Graham Hiemstra
Field Mag's benevolent overlord, Graham Hiemstra is a writer & photographer with over a decade experience covering style, design, and outdoor gear.
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Your primary option for outdoor sleeping is no longer a squeaky, uncomfortable air mattress that might deflate during the night, thanks to the modern camping cot. A far cry from the military surplus wood-and-canvas behemoths you may remember from summer camp, these innovative and lightweight air pad alternatives are engineered to help weary outdoor enthusiasts get a good night's sleep at the campsite, in the backcountry, even at home.
But don't be deceived; not all camping cots are created equal. A quick Google search for lightweight cots for camping or the best backpacking cot will deliver a host of impossibly cheap Amazon-only options, and though I haven't personally tested them all, we'd warn against trusting these knockoff designs even if they appear to be best sellers. As they say—if it seems too good to be true, it probably is (and many reviewers will confirm).
That said, I have spent plenty of nights testing a range of camping cots from the top, most reputable brands. And the following 9 camping bed options are ones we can vouch for—each with a unique, proven system of suspension designed to elevate sleepers above uneven ground, offer better back support, and allow more airflow underneath the body for more a comfortable night's sleep outdoors.
Pair one with a down quilt and maybe even a lightweight side table and a set of camping chairs to rethink your entire camping experience altogether. And when it’s the off-season for outdoor camping, these packable cots can turn your living room into a sleeping area with a quick-deploying guest bed. Sure beats a leaky airbed.
Things to Consider When Buying a Camping Cot
Comfort
This is your number one consideration when purchasing a camping cot. Just like sleeping pads, cots come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and with other factors that impact comfort, too. If you move around in the night, consider a cot with a larger sleeping surface that will allow you to do so. Also, consider tension—if you've slept on a saggy hotel cot and felt its effects for days afterward, then you already know how important a factor this is.
Weight
Whether you're setting up camp right next to the car or hiking/biking/boating to your site, you'll be schlepping all your gear from garage to vehicle to tent and back, which makes a sleeping cot's weight an important factor to consider. More weight doesn't always equal comfort either—there are excellent lightweight camping cots out there.
Ease of Setup & Packability
If a cot is so difficult to setup and dismantle that it leads to frustration, chances are you won't use it as often. Good cots are easy to set up and take down, just like a hammock. Similarly, a cot's packability will affect not only the camp setup experience but also how and where you store it. Packability works in tandem with weight, too; you're more likely to bring a cot on more camping trips if it packs down small and is lightweight, thereby taking up less space in your car or bag and in the garage or closet back at home, too.
Accessories
Cots can be fairly basic, but some brands make a range of accessories to make them even more versatile than they already are. Helinox, for example, has a full range of cot accessories that includes leg extensions, headrests, and insulated covers for camping in a variety of places and conditions.
Field Mag's Top Picks:
- Best Overall Design: Helinox Cot One Convertible
- Best Budget Cot: Coleman Pack-Away Camping Cot
- Best Ultralight Cot for Backpacking: Therm-a-Rest UltraLite Cot
- Best for Tall Campers: Helinox Cot One Convertible Long
- Easiest Setup: ALPS Mountaineering Escalade Cot
- Best Sleeping Surface: Helinox Cot Max Convertible
- Best Upgrade for Home & Camp: Snow Peak High Tension Cot
- Most Maximalist: REI Co-op Kingdom Cot 3
- Best Classic Cot Design: Eureka Camp Cot
Honorable Mention: Disc-o-Bed is a clever, stackable, modular bunkbed design for home use and glamping outfits. Goofy name aside, by many accounts, it's a decent option for more semi-permanent camping situations.
The Best Camping Cots of 2023
Best Overall Design: Helinox Cot One Convertible
Helinox hit the bullseye in designing the Cot One, which expertly balances all the features that make a good camping cot—we could've awarded it the most portable cot, just as well. A unique lever locking leg attachment system makes for easy setup and take-down and also provides enough tension to create the perfect sag-free sleeping surface. As-is, the Cot One elevates campers six inches off the ground, but cot leg extensions can be purchased to elevate your sleeping surface to 18” off the ground (a height better for accessibility as it’s easier to get onto and off). All this, and the thing still weighs in at just 4 lbs 14 oz and packs down into the included carrying bag to fit in a backpack. (For a similar yet lighter cot, check out the 2 lb 12 oz Helinox Lite Cot).
