Sleeping on the floor can be uncomfortable and sometimes dangerous. Uneven ground can hurt your back and a damp floor can make you cold. The solution is to get the best tent cot that is going to lift you off the ground and give you a sturdy and safe place to sleep.
With many different types and features available, it’s hard to know what tent cot you should buy. To help we’ve reviewed many models to come up with the 10 best tent cots available.
We have also developed a buying guide with FAQs to give you all the information you need.
Best Tent Cot
Kamp-Rite Original Tent Cot
Kamp-Rite has been able to make a brilliant one-person tent that is of high quality and easy to carry. It stands 11” inches off the ground to give you a perfect clearance.
It does that while giving you a sturdy base on which to sleep without being bothered by horizontal bars when you’re trying to relax.
The set-up is quick and easy with the minimum of fuss required. You can also convert the tent cot into a lounge chair in the daytime.
The polyester will be able to give you plenty of shelter in the daytime while the tent also will give you adequate ventilation in warm weather.
It packs up very easily and overall this is the perfect one-person tent cot for camping.
Outsunny Compact Portable Camping Cot
If you’re looking for a high level of protection from the weather then this would be a brilliant option for you.
The water-resistant resistant nylon will give you protection from the rain while the tent will also give you great UV protection and prevent any bugs from getting in.
The zippered door can open very wide and will make entry and exit very easy. The cot can also separate into a base and an independent tent which can be a useful feature.
You get everything that you need in this set and it all comes in an easy to carry bag. It only weighs 26lbs and has an overall weight capacity of 300lbs.
Winterial Double Outdoor Camping Tent Cot
If you want to go camping with a friend or a partner then it’s a great idea to get a double cot rather than carrying two separate ones.
This has an incredibly strong frame that will be able to handle up to 500lbs, which should be more than enough for two people.
The shell is heavy-duty nylon and will be able to give you excellent protection from both the weather but also from tears. The weight of the tent is 44lbs which is far from light but you’d expect that with it being a double cot.
It’s very easy for you to set-up and you’re going to have your perfect sleeping area in no time at all.
Tangkula Tent Cot
Comfort is at the heart of this design from Tangkula who has been able to provide a large a stable tent cot.
The shell is made from heavy-duty Oxford cloth and some wide doors and windows make it very simple to enter and exit but also give you plenty of ventilation.
That, together with being off the ground, helps you to have a very comfortable sleep.
Despite having a large surface area when set up, the tent is able to fold down to a compact size which makes it very easy to carry. It looks great and will only take a few minutes to install.
The base is very sturdy and has some great features such as high ground clearance and internal storage pockets.
Kamp-Rite Oversize Tent Cot
If you’re especially tall or want to have an extra level of storage space then you may find this to be the perfect cot tent for you.
It’s a lot longer than plenty of its rivals while still having that stability you need from a tent cot. The wide door down the side always makes it very easy to get in and out of.
The nylon outer is high quality with mesh windows that you can’t see into from the outside, giving you good privacy. The powder-coated aluminum steel frame gives it excellent durability while allowing it to be a light as possible.
Outsunny 1 Person Compact Pop Up Cot Tent
Low weight and compact size aren’t what you’d expect from a tent cot but this is an excellent compromise. It only weighs 19.4lbs which is a lot lighter than most other cot tents.
It makes it very easy to carry over long distances. The downside to that is a lack of internal space which may be an issue for tall users.
It will be able to keep you high and comfortable with a frame that is not the sturdiest out there but would be fine for one person to use.
Despite its smaller size, it’s very tough and will be able to cope with harsh environments after you have set it up, which only takes a few minutes.
GYMAX Two-Person Tent Cot
GYMAS is another company that has been able to make a high-quality two-person tent that is going to feel like a home away from home.
Despite its large size when it’s set up, it folds up into an easy to carry bag. It weighs 40lbs so it’s quite heavy but still easy to travel with.
The 420D PU coated oxford cloth material helps to give it plenty of durability and protection from the outside world.
As well as having all the features you desire, it’s also one of the most stylish tents out there which is always a nice bonus.
Kamp-Rite Extra-Large Tent Cot
Somehow Kamp-Rite has been able to keep the weight down on this tent cot to just 29lbs.
