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I've slept on the ground for years when I go camping or backpack hunting. With a ground pad. Before that, when I was learning to camp out, I slept on a canvas tent floor.
But now I've reached the age where I like sleeping on a cot with a ground pad on top. And I'm willing to indulge myself, at least for car and river camping.
I've tried several lightweight cots, and came to the conclusion the Helinox Cot Max Convertible is the best out there. But I'm willing to listen to counter-opinions.
The Helinox is fairly light at under six pounds. It's larger and wider than most competitors. Supports up to 365 pounds, which leaves me quite a bit of growing room. You can buy extension legs to raise the cot's height. Best of all, it's the quickest and easiest to set up and take down.
Helinox is also the most expensive cot I tried. But you usually do get what you pay for.
Any good alternative opinions.
Jim
Forum Infidel since 2001
"And that troll bs is something triggered snowflakes say when they dont like what someone posts." - Boco
Re: Best lightweight camp cot
[Re: James]
#7317834 07/31/2112:57 AM07/31/2112:57 AM
Your cot does sound nice. The cot that I use I think is 8 lbs. Its the standard military surplus canvas with aluminum frame. I'm no where near the weight capacity.
How is yours getting the second rail tabbed in?
Re: Best lightweight camp cot
[Re: James]
#7317848 07/31/2101:46 AM07/31/2101:46 AM
I'm not sure what you mean by "rail." The Helinox has two long aluminum side-tubes that fit into sleeves in the nylon mat. There are four cross-pieces that spread the mat and stretch it tightly and support the feet. Fitting them into place is the easy part. You just have to push down on a locking lever to tighten the cross-pieces.
I quoted the wrong weight capacity. It's 320 pounds.
Jim
Last edited by James; 07/31/2101:46 AM.
Forum Infidel since 2001
"And that troll bs is something triggered snowflakes say when they dont like what someone posts." - Boco
Re: Best lightweight camp cot
[Re: James]
#7317859 07/31/2102:20 AM07/31/2102:20 AM
I'm not sure what you mean by "rail." The Helinox has two long aluminum side-tubes that fit into sleeves in the nylon mat. There are four cross-pieces that spread the mat and stretch it tightly and support the feet. Fitting them into place is the easy part. You just have to push down on a locking lever to tighten the cross-pieces.
I quoted the wrong weight capacity. It's 320 pounds.
Jim
Yes that tubular aluminum is at the head and foot of mine. Some people struggle getting the 2nd one in.
Re: Best lightweight camp cot
[Re: James]
#7317959 07/31/2109:03 AM07/31/2109:03 AM
I've never had a cot last very long. I'm only around 260 and they all eventually break down. I don't even camp much anymore but when I do I have twin size foam rubber mat I use.
I bought a couple cheap cots from Amazon, but using them in a permanent camp so weight wasn't an issue... I sleep good on them, only issue is they're too close to the ground, which most are... makes getting on and off tough on old legs.
I have 3, my lightest would be very similar to the one in the YouTube clip. I have never had as much trouble getting the end bars in. Sure makes a nice cot to sleep in. The ones I have may not work for you if they are too heavy. I use mine with a large 4-person tent that I use mostly for myself. I also like to have a cot that has longer legs or sits higher so I can shove a lot of stuff under the cot and save floor space. I do have a very small 1-person tent that I roll right up in my sleeping bag and the foam type rubber mat, but I have not used that one for almost a decade now. When sleeping on the ground in the past, cutting some spruce boughs etc. seemed to be the most comfortable things under the bag for me.