Affordable Cots For Backpackers

For backpackers who want to elevate their sleeping experience without sacrificing space for their pack or back muscles, these softer cots are a great option.

Our mom tester loved this deluxe cot that looks beautiful enough to suit Scandi design nurseries but is also extremely practical, with three mattress heights that will keep it in use until your child is around four years old.

Mountain Summit Gear Horizon Cot

The Mountain Summit Gear Horizon Cot is our best cots for newborns budget pick and is a great choice for campers who are seeking a basic sleeping solution. It's easy to set up and pack, and is comfortable to sleep on. The cot has a, wide base that can hold someone up to 6 feet tall and 300 pounds, and our testers found it solid on any terrain. It also has a side pocket for holding items like sleeping pads, water bottles and phones. While it's more bulky than some backpacking cots however, the Mountain Summit Gear Horizon Cot is still very portable and fits well into the majority of car camping tents.

If you're looking for something that's more luxurious, we suggest the REI Co-op Kingdom Cot 3. This cot can sleep two people and is incredibly comfortable even without an inflatable mattress. The cot is quilted with a surface that is comfortable to lay on. It also has baffles along the sides, which prevent you from falling. The cot is also robust, with a thick aluminum and steel bars that connect to oversized and swiveling legs, making it stable on most terrain. It was simple to set up for our test subjects, but the last knob connecting the main bar needed additional strength.

The Byer of Maine Easy Cot is an excellent choice. It is very similar to the top selection when it comes to packing and setting up. It folds in a similar way as a folding camping chair. The middle joints snap in a snap. It's a little larger and heavier than the Osage River model, however, it folds down into a smaller case that's roughly the same size as the carry bag of a camp chair. It offers a more spacious sleeping area as well as a side storage pocket making it a good cribs option for those seeking an easy camping bed that can also be used as a spare guestbed at home. There is even an alternative version of this cot with a headrest that is attached for added comfort.

Onwak Cots

Onwak Cots are the perfect camping cot if you require a lightweight, durable cot. This cot is made of high-quality materials and has an unique foldable design that makes it easy to move and store. It is also extremely comfortable and durable, and can be used as a lounger chair or bed.

The Onwak Cots are not only great for camping, but also great for hiking and backpacking. Its lightweight iron or aluminum construction allows it to easily support heavy loads while remaining compact and affordable. The product has also been thoroughly tested for its superior quality and performance. The Onwak team makes use of the finest materials for its products and offers the best service, even when it's shipping in bulk.

The Kamprite Double Kwik Cot makes the ideal cot for couples who love camping together. This cot is simple to set up and can be ready for sleeping within minutes. It also comes with a variety of useful features, such as a washable denier cot base, padded head section, and a hammock for storage. It can also be used as lounger or chair and comes with multiple reclining positions to customize your experience.

For those who aren't looking for a Baby Cot as comfortable as a mattress The Coleman ComfortSmart is an excellent choice. The cot sales can be put together in less than two minutes. It has a broad base on each leg that can be rotated to allow for uneven ground. It is also very affordable and is available with or without a mattress.

While the Coleman ComfortSmart is a great option for car campers, it's not the best cots for newborns choice for backpackers or backcountry hikers. It's too heavy and hefty to carry over long distances, making it best for those who are traveling to their campsites. Additionally the legs can be a little difficult to fold correctly and require some strength to return them to the body of the cot in order to store them.

Helinox Lite Cot

Helinox Cot One Convertible combines the highest quality fabric engineered by a specialist with non-stretch technology to create a light-weight camping bed that is durable and comfortable. The patented tensioners remove the need for bulky crossbars and braces and deliver great tension to the bed surface without adding weight. The tensioners also stop the bed's surface from flattening when it is set up on uneven terrain. The only drawback to this model is its high price point.

If you're a backpacker with an extremely tight budget, there are other affordable cot options available. For instance, the OEX Ultralite Folding Cot costs less than half the price as the Helinox Lite Cot but is substantially heavier. The major drawback of the OEX is that it's not as straightforward to assemble and may be difficult for small framed people to bend its five aluminium leg assemblies to fit.

Unlike the OEX, the Helinox Lite Cot comes with an exclusive lever lock tensioning system that makes it easier to erect and disassemble. The lever is situated on the bottom of each leg. It has a pivoting arm which engages the top frame bar. The lever is equipped with a compressed tab at the other end that you press to release it. The mechanical leverage of this mechanism provides an excellent tension to the bed surface without adding extra bulk or stress on the legs.

Another benefit of the Lite Cot is that it can be adjusted to various heights using the leg extensions. This is extremely useful when camping in an alpine area where you may need to stand away from the ground due to snow or uneven terrain. However, the slim profile of this cot can be a problem if a big mover in your sleep or when sharing a tent with someone.

Like other cots the Lite Cot requires a bit of practice to put it together and take it down. However, after a few hours it's a breeze to pack and use. It's also extremely light and compact for a cot, and can be tucked away in most cars and vans with their gear. This makes it an excellent choice for bike and car camping.

ALPS Mountaineering ReadyLite Cot

If you're looking for a backpacking cot that's easy to pack and set up it's the ALPS Mountaineering ReadyLite Cot is an excellent option. Its 7000 series aluminum frame and 420D honeycomb ripstop fabric made of polyester makes this cot extremely lightweight and sturdy. It weighs less than 5 pounds, yet it has a weight capacity of 300 pounds. It can be folded into a 7x17 inch carry bag that makes it easy to transport.

Unlike many other cots that require you to extend it from the middle it is the ALPS ReadyLite Cot has legs that extend out at the bottom of each side, which means all you need to do is spread out the cot and tighten the straps. We found it to be one of the simplest cotes to set up, although its bulkier dimensions could make it too large to fit into some tents.

While the ALPS Mountaineering ReadyLite isn't as portable as some of the other cots on this list, it's still the most affordable option if you need a backpacking cot. The wide feet at the bottom of each leg can be adjusted to uneven terrain and you can sleep in the rain.