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Coleman ComfortSmart Review

If you value being comfortable above all else, then this is a great choice
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Coleman ComfortSmart Review
Credit: Marissa Fox
Price:  $125 List
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Manufacturer:   Coleman
By Marissa Fox ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Apr 6, 2020
65
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#7 of 10
  • Ease of Setup - 35% 7.0
  • Portability - 25% 3.0
  • Comfort - 25% 9.0
  • Durability - 15% 7.0

Our Verdict

If you are looking for a new camping cot with the hopes to be as comfortable as possible while camping, then look no further than the Coleman ComfortSmart. This cot is exceptionally comfortable. The ComfortSmart comes with a mattress and is one of the fastest and easiest cots to set up. Unfortunately, this cot doesn't fold down all that small and can be a bit of a pain to pack around. It's a great option and our first choice to recommend if you want the most comfortable night under the stars and don't have to carry it far from the car. Get the scoop on how it stands up to the competition in our review of the top-rated camping cots.
REASONS TO BUY
Exceptionally comfortable
Easy to set up
REASONS TO AVOID
Bulky
Heavy

Compare to Similar Products

 
coleman comfortsmart
Awards Top Pick Award
Most Comfortable Camping Cot
Editors' Choice Award
Best Overall Camping Cot
Best Buy Award
Best Bang For The Buck
Best Buy Award
A Versatile Value Option
 
Price $125 List
$124.99 at Amazon
$90 List
$89.99 at Amazon
$85 List
$89.99 at Amazon
$60 List
$59.99 at Backcountry
$80 List
$53.37 at Amazon
Overall Score Sort Icon
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Star Rating
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Bottom Line This is one of the most comfortable cots that we have testedThe Coleman Pack-Away Cot is an all-around fantastic option that we would highly recommend for most peoplePairing an excellent overall performance with a very reasonable price, the KingCamp Folding Deluxe is a great choice for the bargain conscious shopperThis handy cot also doubles as a lounge chair — without breaking the bankThis model can act as a lounge chair or a cot, with plenty of options in between
Rating Categories Coleman ComfortSmart Coleman Pack-Away Cot KingCamp Folding De... Coleman Converta Fo... KingCamp Portable F...
Ease of Setup (35%)
7.0
8.0
9.0
8.0
8.0
Portability (25%)
3.0
6.0
5.0
4.0
4.0
Comfort (25%)
9.0
7.0
6.0
7.0
7.0
Durability (15%)
7.0
8.0
5.0
7.0
7.0
Specs Coleman ComfortSmart Coleman Pack-Away Cot KingCamp Folding De... Coleman Converta Fo... KingCamp Portable F...
Rated Weight Limit 300 lbs 300 lbs 265 lbs 225 lbs 264 lbs
Measured Weight for Tested Version 19.7 lbs 19.9 lbs 14.4 lbs 15.5 lbs 14.0 lbs
Tested Length 80" 80" 74" 76.3" 74.9"
Available Lengths 69", 80" 80" 74" 76.3" 74.9"
Bedside Organizer No Yes Yes No Yes
Number of Pieces 1+Mattress 1+Organizer 1 1 1
Carrying Bag No Yes Yes No No

Our Analysis and Test Results

If you are planning on carrying your cot for any sort of distance, we can't stress enough that the Coleman ComfortSmart is NOT the cot for you. This exceptionally bulky product can make for a luxurious night of camping but isn't meant for backpacking or camping where you need to walk for more than a couple minutes to get to.

Performance Comparison


coleman comfortsmart - cots are a very comfortable way to camp if you aren't restricted...
Cots are a very comfortable way to camp if you aren't restricted when it comes to the amount of gear you can bring.
Credit: David Wise

Ease of Setup


The most important of all our rating metrics focused specifically on how much effort it takes to set up and break down each of these cots, which accounts for 40% of the final score for the Coleman ComfortSmart. We awarded points based on the amount of time and effort it took to assemble and disassemble each cot, as well as if we were prone to getting fingers pinched in the folding mechanism during this process and the number of pieces each cot is made of. The Coleman ComfortSmart did very well, earning an 8 out of 10.


The ComfortSmart is an absolute breeze to set up. The frame is a single-piece — aside from the mattress — and it usually only takes a few minutes to put together. All you need to do is unfold the main part of the frame, then pop out the legs at the head and foot of the cot.

coleman comfortsmart - the legs on the comfortsmart easily fold out.
The legs on the ComfortSmart easily fold out.
Credit: Marissa Fox

It's equally easy to fold up by flipping the cot on its side, sliding the mattress through the legs and folding them in, then folding the main body of the cot in half. There is a velcro strap to keep the cot from unfolding.

