Camping Cots...
What to Look For.

Looking at camping cots for your next camp trip, or to get off the cold floor of your tent? Like any sleeping gear they have their advantages and disadvantages...

The advantage of camping cots are that they elevate you off the cold tent floor, so you don't get chilled as easily. Since there is some breathing room underneath they also let your body breathe so you don't wake up as damp as if you were sleeping on the floor. Another nice thing is that they give you more floor space because you can stash your gear and other equipment used for camping underneath. Foldable camping cots are also easy to set up and don't require inflation like some air mattresses.

The disadvantages are they're bulky and heavy when compared to most sleeping pads or air mattresses. So they're good for camping and day hiking when you can return to your campsite, but not backpacking. Since camping cots are usually made from a heavy sheet of fabric stretched across a frame they don't insulate very well. While they're better than sleeping on the ground, they don't conform to your body as well as some of the other sleeping gear does. Although you could always throw a sleeping pad or air mattress on top of your cot to get the best of both worlds.

Things to look for:

Fabric: Ripstop fabrics and heavy duty deniers are a good thing to consider for durability. Mesh helps breathability so you won't sweat to death on those hot breeze-less summer nights. It's also a good idea to look at ultraviolet light and mildew resistance. As you don't want to pull yours out of storage to have it covered in mildew. Making sure your gear is dry before you store it and using a good dehumidifier, if you store it in a damp place, will go a long ways towards preserving your investment.

Frames: Wood framed camping cots should be made from kiln-dried wood to help prevent splitting, shrinking, and for strength.

If the frame is made of steel it should be galvanized or at least protected by a baked-on paint. Aluminum tubing is another choice that's lighter and takes the weather/moisture better than steel. You'll want to make sure the frame is strong though because if it gets bent severely it will fatigue and break. Some of the newer tubular aluminum though is very strong.

The Roll-A-Cot combines an adjustable mesh fabric along with an aluminum alloy frame. There also aren't any tubes at the foot or head to duck under so it's more comfortable. And the carry bag attaches to it for storage.

Ease-of-use and assembly: Folding camping cots will make your life easier than military-style army cots that have to be completely disassembled, not to mention foldable cots also keep all the pieces in one place. Compact folding cots make transport and storage easier. Driving 8 hours to your campsite to realize you left one of your tent cots legs at home doesn't make for a good start to a camping trip. :-)

Make sure to get one both long enough and wide enough that you can move around and roll over comfortably without falling off the side. Laying in one position all night will leave you stiff and wishing you'd went for the wider cot by morning.

A nice feature is hanging storage pockets to hold a flashlight, book, or map. Knowing everything is within reach beats stumbling around in the dark every time. Also take a look at the feet to make sure they're smooth and not going to grab the tent floor and snag or cut it. Another feature that makes things easier is a foldable camping cot that fits into a carrying case with a shoulder strap.

(The links below will take you to either Altrec or REI. Both of these stores have outstanding reputations for customer service and usually rank higher than 90% in customer satisfaction.)

If you're looking to invest in a good quality camping cot take a look at the Roll-A-Cot by NRS. It's 6 feet 2 inches (188 cm) long which should be long enough for most people. If you happen to be taller though there's also the XL version that measures in at 7 feet (213 cm), so you 6 foot 10 guys can sleep without hanging off both ends too. :-)

Pros: Another nice feature that I like about the Roll A Cot is that its storage bag can attach to the aluminum frame to double as a pocket to stow gear, pretty neat. The pocket helps to keep your gear off the floor and out of the way, which means not tripping over stuff and not accidentally stepping on your sunglasses for the second time. The aluminum frame also saves some weight over old-style steel frames and as a bonus won't rust. The polyester mesh fabric is also welcome on those hot muggy nights because it breathes which is more than can be said for most heavy duty cloth cots.

Cons: It's a little bit pricier initially than some camping cots, but that's usually the case with most quality gear. I'd rather spend a little more up front anyway, than have to replace cheap gear down the road at a higher total cost.

I hope this information on camping cots has been helpful.