Cot or bedroll?
Q. On camp-outs I see some boys with cots and others with bedrolls. Which should I use?
— Elijah the Bed-less, Comstock, Texas
A. Personally, I prefer a bedroll. Cots are definitely comfy and keep you off the ground, which in theory should make you warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. But here are some of the downsides of a cot: They can be bulky, take more time to set up, can malfunction or break (leaving you with no bed), and are way more expensive than a basic bedroll. And if you plan on doing some backpacking, it makes sense for you to start getting used to sleeping on the ground in your tent.
As long as I don’t have to pack it, a cot with a pad on top is more comfortable than my king size at home! But for backpacking, a lightweight chambered air pad is the only way to snooze!
Both. Bedroll for winter camping and a cot only for summer camp. If I had to choose one – bedroll.