Andrew Peloquin
9 min
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After 20 hours of research evaluating 92 products, we picked TETON Sports Outfitter XXL Camping Cot as our top choice.
Love camping with the family or the guys? Need an extra camping cot for the kids while staying at hotels or a tent? Want a comfortable night for your guests but don’t have the room for a full bed?
You’re going to want to get your hands on one of the best camping cot beds you can find.
For nights under the stars, sleeping bags will certainly keep you warm, but they only go so far towards ensuring you get a good night’s sleep. For that, a tent cot is almost completely necessary.
There are a few things you should know before purchasing a camping bed. For a start, you need to know the size of your tent so that you don’t purchase anything too long or wide for the space available. Additionally, you’ll want to look at weight capacity and perhaps even the weight of the camping cot – especially if you need to carry it for some distance between the car and the campsite.
Planning a big camping trip?
Once you’ve found your ideal tent cot, be sure to pick up some of these goodies.
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This military-style cot provides a comfortable night's sleep and is built to withstand anything. It folds up easily and assembles quickly. The bed doesn't take up much space, yet has multiple pockets/pouches to store your personal items.
A little heavy to carry on the shoulders, but worth it for the comfort and durability.
Frame and construction: The cot uses steel tubing to hold it up. The fabric is 600 Denier Polyester that is Mildew and Water resistant. It's also machine wash friendly which is a huge plus.
Size: Unfolded size: 77"L x 25"W x 17"H / Folded Size: 38"L x 8"W x 6"H
Weight: 17.5 lbs
Weight capacity: 450 lbs
Portability: This cot includes a carrying bag that holds the cot, rods, and pouches. At just under 20lbs, it's not super heavy, but also probably not something you want to have on your back for long distances.
Ease of assembly: This cot is very easy to assemble and is virtually ready to set up immediately once removed from it's carrying pouch. The bed has pockets on the sides for storage, and a small pillow (you may want to bring a hoodie for extra padding or an additional cushion for comfort).
For $94, you're getting a solid cot that will hold up for years to come. It comes with a five-year warranty, so you can purchase with confidence that this cot is made to last. Also, this bed actually provides a comfortable night's sleep, which is critical for an avid camper or traveler.
At just under 5lbs, this bed makes for the perfect travel cot. While lightweight, this little cot still manages to hold up to 265lbs. It's built with durable aluminum rods and comes with a little pillow.
A few users have reported that the legs fold in when getting off of the cot.
Frame and construction: This cot is built with aluminum alloy rods. It's got two elastic straps to keep your mat from slipping, and the fabric is made with 420D polyester.
Size: Folded Size 14 × 5.1 × 5.1 inches / Unfolded Size 75 × 25 × 4.7 inches
Weight: 4.9lbs
Weight capacity: 265 lbs
Portability: We consider this cot to be one of the best portable camping cots on the market thanks to its lightweight build. The bed comes with a carrying pouch and weighs just under 5lbs, making it easy to carry for almost anyone.
Ease of assembly: A few users reported they initially had trouble with construction, but once they got the hang of it could assemble the cot in about 2 minutes.
This ultra-light cot is surprisingly very comfortable. It's durable built ensures that it won't bottom out. A good night's rest is essential to us, and we confidently can say that this cot provides just that. For $94.99, we think this cot is set at a fair value.
Despite only weighing 12 pounds, this tent cot can hold 250 pounds with ease. It’s remarkably sturdy and solidly constructed for the price.
Many users experience difficulty setting this up the first time as the material needs to stretch; but they typically report it becoming easier with use.
Frame and construction: Steel legs (with rubber tips) and an aluminum frame support the water water-resistant polyester fabric.
Size: Unfolded dimensions: 75″ x 25″ x 18”; folded dimensions: 36″ x 7″ x 4″
Weight: 12 lbs
Weight capacity: 250 lbs
Portability: A carry bag is included and features a shoulder strap. It’s not terrifically heavy either.
Ease of assembly: Some users struggle with the initial setup as the last leg is tough to maneuver against the tautness of the polyester canvas. After that, it’s super easy and doesn’t require special tools.
