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First Things First: Do you need a lightweight camping cot?
We’ve been camping enthusiasts for longer than we care to mention. Over almost all of Canada, from Nova Scotia to Vancouver Island, to Kyushu, Japan, we’ve been camping in all kinds of climates, in all sorts of weather.
During the bulk of that time, a sleeping mat ( or even a yoga mat ) was usually sufficient for us. During a recent trip to Kadogawa, our campsite was on the side of a river, and mighty rocky.
We were okay but experienced a serious pang of camping cot envy. Our buddy, Youzou Maeda had a camping cot. I don’t remember the make or model, but he had had it for a few years.
It took a while to set up (25 minutes or thereabouts, but it was completely self-contained, so that includes the tent time, too.) Still, it gave us pause.
We decided to get in the market. After a lot of research and testing, at a glance, this is what we found:
Table of Contents
When considering a camping cot, we think you need to answer the following question:
Which Camping Cot is best for you?
That depends. We’ve listed the best camping cots for your hard-earned cash. We don’t feel comfortable saying “buy this one”, or “buy that one”. What we’ve done is try to take the guesswork out of your choice. We believe that any one of these is a good choice for someone! Whether this or that one is best for you is something that you have to decide. Having said all of that, we hope this will be useful for you. Okay? Okay. Here we go…
Most camping cots fall into two buckets:
- Heavy, bulky but comfortable. All of these fold up.(A lot of ranges in the price, quality, ease of set-up, and price.) To be completely honest, these are usually for the cabin, overnight guests or wall tents. They don’t really work for camping in tents. In every practical way, they’re not really for us.
- Lightweight, and *usually* packs down into a stuff bag that can be hiked or canoed with. (Sometimes very expensive.) It’s this second group we are going to focus on.
We’re gonna focus on bucket number 2. Of these, we’re going to break them down into under $50.00, and under $70.00. (You can spend more, but once you get up above that, we’ve found it doesn’t make that much difference. So that’s our focus.
Are you predominantly a car camper?
If you’re usually a car camper, camping cots are great, especially if you are gonna stay in the same place for two or three nights. Weight and bulkiness is less of an issue. It’s great to have a camping cot that folds up into a compact package, and a stuff bag is better yet. (There’s no reason that you can’t use them for the cabin, or overnight guests at home.) But they are still no fun to schlep around, and a little schlepping is nearly always necessary when camping. To be absolutely truthful, that’s part of the fun.
We believe that there is no real reason to get the heavy bulky ones. Nearly everyone is better off with some version of the lightweight ones, whatever your budget may be. So we decided to concentrate on the lightweight camping cots. (Nota Bene: “Lightweight” means different things to car campers and hikers. We decided that to be useful, we’d just define it as between 4.2 lbs (1.9 kg) to 13.6 lbs (6.16 kg). Bear in mind that to a hiker, trekker, or mountaineer, there is a huge difference that a kilogram or two makes.
Hey, Loonies, What are the pros and cons of camping cots?
| Pros | Cons |
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No question being in the great outdoors becomes even more enjoyable when you have a comfortable place at night to lay your head. Each type of camper has a lot more options in today’s market. Outfitters have managed to combine lightweight design with durability and comfort. But, there is always a tradeoff, isn’t there?
So we got to thinking: It’s usually true that you get what you pay for. But not always, and we like to live in the sweet spot between “affordable good quality” and “a little bit more money, but very good quality”.
All of these camping cots are new in 2024, so it’s difficult to assess their durability, but we chose camping cots that appear to be of good quality. We broke these down into two basic groups:
- Cheap but pretty good value.
- Kind of in the middle but slightly better quality – lighter, easier to set up, better materials, etc.
So here we go:
1. Cheap but pretty good value Camping Cots:
By “cheap”, we mean from under $50.00. To be honest, These are mighty close to $50.00. If that’s too steep, we’ll do an article on sleeping pads for camping. If you’re serious about camping cots, you don’t want to skimp too much.
