There is no doubt about it, camping is a great way to take a vacation, but sleeping on the rocks, weeds and sticks can get a bit old. The camping industry sells many varieties of camping cots, which can make any camping trip that much more enjoyable. Let’s look at some name brands and what features they offer in a great camping cot.

Look for lightweight cots that fold down easily and fit into any vehicle you take camping. Test a model out to get a feel for the strength and make sure it’s long enough. Read online reviews about the model you’re considering. Models that come with padding on the sleeping surface are an extra plus. Check the workmanship of camp cots for high quality materials and straight, tight stitching. The legs should be sturdy, level and straight.

Coleman makes all kinds of camping accessories, including folding camping cots. They make the Forester Folding Cot, which retails for about $40 and sleeps people 5 feet 10 inches in height and they have a larger version for 6 feet 6 inches. Amazon offers several fine models including the ALPS Mountaineering Lightweight Cot. It runs about $45 dollars and is constructed of a lightweight steel frame, weighing in at just over 11 pounds. It’s 30 x 74 inches and handles 250 lbs, with a one year warranty.

Kamp-Rite Kwik Cot is a folding camp cot, made from an aluminum/steel frame, that weighs 22 pounds and folds down to 7″ x 7″ x 39″. The size is easy to store and it comes with a carrying bag. The sleeping area is 84″ x 28″ and the heavy duty polyester sleeping surface is rated for 300lbs. Retails for about 70 dollars at Amazon. Consider purchasing Coleman cots or any one of these fine brands on the market, ensuring a great nights sleep while camping.

Good camping food requires the right tools. You will need a good camp stove, a set of cookware, and probably plenty of water. And you’ll also need food. Since camping usually means some amount of hiking, the food you pack will have to be light. Any meat that isn’t dehydrated tends to be extremely heavy, making most campers vegetarians whether they like it or not. Especially if you’re out for more than a couple days, protein gets to be an issue if your diet doesn’t contain any meat. Nuts and beans provide the easiest and lightest sources, with peanut butter often filling in a needed kick of protein at lunch or breakfast.

Though dinner usually takes up the most time and energy, breakfast and lunch are important meals while camping. Breakfast can easily be a cold meal, though it’s often worth breaking out the stove for hot tea or coffee with your dried fruit or granola bar. Pita bread or tortillas make handy bases for lunch, as they allows for sandwiches and dips but still pack easily; they’re light but don’t crush like regular bread. Trail mix is a stand-by favorite, as is dried fruit as they provide quick energy while on the move.

Finally, once you make it to camp you want a big dinner; something hearty and hot. Instant polenta or couscous, though a bit heavy, provides an excellent base for cheeses, dried vegetables, or other sauces, as both are hot and filling. Dried beans and barley make for hearty camping food, though be sure to find those which don’t require much soaking or you’ll be eating your beans for breakfast the next day. Black beans and rice make an excellent meal, especially if you can find a ready-made store mix which often packs its own kick. It’s helpful to have a stove that can easily simmer food when putting together a camp meal.