cots

[jwmiller33]

I am looking at getting a new cot for BWCA camping purposes. I usually don't portage and stay on a entry lake when going to the BWCA, so we can pack pretty heavy coming in. I want to get a cot to make sleeping more comfortable. Unless you find a perfectly flat piece of ground, the sleeping bag+pad can still be pretty uncomfortable.

Anybody have any suggestions on good cots that are durable, comfortable and pack down small enough to fit in a canoe?

[Jim Almquist]

Jake I think for the most part if you want it to be small it will be determined by the overall size of the cot. I have a Army cot that is small in size but it still weighs quite a bit. You can do a search for Cotking just to get a idea on weight vs size. Make sure to have a few pads for the feet so you don't create a hole in the floor.

[TruthWalleyes]

I too am looking at a cot this year, and very soon. Here's what i've been dreaming about. I'm 6'6" and this should accomodate.

Kamp-Rite™ Tent Cot with Rainfly

I'm going to go with the Extra long, double wide version.

[TooTallTom]

Big C in Rogers had something that might fit the bill for you in the last flier I saw. But I think it was over two hundred bucks.

Have you ever thought of a hammock? One of the guys at work has one, and swears by it. It's not the mesh job that you'd use in the back yard, but more like a replacement for a tent. It's kind of an interesting/ different solution, and sometimes it's kind of tempting. The only thing to keep in mind is that you've got a lot more air circulating underneath you in a cot or hammock, plus the insulation in that side of your sleeping bag is compressed. That's great for the summer, but not so good in the shoulder seasons or the winter.

[jwmiller33]

Jim, thanks for the input. I am more concerned about size when packed down rather than weight, but I definitely see your point in the corelation between the two. I see the big C store has a heavy duty Army cot for $80 on sale right now. It has a ton of reviews on their HSOforum and almost all of them are positive. Only recurring negative review I see is that the springs are noisy (when tossing and turning at night) which isn't a big turn off for me. I am going to look at FF after work tonight. They had one advertised in their flier for $39. I am 5'10", 170, so I don't need a very big cot. Basic size would fit me just right. Do you have any recommendations Jim?

Tom, I would only be using the cot in the summer, not winter months. I have seen the hammocks and although they look pretty cool, it is not something I am interested in. I want something that will work inside the tent and take up about the same amount of room as a typical sleeping bag arrangment.

[PierBridge]

I've tried them all...DOH. Expensive, cheap, lite, heavy, hammocks. I just go with a pad, sleeping bag and the ground. It just wasn't worth the hassle for me especially on some of the longer more hard-core trips we used to take. I do have a heavy duty cot I purchased at Galyans years back that I use for Camping trips that don't involve hiking or portaging. I just pull it out of the truck and it works pretty good but its super heavy. The cheaper lighter ones always sagged on me and made my back feel worse then the ground.

[Pooh]

i got one from GM and it is awesome packs up to be a little bigger than a bag chair. use it in the fish house mostly. i think its got an aluminum frame. only problem is it doesnt seem long enough

[Jackpine Rob]

Take a look at the Byer Trilite cot. Packs fairly small, and they work just fine for us. For early/late-season use I add a thermarest on top of the cot, and its pretty darn comfortable.

[Fishinguy40]

I also have a couple cots from GM. Sounds like the same one Pooh refers to. I have had them for 4 years and use them at deer camp. They are pretty comfortable and sturdy.

[Jim Almquist]

Jake

I have a big one that I got from GM and a small one that I picked up at the swap meet. I like the big one but you better be driving to a spot because it is heavy. My small one was only $5.00 and is like new but at least that one will fit in my fish house.

[Northlander]

Get a Big Mans Cot. They last. Other cheaper cots with less weight dont last in my experience. Miller I have 2 nice cots if you want to borrow them for your trip.

[not_nuf_time]

If your taking a hike in trip you know that size and weight are a major issue. So a few years back we were taking twenty mile canoue trips in to Sturgeon Lake in the Quetico. We started using blow up float mattresses for our sleeping pads. Worked great, came in packs about 1/2 inch thick and weigh barely anything. If I have to sleep on ground ever I use the floaty matress. Just like a bed.

[TruthWalleyes]

So what did you go with JW?

I got the Tent Cot from GM last week, still waiting for it to arrive in the mail.