Opt for comfort during your night under the stars with these camping cots.

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Travel + Leisure

Outdoor adventure doesn’t have to come at the cost of a good night’s sleep. As a lifelong camper, I’ve lived (and slept) through the evolution of sleep systems over the past three decades. The best camping cots of today offer an attractive alternative to sleeping on the hard ground. Besides delivering a firm, yet supportive, sleeping surface, they boast sturdy materials and packable designs to suit the needs of car campers and backpackers alike.

Our team of outdoor experts tested 26 camping cots over the past two years, evaluating each based on their ease of use, comfort, size, portability, and durability. From scenic campgrounds to our own backyards, we slept under the stars in a variety of settings to select the best options for different camping styles, budgets, and sleeping preferences.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall: Kelty Lowdown Cot at Amazon $150 Jump to Review Best Features: Coleman Pack-Away Camping Cot at Amazon $111 Jump to Review Most Stable: Klymit Cedar Mesa Cot at Amazon $262 Jump to Review Most Comfortable: REI Co-op Wonderland Comfort Cot at REI Jump to Review Best for Car Camping: Byer of Maine Easy Cot at Amazon $150 Jump to Review Best Splurge: Helinox Camp Cot at Amazon $300 Jump to Review

Best Overall

Kelty Lowdown Cot

Credit: REI $150 at Amazon View on REI View on Kelty.com Why We Love It

• This lightweight cot provides excellent support and weight distribution for a solid night’s sleep.

What to Consider

• We wish it included some form of storage, such as a pocket.

The Kelty Lowdown Cot strikes an ideal balance between comfort, durability, and portability. We love how well it distributed our weight without any instability in the legs or sagging in the ripstop fabric—even when sitting on the cot. The cot material is sufficiently textured to cling to sleeping bags, pillows, and blankets, but short of being too rough or scratchy. This cot has a lower sleeping position than most that we tested, but we found that the shorter height allowed us to sleep undisturbed if an arm or leg slid off during the night. Though lightweight, the ripstop fabric feels tough and long-lasting. We found the injection-molded components used in the legs to be sturdy, too.

Weighing just under five pounds, the Lowdown Cot is not quite minimalist enough for a multi-day trek or backpacking trip, but it’s incredibly packable. The collapsible poles and fabric fold down into a carry bag measuring 17 x 7 x 7 inches. The compact dimensions also lend this cot to group camping trips, as it wouldn’t be cumbersome to transport several or fit them in a multi-person tent. We found setup to be quick and intuitive, though there are printed instructions inside the carry bag if needed.

The Details: 75 x 27.5 x 6.7 inches | 4.8 pounds | 300-pound capacity

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Best Features

Coleman Pack-Away Camping Cot

Credit: Amazon $111 at Amazon $123 at Macy’s View on Coleman.com Why We Love It

• It comes with a carry bag and detachable side table.

What to Consider

• The height and size make it best suited for car camping in a more spacious tent.

The Coleman Pack-away Camping Cot offers the added convenience of a side table with a cup holder, so your water bottle and other essentials are always at the ready. It only took us a couple of minutes to unfold and assemble the cot on first use. Folding it and packing it away in the carry bag was an equally straightforward process.

We found the height to be sufficient for storing gear underneath and the higher position makes it easy to get in and out of, but less suitable for navigating around inside a more compact tent. It’s intended for campers up to 6-feet 6-inches, and we found it plenty spacious for someone who is around six feet tall. Though it lacks any connection points, the polyester material gripped our sleeping bags to keep us from sliding around. Between the fabric and sturdy legs, we felt supported and stable throughout the night.

The Details: 80 x 44 x 17 inches | 21.5 pounds  | 300-pound capacity

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Most Stable

Klymit Cedar Mesa Cot

Credit: Klymit $262 at Amazon View on Dicks Sporting Goods $250 at Klymit.com Why We Love It

• It’s a breeze to assemble and features a dozen feet for enhanced weight distribution.

What to Consider

• The functionality and quality construction comes at a higher price point.

