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Helinox Lite Review

This is our top choice for backpacking trips
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Helinox Lite Review
Credit: Backcountry
Price:  $300 List
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Manufacturer:   Helinox
By Marissa Fox ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Apr 6, 2020
53
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#10 of 10
  • Ease of Setup - 35% 4.0
  • Portability - 25% 9.0
  • Comfort - 25% 4.0
  • Durability - 15% 4.0

Our Verdict

While you might laugh at the idea of a camping cot for your next backpacking trip — we sure did at first — the Helinox Lite made us reconsider. This cot rolls up into a compact package and is light enough that you could actually take it backpacking for short trips — much to the irritation of every ultralight backpacker you pass. It's reasonably comfortable and gets you off of the ground. If you have a hard time sleeping on a camp pad and can afford to carry a little extra weight, then the Helinox Lite is an excellent option.
REASONS TO BUY
Lightweight
Compact
REASONS TO AVOID
Very hard to set up
Seems less durable

Compare to Similar Products

 
helinox lite
This Product
Helinox Lite
Awards  Editors' Choice Award
Best Overall Camping Cot
Top Pick Award
Most Features and Versatility
Best Buy Award
Best Bang For The Buck
Best Buy Award
A Versatile Value Option
Price $299.95 at REI
Compare at 4 sellers
$90 List
$89.99 at Amazon
$199 List
$199.00 at REI
$85 List
$82.99 at Amazon
$60 List
$59.99 at Backcountry
Overall Score Sort Icon
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Star Rating
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Bottom Line This is the top cot for your next backpacking tripThe Coleman Pack-Away Cot is an all-around fantastic option that we would highly recommend for most peopleOverall, this cot is a real charmer if you can look beyond a few negative personality traitsPairing an excellent overall performance with a very reasonable price, the KingCamp Folding Deluxe is a great choice for the bargain conscious shopperThis handy cot also doubles as a lounge chair — without breaking the bank
Rating Categories Helinox Lite Coleman Pack-Away Cot REI Co-op Kingdom C... KingCamp Folding De... Coleman Converta Fo...
Ease of Setup (35%)
4.0
8.0
7.0
9.0
8.0
Portability (25%)
9.0
6.0
3.0
5.0
4.0
Comfort (25%)
4.0
7.0
9.0
6.0
7.0
Durability (15%)
4.0
8.0
9.0
5.0
7.0
Specs Helinox Lite Coleman Pack-Away Cot REI Co-op Kingdom C... KingCamp Folding De... Coleman Converta Fo...
Rated Weight Limit 265 lbs 300 lbs 300 lbs 265 lbs 225 lbs
Measured Weight for Tested Version 2.8 lbs 19.9 lbs 23.9 lbs 14.4 lbs 15.5 lbs
Tested Length 72.5" 80" 82" 74" 76.3"
Available Lengths 72.5" 80" 82" 74" 76.3"
Bedside Organizer No Yes No Yes No
Number of Pieces 7 1+Organizer 1 1 1
Carrying Bag Yes Yes No Yes No

Our Analysis and Test Results

Unfortunately, all this portability comes at a price. The Helinox Lite is one of the most expensive camping cots we have tested and takes considerably more time to put together. This can all be totally worth it if you have struggled to sleep well on a sleeping pad before — looking at you, side sleepers — but we generally would recommend trying a more traditional backcountry sleeping arrangement first, then giving a cot a try if it isn't working.

Performance Comparison



helinox lite - the helinox lite is small and light enough that you could at least...
The Helinox Lite is small and light enough that you could at least consider taking it backpacking.
Credit: David Wise

Ease of Setup


Our primary testing metric focused on the difficulty of assembling and disassembling the Helinox Lite and the other cots, which is responsible for 40% of the total score for each product. We paid particular attention to this metric, as no one wants to spend time struggling with their cot after a long day of hiking. Regrettably, the Helinox Lite is the exact opposite of that, having one of the more involved and difficult setup processes of the group.


While most of the traditional cots only consist of a couple of pieces, the Helinox Lite is constructed of quite a few more. This cot has four legs, two side rails, and the fabric sleeping surface. It can be a bit discombobulating the first time you lay out all the pieces and can take a bit more time to assemble than most of the other cots.

helinox lite - ultralight cots have a lot more pieces and are much harder and...
Ultralight cots have a lot more pieces and are much harder and slower to set up and break down.
Credit: Marissa Fox

The assembly process is fairly straightforward in theory but can be a giant pain in practice. The side poles can get caught when threading them through the mattress and the legs take a ton of force to bend into position.

helinox lite - it can take a bit of effort to get the legs clipped on to the side...
It can take a bit of effort to get the legs clipped on to the side rails of the Helinox cot.
Credit: David Wise

Overall, our judges did not look upon this cot favorably when it came to its assembly process, easily being one of the most difficult cots to put together that we have tested to date. It is equally difficult to break down the cot, with it taking even more force to bend the legs enough to release them. We also found it very easy for the legs to catch on the fabric when breaking it down, concerning us that it would cause accelerated wear and tear or damage the cot.