YSSOA Folding Camping Cot
This camping cot was sturdy-looking and stable on its feet. The stuff bag was a little bulky and lacked a shoulder strap. At 13.6 lbs (6.16 kg) it’s not really “lightweight”, no matter what the website says. Still, if you are a car camper, the price is right. It was easy to set up and break down, and it fits back in the stuff bag without struggle. Like most camping cots, the load capacity is 330 lbs (150 kg), which ought to be enough for most people. It was enough for us. The sleeping area is 600D Oxford fabric, tough, and pretty comfortable. At 6.2′ x 2′ x 1.4 (190 x 63 x 43.2 cm) it’s plenty big enough, and it’s high enough off the ground to stash your pack or guitar underneath.
| Pros | Cons |
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Stats at a glance:
| Color | Black |
| Brand | YSSOA |
| Storage Bag | Yes |
| Folded Size | 36.6 × 7.9 × 4 in (92.9 x 20 x 10.1 cm) |
| Weight | 13.6 lbs (6.16 kg) |
| Convertible (Height) | Not Convertible |
| Shape | L-Shape |
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 6.2′ x 2′ x 1.4 (190 x 63 x 43.2 cm) |
| Product Care Instructions | Wipe with Dry Cloth |
In Short:
For the price (check Amazon) this camping cot is a pretty great value for car campers. We felt that it would be a little too heavy for hikers, and possibly a little too bulky for canoe trippers or even cyclists. There is only one height, which is okay at this price point, and it is comfortable and sturdy-looking. We liked it.
Sutekus Portable Camping Cot
This Camping Cot, like all of our selections, is foldable, but only one height. It’s pretty close to the ground, not much room for your pack underneath. It’s not that easy to set up, (the brackets require a little elbow grease to go into the slots) But it breaks down pretty quickly. It’s sturdy and stable even on uneven ground. We weren’t crazy about the fact that the stuff bag had neither a handle nor a shoulder strap, but it’s small enough to fit in your pack. It has a side pocket, which is always a good thing.
Weighing in at a light 4.7 lbs (2.08 kg) (for the price), it can be used by hikers, cyclists, canoe trippers, and of course, car campers. That makes it a pretty good value. It’s very stable. The load capacity is listed at 330.9 lbs, (150 kg), we took their word for it. It supported us. We liked it, a good value. (Check Amazon for price) Checking the website, we were a little surprised that out of 200 ratings it received 4.2 stars. It’s pretty new.
| Pros | Cons |
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Stats at a glance:
| Color | Black |
| Brand | Sutekus |
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 75″ x 27.5″ x 6.6″ (190.5cm x 69.85cm x16.764) |
| Folded Size | 7″ × 14″ ( 17.78 x 35.56cm ) |
| Load Capacity | 330 lbs (about 150 kg) |
| Product Care Instructions | Wipe with Dry Cloth |
| Material | Aluminum |
We liked this one. We weren’t familiar with the brand, but all things considered, it’s a pretty good value. As camping cots go, this feels sturdy on its feet. It is a little low, and it’s a little difficult to set up, but considering the price, this one feels pretty good to us.
MOON LENCE Lightweight Folding Camping Cot
At the high end of the “under $50.00” spectrum (check Amazon for price), there was a lot to like about this camping cot. It was easy and quick to set up, with a kind of snap-to design. (They call it a Trigger, but there is only one “Trigger”, and that’s Willies’.) We digress.
Easy to set up and break down. It inspires confidence with aluminum legs and elastic polyester. It has a PU coating, and it held us up off the ground. It is not convertible, which is not really a game changer, but for us, it was a little difficult to climb out of in the morning.
At 7lbs ( a smidge over 3 kg) it’s not ideal for hikers, cyclists or canoe trippers. It’s in the sweet spot for car campers, however. It’s plenty large and comfortable.
