6 Best Camp Cots For Side Sleepers That Support Hips and Shoulders
Camping as a side sleeper? Find the right cot to support your hips and shoulders. We review the top 6 options for optimal comfort and pressure relief.
You wake up before the sun, not from the chirping birds, but from a dull ache in your shoulder and a sharp pain in your hip. Tossing and turning on a too-firm sleeping pad has left you feeling more beat up than rested. For a side sleeper, a night on the wrong surface can ruin the next day’s adventure before it even begins.
Disclosure: This site earns commissions from listed merchants at no cost to you. Thank you!
Why Side Sleepers Need Specialized Cot Support
When you’re out camping, the ground is unforgiving. For side sleepers, this is a huge problem because all your body weight concentrates on two small points: the outside of your shoulder and your hip. A standard, flat sleeping surface forces your spine out of alignment, creating those infamous morning aches.
Unlike back or stomach sleepers who distribute their weight more evenly, side sleepers need a surface that can give under the hips and shoulders while still supporting the waist and torso. A good cot acts like a miniature mattress, using tensioned fabric or padding to cradle these pressure points. This allows your spine to remain in a more natural, neutral position, which is the key to waking up refreshed and ready for the trail.
Getting off the cold, hard ground is the first benefit of any cot. But for a side sleeper, the type of support is what truly matters. It’s the difference between a restless night and the deep, restorative sleep that fuels a great outdoor experience.
Helinox Cot One: Lightweight Tensioned Comfort
If you’re counting every ounce for a canoe trip or need to pack gear tightly for a motorcycle adventure, the Helinox Cot One is a standout. Its genius lies in its tensioned fabric bed, which is suspended from a lightweight, shock-corded aluminum frame. This system creates a supportive surface that has just enough flex to accommodate your hips and shoulders without sagging.
There’s no center bar to dig into your side, a critical feature for anyone not sleeping flat on their back. The setup uses a lever-locking system that makes achieving the right tension surprisingly easy. It’s a design that provides firm, consistent support from edge to edge, preventing you from rolling toward the middle.
The primary tradeoff here is cost and its low-to-the-ground profile. This is a premium piece of gear with a price tag to match. While its packability is exceptional for a cot, it’s still far too heavy for backpacking, but it’s a game-changer for any vehicle-assisted trip where space is a top concern.
TETON Sports Outfitter XXL for Maximum Space
Enjoy comfortable sleep outdoors with the TETON Sports Outfitter XXL cot. Its patented pivot arm simplifies setup, while the sturdy steel frame supports up to 600 pounds.
When your basecamp is set for a week and comfort is the absolute top priority, the TETON Sports Outfitter XXL is your go-to. This cot is built like a tank and sized for maximum comfort. Its sheer size—both in length and width—gives you ample room to shift positions and find your sweet spot without ever feeling cramped.
The design features a taut canvas sleeping surface stretched over a robust steel frame. This provides a very firm, stable base that prevents the "taco" effect of some flimsier cots. For side sleepers, this stability means you can add a thick sleeping pad on top to create a customized sleep system that cushions your pressure points perfectly.
Be warned: this cot is massive and heavy. It’s exclusively for car camping or situations where you’re unloading gear right at the campsite. But if you have the space to transport it, the rock-solid stability and generous real estate offer a sleep experience that’s as close to your bed at home as you can get in the wild.
Coleman ComfortSmart: Padded for Pressure Points
Enjoy comfortable sleep anywhere with the Coleman ComfortSmart Cot. Its elevated design, thick foam mattress, and sturdy steel frame support up to 300 lbs, while folding easily for transport.
For weekend car campers looking for a straightforward, comfortable, and affordable option, the Coleman ComfortSmart cot is a classic. Instead of relying solely on fabric tension, this cot incorporates a spring coil suspension system and a thick foam mattress pad. This combination is specifically designed to cushion the body and soften pressure points.
The padded surface is a huge advantage for side sleepers who find tightly tensioned fabric too firm. The foam conforms just enough to your hips and shoulders, providing relief that a simple fabric surface can’t. The folding steel frame is durable and sets up in seconds, making it perfect for quick getaways.
The ComfortSmart is undeniably bulky and heavy, so its use is limited to car camping. The foam pad can also hold moisture in damp conditions if not properly cared for. However, for its price point, it delivers an impressive amount of out-of-the-box comfort that directly addresses the needs of a side sleeper.