On top of all that, it can also be a hassle to fold this cot up in a way that it fits back in its carrying case. The legs are prone to unfolding and catching on the bag in a way that keeps it from zipping closed properly.

helinox lite - you need to carefully pack the ultralight cots to fit them back in...
You need to carefully pack the ultralight cots to fit them back in their bags.
Credit: Marissa Fox

Portability


While the Helinox Lite did deliver a very disappointing performance in our ease of setup metric, it did redeem itself with a top-tier score in our portability metric. This accounts for 30% of the final score for each cot. We based this on the packed size of each cot, how much it weighs, and how easy it would be to transport or carry for any amount of distance.


This minuscule camping cot tips the scale at just under three pounds. Backpacking sleeping pads are usually in the ½ -1 ½ pound range, so you aren't going to be winning any ultralight awards if you go with the Helinox Lite — or any cot, for that matter — for backpacking. However, it is one of the lightest of the camping cots we have tested so far.


The Helinox Lite measures approximately 5" x 21" when folded up, which is a bit larger than you would want to fit into a backpack, but we didn't find it too hard to strap to the outside of a pack.

helinox lite - the helinox lite is a little on the large side for our tastes when...
The Helinox Lite is a little on the large side for our tastes when it comes to backpacking but you can strap it to a pack without too much difficulty.
Credit: Marissa Fox

It's also small enough that it's easy to find space for it in a car, truck, or RV — even when they are absolutely jam-packed with gear. The Helinox Lite is exceptionally compact and portable for a camping cot — even considered ultralight — but it still isn't a good choice if you need to be very weight conscious when packing for your next trip.

helinox lite - the lite is a decently comfortable sleeping option, particularly if...
The Lite is a decently comfortable sleeping option, particularly if you can't sleep well on a traditional backpacking pad.
Credit: David Wise

Comfort


Following ease of setup and portability, we moved on to rating and scoring how comfortable it is to camp on each cot. We had a panel of different judges try out each cot and evaluate how comfortable each one is side-by-side to determine the bulk of the scores, as well as noting if you are likely to hit your head or feet on parts of the frame when you adjust your sleeping position during the night. The Helinox Lite is far from the most comfortable cot we have seen to date.


This cot is definitely on the narrow side, and it's so low to the ground that it can be a bit cumbersome to get on and off of. There aren't any frame components that pass under the head and foot of the bed, so no chance of hitting your head or ankles there. Unfortunately, this does mean that there is a slight droop under your head — though this is easily remedied by a camp pillow.

helinox lite - the helinox can be a very comfortable option for side sleepers.
The Helinox can be a very comfortable option for side sleepers.
Credit: David Wise

Unfortunately, you can easily bottom out the cot if you don't distribute your weight evenly. Laying on your side can put your hip extremely close to the ground — depending on your weight — so you will want to be careful that the ground underneath the cot is clear of rocks or other debris.

helinox lite - some of these cots are far easier to assemble than others.
Some of these cots are far easier to assemble than others.
Credit: Marissa Fox

Durability


For our final round of tests, we focused on how sturdy and durable each cot is. This is responsible for the remaining tenth of the total score for each cot. While this is a difficult metric to assess, as we only tested a single unit, so we can only speak to how the Helinox Lite held up and if we saw any common issues about this cot come up in user reviews. Based on our experience, we didn't find this product to be the most durable.


The Helinox Lite is rated to hold up to 265 pounds and didn't show any major damage at the conclusion of our rigorous test process. However, we did find that it is easy to accidentally catch only the fabric instead of the pole running the length of the cot when assembling or disassembling it, which can stress the fabric, and we could see leading to an eventual tear.

The design of the cot overall also gives us some concerns when it comes to durability, especially given the fact that this cot is ostensibly meant for taking into the backcountry. There are a lot of parts to this cot, and it seems like it needs all of them to function properly, meaning this could be quite a crisis if you lose or break one on a trip.

helinox lite - if you do decide to take a cot in the backcountry, then the helinox...
If you do decide to take a cot in the backcountry, then the Helinox is one of our favorites.
Credit: David Wise

Value


The lightweight nature of this cot — like most gear — means it comes at a premium price. The Helinox Lite is far from a bargain buy, meaning you should consider another cot or a traditional sleeping pad if you are shopping with limited funds.

Conclusion


If you are shopping for a new cot that you can take on your next backpacking trip, then we would recommend the Helinox Lite. It's lightweight and easy to carry, along with being one of the more comfortable options for side sleepers out in the backcountry. All in all, the Helinox Lite is a solid product but our qualms with it come more from the idea of using a cot for backpacking in the first place, rather than with the Helinox Lite itself.

Marissa Fox