Coleman ComfortSmart Review

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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