Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Backpack Hunting Tent Cot

Not really a backpack hunting item but not sure where else to ask. Has anyone tried a Kamp Rite tent cot for solo camping? If so what do you think of it?

Looks like you plan on car camping. I like to be able to stand up in a tent if I am car camping. Check out kodiak tent. I can put one up in 5 mins

Not a 1-man, but we have this Timber Ridge 2 person one from Costco. Besides being bigger, the fly comes close to the ground so you can put gear under it in the rain and keep it dry. That's the problem with every 1-man I've seen. The fly ends at the cot, not at the ground.
We got it last spring and have maybe a dozen nights in it. We like it. I can set it up or break it down in under 5 min. It's a little heavy, though, about 40lb.

Rock Chuck does the cot have a support brace down the middle?

Yes. I don't know any that don't. If it didn't, 2 people would be sleeping on top of each other. The Timber Ridge is more heavy duty than any others I've seen. It's rated for a total of 600lb. Most of them are 400 to 450.

It looks good

I'd never even heard of a "tent cot" until a friend of mine hauled out his Kamp Rite on a camping trip a few years ago. The moment I saw it I thought, 'What a genius idea!' When I returned home I started researching tent cots and ended up buying the Cabela's version, as it appeared to be a little stouter than the Kamp Rite (though there's nothing inherently wrong with the Kamp Rite). I've subsequently used mine on-and-off since then and consider it one of the smartest camping gizmos I've ever purchased.

As Rock Chuck noted, camp tents are pretty heavy and, accordingly, not suitable for back-packing. But for camping out of your vehicle, they can't be beat in my opinion.

Afternoon, I still have one of the camp cot doubles. It's a double bed sized cot with a tent attached to it, sets up in two minutes. Just unfolds and your done. I used it for hunt camps you could get an ATV into. It's bulky, folded it the size of 1/2 a double bed. I get migraines real bad (several concussions). If I get one in a camp and can't stand the noise or lights I don't want to be a kill joy. I have the cot camp set up a fare piece away, take some drugs go to cot go to sleep hopefully in morning I can hunt. Pretty handy for car camping with wife or the dog, comfortable too. Bill. 🐾👣🐾👣🇨🇦

Why not just buy a decent dome tent and a $40 Walmart folding cot? You’d be miles ahead in comfort and convenience. The kamp rite would still need to be under a tarp to have changing space and dry storage of gear. Bought separately, you’d also have the option of using just the tent or the cot if the situation dictated.

I have a Kodiak Canvas flex bow 10x14 and love it, I was just wondering about the tent cot for quick overnight trips. It would be really convenient to set everything up so quick and easy by myself when I’m hunting alone. I would still use my Kodiak for extended trips or if anyone else was hunting with me.

I have a 10x14 and a 9x8 kodiak. I think you will find the 9x8 a bit easier to wrangle by yourself

Is the 9x8 a flex bow?

I have an 8x10 2-bow dome tent. It's more convenient but I can set up that Timber Ridge cot tent in 1/3 of the time. The fly sticks out enough to get dressed under it if you're a bit agile.
Like any cot, a tent still needs some kind of insulation under you. A 2 or 3" self inflating pad works great and can be inflating while you're setting it up.

Yeah. The other nice thing IMO is in the cold a heat buddy can be used. In a tent cot I don’t see that as doable. I use a camp time roll a cot for my cot

The 9x8 definitely looks easier for one man to set up and take down vs the 10x14. I see they also make a 8.5x6.

the smallest kodiak tent doesn't allow you to stand up. Springbar, which is the tent kodiak copied makes an 8x7 model that allows standing up. I have a hunting buddy that uses the springbar. its slightly more packable, I have spent some nights in it. we use it when he drives, we use my kodiak when I drive. springbar tents are more durable IMO. I do like some features of the kodiaks better. both tents work great for 2 guys with 2 cots. I spend about 30 nights a year in a kodiak. mostly setup in different spots everynight.

