Tent cot

Anyone ever use one?

Can anyone recommend (for or against)?

Seem heavy and maybe cumbersome but I'm wondering if "all in one" makes it worth it?

Polarcat

I have one...the original design prior to cabelas selling them.  It's okay, not great.  I use it when I am solo (hunting trips, etc ). 

I'm on the hunt for a good one for camping on my boat.

LOVE mine. Yes, its heavy and they are a bit pricy. But I use it when car camping and when I am solo. I have set it up one handed while holding a beer. I have been in a 3 day downpour (Shelter 3 yrs ago. Lake Sonoma three weeks ago) and stayed bone dry. The fact that you are off the ground is great. 5 min set up and take down. Easy to dry when you get home, never have any condensation issues and if needed can be set up in the bed of my truck. Or moved around the campsite if needed. I'd buy again in a heartbeat. I got the "oversize" one as I am 6'3" and a little leg room is nice. The cool think is you can collapse the tent and its a lounge chair!

I have a double tent cot that is heavy. But i like it.  Sleeping off ground is a big plus. And there is room galore in there, more than enough for two well fed consenting adults and their canine, plus all associated bedding.

And ive borrowed erics tent cot for a solo trip. Very well conceived device.

Drawbacks - weight and price and size. Due to the sturdy frame it doesnt pack down well, eats up lots of trunk space.

For me, Regular cot unnecessarily too big, kid size too small. They need a goldilocks size thats just right for a shorter asian adult lol

Is the bottom of your tent cots insulated?

-Allen

I know they sell really fast on CL had one and sold it when I bought a pop up camper.... In the market again for one or the other See if I can beat someone to one of them used...

At one time I had one double tent cot and three oversize tent cots.  Easy to set up, basically just fold them open, no need to stake them down or anything.  There can be issues with condensation on the bottom of the top in cold weather, I just would take a towel and wipe the condensation off in the am.  Can be a pain to get dressed in since you can't sit up all the way.  I sold the double and two of the older flat top tent cots and kept the newer domed top tent cot for solo camping.  Very comfortable with a added Thermarest type pad.  I would take my boots off while sitting down in the tent cot and hanging my feet outside and put the boots in a garbage bag to keep the inside of the tent cot from getting dirty from dusty boots.  Tent cot makes a storage bag that hangs under the tent cot for boots and other storage but it was pricey. 

I bought an oversize one atavuss sold a 2-3 years ago, have used it steelheading all over norcal and oregon. Love it with my JPW paco pad. Bought the rain fly and used it in an absolute deluge on the north umpqua and stayed completely dry. My friend has the CTC version which I like better and folds up in a better size for packing. I may sell mine and get the CTC version.

http://reno.craigslist.org/spo/4344940071.html

The  light weight of the CTC version looks very appealing.  And the price ain't bad at $160.  I see this item in my future . . .

http://store.kamprite.com/catalog/Kamp-Rite-Collapsible-Combo-Tent-Cot-CCTC-p-16138.html

i don't remember alot of condensation when I last used the tent cot.  but with a rounded dome top, wouldn't that predispose the interior to more drip down the sidewalls, at the benefit of having more headroom? 

I have the oversize tent cot, and it works well. Easy set up and take down. The only problems Ive had is when I went on a trip that had cold wind, and rain. The wind underneath the cot kept me cold. Stuffing gear underneath helped. The rain fly worked well and being off the ground kept me out of the mud. My only other complaint is the condensation inside the tent in the morning. Leaving opposing doors open for air circulation is a must. I always have a rag ready in the morning to wipe the moisture out.

Is the bottom of your tent cots insulated?

-Allen

there is a 1/4in thick peace of foam.

Condensation can be a problem but no worse than small tents I've used. I usually have just the mosquito nets zipped up and everything else loose or rolled up so I don't notice it much.

The only thing I don't think the CTC version can do that I would miss is being able to convert into a giant lounge chair. I didn't think I would use that config much but it's pretty damn comfortable with my paco pad on it. Great to crash out on between morning and evening fishing sessions.

The  light weight of the CTC version looks very appealing.  And the price ain't bad at $160.  I see this item in my future . . .

http://store.kamprite.com/catalog/Kamp-Rite-Collapsible-Combo-Tent-Cot-CCTC-p-16138.html

i don't remember alot of condensation when I last used the tent cot.  but with a rounded dome top, wouldn't that predispose the interior to more drip down the sidewalls, at the benefit of having more headroom?

This was happening at 8000'+ elevations where the temps would drop into the mid to high 30's at night.  The domed top still had lots of condensation, I also left the two vent windows on top of the side doors open to help.