Many campers struggle to find the best sleeping solutions for enjoying the great outdoors. For instance, the choice between a camping cot vs pads has been an ongoing debate for as long as both have been around. Essentially, campers are always looking for a better way to camp, and sometimes the debate around sleep style comes up. Whether someone brings along a camping cot or a sleeping pad is completely up to their preference, but it will also affect how much gear they have to lug around.
Most campers agree that cots are more comfortable. But, pads do have their advantages, particularly for those packing light.
What is a Camping Cot
Firstly, camping cots are portable beds. For instance, cots elevate you off of the ground. They also come in a variety of styles and sizes.
Furthermore, cots are traditionally constructed with a wood, metal, or aluminum frame and have a canvas, nylon, or polyester surface to lay on.
Moreover, some cots offer mosquito netting, and others are even designed to be their tent. Moreover, you can find them in one-person and two-person sizes.
Additionally, cots are collapsible and fold away nicely and neat.
What is a Camping Pad
Alternatively, a camping pad sometimes referred to as a ground pad or sleeping pad. is an insulated barrier that is placed between you and the ground to prevent loss of body heat during the night.
And, they have quite an assortment of options. Some are padded with memory-like cushioning. While some are inflatable, others are simply closed-cell foam pads similar to yoga mats.
The three main types of pads are:
- Air pads – small, inflatable devices that usually contain insulation and reflective material. They are lightweight and compact.
- Self-inflating pads – inflate themselves while simultaneously expanding open-cell foam insulation. These are usually the heaviest option, and impractical for backpackers.
- Closed-cell foam pads – nothing more than dense foam. They provide a thin barrier between you and the ground, but not much in the way of comfort.
Camping pads are typically sought after by hikers, backpackers, and mountaineers that are constantly on the move.
This is predominantly due to the weight of their gear.
Cots Get you Off the Ground
One of the biggest advantages of a cot is that it gets you off of the ground. Thus, granting a comfortable night’s rest.
Moreover, one of the biggest turn-offs to campers is the idea of sleeping on the cold, hard ground. And, anyone that’s tried it once or twice can attest to how uncomfortable it is.
There’s nothing worse than waking up cold and stiff with loads of hiking, swimming, and climbing on the horizon.
Cots alleviate this problem.
In addition, many provide an abundance of added features such as neck supports, pillows, or even reclining features.
Furthermore, sleeping on a cot allows you the opportunity to maximize your sleep environment giving you quality control over your sleep space.
Here are some basic advantages of cots getting you off the ground:
- It’s much easier to get in and out of a cot than it is to get off the ground.
- The elevation of the cot allows you to store gear underneath helping you keep your tent organized and clutter-free.
- They can also be used as chairs during the day or around the campfire at night.
- The cold ground can’t sap your body heat away
Cots are Better for Aching Backs
In addition, cots are also definitely better for campers that suffer from chronic back pain.
For instance, you get to choose the level of firmness and the height that is most comfortable for you. Picking the best cot for your unique needs provides personalized and adequate support for your back.
Choosing one with cross braces provides the most support since it better distributes weight evenly.
In addition, since you are elevated off of the ground, it prevents the damp cold from setting in. Which can contribute to aches, pains, and stiffness.
Finally, if needed, you can even purchase an adjustable one. Some people need to sleep in an elevated position to stave off back pain. This can be done by purchasing an adjustable camping cot with an incline option.
Cots are More Comfortable
The majority of campers experienced with both options will confirm that cots are generally way more comfortable. In the camping environment, they’re the next best thing to an actual bed.
Occasionally, you may find a side sleeper that prefers the moldability of a pad. However, as a side sleeper myself, I’d much rather sleep on a cot any day of the week.
If you’re a side sleeper that finds a standard cot a bit too narrow, try an XL cot. Likewise, you could even try a two-person cot before settling for a ground pad.
RELATED: Best Sleeping Pad for Side Sleepers
Cots Take up Space
The one disadvantage to cots is they are big, bulky, and rigid. Moreover, they require a set amount of space within your tent. For this reason, they may not be conducive to certain tent styles, especially smaller one-person and two-person tents.
