Camping Gear Sleeping Cots

Essential Camping Gear: Sleeping Cots

Ok, so maybe sleeping cots aren’t on your list of essential backpacking adventure gear, but maybe they should be. Using a sleeping cot has several advantages.

• A cot will give you more storage space in your tent. If you need a place in your tent to stash extra camping gear, sleeping cots will give you what you need! Just put your gear under the cot and out of your way.

• Do you always seem to find the spot with the sharp rock to lay out your sleeping bag? A sleeping cot will help you again! No more lumps, bumps or sharp poking things. Your cot will keep you comfortably off the ground for a better night’s sleep.

• Camping in a colder, wetter climate? Well, sleeping cots keep your body away from the cold wet ground, ensuring a warmer, drier sleep.

• If you often find yourself missing your cozy bed while you are camping, you will be happy to learn that many cots come with a pad or air bed so you will feel right at home in your tent.

• If you look for durability in your camping gear, sleeping cots will again make the list. They are much more durable than a sleeping pad or air mattress.

Cots for Light-Weight Backpacking

Impossible you say? Not so! There are cots that are super light-weight and can even be packed easier than a sleeping pad. One that can’t be beat for ultralight backpacking camping gear is the Luxury Lite low-rise cot.

This amazing cot only weighs two and a half pounds! It will fit into your pack easier than most foam pads because when it is folded it measures a mere 16 inches long and five inches wide.

Sleeping Cots for the Family

If your whole family goes camping together, you may need several different kinds of cots for their needs. Not to worry. There are many kinds of cots available.

Do you have small children who enjoy camping? Get them a Go-Kot. Go-Kots come in 13 colors so everyone can have their favorite. This is another light-weight cot that weighs less than eight and a half pounds. When it is folded up it’s only a little bigger than a newspaper.

Children’s cots are 26 inches wide and four feet eight inches long. Grown up cots are 26 inches wide and six feet two inches long. If you want something a little plusher, you’ll like the Air-Spring Go-Kot. It comes with a four season air mattress and an end kit that keeps the mattress from sliding off your cot. This style is available in children’s and adult sizes as well.

If you have a really big family, or you just want to conserve space in your tent, you can even buy a bunk bed cot. The Cam-O-Cot Bunk Bed from Cabella’s is a sturdy space saver. It is a bit heavy for backpacking at 64 pounds, but with a 400 pound weight capacity it’s a great choice for kids as well as adults.

Summary

Now is a sleeping cot on your list of essential camping gear? There really is a camping cot for every type of camper. With so many advantages, it is hard to find a good reason not to buy a sleeping cot for your next tent camping trip.