Helinx Cot One: Comparison of 3 light cots

[Nanabijou]

That may be true about the Helinox Cot One, but I wouldn't pay $400 for the High Cot when you can get a Camptime Roll-a-Cot for $130. The Roll-a-Cot is supremely comfortable . . . but a pain to set up. I think the Helinox is only competitive and the price slightly justified in the ultra-light category because it's much better than the Thermarest Luxury Lite and the Travel Chair Sleeprite. That's about all there is in the "light" category, and Helinox beats the other two hands down.

PlacidWaters - thanks so much for your insightful cot and air-mattress reviews. I found them really helpful.

I own a Helinox Cot One and 4 Camp-time Roll-A-Cots (soon to be 6 of them). I've also tried several army style cots which were very heavy and shed fasteners over time. So I threw them out. My favourite so far? The Camp-time Roll-A-Cots. Without a doubt. Why? First - let me provide a little background. I've owned the Roll-A-Cots for several years. They have held up extremely well and still function like new. Unlike PlacidWaters - I can set them up very quickly (faster than my Helinox Cot One) and easily - but I've had lots of practice over the years setting these up - so I'm quite sure that counts for a lot. I too now prefer the wider versions (32") compared to the regular width versions (28"). I like to sleep on my stomach and sides - and prefer the extra width to stretch out. For car camping - I use the wider Roll-A-Cots with Thermarest Dreamtime mattress pads - and they are incredibly comfortable. You know when you come back from a week of camping and can't wait to sleep in your bed at home? I find I experience almost the same level of comfort with these mattresses and cots each evening at the campsite when retiring after a long day of hiking and camping. I now actually look forward to bed time and feeling alert and refreshed in the morning. Unfortunately, Thermarest doesn't make the older style Dreamtime mattresses - and I'm not sold on the newer Dreamtime versions. I also have a couple Exped Synmat 9s and several Nemo Cosmo Insulated pads that I use with the Roll-A-Cots - if I need a more portable set up. I've taken the Roll-A-Cots everywhere. I bring them when traveling by car visiting friends - because they are usually more comfortable than the spare guest beds that are available. I've even taken the Roll-A-Cots kayak camping (See links below for my trip reports).

http://www.hobiecat.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=48&t=18870

And

http://www.hobiecat.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=48&t=52328

So what makes the Roll-A-Cots so great? They are relatively light in weight (about 10lbs). I like that they are 15" off the floor. This makes it an ideal height to change clothes from in the morning inside your tent. You could even use it as a seating bench on your campsite during the day. And the height also allows me to save some room inside the tent by storing gear underneath the cots. This is exceptionally convenient. For those who are concerned that they take up too much space in a tent - I've addressed this issue by purchasing a Marmot Halo 4 (4 person tent) that has essentially vertical sides - that free up lots of room for the cots - while also maintaining a manageable footprint size. I think these are the perfect tents for these cots. I love this set up. I also really like that these cots only have 4 legs. Two on each end. This allows me to place the cot over uneven terrain and still sleep level and above any protuberances. I also like that they have some "give" to them too - and aren't overly taut. They have no cross-pieces either - so nothing to hinder your comfort. I also like that the sleeping surface is made of a sturdy, nylon mesh. If it gets wet (e.g., while attached to the back of my motorcycle while riding through rain for instance) I can just quickly wipe it down - and it's dry and ready to be used. And I like that they are made in the U.S.A and are relatively affordable ($120 on sale). All my friends now insist that I bring the Roll-A-Cots when car camping. They won't come unless I bring them. Once they experience the comfort - it's difficult to go back. And when I host motorcycle riders passing through the area - and give them a chance to sleep on the Roll-A-Cots and Dreamtime pads in my home - they wake up completely sold on them too. And I understand where they're coming from. I'm done with sleeping on the ground. I want comfort.

