The 9 Best Camping Cots, Tested and Reviewed (2024)

• Our Picks

• Other Camping Cots We Tested

• How We Tested

• What to Look For

• FAQ

• Why Trust TripSavvy

When our tester unpacked the L.L.Bean Easy Cot, they looked for instructions but couldn’t find any. And that’s because it’s so easy to set up. All you do is unfold it. To test out this camping cot, our reviewer took it to Joshua Tree and set it up in a two-person tent. It took up a lot less space than an air mattress would and, at 79 inches long, was well equipped to fit someone up to 6 feet, 5 inches tall.

While sleeping on the cot, our tester found it sturdy and provided enough support to prevent back issues. The rugged polyester fabric could get a tad hot if slept on directly, but it’s easy to clean if needed. You’ll appreciate the soft nonmarring feet which won’t damage the flooring of a cabin or a tent.

Some may find the 21-pound L.L.Bean Easy Cot heavy to carry and bulky in terms of storage, especially if you live in an apartment. However, the cot can come in handy even if you’re not camping, as it’s a great additional bed option for guests, and it won’t deflate like an air mattress in the middle of the night.

Dimensions: Open: 17 x 30 x 79 inches; Closed: 6 x 7 x 40 inches | Capacity: 330 pounds | Weight: 21 pounds

The Coleman Trailhead II Cot is incredibly affordable, and according to our tester, it’s comfortable too. We like the wide design of this cot as it allows you to stretch out in your sleep. But what makes it even better is that it folds into a nice compact size that will fit inside any car trunk. This cot is best used for car campers, not hikers because it’s slightly heavy.

While our tester noted that the fabric easily stains, their biggest concern was how it takes two people to set up the cot. The last knob connecting to the main bar requires some extra strength from an additional person. They also warned that the edges of the bars are sharp and could hurt your bare hands if not careful. Despite all that, the Coleman Trailhead II Cot is worth the buy. It is affordable and will fit someone up to 6 feet tall and 300 pounds.

Dimensions: 73 x 35 x 17 inches | Capacity: 300 pounds | Weight: 21.5 pounds

The OSAGE RIVER Comfortable and Lightweight Standing Folding Camping Cot takes a few seconds to assemble. You simply remove it from the carrying bag and unfold it. Then press down along the joints, and you’re done. Folding is easy, too—our tester explained, “Just flip it on its side, pull down on the single-leg posts, and fold it like an accordion.”

This cot is lightweight, though it is not ideal for backcountry camping that requires hiking. It comes in multiple colors and is outfitted with a waterproof fabric to withstand wet elements. You’ll enjoy the elevated headrest, and though the brand advertises that you could go without a pillow, our tester suggests you use one. An accessories pocket is attached to the side of the cot and offers three different pockets in one.

The OSAGE RIVER cot is decently priced, doesn’t take up too much room if you're using a camping tent, and is long enough to fit campers who are 6 feet tall, like our tester. We wish our tester had provided notes about the comfort of this cot because, according to Amazon reviewers, it’s not very wide, and some of the bars cut into the shoulders of those who have slept on it. Even worse, there are many reviews about the cot’s bars breaking within the first year. Although listed as able to withstand 300 pounds, many Amazon reviewers who ranged from 140 to 270 pounds found the cot less durable than desired.

Dimensions: open: 28 x 75 x 18.5 inches, closed: 5 x 8 x 40 inches | Capacity: 300 pounds | Weight: 12.45 pounds

If you're new to backpacking, when choosing a camping cot you must ensure that it’s light and compact enough to carry. Our tester did a hiking test with the FE Active Folding Camping Cot and found it a lightweight addition to their backpack. The cot breaks down into a water-resistant fabric piece and aluminum legs in a carrying bag. However, the setup is a bit tricky and will take some time to complete. Our tester had some trouble putting the cot together for the first time. Connecting the base components (legs) to the top components (pole railings) wasn’t easy, though the second time around, it seemed a little better, though not significantly so.

When fully assembled, the cot is about 6.5 inches off the ground and will fit someone 6 feet tall and up to 250 pounds. While our tester found it sturdy enough and could toss and turn without the cot squeaking or moving much, they were wary to ‘plop down’ on the cot.

Attached to the cot is an additional pouch for storage. The cot also comes with a small pouch that can be packed with clothes and used as a pillow or to store emergency kit items. Overall, our tester found the cot comfortable to sleep on and a pretty good deal.

Dimensions: open, 74.5 x 27.5 x 6.5 inches, closed, 18.8 x 5.9 x 5.1 inches | Capacity: 250 pounds | Weight: 4.6 pounds

The person who tested the Helinox Lite Cot took it on a backpacking trip near Big Bear Lake in California and had rave reviews. They’ve used a blow-up backpacking pad and a foam pad on past backpacking hiking trips and found that the Helinox Lite Cot was far more comfortable than anything they’ve ever experienced.

The Helinox Lite Cot weighs less than 3 pounds and is so compact that you’ll have no trouble fitting it in your backpack. The assembly instructions are easy to follow, but it will take a few minutes to set up. Be prepared to use some strength to “get the four bars that touch the ground around the two parallel bars that run the length of the cot,” said our tester.

Our reviewer did admit that this cot is narrow, and while that’s good for a two-person tent and smaller-sized individuals, it could be an issue for others. Side sleepers may not have as much of a problem with the narrowness of the cot. We should also mention that it’s only 73 inches long, meaning anyone over 6 feet will have their feet dangling off. It’s an expensive buy, but if you do a lot of backpacking, it’s a good investment.

