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TallMatt
distinguished member (340)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
05/31/2014 07:39AM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
I am thinking about buying a cot for non-BWCA use. A solid cot could serve as a guest bed in a pinch, but my primary use would be a back-up bed during summer cabin trips or in case all the beds are occupied at deer camp. I hate sleeping on the floor or a couch when I'm on vacation ... I highly value sleep. Bringing along my own cot should help make sure I can get quality rest instead of sleeping on a couch that's too short for my body (or on the floor).

I have been looking into various cots and it seems like the Cabelas Outfitter XL cot is the heaviest-duty, and largest, cot around. Its dimensions are 85" by 40" and supports up to 600 lbs. Packed size 44"x12" and weighs 25 lbs. Definitely not something for camping. Most other cots, even marketed as "large" or "extra large" do not come close to the 40" width of this particular cot... Even though they may have a similar weight of 20-24 pounds.

Cabelas XL Outfitter Cot w/Pivot Arm

It's got 350 reviews on cabelas.com with an avg rating of 4.6/5. Some message boards I found via Google searches also reveal positive reviews.

I have considered smaller cots which could possibly work for actual camping, but after trying them out in person, it seemed like a pad on the ground is more comfortable than some of the compact/ultralight cots. That's why I am leaning towards the large one -- especially if I want to be comfortable while at the cabin or deer shack. Plus... the ultralight cots like the one made by Therm-a-Rest are >2x the price of this Cabelas one.

The only similar sized one I have found is made by Teton, and after looking at the product images, it looks like the same exact product just rebadged. Teton cot copy

What do you guys think? Any reason NOT to get this one? Any arguments in favor of buying a lighter cot which would have the dual purpose of camping and residential applications?

Thanks for your opinion ... I guess I just need some extra confidence before I blow $100 on something I'll infrequently use (but quite possibly more frequently than my regular camping gear :P).
 
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ChristineCanoes
senior member (88)senior membersenior member
  
05/31/2014 01:38PM  
We love our thermarest cots. They are low, weigh under 3 pounds and cost way too much. Maybe you have tried it and ruled it out but we find it light and comfy- just my 2 cents :)
 
05/31/2014 03:27PM  
I use a cot when car camping. Mines just a $50 Walmart special, but it works just fine for a guy my size. I use it in conjunction with a Thermarest Camp Rest pad.....same width as the cot. It's pretty sturdy, but I'm not overly tall, just a bit round.

 
Northwoodsman
distinguished member(2059)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
05/31/2014 03:51PM  
I have a couple of the Cabela's XL's that you are looking at. It is heavy but you can't beat it for comfort. I put my Exped Synmat9 on top of it. The biggest downside is the feet. If you are using it in a tent you will want to make some wood or rubber pads to place underneath them. They are small and rather sharp so they will sink into the ground. I made some out of wood and drilled a 1.75" hole half-way through so that the cot won't slip off of them. They sell booties for them but I didn't think that they were thick enough. I bought several of the nightstands to hang on the sides when they were on sale for 9.99 2 years ago. Very durable and doesn't squeak like most do.
 
NotLight
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05/31/2014 04:29PM  
I have the Outfitter XL for summer sleeping on our porch. It is 40" wide (nice), but 99% of the car camping type mattresses are only 30" wide anyway. So, you might consider the smaller size - maybe try them both out.

They go on sale about 2x/yr I think, if you can wait.

 
HowardSprague
distinguished member(3419)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
06/01/2014 08:24AM  
Looks pretty darned solid, and a nice item to have.

Camptime makes one that's not as wide, but 32" is still pretty good and it's half the weight: Camptime Fold-a-Cot
 
LilyPad
Guest Paddler
  
06/01/2014 08:58AM  
The most comfortable cot I know of is the Camptime Roll-a-Cot in the wide version: http://www.rei.com/product/767749/camp-time-roll-a-cot-wide. After checking the reviews of every cot I could find, I found that this cot has the best reviews. (Most of the reviews at REI are for the narrower version; check those also.)

I've owned this for a couple of years and slept on it probably 50 times. I once had to sleep on it for two weeks in my house due to a roof leak. It was comfortable! On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being your bed at home, I would rate it an 8 when used with a good mattress, which is pretty darn good.

