Having some place comfy and soft to sleep is something that a lot of us take for granted. Sure, if you go on a camping trip, you’re probably not expecting the most comfortable sleeping experience in the world, but when we’re at home or staying in someone else’s house, our expectations are that we’ll have a decent spot to sleep. This is sometimes easier said then done though, and it becomes even more difficult when a large number of people are staying in one home, such as around the holidays.

You can always put someone on the couch, and you may have a guest bedroom to take care of a couple of people, but I’ve been in a few homes that began to run out of room fast when it came to sleeping guests. Fortunately a solution is easy to find: a simple folding cot will sleep someone very comfortably, and won’t take up a ton of room when it’s not being used. A couple of folding cots in a spare room or corner will take care of sleeping arrangements for two people, and will keep those people from having to sleep on the floor. Your guests will be very appreciative, I can promise you.

Photo by St.VincentVolunteers

So what should you look for in a fold up cot? The big things to consider are the materials used to make the frame of the cot, the recommended weight limit, and the length and size of the cot. Aluminum is the material of choice for the construction of the cot, as it is very strong and lightweight, but you can also find great cots with frames made from fiberglass. The recommended weight limit for most folding cots is well over 300 pounds, so chances are that it won’t be an issue unless the Incredible Hulk is sleeping at your house. (But be sure to check out the limit before you buy a cot anyway, just in case.) And lastly, consider the length of the cot – anything over 72 inches will sleep most people comfortably.

If you’re gearing up for a camping trip and are planning on taking your cot along, make sure to check the weight of the cot itself. It wouldn’t be much fun to get a great folding camp cot and then have to leave it at home because it weighs too much to bring along on your trip. And that’s the last point to consider – make sure that all of your camping gear, camping chairs and camping beds included, fits into your pack and isn’t too heavy to carry. You’ll be glad you did when you make it out to the woods.

Comments are closed.