For years, I have loved camping with my family, whether this is in the form of caravaning, staying at campsites, or the ‘true’ bush-bashing. However, for many years, we’d left out one very special member of our family – our dog. It truly hadn’t occurred to us to bring them until the first time we couldn’t find someone to dog sit, and, since then, we’ll never go back. Having our best friend there really takes the experience to a whole new level.
Of course, you always want to provide the very best for your pet, and so we have compiled a list of the 6 best camping chairs, cots, and beds for your dog. The overall winner was the Carlson Red Portable Pup Pet Bed, thanks to its all-rounder qualities, such as easy transportation, cleaning, and great ventilation.
You will however want to have a look through the whole list, as each bed is provided with a different type of camper in mind.
Table of Contents
Recommended Camping Chairs, Beds & Cots For Your Dog
Carlson Pet Indoor or Outdoor Dog Bed
Weight: 7lbs
Weight Capacity: 95lbs
Folded Dimensions: 24″ x 8″ x 7″
Unfolded Dimensions: 47″ x 25″ x 7″
What We Like: How easy this bed is to transport, its great value, and all-round convenience
Not So Much: Can’t be used for very large dogs
This bed was our pick for the best dog camping bed on the list, given that it has a great performance over a wide range of important factors in choosing your bed.
It is perfect for medium to large-sized dogs, with a weight capacity maximum of 95lbs. This bed, like all the others, takes the weight off your dog’s joints by allowing them to rest a few inches off the ground and also has slightly looser material that will provide increased levels of comfort for your pet. It comes in a great, vibrant color, and will look great next to the rest of your campsite set-up.
Importantly, this bed has great ventilation, (again reducing any mold, mildew, or development of nasty odors), which will make sure that your pet stays at a nice, comfortable temperature.
It is also very easy to clean and maintain. Additionally, the bed folds down to much smaller dimensions than its full-sized, which makes transporting it significantly easier and will allow for longer camping trips as you’ll be able to use some of the space you save on other important materials.
It also comes with a convenient carry case that it can be packed into. Ultimately, if you are looking for an easy-to-use, easy to transport, and easy to clean bed, in the middle of the range in price and size without compromising on quality, then this may be the choice for you.
K&H Original Pet Cot Elevated Camping Chair/Bed
Weight: 3.7lbs
Weight Capacity: 150lbs
Folded Dimensions: 25″ x 32″ x 7″
Unfolded Dimensions: 25″ x 32″ x 7″
What We Like: Great ventilation, durability, and weight capacity
Not So Much: Bulky and potentially difficult to transport
With a maximum weight limit of 150lbs, this dog camping chair/bed is better than most on this list for larger dogs. It is a great strong, durable, and size-efficient bed.
It may not be the largest, but the fact that it has the highest weight capacity, (along with the Original Bolster Pet Cot Bed below), without taking up too much space is a testimony to its strength.
Additionally, it is made of high quality, waterproof 600-denier fabric, and specifically tested in order to ensure its high strength and durability. It also provides gentle joint support for your dog by ensuring that they rest a couple of inches above the ground.
This seat is a good choice for anyone with a larger dog who is passionate about camping with their pet. The bed can be used both indoors and outdoors but is especially appropriate for camping thanks to both its efficient design and large mesh area.
This mesh allows for proper ventilation in any climate, whilst also preventing moisture, mold, mildew, bacterias, and other odors.
However, although this bed may not be the bulkiest on the list, it is also non-folding – which means you’ll have to consider the fact that it will take up a significant amount of room in your car or truck.
K&H Pet Original Bolster Pet Cot Bed
Weight: 7.5lbs
Weight Capacity: 150lbs
Folded Dimensions: 33″ x 11″ x 5″
Unfolded Dimensions: 33″ x 11″ x 5″
What We Like: Good design and stylistic appeal, good ventilation, and very comfortable
Not So Much: Difficult to transport, not-folding, and bulky thanks to built-up sides
This is another great pick for those wanting to travel with larger dogs, given that the bed can again hold dogs up to 150lbs.
This bed is also made of high-quality, waterproof 600-denier fabric, and has been tested by the manufacturers in order to ensure that it meets the highest standards in strength and durability.
Like the rest of the beds on this list, it also keeps your dog elevated from the ground for joint support as well as ease when camping or traveling.
Furthermore, the cushion edges on the side of the bed provide somewhere for your pet to rest its head and add a certain aesthetic appeal to the chair.
This may be a good pick for you if you are, again, traveling with a larger dog, and wanting to travel through the outdoors. It has great ventilation thanks to mesh fabrics in the center of the bed, which will keep your dog cool and comfortable whilst also preventing unpleasant development of mold, mildew, or odors.
However, you do have to be aware that this is another non-folding bed that sits slightly higher thanks to its cushioned sides – which means that you need to be able to save a little extra space for it when you are packing for your trip.
Paws and Pals Portable Camping Dog Chair/Bed
Weight: 6lbs
Weight Capacity: 40lbs
Folded Dimensions: 44″ x 30″ x 8″
Unfolded Dimensions: 44″ x 30″ x 8″
What We Like: Minimalist design, great price, and value
Not So Much: Perhaps not quite as high quality as some of the others on the list
This is one of the more minimalist beds on the list, with a simple mesh canvas pulled over the four metal legs.
