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Alps Mountaineering Ready Lite Cot Review

• Lightweight and sturdy aluminum frame.
• Has a very large sleeping surface.
• A very lightweight cot; weighs only 4.8 pounds.
• Comes with a carrying case to enhance portability.
• Quick and easy assembly, especially with the corded legs and marked sidebars.
• Has O-ring markers so you don’t have to second guess where to put the legs.

• A little nudge is required to get the legs into the frame.
• The setup process is not as user-friendly as it should be.

The Ready Lite cot from Alps Mountaineering is a large, lightweight camping bed designed with portability and durability in mind. Its unique features are particularly tailored to match the outdoorsy spirit in you.

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Which Type of Cot is This?

The Alps Mountaineering’s Ready Lite Cot falls under the category of lightweight camping cots. The cot will require some minimalist assembly which basically comprises of connecting the major components into a sturdy camping bed.

Due to its feathery weight, this cot is suitable for hikers and backpackers (we are yet to find a more lightweight cot). Still, this is a perfect choice for you if you like cycling, kayaking, driving or motor biking to your outdoorsy destination.

Design and Build of the Cot

Durability and sturdiness among other attributes are just as important as being lightweight and portable when it comes to camping cots. To this end, the Ready Lite cot tries to deliver the same as efficiently as possible.

The cot features a top polyester cover for warmth, two side poles for the frame and five collapsible legs.

Its 7000-series aluminum poles offer sufficient strength while saving on weight. This grade of aluminum has found its space in airplane construction due to its impressive strength to weight ratio.

Further, the poles have black O-rings so you don’t have to second guess on where to insert the legs. Pull-over tabs are included to hold the side poles in place. And when it comes to storage, they are corded to make them fit in tight spaces.

The cot top surface has a polyester fabric with a 420-denier rating which adds to the overall its support capacity. Though not sporting the highest of the denier ratings, the cot’s top features a honeycomb ripstop design which helps prevent it from tearing while allowing for breathability. A clever way to ensure durability and robustness if you asked me.

Additionally, you can be assured that the fabric will remain taut yet comfortable all through the night.

The legs are super strong to the extent that they may be a little hard to get them into the frame. Luckily, a removable rubber grip is also included to make the process easier.

This pack of bundled-up features gives you a wide sleeping surface that measures 78 inches long by 28 inches wide, safely elevated off the ground by up to 7.5 inches.

Our reviewers found the height off the ground to be a bit low but sufficient enough to protect you from the critters and to offer the needed breathability.

Portability of the Cot

The Ready Lite cot makes a few tradeoffs in favor of portability up to a certain degree. It folds down to a fairly modest footprint of 17 inches in length by 7 inches in width. Additionally, the cot weighs a measly 4.8 pounds making it extremely backpackable.

To top it all off, there’s an included carrying case with a shoulder sling to make the cot’s movability a no-brainer. One can easily attach the bundle to their backpack and get going.

In its given category, the Ready Lite Cot was the lightest we tested and was especially loved by hikers.

Setups and Teardowns

The Ready Lite cot doesn’t come preassembled so you will have to set it up yourself every time.

The setup process begins with stretching out the side poles and inserting them in place in the cot’s cover. Next come the legs which, with the help of the rubber grip, can be easily inserted into the frame of the cot one by one.

And while this sounds easy, the actual action of setting up this cot is not a walk in the park. You will realize this especially when getting the last leg into the frame which can be quite an ordeal. Some opposing force to fully insert the legs into the frame is definitely necessary here.

Bonus Tip: A dull wedge or shoehorn can come in handy to jam in the last leg into the holder.

Best Applicable Use

With such a feathery weight and a load capacity of 300 pounds, the Ready Lite Cot is a compact, versatile camping bed. Hikers and backpackers will especially find it a perfect cot to haul for short outdoor excursions.

If you are in the market for a lightweight but sturdy camping cot that will offer a bare minimum off-the-ground sleeping system, then this is a worthy option.

Compare With Other Lightweight Camping Cots

Conclusion

The Ready Lite Cot by Alps Mountaineering won our reward for the best backpacking cot. You will find it a practical choice especially if you love attaching bundles of extra comfort enhancers to your backpack.

If you would otherwise prefer a non-lightweight cot (whichever reasons), we also reviewed other camping cots which you might want to check out. They might act as good alternatives to this lightweight cot

Trying to achieve a balance of everything (durability, lightweightness and comfort) without too much tradeoffs, Alps Mountaineering has truly proved its mastery of outdoor product manufacturing in this backpacking cot.