In our quest to find the best camping cot available, we spent months rigorously testing these products head-to-head. We evaluated how easy they are to set up and break down, how comfortable each one is, and how durable they are, as well as the level of hassle they cause when carrying. We unfolded and folded each cot dozens of times, and had a variety of different people try them out in all sorts of scenarios, all to help you choose the perfect one.
Ease of Setup
Ease of Setup is our most important testing metric, accounting for 40% of the score, with the bulk of each cot's score predicated on the amount of effort it took to assemble and disassemble each one. To score this, we unfolded and assembled each cot. And then took them apart. And put them together. And took them apart. And back together again. And apart. Over and over.
We set up and broke down each cot dozens of times in our tests, examining the time it took, the number of pieces it was made of, and the effort required.
We also looked for any points where it was easy to pinch your fingers when unfolding the frame and how much effort it took to get the folded cot back into its carrying bag.
Portability
Next, we compared the ease of carrying each cot around. This metric accounts for 30% of the final score for each product. First, we measured each camping cot and recorded the volume it occupied when folded.
We also examined how well each cot packed into a car, or if you strap it to the outside of the pack, as well as how each one felt to carry.
Comfort
Responsible for 20% of the final score for each camping cot, our next metric is based on the comfort level of each cot. We had a wide variety of people with different body shapes and sizes try out each cot and aggregated their results to award points.
We also checked to see if it was easy to hit your elbows on the side rails, or if you are prone to hitting your head or feet on the frame.
Durability
For our final metric, we evaluated and ranked the durability of each cot. We based the majority of our scores on our overall impressions of the design and construction of each cot, as well as whether they sustained any damage during our extensive testing period. Additionally, we reviewed other user reviews to identify any common complaints or issues.
We also considered the weight capacity of each cot, awarding more points to models with a higher weight rating.