Camping cots work great as a back up bed, but also as a proper camping bed for example. Can we carry them in hands ? Are they heavy and easy to store ? We should know these informations before we make a purchase.
Comfortable sleep even in tent ? Impossible ? That is maybe truth for somebody who doesn´t know camping cots. Usually we would use sleping bags and sleping mats which is good but not always comfortable. Another possibility is to using a camping cot aka camp bed. They were originally invented for military camps. Nowadays we can also see them in summer camps for children but they are still used in military. The reason is their mobility. The truth is, that we don´t really want to carry them in our hands for long time, but they provide comfortable sleep. How does it work ?
The original camp beds were made from wood. Crossed legs and polyester cover. This is history. Design remained almost the same but with some improvements. Nowadays camping cots can be fold up and stored inside the carry bag. This is all allowed thanks to the smart construction with three detachable crossed legs. The fabric is suspended over the frame which provides comfortable sleep. We are still talking about advantages only. As we all know, the camping cots are not designed for long movements in the nature. We can not attach them to our backpacks. It is thanks to their weight and size. Even when folded in carry bag, they are still around 1 meter long. If we have accepted the length, we wouldn´t probably accepted the weight which can be even 8 kg and that is something what is really difficult to carry. But what if we still need it ?
Some may argue that we still need such a cot in the nature. The situation that would require use of camp-bed is during injury. We could improvise and make some kind of stretcher by using two branches for example. Either way, we should always carry some stretcher that can be also found on our Eshop. It can be used for carrying but also for dragging. The advantage is low weight, which is caused by the absence of metal parts. Only fabric is used for this type of stretcher and they have handles on the sides for better carry or transpostation of injured person. They also feature straps for proper fixation of injured person. In the packed state they are really small and lightweight so they fit in your backpack end even tactical vest.
Over time, we will surely get to older models of camp beds and stretchers. Do not think where you can save, but how to be as satisfied as possible. Nowadays, hardened alumimium is mostly used, which is in this case unrivaled. Metal and wood are either hard to collapse or much heavier. The fabric should be nylon which is strong and highly durable. If we are buying such camp bed for temporary weekend stays on our cottage then we don´t have to opt for the best type and the wooden frame will work fine. However, be careful with stretchers. They must be from strong material and equipped with straps to fix injured person.