ALPS Mountaineering Escalade for a Stable Base
If you’re a side sleeper who also tosses and turns, the stability of your cot is paramount. The ALPS Mountaineering Escalade uses a sturdy, powder-coated steel X-frame that creates an incredibly solid and wobble-free platform. This robust design ensures you won’t be woken up by shifting or creaking every time you adjust your position.
The sleeping surface is a durable 600D polyester fabric that offers a good balance of support and comfort. Its larger dimensions provide plenty of room to move around. The angled end bars add to the frame’s rigidity but also mean you don’t have a crossbar right where your head or feet might be, increasing usable space.
Like other large, steel-framed cots, the Escalade is heavy and best suited for car camping. The setup is a bit more involved than a simple folding cot, but the payoff is its exceptional stability. For side sleepers who value a secure, unmoving base, this cot is an excellent foundation for a great night’s sleep.
Disc-O-Bed L: Conforming Fabric for Support
The Disc-O-Bed L offers a truly unique solution that is exceptionally well-suited for side sleepers. Its innovative design uses a modular disc system to connect the fabric mat to the frame, completely eliminating the need for a middle support bar. This creates a clean, comfortable plane that conforms to your body’s shape.
The high-denier polyester fabric provides a sleeping surface that is both supportive and forgiving. It cradles your body, allowing your hips and shoulders to sink in slightly while supporting your torso for proper spinal alignment. This contouring effect is precisely what side sleepers need to avoid pressure points.
While famous for its ability to be bunked, the Disc-O-Bed is an outstanding solo cot. The main tradeoffs are its weight and the assembly time, which is longer than most other cots. However, for extended basecamps or anyone prioritizing a perfectly supportive, bar-free sleeping surface, the clever design is hard to beat.
REI Co-op Kingdom Cot 3: Padded & Wide Design
The REI Co-op Kingdom Cot 3 is engineered from the ground up for plush, spacious comfort. It features a wide frame that gives you plenty of room to roll over and get comfortable, a key feature for side sleepers. The design also includes a layer of light padding built directly into the sleeping surface, providing immediate cushioning for your hips and shoulders.
One of the standout features is the quick-and-easy setup; the legs lock securely into place with minimal effort. The frame is slightly contoured to better support the body, and the feet are designed to be gentle on tent floors. It sits high off the ground, making it easy to get in and out of and providing ample storage space underneath.
This is a premium car camping cot with the associated bulk and weight. It’s not meant for trips where gear needs to be carried any significant distance. But for those who want to create a luxurious basecamp sleep system, the Kingdom Cot 3’s combination of width, padding, and user-friendly design makes it a top-tier choice for side sleepers.
Key Features for Side Sleeper Cot Comfort
When you’re comparing cots, it’s easy to get lost in specs. For a side sleeper, focus on the features that will directly impact your sleep quality. The "best" cot is simply the one that checks the right boxes for your body and your style of camping.
Look for these key elements:
- A Bar-Free Design: This is non-negotiable. A cot with a center support bar running lengthwise is a deal-breaker for a side sleeper. Your hip will press against it all night, guaranteeing a miserable experience.
- Surface Type: Tension vs. Padding: Decide which works better for you. Tensioned fabric cots (like Helinox or Disc-O-Bed) offer firm, conforming support. Padded cots (like Coleman or REI) provide a softer, more cushioned surface that can feel more luxurious.
- Generous Width: Look for a cot that is at least 30 inches wide. A wider surface gives you the freedom to bend your knees and shift positions without feeling like you’re about to fall off the edge.
- Stability: A wobbly cot is distracting and can disrupt sleep. Look for cots with robust X-frame legs or locking mechanisms that create a solid, stable platform. This is especially important if you tend to move around in your sleep.
Ultimately, the choice comes down to balancing these comfort features against the practicalities of your adventures. A massive, padded cot is perfect for a drive-up campsite, while a sleek, tensioned model is better when you need to fit a week’s worth of gear into a station wagon or canoe.
Don’t let the fear of a bad night’s sleep keep you inside. The right gear can make all the difference, but it’s just a tool to help you have a better experience. Whether you choose a lightweight tensioned cot or a plush padded one, the goal is the same: to wake up feeling strong, rested, and ready to enjoy the day outdoors.