The REI Campbed 3.5 mattress is very comfortable with this cot and fits it well. The Exped Megamat, which is the most comfortable insulated air mattress you can buy, is a bit wide for this cot but it works. The Megamat is very expensive though---worth the investment only if you plan to use it a lot. The Campbed gives great comfort for the price.

After using the Roll-a-Cot for two years I haven't noticed the fabric stretching and the metal parts have been durable. The only drawbacks to this cot are that it takes about 5 to 10 minutes to assemble, and the wingnuts that tension the fabric are small and hard to turn (use pliers or something). The learning curve for assembling it is a bit long, but once you get it it goes quickly after that.



 
06/01/2014 09:00AM  
If it is for residential use, how about an air bed. It would be way more comfortable. Bed
 
Dave1111
senior member (62)senior membersenior member
  
06/01/2014 09:32AM  
Roll-a-cot works for me with a thermarest, either under the tarp or the stars, depending on the weather. I retreat to the tent in unsettled, windy or rainy weather. So, if it is comfortable enough, the roll-a-cot might do double duty for you. Love the roll-a-cot.
 
TallMatt
distinguished member (340)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
06/01/2014 06:39PM  
Thanks for the CampTime suggestions. I'll have to check that out before I pull a trigger on any purchase.

quote Scout64: "If it is for residential use, how about an air bed. It would be way more comfortable. Bed "


Airbeds are nice, but I have not had good experiences with them in the past (slight leaks, or they squeak when you roll around, sag a bit if they aren't 100% inflated). Despite probably a smaller pack size and less weight, the idea of a cot is just more appealing for some reason. I don't know if it's the storage space underneath, no inflation hassle, a presumed greater durability, or the lesser possibility of a critical gear failure (puncture in a cot won't ruin it). Appreciate the alternative suggestion though.
 
Grandma L
distinguished member(5628)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberpower member
  
06/01/2014 09:18PM  
We love our cots for car camping or when we use a big tent. They are too heavy for BWCA use.



This was in the living room - a test in a 6 person Timberline Outfitter. 2 cots, rug, hanging light and knitting. All the comforts of home. We put our Thermarest pads on top of the cot for a softer bed.

 
jhb8426
distinguished member(1440)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
03/31/2017 02:26PM  
quote arpitkakkar1: "This camping cots are used at all types campaigns. its mostly used in medical campaign because it use a bed for patients. "


Looks like a spammer to me...
 
03/31/2017 05:10PM  
Yup another!

butthead
 
Grandma L
distinguished member(5628)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberpower member
  
03/31/2017 05:28PM  
quote butthead: "Yup another!

butthead"


I dislike spam - - But, I like cots.
How can the spam be stopped?
 
Snosaj
member (19)member
  
04/01/2017 06:44AM  
I own the Cabelas Outfitter XL cot and matching pad that Cabelas sells. I've used it on a week long antelope hunting in Wyoming as well as for guests at home. I must say it is incredibly comfortable, but weighs a metric ton.
 
AtwaterGA
distinguished member (216)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
04/02/2017 05:28AM  
I agree with awbrown. We have four of the Walmart cots. Two at the cabin and two we use for tent camping in the National Forest Campgrounds. They are comfortable and certainly cheap enough.
 
OD45
member (11)member
  
04/08/2017 09:22PM  
Maybe it's just me but of the several cots I've tried my back winds up hurting after the first night or two. I'll take a self inflating pad on the ground over a cot anytime.
 
Gordon2
Guest Paddler
  
04/09/2017 01:48PM  
We bought a Byers of Maine Easy cot for use when car camping for the wife, liked it so much bought a second one for myself. Seems like the 2nd one was on sale at REI outlet for about $50, great reviews everywhere, and after a couple of nights with just a standard 2" self inflating foam pad I would have to agree. Wouldn't feel at all bad about putting a guest in one for a visit.
https://www.byerofmaine.com/easy-sleeping-cot.html
 
QueticoMike
distinguished member(5280)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberpower member
  
04/09/2017 01:58PM  
Does anyone take a cot to the Boundary Waters?
 
04/09/2017 03:24PM  
quote ChristineCanoes: "We love our thermarest cots. They are low, weigh under 3 pounds and cost way too much. Maybe you have tried it and ruled it out but we find it light and comfy- just my 2 cents :)"


I agree. I have used one for about 10 years now. Bought another for my wife 5 years ago. A little time consuming to put together but well worth it. I would recommend these to anyone.

Terry
 
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