Best Tent Cots – Complete Buyer’s Guide To Great Camping Experience

Are you seeking the best tent cot available in 2023? We scoured the market, investigating over 40 alternatives before buying and testing 8 great ones.
If you’ve always complained about an uncomfortable night’s sleep in your tent because of the amount of rocks on the ground or dampness that seeps in through the tent, then you’re in luck. A tent cot is a special type of tent that’s elevated from the ground, so you’re sleeping on top of a comfortable, steady surface. Here’s the deal: some of the best tent cots out there are not only affordable, but full of awesome features that make camping that much better. It’s the most comfortable way to sleep when you’re out camping, and definitely surpasses any old tent in terms of ease of setting up and sleeping. Now, you don’t have to worry about any ground animals getting into your tent when you’re out exploring nature or even when you’re sleeping!

Want to know the best part? It takes a lot less time to set up a tent cot, since there are usually less poles than you would have to put together when compared to a regular tent. Some tent cots even double as a tent chair, so it’s a two for one deal and you even get to carry less with you when you go camping. You can have a very comfortable night’s sleep, enjoy the ease of putting it together, and relish in the glory of the great outdoors.

Editor’s Choice – Kamp-Rite Oversize (1-person)

Kamp-Rite’s multi-functional tent stands 11” off the ground, so you’re protected from the discomfort that usually comes with camping. It’s a versatile tent cot, in that it even converts into a lounge chair which you can use for relaxation during the daytime.

Our team tested the Kamp-Rite oversize and found that it can get very hot with the rainfly on, so make sure you try to place your tent where there will be ample shade. It’s easy to disassemble, so if you’re camping alone, you won’t have to worry about trying to manage a bunch of different pieces. Simply take apart the tent cot and place it back into the carry bag for an easy and simple process.

The 1-person version has enough space for 1 person, plus their gear. This is great because you don’t have to worry about leaving your gear outside while you are sleeping or while you’re out exploring the area. Simply place your gear inside of the tent, and there will still be plenty of room to stretch your legs and get a good night’s sleep. You can also easily stretch your legs in this tent, which is great if you’re very tall! The flat top of the tent collects rainwater, however the 2-person version does not. This isn’t too much of a hassle though; you can easily dump it off onto the ground in a matter of seconds. Unfortunately, this tent is pricey, so if you’re on a budget, it might not be the best option. However, this is our top editor’s choice when it comes to tent cots!

Best 2-person Tent Cot – Winterial Double Tent Cot (2-person)

The Winterial Double Tent Cot is one of the best tent cots for sleeping and can hold up to 500-pounds, meaning it can hold 2 people plus their gear. You’ll be comfortably elevated off of the ground and won’t have to worry about rocks or about any ground animals that might try to sneak into your tent when you’re out wandering the area nearby.

We’ve found that it’s easy to set up in a matter of minutes and is the most ventilated tent cot in the list. Ventilation is important when buying a tent to prevent condensation from forming. The reliable rain fly prevents leaks even in heavy rain, its rain protection is durable and is built to keep you dry. This is a great feature because weather is unpredictable, and if you’re out camping with no protection, then you won’t have to worry when camping in this tent cot.

One of the only downsides to this tent is that the legs setting requires to be held on each side, so it cannot be set up by 1 person. However, if you’re certain that you’re going to be camping with one other person, then this can easily be overlooked. It’s fun to set up when there’s two people and won’t take too much time. You’ll be out exploring before you know it! It’s one of the best cot tents for two people who want to camp in luxury.

Best for Beginners – Outsunny 4 in 1 (1-person)

The Outsunny 4 in 1 tent is one of the best tents for cots for beginners. It has a large zippered door which makes entry and exit easy, and it can also be easily detached to form a separate tent and cot.

We’ve tested this tent and decided that it’s the perfect option for a first-time camper. Because it comes with sleeping bag and air mattress, it makes the ultimate tent for maximum comfort. Not only are you elevated from the ground, but you also have a comfortable air mattress that’s easy to blow up and promises a comfortable night’s sleep. You’ll even get a self-pump air mattress that brings back the comforts of home. It also comes with a pump and a pillow and sleeping bag, which makes camping for you that much easier.

It’s easy to set up, which is great if you’re a novice camper and don’t have a lot of experience setting up tents, especially on your own. Now, you can head out into the wilderness on a big solo adventure and not have to worry if you’re not going to be able to set up your tent.

One of the downsides is that bugs may slip in through the bottom, so just be mindful about keeping certain parts of the tent cot covered so no pests sneak into your tent! Also, due to its weight, it’s only suitable for car camping, so make sure you’re bringing a car with you if you’re using this tent. It also has a good weight capability and can hold up to 200 lbs. We’ve tested on 1 kid and big German Shepherd, and the tent did such a great job! It’s a durable tent that’s amazing for beginners due to its ease of setting up and ability to enjoy a very comfortable night’s sleep.

