Camping cots have never been the most popular bed option for sleeping in the wild – the darn things are notorious for being harsh on your back and quite cold during low-temperature weather. In recent years, though, we’ve seen cot designs that address the way your back is supported, which have made them much more comfortable. The Helinox Cot One Convertible Insulated, on the other hand, put its main focus at keeping you warm during cold weather.
Why are camping cots so cold? Mostly because there’s a lot of space between the ground and the bed surface, allowing cold air to circulate directly underneath. And since there’s usually no insulation in the bed fabric, your back gets subjected to near-direct contact to the cold temperatures.
The Helinox Cot One Convertible Insulated addresses this by using an insulated inflatable pad, essentially creating a 2.5-inch thick barrier between your body and the space underneath. The pad is self-inflating (just open the valve and let it fill up with air), so there’s no need to work a pump to get it ready before bed, while the R5 insulation rating ensures it will deliver enough toasty reinforcement to keep you from spending the night a bit too cold for comfort. Suffice to say, if you’ve had issues using cots when camping in colder climates before, this one definitely addresses those problems. For deflating, by the way, you just need to press a button inside the valve to let all air out.
It measures 74.5 x 26.5 x 6.5 inches (length x width x height) when fully set up, so it should fit most individuals in a comfortable manner, especially with its rated weight capacity of 320 pounds. When packed, it compacts into a bundle measuring just 25 x 7.5 inches (length x diameter), making it easy enough to bring along, even when you’re hitting the trail on foot.
The Helinox Cot One Convertible Insulated stays, pretty much, the same as the rest of the outfit’s Cot One line, save for the inflatable pad. That means, you get the same aluminum alloy for the frame, which boasts higher specification than aircraft-grade aluminum, ensuring it delivers a superb balance of durability and light weight. You also get the same adjustment levers that lets you tension the bed surface without the need for braces, which helps cut down the cot’s collapsed size. It’s also compatible with the outfit’s leg extension accessory, which raises the bed surface from the original 6.3 inches to a much higher 15 inches off the ground. And yes, the extensions can fit in the included carrying bag, so you don’t need to squeeze them into your backpack.
How much better is this than sleeping on an air mattress? According to the outfit, it’s significantly more comfortable, based on reports from previous users, mostly since the elevated position of the bed surface keeps away dampness and insects – frequent issues people encounter when spending the night in the wild.
The Helinox Cot One Convertible is available now, priced at $449.95.