Any drawbacks to the Roll-A-Cots? Yes - a few. I wish they were portable enough that I could place one inside my Givi hard case on my bike. As it stands - I have to carry the Roll-A-Cot on the outside and secure it to the back of my motorcycle. I also think that the wing-nuts used for adjusting the tension on them could be re-designed. Now that I have them at a comfortable setting - I don't touch them. However, they are pain at first when trying to make tension adjustments. Also - I wish the feet that attach to the legs were larger - so there was less pressure placed on the floor of my tent. The feet have never punctured the tent floor - but it still leaves me uneasy. I've purchased some furniture coasters to support the feet and save my tent floor. However, the legs sometimes slide off them. Also - the Velcro straps that hold the legs through the cot rails are a simple solution - and work well - but can get in the way when trying to assemble and disassemble the cot.

Thanks to PlacidWaters suggestion - I've recently purchased an REI Campbed mattress and am eager to try it out with the Roll-A-Cot when it arrives. And I now see that PlacidWaters has adopted the Exped Mega Mat for use with the Roll-A-Cot. I may try out this same configuration in the near future as well and then report back on it.

What about the Helinox Cot One? I think that the design is absolutely brilliant. So straightforward to set up. So light in weight. And so portable. Such high quality too. Very impressed from a design point of view. But it is expensive ($300 - when I bought mine). And I just don't find it as comfortable as the Roll-A-Cot. Why? I'm not quite sure. I think part of it is that I have the original - regular sized cot (25"). I would likely find the new 30" cot more comfortable. But I've also found that the cot is too.....um....taut. It's very tight and firm when laying on it. And produces several pressure points after only a short while for me. Of course - I use an air mattress when sleeping on it (usually my Nemo Cosmo Insulated pad) - but even then I wake up with some subtle soreness and stiffness. Is it more comfortable than sleeping on the ground? Absolutely. Much better for me. Yet - because it's so firm - I still feel like I'm sleeping on a solid platform that just happens to be 6" off of the ground. I suspect the extra "give" of the Roll-A-Cots are what contribute that extra amount of comfort for me - but I'm still not quite sure. That - and the fact that I can't store much underneath it, and it is considerable less convenient to change clothes from - relegates it to 2nd place for me.

Here is a recent motorcycle trip report where I carried the Helinox Cot One with me.

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1029255

And here is a motorcycle trip report where I carried the Roll-A-Cot with me.

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=901903

Mike

 

[PlacidWaters]

Hello Mike, thanks for the feedback. I agree with just about everything you say. A couple of comments on the Roll-a-Cot. I too have assembled it many times, but I still find it hard. The design of the wing nuts is really very poor. I had a friend make me a small tool made of oak to tighten them. It's 5" long, an inch wide, and 3/8" thick. It has a slot down the center that fits over the wing nut. In other words, a small wooden wrench. It would be good if the manufacturer would make a large plastic tool for tightening the wing nuts.

I've been sleeping on the Roll-a-Cot for the last FIVE months due to house renovations. I've not lost any quality of sleep. I'm really surprised that the plastic fabric on the cot hasn't stretched out (I'm not that light). I've alternately tried the Exped Synmat 12, REI Campbed 3.5 (I hope you got the 3.5), and the Exped Megamat during these months. The Synmat 12 has worked the best. I sure wish Exped would make a narrower Megamat to fit this cot.

I agree with you on the multi-uses of the Roll-a-Cot. I use it outside the tent during the day. It's great under a tarp on a rainy day.

I use the Roll-a-Cot with the Kelty Trail Ridge 4 tent for the ultimate luxurious one-person base camp. It's smaller than most four-person tents, just right for one person with a cot. I searched extensively for a three-person tent that would work with a 15" cot and never found one that was tall enough.

For me the Cot One with the Synmat 7 is twice as comfortable as the mattress on the ground---a huge improvement in kayak camping comfort.

In the last 10 years my camping experience has steadily gotten more comfortable due to improvements in gear design and my willingness to pay for it once I was convinced that it would make a real difference in my enjoyment of the entire trip. I invest this much in gear because I camp a lot and I buy everything on sale.

