Does anyone here uses cots? If so, what do you use and do you fee it worth the weight?

I realized it's not my old Thermarest that makes me ache in the morning, but rather the increased physical activity of the day before.

Last year we paddled about 10 minutes from the EP to our campsite and spent the rest of the day watching the four young kids exploring the site. No long paddles, no multiple grueling portages, just a bit of hiking around. That night I slept great and woke up with none of the aches and pains I usually associate with camping. Our friends did bring cots (which I tried out and were very comfortable) but they had to contend with their 1 year old crawling all over them all night long so I can't give you a direct comparison of sleep quality for Thermarest vs cot ;)

I've never taken a cot - nor will I ever because I sleep fine on my Exped mat - but I believe this falls under the category of, "If you want to bring it, you carry it".

There are so many ways to do a canoe trip. One lake in (as prettypaddle mentioned above) or 100+ mile expeditions. All the comforts of home or minimal gear. Do what works best for you.

Done regular solo paddling "100+ mile expeditions", so no cot. Still sleep very well on the Expeds I have.


But I will occasionally use a cot, mostly at historic road race events. But then I break out plenty of furniture.

butthead

I have found a cot makes a difference in a night's sleep after handling portages and pack loads repeatedly. Aging and/or body conditioning are significant factors, no doubt. (I am 69.) Even so, there's 'give' laying on a cot that the ground does not offer. My joints/sore muscles feel the difference. I'm using a cot with an air mattress, btw.

Go with Helinox if you can swing it. There's a difference in fabric strength/tautness than that of the competitors. No-sag guaranteed.

I went to hammock hanging last year and that's a whole new level of comfort. No pressure points so zero joint aches and I get to spill out of the hammock. Easy peasy. Not a 100% dedicated hanger yet, so hanging on to my cot till then.

I take a Cabella's cot from several years ago. It is somewhat larger than I would purchase again, but it packs well into an army type duffle bag along with an assortment of other things until the weight of 45 pounds is reached.

For sleeping, it is well worth the weight as I base camp after a maximum of 2 or 3 portages. I use a thermal-Rest on said cot and use bungy cords at the foot end to keep the T_R from sliding around. My age at 72 may color my thinking. Considering I spend 6 hours a day or more on the cot, it is one of the most used items on the trip. (Hours of use). No one really wants to carry my duffle, so I do that at all portages. I would never take it on a nice loop trip moving most days.

When each member of our party uses a cot, we each take a four person tent. Lots of room for everything I want or need. Triple portaging is normal these days. If not enough pads are available at the camp site, I take what is left over and am above the rocks, sticks, etc. Sleep is quite important and I sleep well on the cot.

I have two Helinox Cot One's. I took them once when I camped at Sawbill but I have never felt the necessity to take them into the BWCA until recently. I wish that I would have taken one this past May. The ground was still frozen in a few spots and even though I had an Exped Downmat and a down sleeping bag, it was chilly on the ground side. I ended up placing my down jacket and some extra clothes under my pad. I have a Big Agnes Park series bag so there is no insulation on the underside, just a pad sleeve. If I do a May trip again I'll likely opt to take one of them. I may even loan one to my travel partner.

I always use a cot. Helinox Cot One Convertible with an Exped 3D-7 mattress. Unbeatable comfort. I use the low cot for paddle camping and add the legs for car camping. The cot with the legs is 15" tall. That's too tall for the majority of 3P tents and of course it doesn't fit in a 2P, so it's the short cot for 2P and 3P and the tall cot for 4P tents.

We use cots for canoe river camping where we're not portaging. The cots are heavier duty Gander Mountain Guide Series and would be far too heavy/bulky to take on canoe backcountry trips. Obviously they also need a larger tent. We also use a thermarest 1.5" pad to put on top the cots.

On backcountry trips I use an Exped and sleep on the ground. I sleep fine with either but as far as overall comfort goes the cot sleeps much nicer, hands down.

I've been looking at the lightweight cots for several years now and think I might just try one out this year. Based on the conversation I think I know which one I'll be buying.

Safe travels......

Northwoodsman: "I have two Helinox Cot One's. I took them once when I camped at Sawbill but I have never felt the necessity to take them into the BWCA until recently. I wish that I would have taken one this past May. The ground was still frozen in a few spots and even though I had an Exped Downmat and a down sleeping bag, it was chilly on the ground side. I ended up placing my down jacket and some extra clothes under my pad. I have a Big Agnes Park series bag so there is no insulation on the underside, just a pad sleeve. If I do a May trip again I'll likely opt to take one of them. I may even loan one to my travel partner."

Try this instead - lighter and less bulky. Take a survival blanket instead. Give it a try some cold day this winter.

boonie, that's a great idea! Where were you when I needed you? I always carry one with me but until you mentioned it I forgot that I had it in my ditch bag.

I read about it somewhere. It works. A few $, a couple ounces, size of a deck of cards.

Where was I? I was asleep in my nice warm bed. :)

Northwoodsman: "I have two Helinox Cot One's. I took them once when I camped at Sawbill but I have never felt the necessity to take them into the BWCA until recently. I wish that I would have taken one this past May. The ground was still frozen in a few spots and even though I had an Exped Downmat and a down sleeping bag, it was chilly on the ground side. I ended up placing my down jacket and some extra clothes under my pad. I have a Big Agnes Park series bag so there is no insulation on the underside, just a pad sleeve. If I do a May trip again I'll likely opt to take one of them. I may even loan one to my travel partner."

I put my down mat right on the ice and have never been chilled on the ground side. Try using more air. If the pad is to deflated You lose r value.

Mnpat: "

Northwoodsman: "I have two Helinox Cot One's. I took them once when I camped at Sawbill but I have never felt the necessity to take them into the BWCA until recently. I wish that I would have taken one this past May. The ground was still frozen in a few spots and even though I had an Exped Downmat and a down sleeping bag, it was chilly on the ground side. I ended up placing my down jacket and some extra clothes under my pad. I have a Big Agnes Park series bag so there is no insulation on the underside, just a pad sleeve. If I do a May trip again I'll likely opt to take one of them. I may even loan one to my travel partner."

I put my down mat right on the ice and have never been chilled on the ground side. Try using more air. If the pad is to deflated You lose r value. "

Agreed - i have some experience camping in the winter and even with just a tarp right over snow, a well inflated mat and a good bag does the trick. Lately I have been topping that off with a thick fleece blanket and it helps even more.

A few years ago in the winter I slept on a cot and I can't honestly say I was warmer than I would have been otherwise, and the sides dug into my shoulders, and when I sat up my head scraped the frosty tent :) So I'm not sold on cots.