Backpacking(ish) Cot? (NOT Thermarest)

[Caoboy]

I've ditched the cot idea for now. There really is no real support for it, especially for backpacking. I even paper napkin drafted one, and it seemed even that would not be cost effective. I may venture into hammocks even though I said I didn't want to. I've been doing a bunch youtubing on them, it swayed me to try it out. I may pick one up, eventually.

 

[Honu]

if you do the hammocks for sure go check out the https://www.hammockforums.net

once you learn how to get the correct hang and lie angle and insulation they are pretty amazing

 

[Christophe Noel]

I think if you look at the Helinox cot for what it is, the price isn't out of the norm. For most tents, about 40% of the cost of manufacture is in the poles. With the complexity of the Helinox cots being what they are, I can see how the cot would represent about the same cost to make as a good $300 tent.

Regarding the distribution through Big Agnes, I'm doubtful it would impact the MAP price much if Helinox (Korean based) sold direct through their own distribution in NA. Retail prices are largely driven by what consumers are willing to pay.

 

[Honu]

confused

I think you said why you liked it so much and it was worth it over other products but then you say you would not buy one but you did it sounds like

or maybe saying more you would not buy it based only on being from them ? maybe that is the confused part

I think the same reasons you posted for the cot is the same reason I love the chairs

In my opinion the best lightweight cot on the market is the Helinox Cot One. Very smart and easy setup (2 minutes), strong, stable, and very comfortable WITH A MATTRESS. At around 4.5 lbs most backpackers would not use this cot because you now have the “big four”––tent, sleeping, bag, mattress, and cot––instead of the “big three.” The cot is the same size as a packed 2-person tent. But if you're strong and the rest of your gear is super light, this cot might be a possibility. It would work great for canoe camping or motorcycle camping.

Used with a good mattress like the Exped Synmat 7, the combination of Cot One + mattress is literally twice as comfortable as the mattress on the ground.

I got the Helinox cot specifically for kayak camping and love it. I also use it for car camping for the times when I just don't feel like wrassling with bigger gear like the Camp Time Roll-a-Cot. I got my camp setup time down to 15 minutes with the Cot One, Kelty Trail Ridge 3 tent, and REI Campbed 3.5––ultimate comfort in a small package.

I got the Cot One over the Thermarest Luxury Lite because the Thermarest is much harder to assemble (it has something like 34 parts), is clearly less comfortable (manufacturer says you can't break it because you bottom out––that's a hint about how well it supports your weight), and reviews complain about it breaking. It's lighter than the Helinox, but the Helinox beats the Thermarest in all other respects.

The price of the Cot One is ridiculous ($300) and sales are very rare. I paid $240 on sale after watching the internet for months. No regrets––I love this cot. Beautiful piece of engineering design.

Watch this video and you'll be convinced––especially the part where the guy walks right across the cot with no harm done. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3tQids996Q

Aha. I stand corrected and I apologize. Now, why is this? Is this one reason why the price remains so high and sales almost never happen? Because the retailers must be paying a markup to Big Agnes as middleman, right? I suppose the fact that DAC (the manufacturer of Helinox) is in Australia means they need foreign distributors?

Big Agnes says, "DAC has chosen Big Agnes as the exclusive distributor of the Helinox brand in the Americas because of our commitment to innovative design and sustainability." Personally that doesn't mean much to me as a consumer. I would not buy a Helinox product because it's associated with Big Agnes. (Actually not a fan of Big Agnes designs, especially their sleeping bags with no insulation on the bottom.)

The only sales on Helinox are of the type "take 20% off anything on our website." The price of the cot really is shameful.
Cot $300
Sleeping bag $200
Mattress $150
TOTAL $650 just for your bed!

You would think Helinox would be embarrassed by all the negative mentions of their prices.

 

[PlacidWaters]

confused

I think you said why you liked it so much and it was worth it over other products but then you say you would not buy one but you did it sounds like

or maybe saying more you would not buy it based only on being from them ? maybe that is the confused part

I think the same reasons you posted for the cot is the same reason I love the chairs

Good questions. I would say that although I love the cot, I feel the price is exorbitant and that leaves me with mixed feelings about Helinox (or DAC). If I were a manufacturer I would want people to have overall positive feelings about me: about my designs, prices, customer service, etc.

I bought the cot in a way because I felt forced to by my age and joint problems. There's a subconscious thought every time I use it, "Man, this company is ripping me off because I'm old and decrepit." (I never needed a cot when I was young and fit.) That makes me resent the company even if I'm getting a good night's sleep.

I admire companies that have great products AND reasonable prices. Is it possible to do that? Alps Mountaineering does. Alps has avoided the "elite and expensive" image. REI also has good designs and reasonable prices.

I don't agree with the common perception of Big Agnes as having great designs. It bothers me that BA doesn't warn people that side sleepers might have a problem with their sleeping bags, when more than half of people are side sleepers. I've probably bought 20 tents in the last 10 years, but never a Big Agnes because there are so many better designs for less money. Exped makes better mattresses than BA. I prefer Kelty's tent designs.

It's about brand imaging. Knowing that Helinox presents itself in association with Big Agnes as elite and expensive, I would tend to avoid that brand because it doesn't mesh with my value of practical frugality.

 

[TimS]

I don't know if you made your mind up completely on a cot but I used this for 2 months on a pile of rocks.
http://www.rei.com/product/780367/exped-synmat-7-air-pad-with-pump#tab-specs

It was comfortable and it did not leak any air. Things need to be "right" or my back in the morning can be irritating. I would use this anywhere and its light.

 

[nwoods]

What about that cot that uses rings as the feet? I can't think of the brand, but I recall that it breaks down into a VERY small stuff sack. Anyone know what I'm talking about?

 

[Honu]

thats the thermarest they bought out that company

What about that cot that uses rings as the feet? I can't think of the brand, but I recall that it breaks down into a VERY small stuff sack. Anyone know what I'm talking about?