Anyone have any idea where I can find a good cot that gets you high enough off the ice? Looking to spend the night in a otter hub this winter but every cot I see is less then 20 inches off the ground is that enough with a good sleeping bag? Not sure on this one
These are real nice. Cabelas is having a good deal on them today too.
Link didn’t work. Search “Cabelas Alaskan Guide Cot”
20 inches is fine, but for me cots alone are too cold. I have to have a foam pad on top of the cot for thermal insulation as well. Some cots have them, but some don’t.
The core issue is that your body weight compresses the loft of the sleeping bag and therefore you need more insulation underneath you to prevent the cold from getting to you from the bottom up.
Personally, I’ve used Thermarest pads or just egg crate foam pads, it just has to have a foam barrier that prevents the cold from getting though. Air mattresses alone are a no-go.
Grouse
20 inches is fine, but for me cots alone are too cold. I have to have a foam pad on top of the cot for thermal insulation as well. Some cots have them, but some don’t.
The core issue is that your body weight compresses the loft of the sleeping bag and therefore you need more insulation underneath you to prevent the cold from getting to you from the bottom up.
Personally, I’ve used Thermarest pads or just egg crate foam pads, it just has to have a foam barrier that prevents the cold from getting though. Air mattresses alone are a no-go.
Grouse
This. I slept on a cot in a permanent last year and the heater went out, I woke up freezing. My sleeping bag wasn’t enough of a barrier, but I’m confident if I had a 3-4″ foam pad I would’ve been fine. Maybe even put a layer of reflectix or a space blanket between cot and pad to keep your body heat from escaping.
Emergency blanket on the cot. Then a comfy self inflatable air mattress, and a nice blanket.
I have a nice heavy duty emergency blanket that works great, not the thin easy to tear ones.
I use Therm-a-Rest SOlite pads. They have an aluminized surface to reflect body heat. Works for me.
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You’d probably be okay with some kind of closed cell foam or thermarest type pad. I don’t believe you’d need 3-4″ worth. When I was doing some winter camping I threw an original thermarest on top of a cheapo closed cell foam pad to sleep on the ground. Maybe 1.5″ padding total. The ground will rob more heat than sleeping in a cot. You could easily go with some knock off brand and/or stack a couple cheapo closed cell pads to start.
I use a couple of furniture pads or another sleeping bag on top of the cot. Foam pads work well too.
For a cot coleman makes a nice one that is longer and wider than the average which makes a huge difference in being comfortable and it does not have one of those cross bars that dig into your back or arse.
As for keeping cold air migrating from the bottom I find cusions from a couch work awsome. Great insulation and it levels think out so ya dont feel ilke your in a constricted sling. I realize the cushions take up space but hey a good nights sleep is nice.
I got my coleman twin pack away cot at Fleet farm. I tried the other brand they carried which was more expensive but it had that crossbar returned it and got the coleman and never looked back. If you dont mind the cross bar the other brand “the rio adventure military cot” is wider by 6″ at 36″ but shorter by 4″ at 76″
Fleet farm special.
Pros – folds up compact, nice carry case with handles, stacks well
Cons – attached table is a joke.
As suggested, a barrier of some type is wise. I had a plywood floor for my hub so the ice temp factor was greatly reduced.
http://www.fleetfarm.com/detail/coleman-twin-pack-away-cot-with-side-table/0000000076651
I have a Gander Mtn. brand “Mojo Cot” it is heavy built for long session camping in comfort – I have seen them on sale for $150 & would buy again if needed
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