 

[Nanabijou]

Hello Mike, thanks for the feedback. I agree with just about everything you say. A couple of comments on the Roll-a-Cot. I too have assembled it many times, but I still find it hard. The design of the wing nuts is really very poor. I had a friend make me a small tool made of oak to tighten them. It's 5" long, an inch wide, and 3/8" thick. It has a slot down the center that fits over the wing nut. In other words, a small wooden wrench. It would be good if the manufacturer would make a large plastic tool for tightening the wing nuts.

I've been sleeping on the Roll-a-Cot for the last FIVE months due to house renovations. I've not lost any quality of sleep. I'm really surprised that the plastic fabric on the cot hasn't stretched out (I'm not that light). I've alternately tried the Exped Synmat 12, REI Campbed 3.5 (I hope you got the 3.5), and the Exped Megamat during these months. The Synmat 12 has worked the best. I sure wish Exped would make a narrower Megamat to fit this cot.

I agree with you on the multi-uses of the Roll-a-Cot. I use it outside the tent during the day. It's great under a tarp on a rainy day. I use this cot with the Kelty Trail Ridge 4 tent for the ultimate luxurious one-person base camp.

For me the Cot One with the Synmat 7 is twice as comfortable as the mattress on the ground---a huge improvement in kayak camping comfort.

In the last 10 years my camping experience has steadily gotten more comfortable due to improvements in gear design and my willingness to pay for it once I was convinced that it would make a real difference in my enjoyment of the entire trip. I invest this much in gear because I camp a lot and I buy everything on sale.

Regarding the Roll-A-Cot - I first take the cot out of the case and then unfold it and lay it on the ground (or picnic table) - and extend the rails into the sleeve (this can be a bit tricky the first couple of times - but I find it works pretty smoothly for me now). So with the cot now lying down - with the holes (fittings for the legs) facing up - I just attach the legs into the holes and give them a whack with each hand to make sure they've passed through the rails and then I secure the Velcro closures. So I build the cot upside down. Then when finished - I just flip it over. Not sure - if your method is the same - but it takes me less than 2 minutes I'd say to set them up. *Update* - I just used a stop-watch to time setting up a Roll-A-Cot in my living room. It took 2 minutes, 4 seconds. I didn't time how long it took to disassemble it and place it back in the bag - but I figure it was about 1 minute. Yes - the Roll-A-Cot isn't perfect. I had mentioned that once I get a reasonably good tension on the wing nuts - I then never touch them again. I find that even if the tension isn't very taut - I can still have a great sleep on the Roll-A-Cot. And it's easier to build the cot - if the tension isn't set too tight. With that said - if I set the tension really high - then it becomes more difficult to attach the legs through the holes in the rails - because I have to stretch the cot while trying to get the legs to line up with the holes in the rails - and that can be a bit cumbersome.

Yes - I purchased the REI Campbed 3.5. Never even knew the Synmat 12 existed. Is there any foam in it or is it just an insulated air bed? I just purchased a Nemo Cosmo Air Insulated air bed (XL 30" wide). I've never tried the wide version before. What I love about the Nemo compared to my Expeds - is that Nemo integrates a foot pump into one end of the bed. It has one way inflations valves - so you just step on it and lift your foot to pump. Super quick and easy - no "Look - I'm doing CPR trying to revive my air bed" manoeuvers. The Nemo pumps up much quicker and easier than the Expeds I have too. And I find the horizontal baffles more comfortable than the vertical ones on the Expeds. And the Nemo dump valves - really dump air quickly when they are released - so I can roll up the bed more quickly than with the Expeds. Also with the Exped Synmat 9 I believe you have to fold it twice to get it to fit in the carry bag. With the Nemo - I just fold it in half - and roll it up. Once again - much quicker. And it still fits in the case. Granted - it may take up more room that my Expeds as a result - but for the sake of ease of take-down - to me - it's well worth it. The only issue I have with the Nemo air beds - it that they don't feel as substantial as the Expeds. I haven't experienced any issue with them - but they just don't feel like the material is as thick as that found in the Expeds.