This simplicity is actually one of the greatest parts of the design, as it manages to meet all the key points of a good dog camping chair whilst using space and materials efficiently and staying within a very affordable price bracket.
This bed, however, cannot hold quite as much weight as some of the other options. It is best suited to dogs weighing in under 40lbs.
This could be a good dog bed for you if you are the owner of a small to medium-sized pet, and if you prefer a product that covers all the necessary basics without being too extravagant. It still has great ventilation to maintain good hygiene, is waterproof, is very easy to clean and assemble, and keeps your dog a few inches off the ground.
Whilst it is, again, a non-folding model, (although, in a pinch, you could consider dismantling it), it is quite flat and not excessively large, which means it should not pose too much of an issue in its transport.
HDP Compact Elevated Pet Bed
Weight: 6.5lbs
Weight Capacity: 30lbs
Folded Dimensions: 24″ x 6″ x 5″
Unfolded Dimensions: 27″ x 27″ x 7″
What We Like: Amazing storage and transport efficiency, high levels of comfort
Not So Much: Only suited to much smaller dogs, not the greatest ventilation
This bed is designed with efficiency and space economization in mind, and, as a result, is best suited to small dogs who do not weigh any more than 30lbs.
It is the most compact of all the options on the list, as it is able to be essentially fully dismantled and packed into a small bad for transport, (think the way that a tent can be broken down into poles and material and then packed into its bag).
It is also constructed of the highest quality materials, including heavy-duty water-resistant polyester oxford for the bed, and a powder-coated, rust-resistant frame.
This may be a good choice for you if you are planning on camping with a smaller pet, especially in areas that are colder. Whilst this bed does have great cushioning that will keep your dog extremely comfortable, this means that it sacrifices the mesh that allows for great ventilation in most of the other models – meaning that it is best suited to colder climates.
This does not, however, mean that it is not a breathable model – the fabric used is still lightweight enough to allow for some level of ventilation, just not to the same extent as some others.
However, if you are looking for efficiency and ease of use and transport, this could definitely be the bed for you, as it has the smallest folded dimensions of all the choices and can be packed away in minutes, without the use of any tools.
Gen7Pets Cool-Air Cot For Dogs
Weight: 11.7lbs
Weight Capacity: 90lbs
Folded Dimensions: 26″ x 38″ x 3″
Unfolded Dimensions: 26″ x 38″ x 16″
What We Like: Great for serious and avid campers, unique and innovative design
Not So Much: Slightly higher price point, not suitable for very large dogs
At 11.7lbs, this is the heaviest bed on the list. This is, of course, for good reason. It is a very sturdy build that incorporates interesting design elements in order to produce a bed that is suitable for nearly any camping situation in which you could put it.
Such elements include the fact that it has a double-layered, mesh ‘cage’ area, instead of simply a section of mesh fabric. This serves numerous purposes, including the fact that it ensures great ventilation, whilst also keeping your pet clean and dry even in the longest wet grass.
This may be the choice for you if you are an avid camper, who prefers to travel the beaten track. It does require a little extra commitment, given its weight and slightly higher price point, but for serious campers, it is a worthwhile investment.
Whilst it is rather large, it does also fold down to less than a quarter of its original height, which means that it can still be transported fairly easily. It is appropriate for most medium to large-sized dogs, given the fact that it has a maximum weight capacity of 90lbs.
Overall, if you are an active, serious camper willing to pay a little extra for a high-quality bed, then this is the option for you.
What should I look for when buying a camping bed for a dog?
There are a number of different factors that you should take into consideration when you are purchasing a camping chair for your dog. These include the weight and size of your dog, your budget, what type of camper you are, as well as the types of places that you like to camp in.
Weight and size
Firstly, your dog’s weight and size obviously play a factor as it is incredibly important that the bed you purchase be able to comfortably fit your pet. In order to ensure that this is the case, you should first examine the maximum weight capacity of the bed that you are considering.
If you are still uncertain as to whether you are buying the right size for your dog, check the unfolded dimensions of the bed, and compare them to measurements that you take of your dog lying down.
Budget
Your budget and price range is obviously another very important factor in the bed that you decide to purchase, as there are quality options that range from very low ‘bargain’ prices to the highest standard, premium products.
Obviously, the more you play, the better the product will likely be, but this doesn’t mean that you need to blow hundreds of dollars on this equipment for your pet. Instead, try to set a price range that you will stick to before you start shopping, and then consider the options within that budget.
Type of camping
Another important aspect that you should factor in when looking for a dog camping chair is the type of camper you are. Do you prefer to travel with the minimum possible amount of equipment and space taken up?
Then you will want to search out options that are efficient in their design and that are compactable. On the other hand, if you prefer more easy-going camping and do not mind taking a little extra equipment, then a larger bed might be the option for you.
Climate
A final factor that you should take into consideration when looking for your dog bed is where you will be camping. Ventilation is a very important aspect of any high-quality dog bed, but even so, it varies between brands and designs.
If you are traveling somewhere warmer, you will need to look for the best possible ventilation, whereas if you tend to stick to colder areas you may trade this for a comfier, thicker bed.
Last update on 2022-02-17 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API