Helinox Lite Cot Review (Ultralight & Ultra-Compact)

Looking for an ultralight and ultra-compact backpacking cot? This Helinox Lite Cot review is the text for you, keep reading.

Key features & benefits

What this is about

So here you have one of the lightest cots on the market which weighs only 2 pounds and 13 ounces (1.28 kg). From this you realize that it deserves to be in my list with ultralight backpacking cots.

If you plan to carry it on the trail, you should know that this cot is also incredibly compact when packed. It will not take much space regardless of how you transport it. When packed, it measures only 21 x 5 x 5 inches (53 x 13 x 13 cm), see the picture.

This is a collapsible cot, this is why you have such a packed size. But this also implies that you have some simple assembly to do when you want to make it ready. This is all easily done and without extra tools.

Simply pass the poles through the side sleeves and then work on legs, attaching them one by one. All is done in under one minute.

Area/weight ratio

This cot is super-light but it is also important to bear in mind its bed size. The area/weight ratio for this cot is 0.87 m²/kg.

This is a bit below the values which you have for the Desert Walker cot.

Who is it for

Weight-wise, if you need a cot to carry on the trail, you will hardly find anything more appropriate. But wait to see some alternatives in the comparison table below.

The packed size you have already seen, so attaching this cot to a pack is not a problem.

Capacity-wise, the declared capacity is not the best feature of this cot. With 265 lb (120 kg) capacity this is fine for many users but if you are a heavy person, check for something else.

Size-wise, you will see in the comparison table below that those ultralight cots are not particularly big. 

In this Helinox cot you have the bed 73 x 23.5 inches (185 x 60 cm). Note that there are no end bars here, so this length is a true length that you can use. But there are side bars of course, so the cot is not particularly wide, but this is typical, see more below.

Using the cot in a tent

The picture above reveals how the legs look from the front. So you realize that this is a stable structure with 8 wide feet and 4 bars on the ground.

With such a construction the cot will never sink, no matter of the ground underneath it. Even if the feet sink a bit (e.g., on sand), the bars in the middle will prevent further sinking.

This is a floor-friendly construction and you can use this cot in any floored tent. Observe also that there is 5 inches (13 cm) clearance. This is enough to save you from the wet floor and sharp or hard objects which you can have underneath it.

Being off the ground, you always need far less insulation. So for summer camping, you need nothing. In a cooler environment, you will have to add some sleeping pad.

This area under the cot can serve to store lost of stuff and keep it out of the way, like boots, poles, ice axe, dishes, etc. This space is lost when you sleep on the pad on the ground.

Materials

The side poles are the top-quality, similar to what you have in quality tents, 2 shock-corded thick tubes. This is an advanced DAC aluminum alloy construction. The same material is used in the 4 shock-corded legs.

The fabric is a weather & UV resistant 600-weave ripstop polyester. The feet are some sort of plastic, they do not provide info about this. Note that they give a 5-year warranty for this cot.

My rating, pros & cons

This cot is on the US market with the price shown below, and on the EU market the number is almost 250 but in Euros of course. So if you are on a budget better check some other options, you will see a few in the comparison table below. But this is a top-quality camping cot.

Please see how I rate this cot, I use the same criteria for all the cots here in the site, so you can compare easily:

Specifications

• Packed weight: 2 lb 13 oz (1.28 kg).
• Weight capacity: 265 lb (120 kg).
• Dimensions: 73 x 23.5 x 5 in (185 x 60 x 13 cm).
• Packed size: 21 x 5 x 5 in (53 x 13 x 13 cm).
• Warranty: 5 years limited.

Helinox Lite Cot vs Desert Walker Cot & Therm-a-Rest Cot

I think it is a good idea to see how this cot stands when compared with the lightest cots on the market. It deserves such a comparison. So here is the Desert Walker Cot and Therm-a-Rest Cot (the new version).

As you realize, regarding the bed size they are almost identical and none is so impressive. But Therm-a-Rest cot packs better than the other two. On the other hand the declared capacity of the Helinox Lite Cot is considerably lower. Please follow the links for more details.

Final thoughts

If you need more options to consider, please check under the categories Backpacking Cots and Backpack-Portable Cots. You will find many of them described in detail.

Note that this is not a sponsored text, and I am not paid by the brand. Please use the comment box below in case of questions or comments. Have a nice day.