Your line about "the last 10 years" describes my experience perfectly. And I've made so many bets with people who swear they will "Never camp in a tent again". Now with the Roll-A-Cots and an insulated air bed - those who feel their body can't take sleeping on the ground anymore - have another better option.

With the Roll-A-Cots - I'm just thrilled that they are so durable and hold up so well. It's hard to find good quality. I really can depend on these.

Mike

 

[Cabrito]

You guys are really selling me on the Roll-A-Cot.. I might need to check them out.

 

[Nanabijou]

You guys are really selling me on the Roll-A-Cot.. I might need to check them out.

Cabrito - I'm open to trying out something better - it's just that I haven't found it yet! I wish Helinox had released the wider cot last year when I purchased my Cot one. I think it would have worked better for me. Still - the Roll-A-Cots just tick off so many boxes. The nice thing about them is that they are pretty versatile. So they can be used for more than just camping. I use mine as a portable bed when I'm traveling by car. I use several of them when car camping with friends. I use one exclusively for motorcycle camping. I use them as guest beds and they are great for this purpose because they don't take up much space when stored, are easy to assemble (at least for me) and they are very comfortable. Friends now call and ask me if they can borrow mine when they need extra beds. Guests always ask more about them in the morning - after a surprisingly good sleep. I am continually striving to find the "best" lightweight set-up. The Roll-A-Cot (wide) is the foundation of my sleep system so far. When car camping - I like the Thermarest Dreamtime insulated beds (old versions). They are heavy and take up considerable space when packed. But they are quick and easy to set up, don't require much inflation (they are mostly self-inflating) when you un-roll them, and they have a really cosy, flannel top to them that really feels plush. And they provide insulation (which is essential if you plan to camp in colder weather with the Roll-A-Cots). If the weather is cold (less than 50F or 10C) I love the Teton Sports 0 degree rectangular sleeping bags too (see link below). I already have two (one with left-side and one with right-side zip) for myself and girlfriend. I plan to purchase two more for when we camp with friends.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006J7ZMTM?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=ox_sc_sfl_title_4&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

They are also flannel lined and are very warm. We only use them for car camping. But I like that they are extra wide so you have lots of room to move around in if you are a restless sleeper or just a larger person. And they come with their own compression sack. They are also reasonably priced!! A couple of years ago I was at a motorcycle rally (that we - ironically drove a car to) with my girlfriend where the temperature was forecast to dip to 28F (-2C) by early morning. She is always cold - so I was concerned that she would have a bad experience. It indeed reached the forecasted early morning low. I asked her in the tent if she was cold. She was still toasty warm. These sleeping bags come with us now for all of our regional car camping adventures. If the forecast looks warmer than usual overnight - then we just unzip them and wrap the top part over us like blankets.

Mike

 

[PlacidWaters]

Mike, the difference between how you and I assemble the Roll-a-Cot is that I tighten and loosen the wing nuts every time. I find that necessary because I want good tension on the fabric. As you say, you can't get the legs into the holes when the wing nuts are too tight, nor can you get them out. This wing-nut thing is what makes me take more like 5 to 7 minutes to assemble the cot, plus having to figure out the orientation of the legs, which consist of four parts per leg. That's 16 leg parts that have to be lined up right. Well worth the effort if you're staying in one place for a few days, but I wouldn't want to do this every night when traveling from place to place.

To answer your question, the Exped Symat 12 has no foam. This is the big difference between an inflatable and a self-inflatable. In a self-inflatable the foam is the pump: it sucks in air as it expands. That adds comfort, but also weight and bulk. Hence the ultra comfortable Megamat is three times larger than the Synmat 12 when packed. But for me the comfort of the Synmat 12 is so close to the Megamat that I no longer want to deal with the bulky Megamat. The Synmat 12 has a surprising amount of comfort in a small package.

Did you know that the so-called hand pump on the Synmat 7 and 9 can also be used as a foot pump? I find it more comfortable to stand up and use my foot to inflate it. Bare foot works best to cover the hole properly. The Synmat 12 comes with an inflator that can be used on the other synmats.

