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 Boundary Waters Quetico Forum
    Winter Camping and Activities
       To cot or not?
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Date/Time: 03/28/2024 02:11PM
To cot or not?

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Previous Messages:
Author Message Text
bobbernumber3 03/05/2019 07:25PM
Soledad: "...cots are a pain to sit on during the day. ..."


that's what the camp chair is for!
Soledad 03/05/2019 03:39PM
In my experience, cots are a pain to sit on during the day. They take up a lot of space, although you can store lots of gear under them. They are heavy to haul in on a toboggan, and take up a lot of space there too.


In my tent, I use a synthetic roofing underlayment which is very light, anti-slip, and waterproof. Thin cheap wool blankets on top, then my Exped which allows me to use my sleeping bag as a quilt in temps down to -35.


I found an Exped chair kit on Sierra Trading post for $35. Very comfortable to sit on and to sleep on.
bobbernumber3 03/05/2019 08:21AM
A cot is standard practice for my winter camping. Of course you need an insulated mattress or pad with a cot, just as you would on the ground. I like being able to store gear under the cot out of the way.
Gadfly 03/05/2019 08:15AM
Minnesotian: "
I find cots to be colder. All that cold air under you, even in a hot tent, that you have no way of heating.



I throw down a tarp, then some closed cell foam, inflatable pad, and then the sleeping bag. There is also a strict rule of no walking on the tarp with snowboots. Thus we all pack moccasins or slippers. That keeps the tarp area fairly dry. "



We follow this same rule. During the day we lean our pads up in the back of the tent, hang our bags and kind of fold back our tarp a little to give us a little more room. This helps things dry from any moisture that may have accumulated during the night.
butthead 03/04/2019 03:26PM
Yup cots are actually colder. Air convection heat loss, so if you use one you still need insulation like a closed cell pad underneath you.


butthead
Minnesotian 03/04/2019 02:43PM

I find cots to be colder. All that cold air under you, even in a hot tent, that you have no way of heating.


I throw down a tarp, then some closed cell foam, inflatable pad, and then the sleeping bag. There is also a strict rule of no walking on the tarp with snowboots. Thus we all pack moccasins or slippers. That keeps the tarp area fairly dry.
bumabu 03/04/2019 10:07AM
Thanks guys! I was planning to use a pad on the cot, as I have frozen on a cot with no pad previously. For now, we will likely be hot tenting at a drive in site, so the weight and bulk shouldn't be a problem just yet. Later on when we graduate to a full blown hike in site, that may be more of a factor.


I appreciate the feedback!
Gadfly 03/04/2019 08:14AM
We used a couple cots on one of our first trips. Too much weight, too bulky and not as comfortable as a pad. If you do decide you use a cot you may want to use a pad with it as your bodyweight will compress your bag reducing its ability to insulate. We use a tarp in our sleeping area never had issues with moisture.
turkish621 03/03/2019 08:56PM
just got back from 3 nights in a hot tent, regret leaving the cots at home. It was a constant battle dealing with moisture on the floor and keeping things dry.
bumabu 03/03/2019 04:20PM
Any not-so-obvious pros/cons to using a cot in my hot tent I might be over looking? Mainly I am worried about getting wet sleeping on the floor, and it seems like the cot would keep me a bit warmer and give me another 12 square feet of storage space....