We say that as it has great size and doesn’t compromise on quality. It has a weight capacity of up to 400lbs which should be more than enough for two people.
A great feature of this tent cot is that there is hammock storage underneath the tent which keeps your things out of the way but while keeping them off the ground.
The ground clearance is excellent and helps to make this a very easy tent to get in and out of.
GYMAX Two-Person Tent Cot
This GYMAX tent is another one that you’d be able to put in the stylish category. It’s a one-person tent cot that is only going to take a few minutes to set up.
When you do, you’ll love the quality of the materials and you get a lot of confidence that it’s not going to let you down.
The sturdy aluminum frame is going to keep you 12 inches above the ground and allows the tent to be highly breathable.
It’s perfect for wet weather conditions as it has a sheltered vent and the door can open up like a porch. It means you can get ventilation, even when raining.
Kamp-Rite CTC XL Compact Tent Cot
If you want to have a tent cot that is going to be easy to set up then this would be perfect for you. It’s only going to take a minute and is perfect for one person.
When folded up the tent cot is extremely easy to carry, especially with how light it is.
The tent and cot can be used independently which is a great feature. The ventilation is great to make it a tent cot that would be great in a wide variety of different conditions.
It’s very easy to use and perfect for those who want a minimal amount of fuss when you get to a campsite.
Best Tent Cot – Buying Guide
Weight and portability
The weight is going to be an important factor in your buying decision. Due to the solid and sturdy frame that these cots have, they are going to be a lot heavier than some other options. A cot at 40lbs+ may be too heavy for some people to carry, even over short distances.
Most people won’t struggle but if you’re looking for something a lot lighter, there are options available although you may be limiting yourself to just getting a single cot. How you’re going to transport it is one of the first things you should check.
Stability
People may well have a fear that they are going to roll over in the night and suddenly find themselves on the floor as the tent has tipped over. That’s not going to be the case as all of these tents have quite a wide area to give you a solid sleeping platform.
If you need a higher level of stability then you need to look for cots that have a significant width.
If you are using a narrower single-person tent cot then you just have to be a little bit more mindful about not putting all of your weight on the very edge of the cot.
Weather protection
One of the best parts of a tent cot is that you don’t have to worry about rain flooding the land that surrounds you. In tents, you have to worry about the water from below as well as above. A tent cot also allows wind to pass underneath.
The feature that you want to see here is for the rain not to directly hit the window mesh and the zips.
If you’re going to be in especially wet conditions then you’ll want to have a covering over these to keep the inside of the tent dry.
Weight capacity
Weight capacity is the maximum user weight that the tent is going to be able to support. For most people, they won’t have to worry about this figure.
It can become more important for double tent cots as the combined weight could be an issue for some couples.
Size and elevation
You want to make sure that you have enough room for not only yourself but also everything you are carrying. The tent can act as a cover to store your things below, which can be very useful.
If you struggle with mobility, having a higher elevation is going to allow you to get in and out easily.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do they take long to set up?
The beauty of a tent cot that that the frames are all connected together before you set it up and this means that they are usually very simple to use.
All you need to do is fold out the frame and then prop up the tent using the tent poles. This is usually a lot quicker than regular tents.
How stable are they?
You don’t want to be getting out of bed to find your tent starting to tip over. Most of these tents have brilliant stability when you’re sleeping.
On the thinner one-person models, you just want to be a little careful putting too much weight on the edge of the bed when you’re getting in and out.
Do you need a sleeping pad?
You don’t have to have a sleeping pad but many people prefer to use them for extra comfort. If you’re using a high-quality sleeping bag then you’ll still be very comfy without one.
It’s up to you whether that comfort would be worth the extra weight and expense.
Are they good for cold weather?
Sleeping on the ground can have its advantages and disadvantages. A damp floor can make it feel cold but it also prevents cold air from hitting you from underneath.
These tent cots have thick floors that lift you off the cold ground and away from the coldest air. You can get a draft but in general, they are good for colder weather.
Are they hard to carry?
Before you buy a tent cot you have to think about how you are going to transport it. Most of these cots come with a carry case that you can put over your shoulder and this makes them very easy to move.
There are other cots that have wheels to drag them along.
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