anyone pack in a "lightweight" cot?

[dotman]

Helinox does make an underquilt for their cot as well.

 

[dotman]

Fyi... campsaver has the UL Helinox, one I have 25% off Helinox Cot Lite - Cots - Pads, Cots & Hammocks - Camp & Hike :: CampSaver.com

 

[justinspicher]

interesting, would have guessed that w/o a pad the cot would be awfully cold on the underneath side

I thought so as well, but with clothes on I didn't notice it. I'm a fairly warm sleeper so that helps as well.

When it comes to wanting to be lightweight, you have to really commit to it. That means not taking a piece of gear because another piece you use doesn't have it. For example, a ground cloth in a floorless shelter or a underquilt on a cot.

Just my opinion, but most folks talk about going light and then bring a ton of extra junk to be comfortable. Doesn't work like that. 100lbs of lightweight gear is still 100lbs.

 

[MIKEYB]

I have had my eye on one of these for a while. . . .

Picked up a Thermarest Chinese knock off on amazon. I know, I know!

Yahill Ultralight Folding Bed Portable Cot, amazon deal under $50, How could I resist? Looks exactly like the thermarest from what I gather. seems to be a few others for under $100.

I just received it this week, weighed it, 3.6# all together on my baby scale. Set it up, easy enough. Laid on it and almost fell asleep in the room. This is nice! I did notice the sag with all supports assembled,(I had double rods at each end) on my stomach the lowest part on me was about 1-1.5 inches off the ground. my Specs: 175# and short as sh*t. Might have to play with rod placement.

I can see myself really liking this, I toss, turn, side sleep and stomach sleep. I often wake up paralyzed from sleeping on my limbs. 3.6# kinda of has me asking myself where this fits and when/where would I take it? What would my sleep system be?

I find it very interesting to hear Justin's feed back about not freezing with the lack of insulation on the bottom. I was almost certain that I would need my pad still or I thought about my thermarest z-lite(which is not the most compress-able piece).

Full disclosure: I have no field use with this product. Never left the carpet, I played with it for 5 minutes then had to pack it up and set it aside to be wrapped and placed under the tree so I can be surprised at Christmas. which will probably happen as I will forget about it by then. Gear whore problems.

 

[jmez]

My two hunting partners have them, I haven't taken the plunge yet. Both of them love them and think I'm a fool for not having one. One has the Thermarest and the other the Helinox. The Helinox is a little lighter but the Thermarest packs down better/smaller. Haven't really paid much attention but it doesn't seem like it takes very long to set either one of them up. Neither one has had problems with either of them. Small weight penalty on one vs a small bulk penalty on the other.

 

[colonel00]

So is everyone running a pad on top of your cots?

 

[dotman]

So is everyone running a pad on top of your cots?

I did this year at base camp but wouldn't if I packed in, I would leave the pad and take the cot. This is during the Sep season.

 

[colonel00]

Well yeah, I know you did. Just curious what others found they liked. I just still think you'd get pretty cold without a pad. Do the cots have any R-value?

 

[KHNC]

For a spike camp - yes. Used the Helinox Lite this year along with the Helinox Ground Chair and it was worth the extra weight for me - slept amazing. I wouldn't pack it if I was hauling camp on my back every day though.

X2, I now have the Lite cot and chair both from helinox. The cot is terrific without a doubt.

 

[dotman]

I thought so as well, but with clothes on I didn't notice it. I'm a fairly warm sleeper so that helps as well.

When it comes to wanting to be lightweight, you have to really commit to it. That means not taking a piece of gear because another piece you use doesn't have it. For example, a ground cloth in a floorless shelter or a underquilt on a cot.

Just my opinion, but most folks talk about going light and then bring a ton of extra junk to be comfortable. Doesn't work like that. 100lbs of lightweight gear is still 100lbs.

I completely agree, after having done the Ultralight minimal thing, it wasn't for me. I get light weight gear so I can take a few creature comforts without having a 100lb pack but one has to have limits..

 

[KHNC]

So is everyone running a pad on top of your cots?

I didn't on a Nov hunt this year. Was good into the lower 30's. I hate the inflatable pads from big agnes anyways.

 

[colonel00]

I didn't on a Nov hunt this year. Was good into the lower 30's. I hate the inflatable pads from big agnes anyways.

Were you using a bag or quilt and what temp rating?

 

[mtwarden]

the cot will have an r value close to 0, but it is off the ground so no worries about loss to conduction, but you would think that if the ambient temp under the cot was cool, so would you- the insulation from the sleeping bag/quilt is compressed and offers little to no loft. It's the reason hammock users need under quilts- not sure at what temps the uq is needed though????

 

[justinspicher]

I don't see the point in bringing a pad to put on top of the cot, so it stays home. Just more shit to pack around that only has one purpose. I just use my quilt on top of the cot. If it gets cold, I get in my bivy. I am running a 20* E/E Revelation quilt and a TiGoat bivy. I usually just sleep in my clothes so I don't have bring anymore junk with me either. They say if you go light, you'll freeze at night. That's probably true for some, but I have been good so far. I ain't fixing it because it ain't broken.

 

[colonel00]

the cot will have an r value close to 0, but it is off the ground so no worries about loss to conduction, but you would think that if the ambient temp under the cot was cool, so would you- the insulation from the sleeping bag/quilt is compressed and offers little to no loft. It's the reason hammock users need under quilts- not sure at what temps the uq is needed though????

Yeah, that was my thought as well. Since there is no insulation under the cot, you'd think it would be pretty cold. Exactly my point as people in hammocks usually either use a pad or underquilt or both to stay warm. It just seems odd that you could have that cold air mass under the cot and it wouldn't suck out some of your body heat. Maybe not as much as sleeping on the cold ground but I'd think you'd still lose heat.

 

[mtwarden]

justin - if it's working, it's working I wouldn't change anything either

I'm no stranger to lightweight travel; I probably have a couple of dozen 2-3 day trips carrying 5 lbs (less food/water)- my hunting pack is a tad heavier though

 

[luke moffat]

Yeah if wan I guess more sleeping comfort I will haul in a light speed air bed for my wife and I rather than a couple cots. Weight and comfort ahead over 2 ultralight cots. If not going with my wife the mission is usually faster and longer so more frills get left behind...

 

[boom]

wow.

i'm headed the other direction. last hunt i slept 4 nights on a sheet of plastic,my air mattress and my bag. i got filthy, and my forehead was picked over by mosquitos..but i was going in light. sucked i came out light too.

 

[AK Troutbum]

wow.

i'm headed the other direction. last hunt i slept 4 nights on a sheet of plastic,my air mattress and my bag. i got filthy, and my forehead was picked over by mosquitos..but i was going in light. sucked i came out light too.

16 oz. quilt, 8 oz. Thermarest pad, and 6 oz. bug bivy. Pretty comfy, no bug bites, and all for under 2 lbs. That being said, I'll be doing a little testing of the Helinox UL cot next season.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Ironmerganser]

I ordered the helinox cot lite today......even before I read this thread!!
Campsaver is having a sale on it and if you sign up for their mailing list you can get another 10% off. Have been wanting to try one of these for a long time and this made me pull the trigger. Not sure I will pack it way back when I am trying to go really light, but for truck camping or shorter hikes in, this should be just the ticket to sleeping like a king!