The REI Co-op Kingdom Cot 3. Photo: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia
When I was a kid, I could sleep anywhere, anytime. Whether it was in my own bed or interspersed among rocks and twigs camping, I always got my eight hours of shut-eye. But as I get older, I seem to have more trouble sleeping with each passing year. Despite my sleeping troubles, my love for camping has never wavered – I have simply gotten more particular about my sleep set up.
As a child, I could toss my sleeping bag directly on the dirt and I was good to go. As a teen and throughout my twenties, I became a big fan of sleeping pads and camping air mattresses. But now that I’m approaching my mid-thirties, it’s time for an even bigger upgrade. Cue the camping cot.
For backpacking trips, I’m still happy with my sleeping pad. But when I’m car camping, a little luxury is in order. I recently tried out a collection of camping cots for our Best Camping Cots guide. The REI Co-op Kingdom Cot 3 was the winner by a landslide thanks to its insane comfort. Read on to learn about my experience sleeping (quite well) on the Kingdom Cot.
| Pros | Cons |
| Built-in cushion | Bulky/heavy |
| Insanely comfortable | Awkward to carry |
| Easy to set up | Can collapse if legs aren’t secured properly |
| Adjustable head angle |
First Impressions of the REI Kingdom Cot
Weight: 20 pounds
Extended Size: 6.8′ x 2.6′ x 1.2′
Folded Size: 33″ x 32″ x 8.5″
Capacity: 300 lbs
The REI Co-op Kingdom Cot 3 is not small. On the contrary, it’s one of the largest camping cots I’ve ever seen and even though it folds down, it’s oversized and heavy. It’s definitely a cot to be used exclusively for car camping trips where you’re setting up camp close to your vehicle.
Getting the Kingdom Cot set up is easy peasy: You simply unfold it, secure the legs, and you’re good to go. Unlike cots I’ve seen in the past, the Kingdom Cot has cushioning built-in and looks almost like a portable bed or futon. I was excited to hit the campground and see if it was as comfortable as it looked.
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Even when fully packed, the Kingdom Cot is on the large side. Photo: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia
Notable Features of the REI Kingdom Cot
Like any piece of camping gear, I want a camping cot that is going to last for years to come. The Kingdom Cot features a rugged, powder-coated aluminum/steel frame that is incredibly durable and can support up to 300 pounds. The cot has three sets of legs, which help ensure it is secure and that your weight is evenly distributed.
The Kingdom Cot has oversized feet, which I found was helpful when the ground was slightly uneven. I still recommend doing your best to find a flat surface, but the large feet accommodate bumpy terrain. The feet are smooth on the bottom, so they also work well in the tent and won’t snag or tear the material.
My favorite feature of the Kingdom Cot is the built-in padding. The top of the cot is fully padded and feels like a quilt material against the skin. It’s comfortable to lay directly on, which was incredible on warm nights.
The Kingdom Cot helps provide the most comfortable camping sleep you’ll ever have. Photo: Beth Parsons//The Inertia
Another unique feature of the Kingdom Cot is that you can adjust the head angle. So, you can lay the cot out completely flat for sleeping, or you can have part of the cot raised up so that your head is propped up for reading.
Measuring 6 feet 10 inches long by 31.5 inches wide, the Kingdom Cot is seriously spacious. I’m 5 feet 7 inches and found that I had plenty of room to spread out and roll around. I tend to toss and turn throughout the night, so it’s nice to have some wiggle room. The cot also sits well over a foot off the ground, so it’s easy to climb in and out of for middle-of-the-night bathroom trips.
Because the Kingdom Cot is so comfortable, I plan on using it as a guest bed at my house. It sits off the ground, it’s padded, and it feels like a twin bed. Plus, it’s easy to store in a closet, so it will serve well as a guest bed in my office where I currently have a desk but no actual bed.
Thanks to its size, the Kingdom Cot takes up a fair amount of trunk space. Photo: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia
Drawbacks of the REI Kingdom Cot
As I mentioned in my first impression, the Kingdom Cot is not small nor is it lightweight. If you’re hoping to bring it on a trip for which space is tight, the Kingdom Cot isn’t your best bet and you’d be better off with a more packable cot like the Helinox Cot One Max Convertible or the Helinox Lite Cot. You’ll also need a large tent to accommodate the Kingdom Cot, although most camping cots take up a fair amount of space in a tent due to their verticality.
The Kingdom Cot does fold down flat, so it’s fairly easy to stack things on top of it in the car. I think it’s well worth it for trips close to home but for road trips when I have lots of gear, I might opt for something smaller.
Also, this is nit-picky, but the Kingdom Cot can be set up into different positions, which is super cool for reading or times when you wish to sit more upright. However, figuring out how to get the cot to stay in positions other than flat proved to be a bit tricky. I thought you just pulled it up and down, but there’s a little knob you must twist to change the head position. If you can’t find it, REI has a video that I found helpful.
Finally, you must make sure you have the legs securely locked into place before using the cot. I didn’t encounter any issues, but some users complained that the cot collapsed on them when they got up during the night. If you have everything set up correctly it should be a non-issue.
The Kingdom Cot is significantly more comfortable than any other camping cot. Photo: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia
Final Thoughts
The REI Co-op Kingdom Cot 3 features a powder-coated steel frame, sits high off the ground, is easy to set up, and the head angle can be adjusted. With a built-in cushion, the Kingdom Cot is the most comfortable camping cot I have ever slept on, and I plan on using it for car camping trips for years to come.
Check Price on REIEditor’s Note: Don’t miss the rest of our picks in the Best Camping Cots guide. And if you need to complete your kit, check out our guide to the Best Car Camping Gear. For more gear reviews and features on The Inertia, click here.
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