Switched from a sleeping pad to a cot last season in the Smokies and I'm never going back

I know everyone swears by inflatable pads for weight savings, but after 3 nights on my REI Trailbreak cot, my back actually felt decent in the mornings. The pad let me sink into the ground and I woke up cold no matter what R-value I used. The cot weighs about 5 pounds more, sure, but for car camping that trade off is totally worth it. Has anyone else ditched pads for good or am I the odd one out here?

2 comments

2 Comments

leep898d ago

Just to clarify - were you using the pad inside a tent that was big enough for the cot, or did you have to get a bigger tent to fit it? I'm asking because I've been eyeing a cot setup but my 3-person tent is already tight with just my pad and gear. The pad sinking into the ground thing is real though, especially on those colder Smokies nights where the frost comes up through the tent floor no matter what. Did you notice any difference in how warm you stayed on the cot compared to the pad, like with airflow underneath or whatever?

benflores8d ago

I gotta disagree on the warmth thing, actually. I've been using a cot in the Smokies for the last three years and I'm sleeping warmer than I ever did on a pad. The key is you gotta have a good sleeping pad under you on the cot. The air moving underneath was supposed to be a problem but I've found it actually helps with condensation. My pad would get soaked on the ground from the frost, but on the cot the air flow keeps everything dry. As for tent size, yeah a 3-person is too small. I moved up to a 4-person and it's tight but it works. You can fit the cot if you set it at an angle and keep your gear outside under the vestibule. But if you're already cramped, that cot frame is going to make it feel even smaller. I'd say borrow one from a friend and test it out first before you buy anything.