Packed Dimensions: 21.5 x 6 inches
Minimum Trail Weight: 5 lbs 2 oz
Weight Capacity: 320 lbs
Pros: Very easy setup, portable, sturdy and lightweight
Cons: You get what you pay for
Price: $350 (+$99 for Leg Extensions)
Best All Around Deal: Coleman Pack-Away Camping Cot
A favorite of many reviewers and by all accounts a reliable and convenient outdoor sleeping solution, the adjustable Coleman Pack-Away Camping Cot is constructed with a durable steel frame that can support 300 pounds and people up to 6'6". The folding design isn't exactly compact, nor is it lightweight at 20 pounds, but neither metric really matter if you're camping near your car, in the backyard, or using the cot for house guests. What does matter is comfort and ease of use—and the Pack-Away provides both a solid night sleep and is easy to setup and take down. Plus the removable nightstand table with drink holder is pretty clever.
Packed Dimensions: 21.5 x 6 inches
Minimum Trail Weight: 5 lbs 2 oz
Weight Capacity: 320 lbs
Pros: Easy to unfold, sturdy construction
Cons: Lots of hinges for pinching hands
Price: $69
Best Ultralight Cot for Backpacking: Therm-a-Rest UltraLite Cot
It doesn’t get much more OG than Seattle-based Therm-a-Rest. For decades the Cascade Designs brand has been outfitting record-breaking expeditions and car campers alike with the absolute highest quality sleep solutions beginning with their inflatable mattress pads. The UltraLite Cot is the latest and likely the lightest and smallest packing cot available. Available in Regular or Large sizes, it breaks down easily, can be set up without tools, and features reflective materials to help retain body heat.
At its lightest packable weight without the storage bag, the cot becomes backpacking friendly at around 2 lbs 10 oz (and that’s without leaving support poles at home, which would further lighten the load). While the standard packable weight lands around 3 lbs, this puppy has been our go-to for car camping for years, and I don’t see that changing anytime soon. Space-wise, it hardly takes up more room than two one-liter water bottles put together. (For backpacking, the 12 oz NeoAir XLite Sleeping Pad is hard to beat.)
Packed Dimensions: 16 x 4 inches
Minimum Trail Weight: 2 lbs 10 oz
Weight Capacity: 325 lbs
Pros: Very lightweight, comfortable
Cons: Setup takes quite a bit of effort
Price: $240 $132
Best Cot for Tall Campers: Helinox Cot One Convertible Long
Sleeping bags come in longer sizes for tall campers, so why not cots? Helinox took everything that makes the Cot One Convertible the perfect camping cot—like pressure-locking legs, a lightweight aluminum frame, and a high-tension sleeping surface—and put an extended platform on top that adds 7.5 inches for a full length of 82.5 inches. The extension means this cot is slightly heavier and packs down a little larger into its included carrying case, but it's still as light and packable as you'll get for a cot of comparable size. Plus, all Helinox products carry a 5-year warranty.
Packed Dimensions: 23 x 6 inches
Minimum Trail Weight: 6 lbs 4 oz
Weight Capacity: 320 lbs
Pros: Lightweight even with long length, portable & durable
Cons: Elevated pricetag
Price: $400
Easiest Setup: ALPS Mountaineering Escalade Cot
ALPS Mountaineering is one of those sleeper brands that doesn't have as much flash but commands high respect among outdoorists for making gear that simply works. The oversized Escalade fits into that category, providing a large, sturdy sleeping surface that sets up in a snap, no assembly required—just take it out of the carrying bag and unfold. Once deployed, an oversized aluminum and steel frame elevates campers well above the hard cold ground. This sleeping cot also includes a side pocket for extra organization inside your tent.
Packed Dimensions: 48 x 9 x 5 inches
Minimum Trail Weight: 24 lbs
Weight Capacity: 325
Pros: Hanging pocket for essentials, easy-use design
Cons: Large when packed
Price: $170
Best Sleeping Surface: Helinox Cot Max Convertible
To get a positively huge sleeping surface without sacrificing other features like weight, packability, and comfort, you can't beat the Cot Max Convertible by Helinox. Like the Cot One, the Max has a super-supportive, lightweight aluminum frame and legs that lock into place to create a comfy, high-tension sleeping surface. And like the Cot One Long, the Max has an extended, 82.5-inch bed to accommodate tall sleepers. But this model adds even more extending this cot's width out to 29.5 inches, nearly 10 inches more than some of the top sleeping pads for camping. Again, that XL sleeping surface comes with marginal increases in weight and packed size, but big gains in comfort.
