Helinox Cot Lite
This product is not available. Good news: we have a newer version.
A cot light enough to take backpacking? You decide! At 2 lbs. 9.6 oz., this cot is a light, comfortable option that offers more support than a pad and leaves room in your pack for the essentials.
Shop newer version- Very simple to set up and although lightweight, is still constructed with durable poles and tension-lock handles
- Simple, strong, design is easy to set up
- Handles create tension when closed
- Storage bag with zipper closure and grab handles included
Imported.
View all Helinox Cots| Best Use | Camping Backpacking |
|---|---|
| Unfolded Dimensions | 72.8 x 23.6 x 5.1 inches |
| Folded Dimensions | 20.9 x 5.1 x 5.1 inches |
| Weight Capacity (lbs) | 265 pounds |
| Cot Material(s) | Polyester |
| Frame Construction | Aluminum |
| Weight | 2 lbs. 9.6 oz. |
| Ultralight | Yes |
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Most Helpful Critical Review
Lite for backpacking
Have had 2 of these for over 2 years. Bought initially for rafting down Grand Canyon for 3 weeks. Also used for camping in mountains. Usually use a sleeping pad for greater comfort and warmth. Pluses are that they are light in weight and easy to set up, once you know the method. Negatives are - somewhat expensive, they sit low to ground which may difficult for older folks, and a few of the plastic joints have started showing cracks and one has broken. Currently waiting to hear back from Big Agnes about replacement parts. Would recommend for backpacking, or for lighter weight folks.
plastic breaking issues
So I have owned my Helinox cot lite for about 2 years. I have had it on two backpacking trips and a couple of car camping trips. I can say it is very comfortable to sleep on. The reason I dropped it to 3 stars is because it is rated for 265lbs and I only weight 185 but, I have had two legs on the cot break where the plastic is. Not where it attach's to the cot but to the other part of the leg. With so little use and how expensive it is I was expecting a much better product. I might go for the helinox cot one or max. Still a good product over all though.
Ahhhhhssuumm
This cot is awesome! I am combat arms in the Army and am in the "field" a lot. I used this cot for a recent 3 night FTX. This beats the heavy thermarest pad that the Army issues us tenfold and this beats sleeping on the ground 100x. I sleep mainly on my back usually roll on my sides and stomach from time to time, and yet this was still comfortable. The cot is really light and fits in the one man tent that we are issued. leaving plenty of room for gear at my feet and along side of me on my tent floor and leaves plenty of headroom.
Lite lives up to Hype - 4 "legs" not 3.
I volunteer with Sierra Club SF Bay Area ICO, taking at risk youth outdoors. We just finished a 3 day trip car camping trip to Yosemite with high school seniors. I’m over 70, bad knees and back. As one of the drivers I really needed to sleep well. The cot lived up to its hype. Temps were 38-42 degrees overnight at the Wawona group campgrounds. I slept very well and would give it a 5, but I’ve only had it a bit over week so can’t attest to durability. It would need an insulated mat rather than therma-rest if it were colder. The other leaders agreed that it would take up much needed space backpacking, but I'll give it a try anyway. It's hard to put up the first time at home as my hands are aging too. I was worried about that, but laying on it at home for a short nap stretched it just enough to make the poles slide in easily at camp. My old North Face tent has a side entry, but the cot easily slid inside.
WORTH THE WEIGHT!
First off..this product is light...I've had thermarest mattresses from 25 yrs. Ago that where heavier than this thing..it is worth the 1.5lb..difference for a CONSISTENT nights sleep...I sleep on my back and sides..and it is snug for me ..I'm 6'1".230lbs..but I would not sweat the weight of this cot..it is well worth it...i hunt/fish/pack/prospect yr. Round..and recently spent 3.5 weeks in a kirafu sawtooth with titanium stove running while we chased gold in the icy rivers....I knew at the end of the day this cot was calling my name,..and that is comforting food for thought..my old Dana design astralplane overkill..can get heavy with all the gear/food/charging system needed for prospecting weeks at a time..but this cot will go wherever i go...for a good night sleep is essential for any trip....if you spend the night or the month outdoors..this thing is a must..
