The first time I assembled the NatureHike I of course didn’t read directions because it looked so easy. I attached the cross pieces with the curve down. Got really mad about how loose the cloth was, started to pack it up to return, and while I was packing it I noticed the picture on the packaging. Haha learned a lesson.
So about a year ago I bought the OneTigres cot with extension legs for under $150 bucks. Look identical to the Helinox except it has 4 sets of legs instead of 3 so it’s extra sturdy but weigh more about 8lbs. For the price it was a steal but its no longer available.. Fits my 30x78 Q-core pad perfectly. Hey.. if you slide the side poles down the inside track of the cover there is extra fabric so the poles don’t push out of the crossbrace slots, the pole will push all the way through, make setup a little easier..
Recently bought the Helinox Cot Max. Also have the Teton Sports Universal. The Teton is great but a bit heavy. The Helinox is narrower but is very comfortable. And very well made. Thanks for this comparison. Always wondering about how other options stack up.
It's always good to have options. I started with a Cabelas big & wide cot years ago but it was like a tinker toy to assemble so I sold it off. I have a set of 4 accordion style folding cots for tornado drills in the basement but they weigh about 35lbs each. Easy to setup and take down but not light. The cam-o-cot bunkbed cots I purchased years ago for car camping are nice but heavy as h3ll. As i started lightening my gear 5+ yrs ago, I started off with the helinox cot lite which is ridiculously light at about 2 lbs but they're skinny and low to the ground. They work OK in place of a pad in the summer but I always wanted a backpackable cot I could sit on like a normal cot for hot tenting and trekking into 3 sided shelters at a park south of here, so that lead me to the Cot One Convertible. That's probably my favorite camping cot but it's not cheap. The moths in my wallet screamed at me when I bought 2 of those. With my kids having sleepovers and such, the accordion ones still work but the idea of the cheaper Helinox clone from Naturehike checked off the boxes for them to use more for camp, sleepovers, and trips as they get closer to college age in a few years. And they help me have a set of 4 cots for family trips too that don't weigh a ton. I figured I wouldn't feel as guilty or upset if they dorked up a $100 cot vs a $300 one. Anywho... I'm rambling. Lol Thank you for watching. 😀
I have 4 helinox chairs and the hardtop table in large. I used this nature hike cot this past weekend and it is absolutely solid. The quality is slightly less based on comparing them to my helinox chairs. And I mean comparing the poles. Those DAC poles helinox uses are top notch. But the nature hike poles are great also, it definitely does not feel cheap. I give the nature hike cot an A+. I paired it with a twin lost horizon bed and it fit perfectly
Great to hear. I've got 4 of the Helinox Zero legged chairs and two of the square based variants, plus the soft top and hardtop tables. They're compact and handy. Half the weight of the competition but whew, you pay for it. ;) Thanks for watching.
The D rings are probably to allow you to clip in a pad or something to prevent it from slipping and sliding around while sleeping. Or you can even do the same with a quilt or bag...
I was thinking maybe for adding a storage caddy on the side. I had some Cam-o-cot's that had add-on side bags for storing knick knacks. Dunno... Thanks for watching. :)
Helinox is not a Western brand, they are a South Korean brand. If you want something American, look at the Klymit Cedar Mesa Cot. Not for backpacking though, I reckon.
Thank you for this video. But why if you make this all why not mentioning the differences more detailed? The diameter of the frame for example. How much are both, they are different as you mentioned: so tell us please. 🙂
The prices and specs are noted in the Specs section text for each one at 18:58. The Helinox is roughly 3x the price of the Naturehike. As for frame diameter, the difference is minimal as the weight ratings are similar. If I get time, I could check the exterior diameter and interior thickness with a vernier caliper. Thanks for watching.
How so? 🤔 I've used the Helinox cot both with and without the extension legs in a floorless tipi, in the bed of my truck, and in a 10x9ft 6-man dome tent. I've owned the Helinox cots for several years while the Naturehike cots are newer to me. I've mainly tried them indoors for the moment as I haven't done much big tent car camping this year. As for Naturehike as a brand, I do own a Hiby3 tent from them. That's a smaller tent so no cots have graced that shelter. Hope that answers your question. 🙏 Thanks for watching. 😉
I like the way the legs fit on the Helinox. But whew...there is a cost difference. For me, the Helinox is my go-to. For my lightweight kiddos, a cheaper alternative is designed well enough within the margins of their body weight, and easier on the wallet if they lose or damage the NatureHike at camp or a friend's house. Thanks for watching. :)
I try to buy the American or cottage brand items when I can as it supports living wages, local jobs, and innovation in the industry. But 300 for a Helinox cot...whew...it adds up. Luckily, I was blessed to afford it, but most folks can't. Sometimes life throws an acceptable curve ball that's just "good enough". The NatureHike cot is one of those. Thanks for watching. :)
"Major difference..." Today boys and girls we learn about D.A.C. aluminum alloys and high-strength nylon '66' molded fittings ... and what do you think could go wrong when the Chinese try to anodize aluminum? Anyone want to embrace that? How about embracing the failure of a tube of aluminum when it supports your entire body weight ... and develops a stress fracture? Next week we will learn about the word 'proprietary' ... Now back to our regularly-scheduled programming, a mini-series on nation building, episode 4, "What happens to your country when you buy Chinese junk."
I try to buy from US cottage vendors whenever possible (hot tents, hammocks, backpacks, and niche gear). For some viewers, a cheaper alternative may be "good enough" for their needs and easier on their budgets. I definitely didn't want to loan a $300-$400 cot to my kiddos to use, so a cheaper option was to be explored. For my body weight, a Helinox is better trusted, but for a lightweight kiddo, a knockoff aluminum pole of sufficient diameter and thickness should pass the static forces their 90 lb bodies will stress on the metallurgy. Granted, a read of the book "The Wealth of Nations" would show that it's wiser to buy domestically or to exchange economically with fair trading partners with equal amounts of trade between two nations. One sided transfers result in the transfer of wealth in the long run. All politics aside, thank you for watching and commenting. ;)
