Veteran-owned GO-KOT manufactures a one-of-a-kind cot for weekend campers and the military too.
Weekend campers (and working government-related personnel) know the importance of a good night’s sleep when out in the field. And despite so many upscale, luxury camping products on the market these days, there are campers who still like to keep it simple whether out of necessity or preference.
Camping the old-fashioned way or the kids’ way is to sleep in a small tent with sleeping bags on what can be an uneven, cold, or wet piece of land.
The way around these sleeping discomforts is with the use of a cot. Cots, of course, are not a newfound luxury. But the folks at Alabama’s GO-KOT offer a simple sleeping surface that is compact, easy to use and fits well into a small tent.
In addition to campers, GO-KOTS are used by units connected to the military and government such as Emergency Management Divisions, the Beachmasters, and the U.S. Forest Service.
Alabama native Teresa Downing, a 20-year Air Force veteran who retired with the rank of Master Sergeant, is the owner of the 47-year-old company. She runs the day-to-day operations of GO-KOTS with help from her husband Mike, also an Air Force veteran who she met in Germany while stationed there.
Downing purchased GO-KOTS from the original founders in 2017 and has seen the company grow despite relentless competition from foreign-made brands.
“We were looking for something we could do that we would somehow be involved in the military, and I was looking for something specifically made in America and even something in Alabama that we could procure for the government,” said Downing. “I ran across GO-KOT, a camping cot and I wanted to rep this product because I thought it was absolutely amazing. The owner said he was sorry, but he couldn’t let me rep it because he was 82 and wouldn’t be able to keep up.
“So, he said do you want to buy the brand? And that’s how we ended up with GO-KOT. We bought the brand from the original owner and worked with him for several months learning everything there is to know and why he did everything the way he did, and we just replicated it.
“We’ve had the company for eight years and it has definitely grown since we bought it. I would say we’ve doubled our sales and production with the potential to grow even bigger.”
Downing manufactures the cots in a 5,000 square-foot building in Ashville, a sleepy Alabama city of 2,402 residents.
“We like to joke that when we start getting stressed from the work, we go across the street and watch the cows,” said Downing.
As a well-travelled Air Force veteran, Downing is a Southern country girl at heart who relishes doing positive things for her country. She is hoping that someone will sponsor GO-KOTS so they can independently be listed on the GSA (Government Services Agency) procurement list.
“We’ve both slept on military cots, and when we tried the GO-KOT we thought this is so much more comfortable,” said Downing. “They are Berry (Amendment) compliant but for the military it has to meet the need. We are a low-profile cot, and a low-profile cot does not necessarily always meet the need.
“Low profile means it is close to the ground. A lot of special operations like our cots because it is portable, easily moved around with people, and only weighs 9 pounds.
“We’ve had some Green Berets buy from us. We’ve had Explosive Ordinance Disposal units buy from us. A lot of security forces units buy from us. These are mainly operational units.”
The regular-sized GO-KOTS are 27 inches wide by 74 inches long and sit 8 inches off the ground. The long version is also 27 inches wide but is 84 inches long, which best fits those who are 6-foot-4 or larger. Both cots are capable of holding up to 350 pounds.
The sleeping material of the cot is 1000 Denier Nylon, a robust and durable fabric commonly used in heavy-duty applications. The fabric is often used in outdoor gear, luggage and military and tactical gear.
After the fabric is cut and sewn, aluminum spring-loaded legs are added. These fold up with the cot as you close it like a scroll and pack it away in its carrying bag. The entire cot can be set up in less than 60 seconds.
Continual care is minimal as it is best to just wipe down the nylon surface with a strong rag to clean it. For tough stains, a little bit of Dawn detergent will remove any dirt.
The GO-KOT is a perfect fit for camping in a small one- or two-man tent but can be used under most circumstances. People use them at the beach or as an extra sleep arrangement when you have a house full of visitors.
“We donated some cots during the hurricane in North Carolina and from there we had some non-profits buy from us,” said the 56-year-old Downing. “I learned a long time ago, one of the other reasons for doing this is that I wanted to be able to give.”
Since GO-KOT is the only low-profile cot that is made in America, competition comes from overseas, mostly from China, where low-cost labor produces an inferior product.
“The Chinese company Temu is selling cots for $25, but you can’t tell how well they are made just through a picture,” said Downing. “People call us and say, ‘I didn’t get my bag with my cot’ or ‘my cot is falling apart.’ Well, I know that they didn’t buy a cot from us because ours are checked with quality control before shipping and they always come with a bag. Our cots will last a lifetime.
“We found out there is some company out there selling cots from Temu that uses a website address which is very similar to ours. It is totally not the same product, and they didn’t buy from us. One thing (customers) won’t get from Temu is customer service. Everything you get from us is made here in America, not just assembled, but made in America.”
GO-KOTS come in 10 assorted colors including a military camo pattern. The regular size is sold for $249, and the long size is $279. You can purchase direct to consumer on the company website at www.go-kot.com.