Want to use a regular foot pump to inflate a Synmat? The pump nozzle will be too small for the mattress valve. Solution: Fill the extra space with a piece of closed cell foam. Cut a circle to fit tightly in the outlet valve of the mattress (might have to cut some small pieces of plastic from the valve so make sure you want to do this as you will lose the ability to mircoadjust the pressure). Cut a hole in the circle for the pump nozzle.

I have a suggestion for your next big purchase: an LL Bean down sleeping bag. They're light, warm, and comfortable. I've owned the zero and 20-degree rectangular and the 35-degree semi-rectangular. I sold the zero when I realized that a 35 inside a 20 will keep you warm below zero. They're 20% off online right now. Best sleeping bags I've ever owned, fit well in a kayak or canoe.

http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/77723?page=llbean-down-sleeping-bag-with-downtek-rectangular-20

http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/77727?feat=77723-pprrtop

 

[Nanabijou]

Mike, the difference between how you and I assemble the Roll-a-Cot is that I tighten and loosen the wing nuts every time. I find that necessary because I want good tension on the fabric. As you say, you can't get the legs into the holes when the wing nuts are too tight, nor can you get them out. This wing-nut thing is what makes me take more like 5 to 7 minutes to assemble the cot, plus having to figure out the orientation of the legs, which consist of four parts per leg. That's 16 leg parts that have to be lined up right. Well worth the effort if you're staying in one place for a few days, but I wouldn't want to do this every night when traveling from place to place.

To answer your question, the Exped Symat 12 has no foam. This is the big difference between an inflatable and a self-inflatable. In a self-inflatable the foam is the pump: it sucks in air as it expands. That adds comfort, but also weight and bulk. Hence the ultra comfortable Megamat is three times larger than the Synmat 12 when packed. But for me the comfort of the Synmat 12 is so close to the Megamat that I no longer want to deal with the bulky Megamat. The Synmat 12 has a surprising amount of comfort in a small package.

Did you know that the so-called hand pump on the Synmat 7 and 9 can also be used as a foot pump? I find it more comfortable to stand up and use my foot to inflate it. Bare foot works best to cover the hole properly. The Synmat 12 comes with an inflator that can be used on the other synmats.

Want to use a regular foot pump to inflate a Synmat? The pump nozzle will be too small for the mattress valve. Solution: Fill the extra space with a piece of closed cell foam. Cut a circle to fit tightly in the outlet valve of the mattress (might have to cut some small pieces of plastic from the valve so make sure you want to do this as you will lose the ability to mircoadjust the pressure). Cut a hole in the circle for the pump nozzle.

I have a suggestion for your next big purchase: an LL Bean down sleeping bag. They're light, warm, and comfortable. I've owned the zero and 20-degree rectangular and the 35-degree semi-rectangular. I sold the zero when I realized that a 35 inside a 20 will keep you warm below zero. They're 20% off online right now. Best sleeping bags I've ever owned, fit well in a kayak or canoe.

http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/77723?page=llbean-down-sleeping-bag-with-downtek-rectangular-20

http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/77727?feat=77723-pprrtop

Thanks for the useful information. My smaller motorcycle sleeping bag is a rectangular North Face Dolomite 3S. It works quite well. But it's a synthetic bag. I've always stayed away from down (due to worries associated with the bag getting wet) but I really should at least give one down sleeping bag a fair try.

Mike

 

[PlacidWaters]

Mike, I find that the fear of getting a down sleeping bag wet is exaggerated. I've been backpacking, bike touring, kayak camping, and car camping for more than 40 years. I've been in plenty of long, hard rains, going back to the days of canvas tents when you couldn't touch the side of a wet tent. A few times the foot of my bag might have gotten wet, but there has never been a time when that caused discomfort or put me in danger of hypothermia. It's just very easy to not get a sleeping bag wet---you transport it in a waterproof stuff sack and you have a waterproof tent. Honestly I don't even use a waterproof stuffsack, even in the kayak, and I've had no problems with down, ever.

