Camping always equals a fun time outdoors, but sleeping on the ground isn’t for everyone, especially people who suffer from chronic back pain, injuries, or other health conditions. The best camping cot can totally change the way you camp out. KingCamp produces some of the best-selling models on the market. Each of their cots is designed to prevent you from waking up in the morning stiff and sore by providing you with a firm, comfortable, elevated sleeping surface that can also prevent bug bites and any unwanted contact with wildlife.
The KingCamp ultralight compact folding camping cot is the second model from KingCamp that we have reviewed. But considering they make some of the best camping cots on the market, we decided to take a closer look at one of their models designed specifically for backpackers. This cot has gotten high marks in terms of portability, quality back support, pricing, ease of use, and its simple lightweight design.
Overview and Features
This cot simply hits all the marks for backpackers in need of a compact cot to take on longer hiking trips. Often, camping cots marketed as highly portable are lightweight, but when it comes to folding the cot down, they tend to make a bulky package that won’t fit inside a pack. But this cot by KingCamp changes all of that.
This camping cot packs up incredibly small. In fact, when folded correctly and placed inside the included carry bag, the cot measures in at just fourteen inches by five inches. Weighing just four pounds, this cot is the perfect addition to any hiker’s pack.
When unfolded, the cot is seventy-five inches by twenty-five inches, which means it will easily fit into most models of one-person tents. The cot has a weight capacity of two hundred and sixty-five pounds, which is decent for a cot of this size, but makes it unsuitable for larger campers. It can accommodate campers who are a little over six feet tall.
Frame Design
The frame is made out of a type of lightweight, durable aluminum. The frame uses aerial aluminum alloy rods with a ripstop four hundred and twenty denier polyester sleeping surface.
The cot sits very low to the ground with only approximately four and a half inches of space underneath, so you won’t be able to store much gear under the cot, but the height still allows for air to circulate underneath you. This equals a cooler or warmer sleeping experience, depending on what time of year you’re camping out. During the winter, sleeping on the ground can make for one miserably cold night of rest because the ground can actually leach your body heat. In the summer months, sleeping on an elevated platform allows air to circulate under you, thus keeping you cooler.
The frame of the cot consists of five bars that are all shock-corded.
There is a total of eight short cot legs, each of which are equipped with a plastic cap that prevents damage to tent flooring. The feet themselves are wide, ensuring even weight distribution.
Ease of Use
Setting the cot up is incredibly easy, thanks to the simple design and well-written instructions. Set up time takes approximately five minutes.
Height Concerns
The height of the cot can make it a bad fit for campers that have mobility issues, back pain, or arthritis because it sits so close to the ground.
Best Time of Year
This cot is best used during the summer months. The highly breathable sleeping surface will keep campers nice and cool. When used during the winter, we recommend that hikers use an insulated sleeping pad to stay warm and retain body heat.
Pros
- Folds down into a small compact package
- Free carry bag
- Lightweight design makes the cot a great choice for hikers
- Reasonably priced
- Easy to set up and break down
Cons
- This cot sits very low to the ground, so you won’t be able to store much gear underneath.
- The height of the cot can also make it difficult for some campers to easily get on and off it.
- Lower than average user weight
- Some campers may find the cot to be a bit too narrow
Outdoors Pal.com Product Rating:
The KingCamp ultralight camping cot is a comfortable cot that you can use on the trail, as a guest bed, or at a permanent camping site. The simple design allows you to quickly set up or collapse the cot in minutes, while the convenient carry bag provides you with the perfect place to store your cot as you hike to your next campsite.
Although top-selling lightweight camping cots, such as the Big Agnes Helinox camping cot, offer a higher weight limit, this ultralight cot by KingCampus can be a great alternative and one that’s available at a lower price.
We gave this model a rating of four and a half out of five stars.
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