that they deliver on expectations with this 2-pound cot. Although the width is on the smaller side at 23.5 inches, we loved that two cots could easily fit in a smaller tent if needed. The cot doesn't weigh much more than backpacking pads and definitely weighs less than some more plush air mattresses. The long thin design of it when it's in its carrying case is ideal for sliding long-ways into a backpacking backpack. The only downside is that it takes some extra strength to unfold the cot the first few times, but after a while, it gets less strenuous to put together.
Price at time of publish: $300
The Details: 73 x 23.5 x 5 inches | 2.13 pounds | One person
The length and width provide generous space for campers in need of the extra room.
It feels a bit bulky and heavy to carry around.
We love that the Alps Mountaineering Camp Cot XL provides a generous amount of space for campers at 86 inches long and 40 inches wide. For the most part, the cot was simple to put together and take apart since it comes with just a few pieces, but assembly might be easier with two people because of the heavier weight of the materials. We think having an extra-taut canvas to sleep on is worth putting some extra effort into getting the canvas onto the frame. The cot is comfortable to sleep on, but if you want to add extra cushioning, a Therm-a-rest pad or blanket could make it even more comfortable. Additionally, in a six-person tent, the cot took up a good amount of space, so you’ll want to make sure you have enough room to fold it out comfortably.
Price at time of publish: $200
The Details: 86 x 40 x 22 inches | 19 pounds | One person
The setup instructions are straightforward and it took just seconds to put the cot together.
The heavy weight makes it impractical for some trips.
Setting up a tent can be no small feat, so for additional ease while car camping, the Byer of Maine Easy Cot is your best option. Out of all the cots we tested, this one had the easiest setup by far, and it only took a matter of seconds to have the bed ready to go. The instructions are easy to follow and they’re printed on the side of the bag to make the setup that much more trouble-free. Keep in mind that the cot itself weighs 21 pounds, which is on the heavier side, so we think it’s best suited for campers who don’t have to carry the cot far (or at all for car camping). This cot was set up in a matter of seconds, making it one of the easiest cots we've ever used. It's definitely bulkier than some backpacking cots, but it didn't take up a ton of room in the back of a car and was easy to stack with other similar-sized gear.
Price at time of publish: $120
The Details: 78 x 18 x 31 inches | 21 pounds | One person
It’s noticeably lightweight and the carrying bag makes it even easier to transport.
There's a learning curve for setting it up and breaking it down.
We think the lightweight FE Active Folding Camping Cot is ideal for hikers, backpackers, or campers looking for a cot with superior portability. It only weighs 4.6 pounds, and we particularly liked the carrying bag it came with for additional portability. The bag is the perfect fit to carry all of the items for the cot. It is hard to break down the cot, but the portability portion is prime for a hike. The tautness of the canvas makes it slightly tricky to attach it to the base, but after the first few times of putting it together, we found that it gets easier. And even though the canvas is tight around the base, we found the cot very comfortable to sleep on with the perfect balance of stiffness and cushioning. It feels sturdy and didn’t wobble when we sat or slept on it, and we felt confident in its durability.
Price at time of publish: $70
The Details: 74.5 x 27.5 x 6.5 inches | 4.6 pounds | One person
The cot is so comfortable and easy to set up that house guests could sleep on it.
It feels heavy to carry around in the bag.
Whether you’re going on a camping trip or looking to add an extra place to sleep in your guest room, the versatile Mountain Summit Gear Horizon Cot is a solid choice. We found the setup to be simple and quick as it only took a few minutes to get the four-piece set put together. The size of the cot is perfect for a good nights' sleep since it’s not too big or too small. The material is taut and the legs give great stability, even when on uneven ground. There was no sinking when sleeping on the cot for hours. The cot weighs 18 pounds, which was noticeably hefty when we carried it in the bag, so we think it would be best for campsites that are close to the car or to set up in your home. The comfort matched with the simple setup makes this cot the best option for a multi-purpose cot that’s long-lasting.
Price at time of publish: $100
The Details: 75 x 27.55 x 14.5 inches | 18 pounds | One person
Coleman Pack-away Camping Cot: It was easy to put together, and the size is ideal for a four-person tent, but it wasn’t as comfortable as we hoped it would be.
Coleman Trailhead II Cot: We found this cot to be very comfortable to sleep on, but it does require two people to set it up and it’s on the heavier side.
Luno Air Mattress 2.0: We love that the air mattress comes custom-fit to your car, but we’re worried that it could possibly tear or get a hole over time, and the $330 price tag felt a bit steep for an air mattress.
Coleman Airbed Cot: Although it takes a bit of time to assemble, the cot is easy to put together and it was extremely comfortable to sleep on. Still, because it comes with a cot and an air mattress, we found it to be a bit cumbersome to carry and transport.
Our expert outdoor gear testers tried 19 different camping cots from popular brands like Coleman, L.L.Bean, and Helinox. Whether our testers used the camping cots to sleep in a tent, a car, or at home, they evaluated the product based on portability, ease of use, comfort, size, and durability.
To test portability, our testers were tasked with carrying the cot in its case and placing it in a car or rooftop carrier to get a feel for the weight. Our favorite cots for portability were noticeably lightweight and their carrying bags made them even easier to carry the cot around. Next, we took the cots out of the bags and set them up to see how easy (or difficult) it was to put together and break down the camping cots. Since cots can require some extra elbow grease, our testers paid close attention to the time it took to unfold the cots and how much effort was needed to spread the canvas over the frame. Once the cots were unfolded, we judged the size of the cot, with our top performers being those that are the perfect size for someone to sleep on while not taking up too much space in a tent or room.
Then, we spent at least one 30-minute nap and a full night on each cot to gauge the comfort of the canvas and the sturdiness of the frame. The best cots for our comfort category provided our testers with enough support and cushioning for a restful night of sleep. The cots that felt the most durable didn’t wobble when we moved around and the canvas felt tough and durable when we spread it over the base of the cot. After completing the tests, our testers uncovered the price of each cot to judge the fairness of the cost compared to its performance.
It’s important to double-check the dimensions of your cot and the space that it will go in whether that's a tent, car, or room in a home. We found that while one cot might fit in a two- or four-person tent, it might be difficult or impossible to fit another in the same space.
The best cots we tested were notable for being trouble-free to set up since no one wants to wrestle with a camping cot during a weekend enjoying the outdoors. While some cots might have a slight learning curve at first, it’s ideal to have one that can be unfolded and folded up in a matter of minutes to make camping easier.
Some cots can be cumbersome to carry far distances due to the weight, so if you like to hike into the campsites or backpack, be sure to pick a cot that doesn’t weigh a lot. If you’re planning on transporting the cot a few feet from the car to a campsite, the weight and size may not be a crucial factor.
Generally, a good camping cot should be comfortable enough to sleep on with just a sleeping bag or a blanket. However, if you want to upgrade your sleeping arrangements, another layer of cushioning like a foam pad or Therm-a-rest can add a little extra comfort.
While it ultimately depends on your sleeping preferences, a camping cot might be more comfortable to sleep on, especially if you prefer a stiffer bed. Air mattresses are easier to store, but you run the risk of it deflating or getting a hole, which can happen when you’re camping or using the mattress often. Plus, you can always add more cushioning to a camping cot, but you can’t make an air mattress tauter.
Anna Popp is a commerce writer at Travel + Leisure, where she writes and reviews travel products. She spent every summer camping in Oregon with her family growing up and has a keen eye for camping gear, especially for getting a good night of sleep. Anna worked with travel editors to determine the results for the best camping cots based on a series of tests completed by our expert outdoor gear testers.
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