If you ever try to wash a down sleeping bag in a washing machine you'll see how difficult it is to actually submerge the bag. Down has some hydrophobic qualities.

Today many sleeping bags (including the LL Beans) are made with DriDown and the exterior material is water resistant. See http://www.mountaingear.com/themountainblog/2013/06/the-scoop-on-waterproof-down/ The effectiveness of DriDown is debated, but I was happy with down even before DriDown. Read this to see what happens when you jump in a lake wearing a DriDown jacket: http://indefinitelywild.gizmodo.com/we-tested-waterproof-down-by-jumping-in-a-frozen-lake-1694953456

Once you've tried down you'll never go back to synthetic.

Sorry, I know we're way off topic.

 

[Honu]

ditto dry down

also for me down is so much more comfy in the way it can vary temps for me
a 0 degree syn bag IMHO at least is only comfy up a bit and then it just gets to warm the same down bag breathes better and does not feel as hot when its warmer

 

[Nanabijou]

Mike, I find that the fear of getting a down sleeping bag wet is exaggerated. I've been backpacking, bike touring, kayak camping, and car camping for more than 40 years. I've been in plenty of long, hard rains, going back to the days of canvas tents when you couldn't touch the side of a wet tent. A few times the foot of my bag might have gotten wet, but there has never been a time when that caused discomfort or put me in danger of hypothermia. It's just very easy to not get a sleeping bag wet---you transport it in a waterproof stuff sack and you have a waterproof tent. Honestly I don't even use a waterproof stuffsack, even in the kayak, and I've had no problems with down, ever.

If you ever try to wash a down sleeping bag in a washing machine you'll see how difficult it is to actually submerge the bag. Down has some hydrophobic qualities.

Today many sleeping bags (including the LL Beans) are made with DriDown and the exterior material is water resistant. See http://www.mountaingear.com/themountainblog/2013/06/the-scoop-on-waterproof-down/ The effectiveness of DriDown is debated, but I was happy with down even before DriDown. Read this to see what happens when you jump in a lake wearing a DriDown jacket: http://indefinitelywild.gizmodo.com/we-tested-waterproof-down-by-jumping-in-a-frozen-lake-1694953456

Once you've tried down you'll never go back to synthetic.

Sorry, I know we're way off topic.

Very interesting. The only issue for me - is that my synthetic bags have performed great. So to spend more than twice as much (in many instances) for a down-filled sleeping bag would be hard to justify. If I was backpacking - I think the weight and size reduction of the compressed down bag would be a huge benefit. Unquestionably. For my motorcycle excursions - saving space isn't as much as an issue. But if space becomes tighter - I will definitely look at down as an option. *Update* - one other thing for me is that I really prefer a flannel lining. It just feels much more plush against the skin. I haven't encountered any large rectangular down bags with flannel linings. My Dolomite 3S has a polyester taffeta lining and it just feels so unnatural on the skin. I really like the L.L. Bean bag you linked to PlacidWaters. And it apparently has a soft, silky lining.

 

[PlacidWaters]

Very interesting. The only issue for me - is that my synthetic bags have performed great. So to spend more than twice as much (in many instances) for a down-filled sleeping bag would be hard to justify. If I was backpacking - I think the weight and size reduction of the compressed down bag would be a huge benefit. Unquestionably. For my motorcycle excursions - saving space isn't as much as an issue. But if space becomes tighter - I will definitely look at down as an option. *Update* - one other thing for me is that I really prefer a flannel lining. It just feels much more plush against the skin. I haven't encountered any large rectangular down bags with flannel linings. My Dolomite 3S has a polyester taffeta lining and it just feels so unnatural on the skin. I really like the L.L. Bean bag you linked to PlacidWaters. And it apparently has a soft, silky lining.

Yes, the lining of the Bean bags feels luxuriously soft on the skin, much more so than flannel dare I say. The main advantage of down is weight and compressibility. I also really like the way you can pull it close around your body for warmth. Plus it feels light on top of you. LL Bean has the most generous return policy in the business. Try it risk free!