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....

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.

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.

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!

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.

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: "
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.

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.

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.

Soledad: "...cots are a pain to sit on during the day. ..."

that's what the camp chair is for!