Best Bang for the Buck – Yescom (1-person)

The Yescom tent cot is 14” elevated from the ground and is one of the best tent cots in terms of affordability. It won’t break the bank and is great if you don’t have much of a budget to work with. The stands have non-slip plastic feet, which is great for keeping the tent stable and upright in any kind of condition.

We’ve tested this tent and found that it has interior pockets on walls, which is ideal if you have tons of items and aren’t sure where you should place them. Now, you can place small, important items in these interior pockets – like headphones, change, cellphones, and portable chargers. No more having to rip apart your tent to find those small items that seem to disappear overnight! There are even straps that can hold clothes and towels, which is awesome if you need to dry your items.

We also found that it’s unfortunately not 100% waterproof, and that the rain fly leaks. It’s not recommended for heavy rain, so if you’re going camping in a place that has a good chance of rainfall, we suggest not bringing this tent, or getting a tent cover that’s suitable for protecting you and your luggage.

This tent can also hold up 30 pounds more than Kamp-Rite (300), meaning you can bring a lot more gear than you would have to if you were in the Kamp-Rite tent. This is the best tent cot for your wallet!

Best Hot Weather Tent Cot – Tidyard (1-person)

The Tidyard has zippered doors and comes in an easy-to-carry bag, making transportation simple with this tent cot. It’s the best hot weather tent cot out there because of its water-resistant Oxford fabric and easy to zipper doors.

Our tested experience has found that its anti UV cover makes it the best hot weather tent cot. It reflects the UV rays and prevents them from warming up the tent cot, which is what you might dread when you wake up in the morning and the sun has been roasting you inside of your tent for hours! No more waking up in pools of sweat. It’s meant only for warm weather, so if you’re going camping in a cold climate, we don’t recommend bringing this tent with you.

Because it can’t hold too much weight, it’s not recommended for people with 200+ lbs weight, or people camping with heavy gear who want to keep it inside of their tent cot. It’s also a great budget option and comes at an affordable price. Because of this and because of its anti UV cover, it’s one of the best hot weather tent cots.

Best for Rainy Weather – Tangkula (1-person)

Tangkula’s large D-shaped screening and doors make entry and exit easy and simple. It’s easy to carry and fold into its carry bag, and easy to assemble with the easy to read manual that comes with the tent.

We’ve tested the Tangkula with our own camping experience and found that it would be the best 1-person choice if it costs lower than Kamp-Rite because of its various features. For example, it’s 100% waterproof, so if you’re camping in a place that has a lot of rainfall, then this is your best option. You don’t want you or your luggage getting wet because of the weather! It’s also a good idea to protect yourself from rain so you don’t go to sleep with wet clothes or even wet hair.

It’s also very roomy, so you have plenty of space to put your luggage and make sure you get a comfortable night’s sleep. We suggest the 275 advertised weight limit, which is lower than Kamp-Rite and Yescom. This ensures that your tent is stable, lasts a long time and will not break due to overweight or over usage of the material.

Best for Comfortable Sleep – Kamp-Rite Double (2-person)

The 190 TPU Nylon fabric and lightweight aluminum frame make it a simple yet effective tent that’s one of the best tents that provides the most comfortable sleep on the list.

We’ve tested the Kamp-Rite Double and found that there’s a lower weight capacity as Winterial, and that we recommend 350-400 pounds, not 500 as advertised. If you stick to this, then your tent will definitely last a very long time and won’t suddenly break down because there’s too much weight inside. We found that one of the best features that makes it the best tent for comfortable sleep is that there’s enough space for a queen size air mattress, so you can bring comfort to the max.

Unfortunately, it can get very hot with its rainfly on as well as with the 1-person version, so keeping the doors open to let in a cool breeze is one of the best ways to deal with this. Additionally, the bar in the middle separates 2 parts of the cot, so it is partly uncomfortable for 1 person. With some repositioning, you can easily find a way around the bar in the middle so that you’re comfortable and in a certain position that allows for a great night’s sleep. With a queen-sized mattress with a lot of cushioning, this shouldn’t be much of a problem!

Best of the Rest – Ozak Trail (1-person)

The Ozak Trail padded cot provides a rainfly and is simply the best of the rest! Our tested experience found that this tent is extremely affordable and is great for those of you on a strict budget.

Because it’s a budget option, we found that it has a low-quality bug net material and that there’s no ventilation when the rain fly is on. However, because it’s off the ground, it still makes it a much better option when compared to regular tents that are on the ground because it won’t get flooded from rainwater that accumulates.