Packed Dimensions: 22.5 x 7 inches
Minimum Trail Weight: 6 lbs 8 oz
Weight Capacity: 320 lbs
Pros: Lightweight and packable, XL sleeping surface
Cons: Premium price
Price: $480
Best Upgrade for Home & Camp: Snow Peak High Tension Cot
This deluxe, minimalist cot from Japanese outdoor retailer Snow Peak hits all the right beats style-wise, and in terms of practicality; who says camp furniture has to look like camp furniture anyways? With durable but comfortable polyester 600D for the fabric and a collapsible stainless steel frame, the aluminum legs use innovative design to create tension where weight is placed heaviest on the fabric, ensuring maximum support and zero sagging. Best for camping at-home or glamping situations.
Packed Dimensions: 49 x 11 x 7.8 inches
Minimum Trail Weight: 13.2 lbs
Weight Capacity: 14 lbs 14 oz
Pros: Aesthetic design, comfortable, includes storage bag
Cons: Expensive, still large when packed down
Price: $460
Best Maximalist Foldable Cot: REI Co-op Kingdom Cot 3
This REI brand folding camping cot goes above and beyond in including features like a padded, water-resistant polyester fabric sleeping surface and a back that raises and lowers like a poolside lounge chair, making it a cozy option for campers who want or need extra comfort features for a good night's rest. Basically a folding bed, this option has extra-wide feet too, which helps with stability on a range of surfaces. The downside to all this is that it weighs 20 pounds and folds rather than packs down, so we'd reserve this cot for car camping and sleepovers only.
Packed Dimensions: 33 x 32 x 8.5 inches
Minimum Trail Weight: 20 lbs
Weight Capacity: 300 lbs
Pros: Comfort first, large sleeping area, very adjustable
Cons: Heavy, overbuilt, more components to fail in time
Price: $199
Best Classic Camping Cot: Eureka Camp Cot
Trusted by everyone from alpinists to families, Eureka has been helping people discover the outdoors since the 1800s. While best known for their camping tents, their wide range of other camping gear is equally reliable. Their camp cot is great for weekend getaways and overnight camping, setting up without hassle in just a minute. The heavy-duty fabric includes a faux leather headrest for increased comfort, and the strengthened steel frame supports up to 300 pounds. There are cheaper camping cots out there—the Coleman Trailhead II cot is roughly $50—but they're heavy, bulky, and can even damage your tent.
Packed Dimensions: 37.5 x 5.5 x 5 inches
Minimum Trail Weight: 14.8 lbs
Weight Capacity: 300 lbs
Pros: Compact, included carrying bag
Cons: Feet may damage tent floor
Price: $150
Camping Cot FAQs:
Are cots good for camping?
Yes. Now if you’re wondering, what is the point of a camping cot? The answer is three-fold: A quality camping cot provides superior support over an air mattress (or the hard ground), elevates you off the ground to provide better insulation and keep creepy crawlies at bay, and supports your body after a long day in the outdoors in a familiar manner that allows for a better night sleep. In the summer, air circulation under the cot also helps cool you during the night.
Does a camp cot need a mattress?
Generally, no. A quality camping cot, like those listed above, are all designed to provide support and comfort all night long. That said, if you’re particularly sensitive or just like a plush sleeping situation, pairing a camp cot with a thin Z Lite foam pad or even memory foam mattress (if maximalist car camping) will go a long way. If not using a sleeping bag, I suggest using a thin top sheet as body barrier between you and the cot—especially useful for warm weather camping.
Do you need a sleeping bag for a camping cot?
This is up to you—personally, I like to use a quality camping quilt or outdoor blanket instead of a sleeping bag. The beauty of camping cot is that it’s more similar to your bed at home, so sleeping in a restrictive mummy bag doesn’t make sense. When car camping, I like to lay on a top sheet on top of the cot, and use a thin wool blanket or camp quilt, and a generously sized pillow. It’s the best sleep you’ll ever have outdoors. Trust me.