Your hands are usually far away from the pinch points and folding mechanism, so we didn't find it likely to get your hands accidentally pinched. There isn't a storage case or bag for this cot, with the mattress tucking neatly inside once folded. You could also forgo the mattress if you wanted to make it even less of a hassle to set up or break down — we found this cot to be plenty comfortable without it but more on that later.

coleman comfortsmart - as you can see, the comfortsmart and the teton xxl are far from the...
As you can see, the ComfortSmart and the Teton XXL are far from the most portable cots out there.
Credit: Marissa Fox

Portability


Following ease of setup, our next metric focused on rating and ranking how easy it is to carry and transport the Coleman ComfortSmart compared to the other cots. Regrettably, it didn't do all that well in this metric, which is responsible for 30% of its final score, earning a 3 out of 10 for being one of the largest and most cumbersome of the camping cots we have tested to date. We came to this score by looking at how much each cot weighs, its packed size, and the ease of carrying them around.


There is no getting around the fact that the Coleman ComfortSmart is a large and bulky product. It measures about 40"x25"x6" when folded and tips the scales right around 20 pounds.


This cot is so bulky that there isn't really a convenient way to carry it. It doesn't have a carrying case or any straps to sling it over your shoulder and is far too bulky to strap to a pack. Your best bet is just grabbing part of the frame and carrying it at your side, which is far from ideal if you are moving it any mileage at all.

coleman comfortsmart - the coleman comfortsmart is perfect for extended stays or if you...
The Coleman ComfortSmart is perfect for extended stays or if you just want to be as comfortable as possible.
Credit: David Wise

Comfort


Our third rating metric dealt with how comfortable it is to sleep or lay down on each cot, which accounts for 20% of the total score for each product. This metric is where the Coleman ComfortSmart truly shined.


Essentially all of our judges agreed that this product is by far one of the most comfortable cots we have tested — even without the additional mattress. It gave us some of the most comfortable nights sleeping outdoors that we can recall and is a great option if you want to wake up refreshed and relaxed on your next camping trip.

coleman comfortsmart - this cot is plenty long for all but the tallest people.
This cot is plenty long for all but the tallest people.
Credit: Marissa Fox

This cot has ample room and is plenty wide enough so that you aren't constantly hitting your elbows or knees on the frame bars running up and down the sides of the cot when you adjust your position during the night. It's long enough that only the tallest of the tall would need to worry about hitting the frame at the head or foot of the cot, with this only being a problem when using the ComfortSmart without the extra mattress.

coleman comfortsmart - we would be most concerned about the springs and the mattress on...
We would be most concerned about the springs and the mattress on this cot wearing out over time.
Credit: Marissa Fox

Durability


Our final metric rated and ranked the relative durability of each cot, which is responsible for the residual 10% of the ComfortSmart's final score. To assess this, we thoroughly examined each cot at the conclusion of our testing to see if there was any damage or accelerated wear and tear, as well as parsed existing reviews for common problems. We also took the rated weight of each product into account and our opinions of how each cot will hold up to heavy use based on its design and construction. The Coleman ComfortSmart continued to do well, earning an 8 out of 10.


This camping cot is rated to hold up to 300 pounds. Overall, we thought it was quite sturdy, with a burly metal frame that seems like it can take a lot of abuse. Our rigorous testing didn't cause any major damage or excessive wear and tear, with only a few minor scrapes and scuffs on the legs.

However, we could imagine the mattress or the springs holding the fabric taut wearing out over time. This is backed up by looking at existing user reviews, with a handful that mention the mattress tearing or the springs ripping the canvas after a while.

coleman comfortsmart - this cot is a great option if you are setting up a camp for a long...
This cot is a great option if you are setting up a camp for a long stay and aren't restricted on the amount of weight or stuff you can bring.
Credit: David Wise

Value


The Coleman ComfortSmart isn't the cheapest or best bargain cot out there but it isn't overly expensive. It's hard to put a price on a good night's sleep but this cot is very much worth it if you want to be as comfortable as possible on your next camping trip.

Conclusion


If waking up well-rested and refreshed after your next night in a campground is important to you, then we can't recommend the Coleman ComfortSmart highly enough. This plush cot is by far one of the most comfortable and luxurious cots we have tested — it's cushy enough that you might even forget you are camping — and is easy to set up and break down. It's not the most portable option by any means, but it's our first choice if we aren't space limited when it comes to gear and heading to a drive-in campground.

Marissa Fox