However, some cots sit low to the ground which offsets the space restrictions of smaller tents. However, if you’re in a tent with minimal headspace you’re probably better off sticking with a sleeping pad.
Pads are More Likely to Damage
Furthermore, cots are also much more durable than pads. Because the entire pad is exposed to the ground, they are much more likely to be punctured and torn.
In addition, a good majority of pads are inflatable. So, a single pinhole compromises its structural integrity and renders it useless.
Most campers that utilize sleeping pads keep repair kits on hand for this very reason. However, I can think of many other things I’d rather be doing while camping besides repairing my sleeping pad.
Pads Need to be Inflated
As previously mentioned, there are essentially three types of sleeping pads; air pads, self-inflating pads, and closed-cell foam pads. And, inflating a pad requires time, energy, and sometimes extra gear like air pumps.
Additionally, you’ll likely have to inflate your pad more than once. Remember, air reacts to temperature and contracts as the temperature cools. This could leave your air pad feeling a little saggy in the middle of the night.
Cots, on the other hand, are very simple to set up. All you have to do is unfold them, and secure any legs or bracings, and they are ready to go. There’s no wasted energy or extra gear, and you only have to do it once.
RELATED: Best Tent for Hot Weather
Pads are Usually Lighter for Backpackers
However, camping pads do have advantages within the backpacking community. For instance, they are exceptionally lightweight when compared to cots. For hikers, backpackers, and mountaineers, ground pads are usually the only viable options.
Being under the pack requires you to be super weight savvy. So, most backpackers choose to forego the luxury of a cot.
Camping cots can add anywhere from ten to thirty pounds of pack weight because of their heavier wood, aluminum, or steel construction.
Under conditions where every ounce matters, this simply won’t do.
Car campers and overlanders typically don’t have to worry about the added weight because it’s simply not an issue. For these campers, the luxury of having a cot in your tent at night is well worth the sacrifice.
Since they have an entire vehicle to pack gear, they usually aren’t concerned with space or weight.
Pads are Less Expensive
Another advantage of camping pads is they’re much less expensive than cots. So, if you’re a camper on a budget, or just frugal in general, then ground pads are a good alternative.
You can find a good quality ground pad in the $40-90 range. Whereas, a quality cot will run you anywhere from $40-90 and beyond.
Pads Pack Down Smaller
Moreover, camping pads are great when space is limited. Some of them pack down to the size of a travel umbrella and are therefore often coveted by backpackers.
While cots are portable, they’re still clunky and awkward. Even in their packed state, their size just isn’t comparable to that of sleeping pads.
Pads Insulate you from Ground Temperature
Finally, the great thing about pads is they are specifically designed with insulation in mind. They come with an R-rating to let you know just how insulated they are. Their sole purpose is to prevent you from losing body heat to the ground throughout the night.
Be sure you are selecting the appropriate R-rating for your adventure. An R-value measures your pad’s ability to keep you warm by not allowing your body heat to escape. The higher the value, the more insulated.
Camping pads do a much better job than cots at helping you regulate your body temperature.
Heat will always transfer from hot to cold. Therefore, as campers, we lose a lot of body heat at night. This is especially true in cooler temperatures when cold air creeps in.
While protecting you from the direct cold, cots still allow cold air to seep in from the underside.
Some campers will go so far as to use both a camping pad and a cot. This gives them the comfort of being elevated while simultaneously providing additional insulation for added warmth.
Conclusion
The primary goal for all campers is a good, restful night’s sleep. While most feel cots are more comfortable, camping pads can still offer a quality night of rest. So you really can’t go wrong with either one. Focus on what weight you can bring.
And, in turn, this lets you enjoy the camping experience much more. Nothing is worse than sleeping on the cold, hard ground. So, by adding a barrier between you and the earth, you’re on track to get a good night of sleep next trip. And, regardless of what you choose, you’ll wake up feeling refreshed and ready for a new day of adventure.
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