Camping Cots for a Comfortable Outdoor Experience

Camping is a lot of fun in many ways – breathing the fresh air, hiking along nature trails and enjoying the peace – but the one thing that holds people back is the sleeping arrangements. Sleeping bags against the cold, hard ground can be quite uncomfortable and there is always that one twig or rock that you cannot seem to dislodge from your sleeping area. However, camping cots can save the day, especially your back, because they elevate you off the cold, hard ground.

Advantages

The most obvious advantage to camping cots is that they lift you up from the ground which definitely raises your camping comfort level. By getting off the ground, you are less likely to get wet should it rain outside and you definitely won't be shivering from the cold as it seeps into the ground under your body.

Camping cots also remove you from possible bug bites, visits from ants, spiders and other bugs and even snakes. Plus, if you or family members may have some type of health problem involving the muscles and joints, it is much easier getting in and out of a cot than it is a sleeping bag on the ground.

The Basics

The camping cots these days are nothing like unwieldy, heavy, bulky cots you may remember from the 1960's and 1970's. Today, camping cots are much lighter and easier to manipulate, making hauling it in and out of campsites and along hikes a breeze. The basic cot sold today consists of a lightweight, yet strong metal frame over which a durable piece of canvas is stretched and can be folded up and stored in a bag.

Choosing your camping cots is part of the fun as well as part of the headaches of planning for your camping trip. The reason is that while the cot's design is rather basic, you have to choose amongst many different styles and colors and characteristics. For instance, how much weight does it need to hold and do you want one that comes with a self-inflating mattress or will your sleeping bag be enough?

If you are tight on space, your camping cots could come in a bunk bed style or if you are a newlywed, you could choose a cot made for two. Being taller than average, you may have to shop around a little longer and expand your search to find camping cots that are long enough for your body. Then there are the camping cots that come with frames to hold mosquito netting or those that have "built in" tents which encase the sleeping area.

As you can see, shopping around for camping cots can be a bit complicated so do not expect to find one at the first store you visit. By knowing what you want and need in advance when it comes to weight and style, you will have an easier time finding the right cot for your needs.