What's new
By:
Filters

Camping / backpacking cot

Will12785

Will12785

Red Skull Member
Joined
May 19, 2020
Member Number
174
Messages
817
Loc
Syracuse, NY
I've always used the trusty foam bed roll but my last one got destroyed so I was thinking about upgrading.

I dont do much true backpacking these days so weight isn't too much of a concern and the technology seems to have come a long way. My big concern would be in the winter months as the r value is lower.

Anyone here use one?
 
Five of us went on a jet boat then canoe moose hunt last fall. I saw 4 different types of these cots. All bought from China off Amazon. They all seemed adequate.

I have a KingCamp Ultralight cot that I bought a few years ago. It is not ultralight by any means, but I knew that when I bought it. It is quite easy to setup and take apart. You can get a lot lighter ones for more money, but I wasn't too worried about weight because if I had to carry it on my back, I wouldn't bring it at all. As far as insulation and comfort, you still need to use a sleeping pad on the cot. It's quite a bit better than just a sleeping pad on the ground, but not enough to justify the weight in a pack.

Story time, A couple years ago, I went on a solo overnight trip in my SxS. It was spring and the night time lows were a bit below freezing. I planned to stay in my tipi tent and try out the cot for the first time. I forgot to bring my sleeping pad. Even with the wood stove in my tent, it was a long cold night of feeding wood into the little firebox. My down sleeping bag was plenty warm if I had a sleeping pad, but with just the cot, the underside of my body got very cold. About sunrise, I realized I should have stuffed a bunch of evergreen bows under the cot to help insulate.
 
Screw a backpacking cot. Look at Exped mats if you want comfort and warmth, and weight isn’t a big factor.

MegaMat Max 15 - Mat | Exped

More comofort: the famous MegaMat Duo built 50% thicker
www.exped.com
 
I go on small tirades every once in a while where I will buy like 5-10 of a type of item, try them all out at home, then return all but one, and order multiple of that one that I like... Did this with Cots middle of last year. Tried 5 or 6 different ones in my living room for about 2 weeks (wife thought i was an idiot). My priorities were lightweight, small collapsed packaging, and robust enough to handle 250lbs. I ended up with this one...


Putting it together in a tent can be a little annoying... but ive been super happy with them. During winter I use it with a 0degree bag and king sized comforter folded around the bag and haven't noticed any r value issues.
 
When I'm camping out of a vehicle, I use a $10 inflatable mattress from Walmart with a thin foam pad to help retain heat. The short leg cots like the last one posted seem like a more reliable alternative.
 
Most of the guys I camp with use the tent cots with various sleeping pads. We go full on winter in N ID.
Winter camping trip.jpg
Each time we go another guy jumps on the bandwagon, so they must not suck. They do all use them under a tarp, don't know if that's necessity or convenience. Either way if it's shit out who wants to unzip their sleeping right into the rain, so a tarps probably a good idea. They usually setup on their trailer or truck bed once they've unloaded the toys. It could also be that we're all getting to old to sleep on the ground!

I use a RTT cause I'm cool like that.

Edit: This trip was "the trip" that we all talk about. This pic was taken before it started dumping a record amount of snow. That full pallet of mill ends in the red F150 was gone when we left. We became a sideshow attraction, and met most the handful of year round residents in the area. Had beers with a bunch of cool people, and even remember most of it! We've done a rew more winter trips since then and they've all been pretty epic.
 
Last edited:
Warbonnett Blackbird XLC, SuperFly Tarp, and an expensive underquilt. go.
 
woods said:
Warbonnett Blackbird XLC, SuperFly Tarp, and an expensive underquilt. go.
Click to expand...
I've got a older Warbonnet Blackbird I've used 2 or 3 times with a under quilt.

What do you think it's worth? Doubt if I'll every use it again.

(The cuben fiber tarp you can pry out of my cold dead hands! Huge, and weighs less than damn sock! Lives in my pack 24/7 when not in use.)
 
VG SERE said:
I've got a older Warbonnet Blackbird I've used 2 or 3 times with a under quilt.

What do you think it's worth? Doubt if I'll every use it again.
Click to expand...
Not sure, but I'd be interested in the underquilt if you've got the specs or whatever handy. I screwed up by spending a few nights without one and froze my ass off in 70º weather. Strangest thing. Never got around to buying an underquilt for it.
 
I use a ww2 us surplus cot
it's heavy, the canvas gets tight enough that it's about as hard as sleeping on the ground, I use an old really heavy sleeping bag as a mattress then sleep in my bag atop that

if you can find one on the craigslist for $20 like I did, I'd recommend one
 
woods said:
Warbonnett Blackbird XLC, SuperFly Tarp, and an expensive underquilt. go.
Click to expand...
I have two of the same hammock and tarp that I bought roughly 8 years ago. I don't remember where I picked up the underquilts, but they were not top of the line stuff. With a nice bag I've used my hammock in temps down to single digits and major storms and did just fine. While backpacking, fishing trips, hunting trips and wheeling trips I've tried different things ranging from plain tarps, nice backpacking tents, cheap rolled foam pads to high end inflatables. The hammock winds hands down. With no underquilt, you're in for major suck in otherwise mild weather.
 
Microtus said:
With no underquilt, you're in for major suck in otherwise mild weather.
Click to expand...
Can confirm. I camped in 65º weather and absolutely froze my ass off. I stuffed all my clothes under it for insulation, nothing. I was in a 10º bag too. Shivered the whole night. It was brutal.
 
[486] said:
I use a ww2 us surplus cot
it's heavy, the canvas gets tight enough that it's about as hard as sleeping on the ground, I use an old really heavy sleeping bag as a mattress then sleep in my bag atop that

if you can find one on the craigslist for $20 like I did, I'd recommend one
Click to expand...
I spent every summer of my childhood on a ww2 surplus cot. Definitely not what I'm looking for.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Back Refresh