Extremly Comfortable
Best night sleep I have ever had in a tent. For me carrying the a little extra weight while backpacking for a great night’s sleep is well worth it. I have 4 different sleeping pads that have gone through over the years and on all of them I wound up tossing and turning and never really getting a great night sleep. So when I saw this I purchased it right away and I am so glad I did. I used this 2 weeks back for a 3 day trip and I was able to finally sleep comfortably. When I woke my sleeping bag was in the same stop it had not been twisted around from then tossing and turning. This was a first for me. The only thing that I found on this cot is that if you get cold you might want to put something between the cot and the sleeping bag for additional warmth. I get cold so I had and emergency blanket that I put on top of the cot on the second night to give some extra insulation. This worked perfect for me. If you don’t get cold easy then you probably don’t need to worry about this. Set up was easy. I have a 1 person tent so had to setup outside of the tent but had no issues getting it into the tent once it was setup.
Great nights sleep
First off the specifications are accurate both in size and weight. The main image is wrong it has four cross support not three. With that being said you have to determine if your backpacking style and needs would justify the 2 pounds 9 ounces. The size of the cot in the stuff sack is about the same as the self-inflating sleeping pad. The Helinox Lite Cot straps well at the bottom of my backpack. The product seems very well built. I have had 5 people try them out since I have purchased them and here are the quick results. 2 people didn’t think it was worth the weight. Their pads weighed about 1 pound 8 ounces. One was a stomach sleeper and the other a back sleeper. The stomach sleeper didn’t like it because her arms hung over the edges and it was uncomfortable. 3 other people loved it. One had back pain when they slept on the ground and said they wouldn’t go backpacking without it. The other, a side sleeper, thought it was great and worth the price. They said they could live with their Therm-a-rest All Season which only weights about a pound but the Helinox was more comfortable to sleep on if they didn’t have to carry it too far. Their guess was 4 or 5 miles after that they would switch to the lighter sleeping pad. I was the last person, I sleep on my side and I am getting older, almost 50. I was always waking up in the middle of the night aching at pressure points on my shoulders and hips. I love this cot! It is worth the price (20% off on sale) and the weight. While I do hike 12+ miles in a day I usually only carry my full pack for less 5 miles and I day pack the rest of the distance. I sleep very well through the night and wake up well rested. I liked the cot so much I bought a second one so when I go with someone else I don’t feel guilty for have the best sleeping system. A side note, it is a little hard to get into my two-person tent with only one side door. When I use that tent I insert the cot into the tent with only the poles and then attach the cross supports after it is in the tent. The last judge is my dog, every time I get off the cot she jumps on and tries to make me sleep on the ground!
Well-Constructed, Comfortable, AND Lightweight!
I purchased this for "bikepacking" AKA motorcycle camping... I wanted something lightweight that would pack down small enough to fit into my already space-limited luggage, but still serve a useful function when assembled and used. I have to say so far I'm very impressed - the cot is very sturdy when assembled, goes together quickly (faster than I can get my sleeping pad aired up!) and easily, and is nice and light when stowed. I'm a side sleeper; 5'10"; and 175 pounds - the size is fine and the height of the cot keeps me from bottoming out a shoulder or elbow on uneven terrain. It would be great if the cot were just a couple inches wider, but to get that you have to upgrade to the Cot One which is heavier and more expensive. Although I was initially hesitant to buy because of the price, the discount afforded by my membership coupons took some of the sting out. Overall I'm satisfied with the product and hope to get a long service life out of the cot. In the short time I've had it it's provided several comfortable naps and nights of good rest - which is always welcome after long days and lots of miles.
Will never sleep in a tent with a Helinox Cot
Incredibly comfortable. Great to be off the ground. SO much better than a pad. Yes, it can be hard to put together, but just use your body weight by standing up and putting the cot on its side to get the legs in. I did have a problem with the feet cutting a hole in the tent floor -- BigAgnes fixed it and I used the furniture foot protector pads on each foot and no more problem. Would never camp without this cot. It has brought me back to my love of camping. A good night's sleep makes everything better.
Great Little Cot
Lightweight, easy to pack and slept well. Woke up in the morning with no problems. Slept well.