Here’s a short review of an item I’ve been using in the backcountry for many years and is invaluable to me on my adventures. A few years ago I picked up a Kamp-Rite Oversize Tent Cot to use when I was camping by myself based out of my Jeep. At the time I was searching for a sleep solution that was quick and easy to setup in many different situations, and was also comfortable. This tent cot turned out to be exactly what I was looking for. I can set it up in less than a minute if I’m in a hurry (I frequently setup camp after dark when I am alone) and it’s great to be up off the ground for comfort. While I still try to find a relatively level spot to set it up on, it can be setup on rocky or other rough ground surfaces that would not work well for a normal ground tent.
When the weather is nice out, I usually keep all of the doors open (there are four of them- one on each side) and the screens closed to keep the bugs out. This gives it a nice open feeling on the inside. There is also an optional rainfly that can be used during wet weather.
I purchased with the oversize model since I’m pretty tall (6’5″) and wanted the extra width. This model is long enough for me and the domed roof allows me to sit up inside.
Depending on what you are looking for, there are a few possible drawbacks with a tent like this. The biggest one is it’s size when folded up. This model folds up relatively flat into a third of it’s original size, which is still very large, so you’ll need plenty of room in your vehicle to carry it around. The other possible drawback is it’s weight- this tent is not light. I would not want to carry it too far from my Jeep, but I purchased this tent cot specifically to camp near my vehicle, so that’s not an issue for me.
This is the perfect tent for me when I am out exploring by myself in my Jeep. It’s great to arrive at a remote trailhead late at night and be able to setup camp in a couple of minutes. I would highly recommend this tent cot for car camping if you are alone and have the room in your vehicle to carry it.
If you have any questions about this tent cot, please leave me a comment below and I’ll do my best to answer them.