Is the $400 Camping Cot Worth It?

The Helinox Cot One Convertible isn’t cheap. In fact, it’s probably one of the more indulgent pieces of camping gear you can buy. But after sleeping on one for 16 nights while rafting the Grand Canyon, I’m convinced it’s one of the few luxury items that are actually worth the money.

I’d never camped with a cot before. I always figured a good inflatable sleeping pad was as comfortable as camping got. But as a side sleeper, I usually wake up when one hip has had enough. I roll over, the other hip starts hurting, and I spend the rest of the night playing rotisserie chicken.

The Cot One Convertible is the first camping sleep setup I’ve used that solved my achy problem.

As one REI reviewer, my guy David, so eloquently wrote, “A lot of people cannot justify the price of this cot. These same people cannot justify the price of a Rolls-Royce Phantom, but if you try either, you’ll never regret it because this is the Rolls-Royce of cots.”

Helinox Cot One Convertible

The cot isn’t meant to replace a sleeping pad, but rather to support you underneath one. For my Grand Canyon trip, I paired it with an NRS Snooze Pad (similar to a Paco Pad). On regular camping trips, I’d throw my regular inflatable sleeping pad on top of the cot instead.

Instead of relying on air for loft, the cot stretches a fabric sleeping surface tightly across an aluminum frame. It has enough give to cushion pressure points without sagging like a hammock. My hips stayed supported, my back stayed comfortable, and I slept through the night without constantly changing positions.

One tip: Watch Helinox’s setup video before assembling it for the first time, and then practice once or twice at home. Assembly isn’t difficult, but the legs have to face the correct direction for the frame to be properly tensioned. Once you understand that, the setup takes just a couple of minutes.

Getting six and a half inches off the ground also proved more useful than I expected. You’re not sleeping directly on cold sand, rocks, or roots, and you’re a little farther away from the scorpions and other curious critters that wander through camp at night. While sleeping under the stars is one of the best parts of any river trip, this cot is also low enough to fit inside a tent without sacrificing much headroom.

For the record, I’m six feet tall and tested the Long version. I’d recommend spending the extra money for the added length if you’re my height or taller. It kept my whole body on the cot instead of leaving my heels hanging off the end.

At a little over five pounds, I wouldn’t choose it for most backpacking trips. But for river trips, car camping, trailhead overnights, and pretty much every other kind of camping, it’s earned a permanent place in my gear closet.

Could you sleep on an inflatable pad on the ground instead? Absolutely.

I probably will again someday. But after sixteen nights on the Cot One Convertible, I’ll admit I’m a spoiled princess now and opt for the cot whenever possible.