From setup to sleeping, the Klymit Cedar Mesa Cot impressed us with its user-friendly design and functionality. It’s equipped with a dozen rounded feet, adding stability and reducing the wear and tear on the tent floor. Weight distribution is furthered by the aluminum trapezoid frame, allowing the cot to support up to 400 pounds. We didn’t notice any movement or noise while shifting positions, and the platform remained taught and supportive.

Despite the extensive pole system, the collapsible technology makes for quick assembly and compact storage in a briefcase-sized carry bag. Our sleeping bag effectively gripped the textured polyester fabric, too, helping to keep everything in place through the night. We found the 16-inch height to be ideal for getting up or sitting down on the cot with ease, plus it allows storage for shoes and gear underneath. We were also fans of the mesh pocket on the cot for storing our phone, flashlight, and other essentials.

The Details: 80 x 31 x 16 inches | 16 pounds | 400-pound capacity

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The 7 Best Sleeping Bags, Tested and Reviewed

Most Comfortable

REI Co-op Wonderland Comfort Cot

Credit: REI View on REI Why We Love It

• This oversized cot has plush padding and adjustable positioning for flat sleeping or inclined lounging.

What to Consider

• We wish it had a pocket or pouch for storing valuables and essentials.

If you’re feeling wary about leaving the comforts of home behind, the REI Co-op Wonderland Comfort Cot might be the reassurance you need. We love how comfy it is to lounge and sleep on. The top of the cot features water-resistant padding, so there’s no need to incorporate a sleeping pad. We also found that the textured fabric and raised sides kept us and our sleeping bag securely in place, adding peace of mind that we wouldn’t slide off.

Campers have the option to sleep level or adjust the head up to nearly 30 degrees, making this an ideal spot to lounge and read outside of bedtime. During setup, we noted how the rotating, circular feet enhance the stability on uneven surfaces. We appreciate that the instructions are sewn into the bottom of the cot, as the knob on the side wasn’t the most intuitive step in the otherwise straightforward assembly process. While there’s no carry case included, it does come with a strap to simplify transport.

The Details: 82 x 31.5 x 14 inches | 20 pounds | 300-pound capacity

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Best for Car Camping

Byer of Maine Easy Cot

Credit: Wayfair $150 at Amazon View on L.L. Bean $140 at Wayfair Why We Love It

• It’s easy to assemble, provides a spacious sleeping surface, and offers space beneath for gear storage.

What to Consider

• The heftier design isn’t the most compact or portable.

The Byer of Maine Easy Cot lives up to its name on several fronts. For one, it unfurls and locks into place within seconds after taking it out of the carry bag. What’s more, we felt balanced and supported while lounging and sleeping on the cot. The reinforced polyester fabric felt durable and the side rails had sufficient padding. We appreciate that it extends 78 inches long and 31 inches wide, giving us plenty of room to stretch out and turn over. It also rises 18 inches off the ground, which grants plenty of storage space for clothes and gear to offset the notable space the cot occupies inside the tent. Although the welded steel frame adds stability, it brings the weight up to 21 pounds, making this best suited to drive-up campsites or backyard camping.

The Details: 78 x 31 x 18 inches | 21 pounds | 330-pound capacity

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Best Splurge

Helinox Camp Cot

Credit: Amazon $300 at Amazon View on REI View on Backcountry Why We Love It

• Lightweight, yet durable, this cot delivers elevated comfort for your next backpacking or backcountry trip.

What to Consider

• We wish it had multiple size options to accommodate taller campers.

The Helinox Lite Cot stood out for its comfort, portability, and intuitive setup. Well-known for their highly packable chairs and tables, Helinox has translated their proprietary aluminum technology and single shock-corded pole structure to camping cots. We were blown away by the lightweight design; clocking in at just under three pounds, it’s on par with the most minimalist sleeping pads. But the Lite Cot has proven far more comfortable than sleeping on the cold, hard ground—sleeping pad notwithstanding.