You should expect to pay $40-45 for this cot – even when it’s not on sale!
There are a few things we really love about this tent bed, starting with the price. This is serious quality and construction and surprisingly comfortable to boot. While this isn’t the longest or widest camping bed, it’s high enough off the ground to make it super useful in the tent.
We also like the carrying case with shoulder strap and the lightweight frame. This makes it easily portable – and while you can’t hike with it, you shouldn’t have difficulty transporting when car camping. Just as a warning though, take time to set this up before you actually need to use it; users report some difficulty with the initial set up, which may be the biggest drawback to this camping cot.
Price:
This camping bed is super easy to set up and is wonderfully sturdy. It’s wide and yet reasonably light with a storage and carrying bag plus a removable side table.
Sadly, the legs don’t lock into place which means that it’s perhaps not as sturdy for small (lightweight) children.
Frame and construction: Rust-resistant steel frame with a sturdy polyester tarp
Size: Unfolded dimensions: 80” x 32” x 17”; folded dimensions: 39.5” x 11” x 10”
Weight: 14 lbs
Weight capacity: 300 lbs
Portability: Carrying case included
Ease of assembly: Set up is easy! All you do is unfold one leg, then the middle, and then the other leg; push down in the middle and you’re sorted.
You will likely pay about $55 or $60 for this camping cot. That includes a carrying case, removable side table, and a 1-year limited warranty.
We love, love, love the removable side table on this camping cot. It’s surprisingly sturdy, as is the cot as a whole. There’s a good chance you need that for keeping your phone close by when you’re actually camping. And, this is a large camping cot, so you shouldn’t expect toes falling off the end of the bed unless you’re super tall.
There is a drawback to this tent cot, however; the legs don’t lock into place. And, although it’s sturdy enough for an adult to sit on the edge (in the middle) without it collapsing, it needs a fair amount of distributed weight to ensure it doesn’t collapse during use. That means you shouldn’t buy this for small children to use – even if it is easy enough for them to set up on their own. Yes, that easy.
This is a wonderfully lightweight tent cot at 10 pounds and the carrying bag makes for easy transport. The design also ensures the canvas doesn’t touch the frame.
You will need some practice setting this up the first time; it takes effort so you don’t want to take it into the wild without a test.
Frame and support structure: Powder coated steel frame with a stretched canvas bed
Size: Unfolded dimensions: 74.8” x 30.3” x 6.7”; folded dimensions: 36” x 8” x 2”
Weight: 10 lbs
Weight capacity: 225 lbs
Portability: Carrying bag included for easy transport and storage
Ease of assembly: Expect some issues when you first assemble this camping cot; slotting the legs into the sockets takes some effort at first, but it does get easier over time.
You should expect to pay a little less than $60 for this camping cot.
This camping cot weighs a mere 10 pounds, but can support up to 225 pounds. And, despite not being that high off the ground (less than 7”), you won’t get wet, even if the ground is soaking, as the frame doesn’t touch the canvas. That’s wonderfully impressive.
Besides that, you get a quality camping bed for a super reasonable price. There aren’t that many bells and whistles, but you can bet it is secure when it’s often recommended as a bed for large old dogs – that means it won’t flip or collapse (dogs never bother with the middle, do they?). And, if you need to do a bit of walking (but not too much), this is the bed you want with you.
These space-saving bunk bed tent cots are remarkably easy to set up (and don’t require tools). When not needed as a bed, they convert into benches and feature additional storage space.
The price and the weight are likely to put off all but the most serious of buyers.
Frame and construction: Frame is rust resistant and powder coated steel; it locks together using a patented modular disc system. You can expect stability without the discomfort of a center bar. The canvas cradles like a hammock.
Size: Unfolded dimensions: 79″ x 34.5″ x 32″; folded dimensions: 41” x 17” x 8”
Weight: 62 lbs
Weight capacity: 500 lbs (per single cot)
Portability: Though it is heavy, this unit packs down into a compact bag which will fit in the trunk of your car.