Pros
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Stats at a glance:
| Color | Black |
| Brand | MOON LENCE |
| Size | 74.8″ x 27.6″ (190cm x 70.1cm) |
| Load Capacity | 350 lb (158.757 kg) |
| Weight | 7lbs (3.17515 kg) |
| Stuff bag size | 16.5″ x 6.5″ x 7.8″ (41.91 x 16.51 x 19.812cm) |
| Assembly Required | Yes |
| Product Care Instructions | Wipe with Dry Cloth |
In short:
This camping cot is a great value for car campers. The price is right, and the quality looks solid. We really liked the design of the legs, so slick. It’s not very high off the ground, so your pack won’t fit under it. We liked the fact that there is a guitar in the advertising. Kindred spirits, so they get brownie points for that. We liked it.
Camping Cots for under $70.00
These are our favorites for under $70.00, which is a pretty good range for us. The big thing is that these are light enough for whichever type of camper you are. (Ranging from a smidge over 5 lbs (2.2kg) down to 4.4 lbs (about 2kg), so easily light enough for most hikers.)
HOMFUL Camping Cot
Pros
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With tear-resistant 420D Oxford cloth, this lightweight camping cot looks pretty durable. This one actually is pretty lightweight, tipping the scales at 5.2 lbs (2.4 kg), which will work for a lot of hikers. It will tend to feel heavier as the kilometers pile up, though. The load capacity is 330 lbs ( 150 kg), which is pretty standard. It packs down into a stuff bag of 15″ x 6.3″ (38.1cm x 16cm).
It sets up and breaks down pretty easily, and the instructions were very clear, which we liked a lot.
Stats at a glance:
| Color | Carbon Black |
| Brand | HOMFUL |
| Weight | 5.2 lbs (2.4kg) |
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 74.8 x 27.56 x 7.87 inches (190cm x 70cm x 7.87cm) |
| Load Capacity | 330lbs (150 kg) |
| Product Care Instructions | Wipe with Dry Cloth |
In Short
We liked this camping cot a lot. The quality of materials and the setup ease were excellent. We missed the shoulder strap, but you can always tie it (or clip it) to your pack. This was truly a good compromise for nearly everyone, no matter what style of camping you enjoy. That makes it a very good value, in our opinion. (See Amazon for prices)
MARCHWAY Ultralight Folding Tent Camping Cot Bed
Rugged and durable-looking, the Marchway Ultralight camping cot lives up to its name. At a svelte 4.8 lbs (2.17kg) this is one of our lighter camping cots. The stuff sack, however, we found to be a little bulky. We suppose you can attach it to your backpack. There is no handle or shoulder strap, and at only 6.5″ from the ground, you can’t really stash your pack under the cot. We also have a pet peeve with really low cots and rolling out of them in the morning.
Having said all that, it’s light enough for just about all kinds of campers. We can’t see any issues with hikers, trekkers, and canoe trippers all the way through to car campers.
It was surprisingly easy to set up and break down, which we love. It inspires confidence with its durable-looking materials, tent pole-style legs, and nylon fabric. Surprisingly, where almost all of the cots reviewed here have a load capacity of 330 lbs (150kg) this one is a little lighter, supporting up to only 275 lbs (124.7kg), not that that is such a big deal. That should be enough for most people. We really liked the feet, sturdy, and stable even on rocky ground, and they don’t damage floors if used indoors. We didn’t really think about that, but the more situations you can use the cot, the better the value.
Pros
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Stats at a glance
| Color | Black, Grey, Green, Blue, Army Green |
| Brand | MARCHWAY |
| Weight | 4.8lb (2.17kg) |
| Size | 74.8″ x 27.4″ x 6.5″ (190cm x 69.5cm x 16.51cm) |
| Stuff Sack Size | 16.9 x 5.5 inch (43cm x 14cm) |
| Load Capacity | 275 lbs (124.7kg) |
| Product Care Instructions | Hand Wash |
In Short:
At under $70.00, this camping cot is a good value. The wide feet make it equally at home in a cabin or spare room, and the more you use something, the cheaper it is over time.
