Coleman Airbed Cot Review

• Review
• Specs
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Summer is right around the corner. I don’t know about you, but my family loves to get outdoors and make up for lost time cooped up in the house during the seemingly endless winter months.

Are you an avid camper. Maybe you enjoy backyard barbecues followed by time around a small fire to roast marshmallows. Even if you’re just in the market for a temporary sleep solution that can be used both indoors and out, you’re definitely going to want to take some time to consider the Coleman Airbed Cot.

This product sits off the ground, so you don’t have to worry about puncturing it on debris like rocks and sticks. It offers a cot and mattress all in one purchase for elevated sleeping support, and we found it to be an ideal sleep solution for camping. We’ve used our airbed cot more than a dozen times both indoors and out and have had an excellent experience. So, let’s take a look at what we thought and see if this could work out for your needs.

Video Review

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Coleman Airbed Cot Specs Sheet

 Dimension: 78 x 59 x 2 inches

 Capacity: 600 pounds

 Weight: 43 lbs

 Warranty: 1 year limited warranty

Quick Setup Process

It looks like setup could be complicated, but it’s pretty simple. In fact, there’s really no assembly or tools required aside from the included air pump. The cot opens up easily in an accordion-like fashion.

Once the cot is opened, just air up the mattress with the included pump. It takes four D batteries. Inflation takes a little under five minutes. When you arrive at a firmness you like, place the cot inside the attached mattress cover. You should be able to get everything set up in under twenty minutes.

Optional, Convenient Cup Holder

Also included are two optional cup holders that attach to the sides of the cot. They came in handy and also include a small storage area for items like your car keys or cell phone.

When camping, things can get hectic. With so many activities and things to do, it can be easy to absentmindedly misplace things. (Yes, I’m speaking from experience!) I found it convenient to use this area to keep track of small, easy-to-lose items. However, if you don’t like them, they are simple to remove.

Coleman Airbed Cot Comfort and Support

This mattress is really comfy, and I like the way the cover feels. It’s mentioned that the cot and airbed separate for double the sleeping space. However, sleeping on the cot by itself isn’t very comfortable in my opinion. If you’re traveling with limited storage and really need the extra sleeping space, definitely go for it. It beats sleeping on the floor! However, I definitely preferred having the mattress.

The mattress features ComfortStrong coil construction for support and comfort, and the durable steel frame is capable of supporting up to 600 pounds and heights of up to six feet, two inches. Even without the mattress, I wasn’t able to feel the support bars underneath the cot poking my back, so it is possible to sleep on the cot by itself. It kind of feels like sleeping in a hammock. You could also use sleeping bags to soften things up a bit.

Excellent Air Retention with Airtight® System

So far, it’s done a great job at holding air throughout the night. I think a lot of this has to do with the fact that, since the mattress doesn’t make direct contact with the ground, there is a reduction in condensation.

My sleep partner and I weigh a combined three hundred seventy-five pounds, and we only have to air it up on occasion during the course of an eight-hour sleep session. For the most part, however, we’re able to go all night without any issues, and it’s safe to say the Airtight® System, which is guaranteed not to leak, makes this possible.

Have Pump Ready on Chilly Nights

It’s worth noting that, on nights we had to add air, we were camping, and the temperature had fallen. This leads me to believe the loss of firmness was due to the air inside the mattress condensing. In my experience, this occurs more prominently with mattresses that touch the ground. If you’re camping, make sure you have your pump handy in the event this occurs.

Great Edge Support

The mattress and cot offer excellent edge support, and this remains the case even if the mattress loses some air due to the cot’s sturdy construction. I think this makes the Coleman Airbed Cot a great consideration for those with mobility issues. Getting in and out of bed is very easy.

A Few Tips on Mattress Sleeve and Sheet Fitting

We’ve used our cot quite a bit outdoors and have acquired a few stains on the top of the mattress sleeve. Unfortunately, while you can take the mattress out of the sleeve, the sleeve itself is sewn onto the cot, so you can’t wash it.