Dimensions: open, 73 x 23.5 x 5 inches, closed, 5 x 21 inches | Capacity: 265 pounds | Weight: 2 pounds, 13 ounces

If you’re a newbie or a first-time camper, make your experience better with the Byer of Maine Easy Cot. Our tester took this cot to a drive-up campsite and slept on it in a six-person tent. The non-marring legs shouldn’t damage tent floors, and the carrying bag has the instructions on it. You don’t really need instructions because it only takes unfolding the legs to set the cot up.

As far as comfort goes, our tester found this cot to be solid, durable, and quite comfortable. Designed without cross beams, you don’t have to worry about them digging into your back. If you’re a larger person in terms of height and size, the Byer of Maine Easy Cot is a good choice because it is 6.5 feet long with no end rails, making it more comfortable for taller people. The width—31 inches—is also on the wider side of the cots.

Priced exceptionally well, this cot may be bulky, but that’s because it’s for car campers first.

Dimensions: 78 x 31 x 18 inches | Capacity: 330 pounds | Weight: 21 pounds

If you and your partner want to sleep on cots, it’s wise to invest in a double camping cot as they save a little more space than placing two cots side by side in a tent. The Kamp-Rite Double Kwik-Cot was our favorite double cot because the setup is quite easy. At 33 pounds, it’s on the heavier side, which makes sense with two cots in one, but the carrying bag will help to move it from your car to the campsite.

Our reviewer tested this cot in a four-person tent and noted that it was somewhat of a tight fit. You might have to set it up outside the tent before putting it inside. The cot was sturdy and comfortable, though the tester had a slight issue leveling it to the ground. Keep in mind that there is a bar that separates the double cot in two but add some padding, and it’ll feel like a double bed. Fun fact: A bonus feature underneath the cot is a mesh storage hammock where you can store your belongings off the ground.

Dimensions: closed, 42 x 11 x 11 inches, open, 85 x 55 x 19 inches | Capacity: 500 pounds | Weight: 33 pounds

For the price , you get a pretty good camping cot in the Mountain Summit Gear Horizon Cot. According to our tester, this cot was secure, stable, and held up on uneven ground. It also remained in place with any movement they made. The side pocket is a nice touch, allowing you to store items like your phone or a water bottle at your side throughout the night.

This isn’t the cot you can take on a backpacking trip. It’s got some weight to it, which means it’s better suited for a drive-up campsite. Setting up the cot takes about 5 minutes, and you’ll need to insert two poles into the cloth piece and then connect it to the accordion-style legs. It won’t take much effort, but it’s more set-up time than other car camping cots we’ve featured.

Dimensions: 75 x 27.55 x 14.5 inches | Capacity: 300 pounds | Weight: 18 pounds

In our opinion, the most significant drawback of camping cots is how many aren’t that wide or long and thus not accessible to all body types. But you don’t have to worry about that with the ALPS Mountaineering Camp Cot XL. It’s like the luxury version of a camping cot—you have so much room to stretch out in terms of length and width. In fact, anyone that’s up to 7 feet tall can sleep on this cot without their feet hanging off. Plus, it has a higher weight capacity of 325 pounds. Just keep in mind that because of its wider and longer size, you need to ensure that it will fit in your tent.

Setting up the cot is not tricky, but our tester advises that it might be easier with two people—especially at the end of the trip when you need to break it down. To set it up, you unfold the cot and add two end poles into the sleeves. Our tester appreciated the extra space this cot afforded them and found it comfortable as far as cots go. The side pocket and the included carrying bag are bonuses.

The ALPS Mountaineering Camp Cot XL is somewhat heavy, but even with its longer and wider design, it’s lighter than many other cots on this list. You shouldn’t have issues getting it from your car to the campsite.

Dimensions: open, 86 x 40 x 22 inches, closed ‎49 x 8 x 5 inches | Capacity: 325 pounds | Weight: 19 pounds

Frequently Asked Questions

• Do you need a sleeping pad or mattress for a camping cot?

  You don’t necessarily need a sleeping pad or a mattress for a camping cot. Our testers did not use such items to test out our cots (most just placed blankets on them), and many raved about their comfort. That said, if you like more padding, do whatever will make your camping experience more enjoyable.

• Can you check a camping cot as luggage?

  There doesn’t seem to be any rule prohibiting checking a camping cot when traveling by plane. It’s considered sporting equipment, so it’ll need to be smaller than the maximum linear size of 126 inches and weigh less than 50 pounds. Of course, if you bring a backpacking camping cot, you can easily fit them in a suitcase, duffel bag, or backpack.

• How do you clean and care for a camping cot?

  There isn’t much to cleaning and caring for a camping cot. If the legs get dirty, clean them with a rag dampened with water. If you can remove the fabric piece, throw it in the washing machine occasionally. Otherwise, use water and soap to remove stains. It might not hurt to place a blanket or sheet on the camping cot when you sleep on it so that the fabric doesn’t absorb your body oil, sweat, or any dirt or mud on your clothes.

• What makes a camping cot better or worse than an air mattress or pad?

  With an air mattress or a pad, you’ll most likely need a footprint on the ground floor of a tent as you’ll want to prevent such sleeping items from absorbing moisture or chill from the earth. With a camping cot, you don’t need an additional footprint. While a sleeping pad is as easy to set up as a camping cot (and in some cases easier), an air mattress will require more work, and they often deflate during the night, which can cause discomfort in your body and ruin your night of sleep. Sleeping pads and air mattresses offer a plusher sleeping experience, but that’s not to say that camping cots are uncomfortable. Most of our testers say they wished they’d bought camping cots for guests staying in their homes as they were more comfortable than an air mattress or floor pad.

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