Samsonite Pop Up Travel Cot Deluxe

Samsonite Travel Cot Review

Traditional travel cots are great as occasional sleeping areas in the home or for use as a playpen, but if they are really needed for travel then they are a little cumbersome to be truly practical. They can also be quite large, so can take up precious space in smaller homes. But now pop up travel cots are available which are lightweight, very portable and trouble-free to put up. Here we look at the Samsonite Pop Up Travel Cot Deluxe, which is one of the more popular products of this type.

Product specifications:

What accessories are available?

The Samsonite travel cot comes with an integral mosquito net, which is ideal for trips to warmer climates and lazy afternoons in the garden. When it is not needed the net can be packed away in its storage pouch.

What are the advantages of the Samsonite pop up travel cot?

Pop up travel cots are considerably lighter than their more traditional counterparts. This particular product weighs over 10kg less than the lightest non-pop up models. The Samsonite pop up travel cot is also incredibly compact when stored away and folds smaller than similar products. In its folded form, stashed in its carry bag, it is roughly the size of a dinner plate so is easy to take on days out or put into your suitcase for holidays.

Erecting the product is very straightforward. The cot literally springs into shape when you remove it from its bag, leaving you to just put in the base and the support rods to make it more comfortable and sturdier. Putting it away is simple too and rather like folding a pop up play tent. Folding it into a figure of eight and flattening it as you slip it back into its bag may take a few attempts to refine your technique, put after a few times you'll be managing this in seconds.

It is cheaper than rival pop ups such as the NScessity Travel Centre and, whilst the NScessity is an excellent product, there is no reason not to opt for this cheaper model if you have no need for a UV tent function.

Are there any criticisms of this product?

The main downside of the Samsonite pop up travel cot is that most babies will have outgrown it by 6 months, and the product should not be used once your baby is active as the lightweight nature of the product means there is a risk of tipping. But, like a moses basket, it offers a more snug and reassuring sleeping area than larger cots for young babies.

Travel cot mattresses are not well padded because they need to be portable, and the Samsonite one is very thin. However, most parents simply pop a blanket underneath the mattress when using the cot on cold or hard surfaces to make it more comfortable. Some customers also report it is difficult to cover the mattress with a normal sheet but there are fitted sheets available designed for the Samsonite mattress, or for a cheaper alternative the mattress can be slipped into a pillow case.

What do customers say?

Here are a small selection of quotes from the feedback customers have given about the Samsonite pop up travel cot on Amazon:

"This little pop up bed is the greatest. It opens up in a flash and after a couple of times can be assembled very quickly by attaching a few toggles and putting in two small rods to hold the whole thing up. A fantastic, quick option for going away with a newborn."

"We brought this on holidays when my baby was 9 weeks old. It was very easy to put up and fold away, folded down into a tiny bag and was very light."

"Lightweight, tiny when folded and very quick to assemble. Don't hesitate, give it a try and be impressed!""