It’s light enough for just about any use, easy to set up and break down, and it looks very durable.
Check Amazon for the price.
TOMOUNT Camping Cot
The TOMOUNT Camping Cot has an interesting design, but when all you want to do is crawl into bed, that is the last thing you’re thinking about. It feels stable. Interestingly, it is waterproof which is a nice touch. Weighing in at a trim 2.1 kg, (4.4 lbs) we liked this one a lot. At this price (see Amazon), it’s quite reasonable for what you get. The fabric is tough-looking and inspires confidence. Quiet, wide, comfortable, waterproof, breathable with a load capacity of 150 kgs (330.7 lbs). There’s quite a lot to like, here. We thought this was flexible enough to take hiking, on a canoe trip, or a car camping trip.
Pros
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Stats at a glance
| Size | 190 x 70 x 17 cm (74.8 x 27.6 x 6.7 inches) |
| Material | 300D high-density oxford fabric |
| Weight | 2.1 kg (4.4 lbs ) |
| Brand | TOMOUNT |
| Style | Waterproof |
| Stuff Bag Size: Approx. | 42 x 16 x 16 cm (16.5 x 6.3 x 6.3 inches) |
In Short
We liked this one a lot – tough, stable, good design, light enough for hikers but we’d use it for car camping, too. In addition, it folds down into a pretty small stuff bag, which we really like, too. Out of 233 ratings it received 4 out of five stars. We agree.
FE Active Folding Camping Cot
This was a new company to us, we were surprised to see that it is “(T)rusted by members of the Canadian military…” That’s good enough for us. However, with a load capacity of 113 kg (250 lbs) it’s rated a little lighter ( most are in the 300 lb-150kg) than most of the camping cots here. On the other hand, that ought to be enough for most people.
The construction is sturdy aluminum with Oxford polyester fabric, which is water-resistant. Once again, at this price, we’d like the option of two heights, but no such luck. At 17.8cm (7″), it’s not very high off the ground, which makes it difficult to store items underneath it. (And the rolling out of bed thing- Which we’ve documented at length).
With that all said, there’s a lot here to like. It’s easy to set up and tear down. It’s a good size (75 x 27.5in -190.5 x 69.85cm ) and weighs in at a very reasonable 4.8 lbs (2.1kg) – it should meet almost every camper’s needs. There is also a handy side pocket for your stuff, which, as you may have gleaned by now, we really like.
The stuff sack is 18.8 x 5.9 x in (47.7 x 15 x 13cm) which is pretty good. We’d like a handle or shoulder strap at this price point, but that’s a small quibble. (See Amazon for price.)
Pros
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Stats at a glance
| Color | Black |
| Brand | FE Active |
| Weight | 4.8 lbs (2.1kg) |
| Material | Oxford Polyester/ Aluminum |
| Size | 75 x 27.5in -190.5cm x 69.85cm |
| Height | 17.8cm (7″) |
| Stuff Bag Size | 47.7 x 15 x 13cm (18.8 x 5.9 x in) |
| Assembly Required | Yes |
| Shape | Rectangular |
In short:
We liked this camping cot, we just felt you could get a better value for your money. As noted, it is quite light, so just about any camper could find it useful, it’s just that we feel that there are better values here than this one. It made the list, though, so we think it’s good, it’s just that we just would buy something else on this list first. (Just being honest.)
ATEPA Backpack Camping Cot
This camping cot has a clean design with “big feet” at the bottom of the legs. The “push-pull” support makes set up and tear down quick and easy. At 2.2kg (4.9lbs), it can truly be described as lightweight. Even the stuff sack is compact. There is no shoulder strap, but the handle looks robust. In any event, it fits in your pack, or you can tie it to the back of it.