Ease of assembly: Set up involves a no-tool assembly design which takes about 10 minutes. It takes a little getting used to, but it never takes long.
The MSRP is $390, including the side organizers and leg extenders. It seems like a lot, but it’s serious quality.
If you haven’t seen these tent cots yet, you’re going to swoon when you finally do. They are undeniably handy for larger families – and hey, even larger groups of campers. These bunk beds pack down into reasonable proportions, so they’re easy to pack into the car or take on the plane. That said, you really couldn’t hike with the 62 pound of weight these babies have.
The weight and the price should be the only thing that put you off of these camping cots. Each bunk can handle 500 lbs and there’s an additional storage sack that attaches to the side of the beds. Some users also find the bench conversion feature handy, but it’s the easy and secure set up that really takes the cake. C’mon, you know you want to give these a try.
This is a lightweight and compact tent cot with a camping bed pad atop spring suspension. It’s easy to set up and holds a decent amount of weight.
This is neither the widest or longest tent cot available. Additionally, the included mattress is rather thin.
Frame and construction: Steel frame with spring suspension and a foam mattress
Size: Unfolded dimensions: 69” x 25” x 15”; folded dimensions: 34.3” x 25.4” x 5.5”
Weight: 14 lbs
Weight capacity: 275 lbs
Portability: There is a strap to keep it closed, but no carry bag. That said, it fits easily in most car trunks.
Ease of assembly: It unfolds easily and locks into place.
The MSRP is $65 and you’ll probably pay less. You get a 1-year limited warranty with that.
When you don’t want to spend a lot of money on a camping bed for the kids (at camp or for sleepovers), this is the one for you. It’s economical and comes with a foam mattress which is more than enough for most kids and for the occasional night under the stars. And, it packs up easily and fits into the car without any issues.
This isn’t huge on support, but the spring suspension doesn’t have a pesky center bar that will keep you awake all night. Just a warning though, this isn’t the sort of spare bed you want for tall guests; you can expect toes to fall off. And, although it can support up to 275 pounds, it’s not going to be super comfortable at that weight.
This super large tent cot offers a huge amount of space and supports up to 600 pounds. After the first go, it is easy to set up and is wonderfully comfortable – even without the matching camping bed pad.
The initial set up can be a little difficult and a few users have reported issues with some rivets. Additionally, there are users that would prefer this to be a little higher or lower to the ground.
Frame and construction: Steel S-leg design
Size: Unfolded dimensions: 85″ x 40″ x 19”; folded dimensions: 42″ x 12″ x 7″
Weight: 29 lbs
Weight capacity: 600 lbs
Portability: Includes a carrying bag and folds away quite easily.
Ease of assembly: Only requires one person to setup.
About $110. Amazon has occasionally sold this for under $90, but it’s not often. There’s also a limited lifetime warranty.
It’s not the cheapest, but it’s the best camping cot out there – as long as you don’t need to hike with it; this is on the heavy side. That said, as long as someone else carries it and sets it up for you, this is perhaps the best possible tent cot for those with back pain. It’s super solid and well-constructed.
We think it’s worth it to grab the camping bed pad which offers superior comfort, but if you’re prepared to rough it, you could do a lot worse than this tent cot without a mattress. There’s also a hanging organizer bag if you want it. But, because this accommodates larger frames and weights, it’s absolutely worth storing in the house as an extra bed for guests when you’re not using it as a car camping cot. It’s that strong and comfortable.
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Katie’s Cleveland proud; but she’s also lived in Australia, Switzerland and now stays in South Africa. That’s a roundabout way of saying she can’t sit still; she’s always moving, always busy.
She has a BA in International Relations from Kent State University and work towards a Masters in Human Rights. She speaks French, is learning German and used to dream in Spanish. For years, Katie worked as a producer on fashion and advertising shoots before she realized her passion was the written word.
Katie’s far more interested in guy’s gear than women’s, except she has a wardrobe brimming with little black dresses. She drinks her beer out of the bottle and is raising her two boys to be better men.
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8 Best Camping Cots
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