Close. I used a cot tent w/ a Cabelas label. It is very similar to the Kamp Rite oversized cot tent. I didn't care for it. It was near 40 pounds. It was big / bulky like a folding lawn chair in the vehicle. Condensation was real bad with the fly on. I had problems getting wet getting in and out through the door. Once inside it was good other than condensation. Real comfortable. After a few years I got rid of it and went back to a ground tent. I don't really want to go to a wall tent. They're nice once up but setting one up and taking it down solo in a rain storm sucks.

The 10x14 kodiak is overkill for a few nights, but I can put it up and take it down in just a few minutes. It’s as fast as the scouts in their 2 man dome tents. I like it because I can spread out, be comfortable, and have a place to hang out if it rains. I’ll deal with the weight as long as it’s close to the truck.

Check out the cots the OZTENT sells. They seem very nice. I plan on picking one up to try.

Setting up the 10x14 isn’t bad, take down isn’t either other than getting it folded back up and put away by yourself. Looking at the other Kodiaks which would you guys prefer the 9x8 or 8.5x6?

I have a friend with a Kodiak. It's easy as far as tents go but it can't compete with my Timber Ridge cot-tent for ease of setup and take down. That's the beauty of tent cots - they're so easy to handle. They're made for a quick camp, for just a night or 2. If you're traveling, you can pull off the road and have your bed ready to use in minutes. The Timber Ridge has a fly that comes almost to the ground so you have dry storage under it. As a result, you do have to put in a few more stakes to hold it down vs the cots with a partial fly that fastens to the frame.

So remember that little tent is low height. I would not give up the height for the slight savings in size and weight. If you really want easy setup look at canvas cutter. Kodiak has a similar bivy style. If I was by myself all the time and just wanted to crash every night. It might be what I would like for vehicle camping. Prolly still pick kodiak but it’s an option. If you’re tired alone and just want to crash that canvas cutter setup would work

If you want a low bivy type tent but also want a cot, take a look at the ALPS Mountaineering Ready Lite Cot. It's only 6" off the ground so it can be used in a low tent. It's very sturdy for a cot that folds up so small. They're kind of pricey but very good quality. Do NOT buy it on Amazon. You can save $100 almost anywhere else.

It's still a lot slower to set up than a cot-tent that just unfolds and pops up.

LBP: I have a "back-pack/freighter frame" that I have used in Montana and Alaska (where the ground always seemed to be sopping wet!) that does double duty as a "cot"!
You un-clip it and unfold it and it turns into a cot that will keep you off of the ground and dry as you sleep.
I know, I have used it several times in S.E. Alaska.
I am a large person 6' 3" and 260 pounds and I consider it to be well worth the maybe 1 pound extra it weighs to be able to do this double duty.
If you need the brand name let me know and I will go unpack it and retrieve the brand.
I bought it maybe 28 years ago.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Thanks!

Have a tent cot and really like it. Set up a 10x10 pop-up canopy it goes under, works like a charm.

Which size do you have?

How is it for condensation?

They're like a regular tent. The less air space, the worse it is. Any of them need ventilation.

I cannot sleep on the ground anymore so I need something like a cot.

I am going to try a zero gravity chair/cot this summer and fall. The zero gravity chairs are much easier on my back but not backpackable, only for car camping.

just buy a jumping jack

Seriously an atv trailer with a tent mounted to it for 9 grand.

I was looking through some pictures of the jumping jack and saw one with a propane stove oven.
Got to thinking does anyone make propane stove oven heater in one?
charlee

they ain't tractor supply or home depot trailers. the "tent" comes with beds etc. its essentially three trailers in one Utility, camper and ATV trailer. I don't know about where you are but a good 6x12 trailer here is close to 5k bare huw much are Wall tents?

Would be an ok setup for half the money they charge. Also I don’t and can’t tow a trailer where I go

I looked at Jumping Jacks but damn they seams like a lot of money for what you get.

price out a compareable wall tent. then add the price of justa heavy duty utility trailer. it isnt that big of a difference when you add in the fab. cost

That’s probably true considering everything.

there was a used 8x8 JJ on fb the fb page for 5500. i didnt think that was terrible.


remember you get the beds included in the price

I have a tent cot from Winterial, like it fine.