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The Easiest Cot to Assemble: Byer of Maine Easy Cot

• Sets up, tears down and packs easily and fast.
• Made of strong, durable materials ‐ heavy-duty steel frame and 600D polyester fabric.
• Folds down into a smaller, compact size and comes with a storage bag for hauling.
• Leaves room underneath for extra storage.

• The fabric top gets too taut and uneasy when the cot is assembled.
• The folding design makes it cumbersome and bulky to carry around.
• The chemical odors from the cot might be an irritation to some, so be sure to air it out before use.

There probably has never been a more aptly-named product until the Easy Cot. Made by the reputable Byer of Maine company, the cot is one of the easiest to assemble, tear down and pack.

This ease of operation, added to its overall sturdiness and reliability, have made it the go-to cot for many campers and hikers over the years.

Quick Navigation

Which Type of Cot is This?

Easy Cot is just a few inches shy of being a truly oversize camping cot, but its large sleeping surface is still more than enough for a single adult. Compared to other oversize cots that we tested, Easy Cot came last in terms of its overall size but its other exemplary features were excessively redeeming.

Read on to find out why, many years after its first prototype entered the market, this cot is still one of our top recommendations when it comes to camping cots.

Design and Build of the Cot

An option that easily trumps most other cots, Easy cot sports a unique style. Its design is such that there are no any cross bars that dig into your back, not even the usually chilly end bars. Instead, the design makes use of strong steel frame and a sturdy fabric top to deliver a comfy surface that will see you drifting into a rejuvenating sleep throughout the night.

We especially loved the collapsible frame which makes the assembly process quick and hassle-free. You will notice that the hinges, which make this functionality possible, are smooth and feel robust.

And if you are worried of the cot’s legs digging into your tent’s footprint, then it’s time to put that fear away. The legs’ feet are affixed with rubber caps which, apart from cushioning your tent flooring against damage, also offer a firmer slippage-free support.

Overall, the cot has a wide sleeping surface that measures 78 inches long and 31 inches wide. This sleeping surface, elevated 18 inches off the ground, will easily fit you in any full-sized sleeping bag. To top it all off, its load capacity of 325 pounds inspires confidence in every John, Tom and Jolly, in spite of their weight.

Portability of the Cot

When it comes to portability, there’s nothing much to write home about. The cot weighs a whopping 21 pounds and will be quite cumbersome for backpackers and hikers to haul. As such, this cot is best reserved for motorized camping styles such as RV-camping, car camping, and bike camping. Its stuff sack, though meant to make hauling easier especially with its shoulder straps, does nothing much to help except in transporting the cot to your car.

If you’d rather get a backpacking cot, we would advise that you check out their lightweight version, the Allagash Plus Cot, which is a more pragmatic option for backpackers and hikers.

Setups and Teardowns

One of its most emphasized selling points and the foundation of its name, ease of setup is well delivered in this cot.

In less than a minute and without any tools, this cot can be put up by literally anyone. Its assembly process, devoid of any intricacies, involves removing the cot from its storage sack, unfolding it and that’s just about it!

Its collapsible design, coupled with highly functional but sturdy hinges, allows for the fast, easy setups and seamless teardowns. So, instead of worrying about setting up or tearing down your cot, you get to be more in the moment in whatever activity you partake.

Much as the legs lock into place when assembling the cot, we think that a “snap” effect would be more effective in letting the user know that the legs are fully extended. We do hope that the company will consider this feature in their future iterations.

Best Applicable Use

The numerous advantages of the Easy Cot make it a versatile option for quite a plethora of recreational activities.

Plus, the cot is long enough for taller adults and wide enough to accommodate those who toss and turn constantly during sleep. It is also relatively comfortable to sleep on. In fact, you may only need to add your camping blanket or a light mattress for extra cushioning.

As long as you do not intend for it to be used by two people and you have a means of transport, then the Easy Cot is your go-to camping cot for whatever outdoor activity that comes to mind.

Compare With Other Oversize Camping Cots

Conclusion

As far as oversize cots go, the Byer of Maine’s Easy Cot is a worthy pick. And even though its main marketing gimmick is the ease of deployment, it sports other perks such as strong polyester fabric, a big sleeping deck, a great height off the ground, a compact packed size, and unmatched comfort.

In our article where we reviewed the best camping cots, we placed the Easy Cot at the top not only due to the above mentioned features but also because it stood high against the competitors.

Are you a big guy and would need a huge surface to sleep on? Do you toss and turn during your sleep? Are you an ordinary Joe who hates tools or intricate and complicated structures? Whichever way you look at it, this cot is a good option for men and women who like it simple and quick.