Will a cot be colder sleeping?

[Luked]

Working on getting some gear this year for a Rifle Hunt 2nd season in CO.
My sleep system is what I have to work on getting.
Plan right now is to get a Argali Rincon 2P with a half nest and a Ti Stove.

This is just going to be a truck camping setup.

I was also thinking of getting a small cot just for comfort since I will not be packing in.
My thought though is the cot colder to sleep on vs just sleeping on a pad and the ground?
It would seem to me that it would be since Air can get under the cot. The only way to get around it would be to use a pad on the cot as well. But then I would almost be better off to sleep on the pad and ground.

The Bag I have now is a Kelty Cosmic 20

 

[Eleven]

Yes, the cot has potential to be colder. But if you are using a stove for heat source than the hot/warm air will get under it and be comfortable. When I use a cot in the cold I also use a sleeping pad on it, it’s comfy and warm. I ‘d rather take the weight penalty and have a great nights sleep.

 

[desertdwellerdyl]

. I don't see anything wrong with using a pad on a cot though, as long as your cot is wider than your pad I think you're fine.

 

[mlgc20]

The cot is definitely not a replacement for a sleeping pad. I often bring a cot if I'm not packing in. I haven't noticed it to be noticeably colder than just putting my pad on the ground. But either way, I make sure I have plenty of R-value in my pad.

 

[cusecat04]

cot with a pad is comfort city, I sleep better on my cot with a thin thermarest than most hotel beds.
cot without a pad is definitely colder.

 

[SuperDUECE22]

cot with a pad is the way to go

 

[highcountrymuley]

I find a cot (even with a pad) to be colder than a pad on ground or inside back of car. Test it in driveway or something so no surprises.

 

[atmat]

Cot with pad is so nice.

Also frees up space to store gear underneath it.

 

[mad_angler]

Agree with all. Put a good R value pad on the cot. I haven't noticed a difference between being on the cot or being on the ground in terms of temperature.

If you are concerned, add another thin mat under your normal mat.

Having a cot is definitely nice. You can store stuff underneath. And you don't have to get up off the ground each morning.

 

[ianpadron]

You 100% need a pad on a cot, unless it's super warm out. Even if it's 60 degrees you'll freeze your tail off. A cot is not a substitute for a high R value pad

 

[NM13]

Put a space blanket under the pad.

 

[mntnguide]

There isnt that much room in a Rincon 2p for a cot of any size. You would have to use one of the ultra small cots, not a normal one. Just FYI. I have a rincon 2p, and just sleeping on a pad, all you can do is sit up in the tent. I find that tent tight with just myself and gear plus my dog.

 

[sndmn11]

I typically wake up with ice attached to the underside of the cot fabric when it is below freezing. Cots absolutely need the understanding that they will be colder and the way to combat that is 2X+ the pad insulation.

 

[kswaterfowl]

I went out for 2nd rifle in Colorado last year, and used a cot paired up with an exped 7r. I slept with my sleeping bag unzipped most of the time, otherwise I would get to hot. Definitely bring a cot, if you are truck camping. More comfort and you can store stuff underneath it.

 

[TheTone]

As others have said; use a pad with the cot and then I also stuff my gear bags and whatever else I can under the cot to take up that air space

 

[Jdeck09]

I've used a cot in the past. My experience is a little skewed because our gear got soaked and our tents (from the outfitter) were drench so they had a ton of humidity but we froze our asses off on a cot. Even with an R 4.5 pad, it was uncomfortable. By the 2nd, we switch to sleeping on the ground and that solved the problem.

 

[AZ_Hunter_2000]

I've used a cot in the past. My experience is a little skewed because our gear got soaked and our tents (from the outfitter) were drench so they had a ton of humidity but we froze our asses off on a cot. Even with an R 4.5 pad, it was uncomfortable. By the 2nd, we switch to sleeping on the ground and that solved the problem.

How much of that “solved” was going to the ground vs things drying out “more” over that 2 day period?

 

[Jdeck09]

How much of that “solved” was going to the ground vs things drying out “more” over that 2 day period?

I'd say the majority was solved by going to the ground. We never really dried out because the tents held so much moisture.

 

[McCrapper]

I sleep on one of those lightweight Helinox cots and I cram all my excess clothing under it, jackets, pants, etc. to limit the airflow. It was a gamechanger for how well I sleep in the back country, I don't use mine with a pad but if it was really cold it would be necessary.

 

[Wheels]

I drape a queen sized flannel sheet over the cot so all 4 sides go to the ground and pack all excess gear under the cot. Eliminates any airflow under the cot.