Disc-O-Bed Camping Bunk Beds Review

Last summer, my family (two adults, a baby and a toddler) went on a 10-week camping trip.  I really didn’t want to sleep on the ground for this entire time.  I researched camping cots that can bunk and found the Disc-O-Bed.   Here’s what we thought of the camping bunk beds and whether they are worth it.

Quick Specs:

• Cot Size/Sleeping Area: 79″x28″
• Outter dimensions: 82”(L)x32.5”(W)x36”(H)
• Total Weight: 60lbs
• Height of Bottom Bunk: 11″
• Height of Top Bunk: 32″
• Folded Size: 33″x15″x5″ (per cot)
• Weight Limit: 500lbs (per cot)
• Available at: Amazon, REI

*Note that we had the Large size Disc-O-Bed bunks.  They also make smaller sized Kid-O bunks and XL bunks for adults.

What We Loved about the Disc-O Bunk Beds

The Extra Floor Space Is Great

Since we were camping for so long (and with a toddler and baby), we realized that we wanted to have as much extra floor space as possible.  The Disc-O bunk beds were great for this.

Without the bunks, we wouldn’t have any floor space in our 6P tent.

There’s also an option to put the bunks in couch position, but we never played around with this.

Storage Under the Bed

I knew that having our stuff all over the tent while camping would make us go crazy. We bought a “kitchen cabinet” to use as a closet for storage.  The rest of our stuff went underneath the bottom bunk. I really liked the extra storage they gave us.

Disc-O-Bed also has an option with side organizers, but we did not get them.

Lots of stuff is under the bottom bunk. We also ended up using the top bunk as a diaper-changing station.

Not-Getting-Stepped-On Sleeping Zone

Using bunk beds in the tent gave us a contained sleeping zone where we wouldn’t get stepped on.  It was also nice that they didn’t move around so we had a set sleeping area in the tent.

Comfortable

Overall, the Disc-O bunk beds were comfortable.  They don’t have any straps or bars in the middle like most camping cots.

Note that there isn’t any actual padding on the cots. This also means that there isn’t any insulation underneath you.  In warm weather, you could sleep with your sleeping bags directly on the cots.  In cold weather though, you’ll need to put a pad on the cots.

For comfort and warmth, we put Nemo Quasar 3D pads on top of the cots.  Instead of sleeping bags, we used quilts from Enlightened Equipment.

Fairly Compact

Considering that these are camping cots, the bunk beds are fairly compact.  They come in two bags which are 33 x 15 x 5 inches each.

All of our camping gear packed in the car. The Disc-O bunks are in the green bags in the bottom right.

What We Disliked about the Cots

Expensive!

The Disc-O-Bed bunks are expensive.  But there really isn’t anything similar on the market.  If you want camping cots that can bunk, this is the only option that I found.  (Check the prices at Amazon and REI).

Heavy

The cots are very heavy. The poles are steel, so their combined weight is over 60lbs.  While the setup is straightforward (my husband set them up while I did other setup), the weight makes it tough.

Ideally, two people should set up the cots together – which isn’t always possible when camping with little kids.

My husband setting up the camp bunk beds with our toddler helping.

Not Much Headroom

When in bunk bed position, the upper cot is 32 inches off the ground.  I’m guessing the bunks are made this way so they can fit in most tents.  It also makes it easier to get on the bunk without a stool.

However, this does mean that the lower bunk doesn’t have much headroom.  I was breastfeeding a baby so this was a problem. I couldn’t sit up in the lower bunk nor could I turn over with the baby next to me.  This is why I ended up on the top bunk after the first night of camping.

Feeding our baby on the top bunk

Verdict

Overall, we loved the Disc-O bunk beds and wouldn’t change anything about our sleep setup.  I would use these cots again on a 3+ night camping trip. However, because of how big and heavy they are, I would skip them on shorter trips.

You can get the camping bunk beds at Amazon and REI