How to Choose Camping Cots

Choosing the right cot for camping is not that difficult . You just need to consider a few things to make sure you made the right choice:

- The first thing to consider is the size. It's important that your whole body can fit on the camp cot. You may find it extremely uncomfortable otherwise. It's perfectly fine if the cot is bigger than you because the extra space can be used to keep other things like a flashlight, alarm clock or other stuff that you need to have handy.

- It's good to have an oversized camping cot but it won't do you any good if it won't fit inside your tent. You don't want to sleep outside in the rain, do you? If the smallest cot that can fit you can't fit the tent then I suggest you get a bigger tent or else dump the idea of using a camp cot.

- Make sure the cot can support your weight. Read the specifications for the cot and see if it can support your weight. The canvas has to be strong and so does the frame. Most camping cots can support up to 300 pounds.

- If you are car camping, you won't have to worry about the weight of the cot very much but if you're backpacking you might want to reconsider. While sleeping well should take priority, it doesn't mean that you need a carry a heavy cot. There are options available and you may not like carrying too much on your back while hiking.

- Some camping cots are easy to set to set up and some not. I recommend that you try setting up the cot at home just after you purchase it. If you find that it's too hard to set up alone or maybe it's not as easy as you would like it to be then you have the chance to return it.

- You might think that a camp cot is comfortable but they're usually not. The canvas tend to be too taut and it might feel like there's no cushioning. To remedy this you can use a lightweight foam pad or camping air mattress. It depends on how much comfort you want. You might also want to consider padded cots but they're heavy and bulky.

Most people use cots because they're more comfortable sleeping off the ground. However, it won't hurt to at least try using the cot at home and let your body get used to sleeping on it. Otherwise you might find it difficult to sleep at camp. Cots work great where the ground is uneven and has sharp rocks and roots, etc.