By: David Ball
In the world of light and fast camping cots aren’t something you ever run across, so I was excited when Teton Sports shot over one of their Universal Camp Cot’s to try out and experience the more luxurious side of sleeping outdoors.
So, when do you use a camping cot? The answer it turns out is: whenever possible. The Teton Sports Universal Camp Cot is incredibly comfortable. When sleeping on it, there’s never a worry about rolling off the edge or frame collapsing. The fabric is soft and doesn’t make noise when you naturally move in your sleep, doubling down on the good night sleep you’re guaranteed to get on something this comfortable. Since testing this cot I’ve actually left it set up in my living room as additional bench seating/dog bed and with the ability to easily hold up to 400 lbs. there isn’t ever a worry about snapping it. A quick pro tip: I’d always recommend going through and double checking the tightness on the screws before use, these things can tend to shake a little loose during shipping – this way you’ll know for yourself that everything is good to go.
Cots aren’t the lightest thing to bring around and if you’re hiking very far into your camp site or backpacking then a cot really isn’t going to be the best option for you (for that check out the Altos Insulated Sleeping Pads also from Teton Sports). Out of the box the cot is about 3 feet long folded up, so fits great in the trunk of your car but not strapped to anyone’s pack. The Universal Camp Cot shines when your car camping out on BLM land or setting up camp in your backyard. Kids are guaranteed to love the experience of sleeping off the ground and you’ll love the extra storage space you get underneath in your tent by having one set up.
Set up and tear down are easily under a minute, and paired with a sleeping pad and sleeping bag, you’re hard pressed to ever go back to sleeping on the ground, dodging rocks and tree roots again.
I’ve always had a bit of an inherent distrust for fabric stretched tightly between two points and then told to lie on it. The idea of something going wrong and falling flat on your back or hitting your head on whatever was underneath you made just already sleeping down on the ground sound more appealing. Thankfully Teton had people like me in mind when designing the Universal Camp Cot and over-engineered it to easily hold any adult or multiple children jumping/crawling around. The set-up is intuitive and easy to tackle by yourself, a big plus for any piece of equipment.
In total, the Universal Camp Cot from Teton Sports is exactly what it claims to be: a pliable piece of camping equipment that can fit a wide range of situations both outdoors or in your own backyard adventures. You’ll love the comfort that comes with it and the ease of use. If you’re looking for a do-it all camping solution, this is your answer.
About the Author:
David Ball
David considers himself the ambassador of the “Radically Mediocre” lifestyle. He defines this as being able to “hang with people doing just about anything and not slow them down.” You can find him trying to get people to talk to him about the book he just read in coffee shops, or in the western U.S. getting pumped out on scary trad leads (and follows), skydiving, split-boarding and trail running in his home mountain range, the Wasatch, with his dog Margo. Follow him on instagram at @DavidDenverBall.