We have the same quibble we always do with camping cots that are so close to the ground, not much storage space and not so easy for sore bodies to roll out of bed in the morning. “You can’t have everything. Where would you put it” -Stephen Wright.
Having said all that, we liked this camping cot a lot. Coming in at under $70.00, this is a good value, especially if you use it a lot, either hiking, canoe tripping, trekking, car camping or just napping in the office.
Despite it’s lightweight, it feels strong and durable.
Pros
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Stats at a glance
| Color | Light Grey |
| Brand | ATEPA |
| Size (In Stuff Sack) | 35.56 x 13 x 13cm (14 × 5.1 × 5.1in) |
| Weight | 2.2kg (4.9lbs) |
| Shape | Rectangular |
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 190.5 x 63.5 x 12cm ( 75 x 25 x 4.7 in) |
| Load Capacity | 120 kg (265lbs) |
In Short
Lots to like with this one. The design was new to us, but easy to set up and teardown. Quick. Which is always a good thing.
It was comfortable but, once again, for us, a little too close to the ground. We’ve said that it’s a little difficult to roll out of, and that’s true, but as a purely practical matter, the lack of stash space under the cot is a non-trivial complaint. We like to have our pack and guitar in the tent, and so it’s really cool to have that space.
We know, we know, that’s kind of a small quibble, but if it matters to us, we figured it might matter to you. Having said all of that, it’s a good camping cot, and the price is right. (And sometimes on sale, so be sure to check Amazon regularly.
LACAL Camping Cot
We liked this one a lot. It’s super easy to set up, the legs have a great snap-to design. It was one of the lightest that we reviewed, at 4 lbs (1.8kg). It boasts a stable aluminum frame, even over rocky or uneven ground. It uses a polyester fabric which looks tough and durable.
It’s load capacity was a little lighter than most of the camping cots that we reviewed (264 lbs – 120kg), but since we aren’t even close to that, we didn’t see that as a problem. (Besides, there’s not that much difference between 264 and 300 lbs.) You get a truly lightweight camping cot though, for a pretty reasonable price point. (Check Amazon for prices.)
The stuff sack folds down into a 23″ x 2.5″ x 2.5″ (58.42cm x 6.35cm x 6.35cm), which is another thing we really liked. With this amount of bulk and weight, we have no qualms recommending this to all sorts of campers. (It’s often on sale, too, so don’t hesitate to check Amazon frequently!)
We have the same small quibble with it being too close to the ground to store a guitar or your pack underneath it, and the rolling out of bed thing. I think we’d better just work on our core strength!
Unfolded it’s 74.8″ x 26.4″ x 5.9″ (190cm x 67cm x 15cm) which is a pretty good size for most people.
Pros
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Stats at a glance:
| Color | Beige, Black, and Blue |
Yes and no. Check to be sure. | |
| Brand | LACAL |
| Load Capacity | 264 lbs (120kg) |
| Weight | 4 lbs(1.8kg) |
| Assembly Required | Yes |
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 190 x 67 x 15 cm (74.8 x 26.4 x 5.9 inches) |
In Short
We liked the basic “look and feel” of this one instinctively. It has a cool design, and even though it’s really light, it has a good solid feel. We were a little disappointed with the fact that some have pockets, and some don’t, we kind of feel like just throw it in and be done with it, it’s not a big deal, and it’s so useful.
The stuff bag folds down small enough to be convenient and it has a cool logo. Note that it has a slightly lower load capacity than most of the others that we rated here, but it really shouldn’t be a problem for most people.
Its lightness makes it useful for everyone, which makes it a good value, especially if you use it a lot. A good investment at the price.
Choosing between these varied options will largely depend upon individual needs and preferences. However, we can confidently predict that one of these camping cots will fit your requirements perfectly.
We hope this has been helpful to you, and that you enjoy your nights in nature in comfort!