It fits neatly into a carry case measuring 22 x 5 x 5 inches that can be easily tucked into a backpack or even a dry bag. We found assembly to be very straightforward. It takes us just one to two minutes now that we’re familiar, but the instructions are included if you need a refresher. We’re confident that the ripstop nylon fabric and press-fit legs will withstand numerous camping adventures. However, we wish there were multiple size options, as the 73-inch length and 265-pound capacity won’t suit all campers.

The Details: 73 x 23.5 x 5 inches | 2.8 pounds  | 265-pound capacity

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The 9 Best Tents, Tested and Reviewed

Other Camping Cots We Liked

We’ve slept on a variety of camping cots over the past two years months. There are a couple designs that didn’t earn a spot on our main list, but they’re worth considering depending on your needs.

Osage River Comfortable and Lightweight Standard Folding Camping Cot: We love how easy it is to assemble and the sturdy design. However, it’s on the bulkier side and is comparatively shorter than other camping cots with similar weights and designs.

L.L. Bean Easy Cot: We think this cot has a great value and can be useful for car camping and home use when guests visit, but it’s on the heavy side.

Our Testing Process

The T+L team has tested 26 different camping cots over the past two years. We slept on them in a variety of settings, including inside tents, cars, at home, and even in vacation rentals with family. For each, we assessed their ease of use, portability, size, comfort, and durability.

Before assembling the cots, we evaluated their portability. This involved inspecting the carry bag’s dimensions, weight, and design to determine how easily it could be packed and transported, plus what type of use it’s best suited for. Then, we assembled the cot inside a tent to get a sense of the overall ease of use. We took stock of how intuitive the setup process was, the quality of the manufacturer’s instructions, and whether any extra features were incorporated for added convenience.

Once assembled, we considered whether the cot size left enough space for moving around inside the tent and allowed room for storing gear. From there, we sat and lied down on the cot to get an initial assessment of comfort and stability. We also brought along our sleeping bags and pillows to spend the night sleeping on the cots. Throughout the night, we noted how it handled movement and performed on uneven ground. Our favorites all delivered a combination of easy assembly, reliable stability, comfort, and a design that will last for years of outdoor adventures.

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Tips for Buying a Camping Cot

Look for adjustable options

Choosing a cot with adjustable components can bring versatility and added functionality. For instance, we love that the REI Co-op Wonderland Comfort Cot can alternate between a level and inclined position to accommodate different sleeping preferences or serve as a lounger during the day. Adjustability may also extend to the legs of the cot, whether to alter the height or shift the feet to optimize stability on uneven ground. In any case, this adjustability can make it easier to get the perfect sleep position for you and also share a cot between friends and family.

Consider soft and plush materials

To elevate your comfort—and not just your sleeping position—look for camping cots with padding and fabrics that you’ll enjoy sleeping on. Though I find that camping cots generally offer a firmer sleeping surface than inflatable pads and camping air mattresses, having more plush materials to cushion against the cot frame and hardware is something I keep an eye out for. Most camping cot fabrics have some texture to provide enough friction that sleeping bags, blankets, and pillows don’t slide off as you shift and move around. However, it’s still worth paying attention to the softness of the fabric and how it’ll work with your preferred sleeping system and attire.

Make sure it’s strong and steady, but still light enough to pack

Our favorite camping cots run the gamut on size and weight. However, it’s essential to consider your intended use when determining the tradeoff between stability and weight. If you’re driving up to the campsite, having a user-friendly carry bag is likely adequate for transporting bulkier cots. But backpackers and those with limited storage space might place greater emphasis on packability. For lightweight camping cots, designs that are lower to the ground with more legs and feet are a safer bet for stability and durability.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Trust Travel + Leisure

Kevin Brouillard is a contributing writer at T+L specializing in outdoor gear and apparel. He is a lifelong camper and served in the Peace Corps in Cambodia for two years. He used his first-hand camping experience using cots (and sleeping on the ground) and insights from T+L’s outdoor experts to compile this list of the best camping cots.

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