You can clean the surface with a damp cloth and a cleaning solution, preferably one that doesn’t require rinsing. I’d encourage you to learn from our mistake and always use a sheet and/or mattress protector to prevent stain development in the first place.

Standard queen sheets fit fine for us. The cover doesn’t get in the way of the pump, so you’re able to add air without having to remove it as long as you make sure the air port is placed toward the zipper.

Tent Use

The first time we used it in our tent, I was concerned with the legs of the cot ripping a hole in the tent floor. In our experience, this wasn’t an issue. I’d make sure you have your tent on a flat surface as, if you set it up over a hole and apply pressure to the legs, this could cause a problem. If you’re worried about this occurring, I’d also recommend using a tarp inside the tent for an added layer of protection.

Mattress is Loud- How to Deal with It

While the mattress is comfortable and holds air well, it’s really loud. When you move or get in and out of bed, you can hear popping noises caused by the material against the metal cot frame. There is also quite a bit of noise caused by the material of the mattress cover. If you sleep with someone who moves around a lot, this could be a deal breaker.

In this case, there are a couple of things you can do:

• Double-up on the space and let one person use the mattress and the other person use the cot.
• Use the mattress without the cover. It’s a little less comfortable, but it significantly reduces the noise. The decrease in comfort is nothing a fitted sheet can’t fix.

I love that the cot allows you space under the bed to put things like suitcases and duffle bags. A standard air mattress doesn’t afford this built-in accommodation and just takes up space.

Durability Expectations

The Coleman Airbed Cot is sturdy and well-constructed. Capable of holding up to 600 pounds, the solid steel construction should hold up for several years when properly cared for. Just a few other features of this product that leads me to believe it’ll hold up include:

• ComfortStrong coil construction
• Mattress remains off the ground away from puncture dangers
• Utilizes waterproof materials
• Quality storage case

Deflation Process

When you’re finished using it, open up the valve on your mattress and allow the air to escape. You can roll it up to force any residual air out. Then, lift up the middle of the cot, and it will easily fold in on itself for storage.

It can be a little tricky to squeeze the product into the included carrying case. However, once you get it in, it’s easy to transport since the case has wheels. Of course, when camping, you won’t always be on smooth enough terrain to use the wheels, but the product is only 42 pounds and not too difficult to carry for me. And, that’s it. It’s really a lot easier than you would think just looking at it.

Dimensions and Capacities

Cost

I was surprised that you can purchase this product for less than $200. It’s currently available for only $161.99 for the queen-size model. Considering the quality and the fact that the mattress does such a great job at holding air, I think you’re getting an excellent value for a product that, when properly cared for, should last for quite some time.

Coleman Airbed Cot Reviews and Feedback

I am always looking for a quality product you can use outdoors, especially this time of the year, and the Coleman Airbed Cot certainly fits the bill. I was impressed at how sturdy it was, and I think you’ll appreciate the optional cup holders.

Since some of the information I have shared in this review is based on my personal opinion, I took a moment to see what other people have had to say about their experience using this product to ensure you receive a well-rounded understanding of this product:

You may be interested in: Best Air Mattresses For Camping

Our Final Verdict

I was highly satisfied with my Coleman Airbed Cot. Most airbeds have limitations when it comes to outdoor use, so I’m always on the lookout for a camp-worthy product. It’s excellent stability and air retention capability made it ideal for partner sleeping, although it was kind of loud when you move.

Again, this can be largely solved by placing the air mattress on top of the sleeve sewn onto the cot. If you take this measure, I’d suggest buying a cover for comfort. If you throw in a mattress pad, it almost feels like you’re sleeping on your regular bed.

I really enjoyed the side tables and found I was able to keep better track of my small miscellaneous items like car keys as I am prone to losing things during camping. The Coleman Airbed Cot comes with a one-year limited warranty, and the combination of the ComfortStrong coil construction and Airtight® System provides excellent support and comfort.

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