Luxurylite Backpacking Cot observations and Review..

Enclosed is a review of the "whizbang"lightweight backpacking cot from http://www.luxurylite.com/ The cot costs $189. I used the cot for my 4x day trip from San Diego to Seattle. I’ll mix in a few key shots of that trip. The intent of the cot is:
1. Provide a comfort level not obtained with air matrices (especially for side sleepers). This is the vendor who suppies Aerostitch with their "hi-tec cot". Best to get from the source.
2. Lift yourself off the wet, rocky, dirty, bug ridden ground.
3. No more sliding around within a tent
4. Keeps your tent side defined thru the night
The main drawbacks are:
1. Cost
2. Transport storage
3. Need insulation as your sleeping bags insulation will compress and will make for a cold night.
4. May need additional support for the heavy individual and/or some folks wives. Hehehe
5. May desire more ground contact during sleep.
Product as delivered

removed the storage sleeve and chucked it

cot weight = 2 lbs 9 oz

Instructions enclosed

more instructions

and more instructions

Items to assemble- foot pads, short poles, long side poles, and fabric (waterproof by the way)

Assemble the short poles (6x total) as shown in view below

attach bungie style long poles (carbon fiber material)

Thread the long poles thru the slots in the fabric, snap attach the short poles to the long pole. It pulls it’s self taunt. About a 5 min job.

Lie on ground

True width = 24 inch total, Ok to use 20 inch mat pad on top. No issues as we will see

Un-stress height = 4.5 inches. Even while fully laden I never touched the ground.

see short poles flexing

foot support in action

Now for a product review...You’ll need to suffer thru some trip pictures to get to camp site:
KLR at Santa Monica Pier...full up camping gear, tools and such

At Pismo Beach

me at rest stop

quick stop at alma marter

entering redwoods

along northern cal coast

oregon coast

miles of coastline

getting to home state

in seattle now

me on bike...handle bars are too high for long distance riding

nice seat though

OK...now for some camping shots of that cot! Camps site in cal $20 per night

Henry shires custom built tarptent. Top of the line in lightweight backpacking silnet tents. 45 sq ft size at 24 oz total. At www.tarptent.com

Cot, mat, and bag

exped 7 downmat 2.75 inches of 700 fill down $140. Nothing is warmer or more comfortable
see here: http://www.rei.com/product/720778

sleeping bag Feathered friends Kestrel with epic farbic see here:
http://www.featheredfriends.com/ProductDetails.aspx?productId=94&CatId=1&ProductName=Kestrel at $344 29 oz

in tent, notice full mesh on floor, only use ground cloth if needed

all packed up ready to go

glasses shown for size reference Cot, tent, sleeping pad, and sleeping bag...all compact

ready to scoot!

Review and observations......
1. I desired a light weight, compact sleeping system which is comfortable!
2. I found myself (as a side sleeper) so comfortable, I only rolled over once during the night!
3. The pad/ bag combination kept me warm. I did let some air out of the mat as I first had it to taut.
4. I slept very well
5. Easy setup takedown
6. Lightweight and compact
In summary a keeper!
Keithm

Nice review of some expensive gear that apparently works well.

Jim

PS You ride a KLR and pay that much for your camping gear?:eek1

Any chance of getting a shot of someone on the cot?

Thanks for the pics!

GB, that link isn't what you say it is.

right article just the end of it. go to the first page. very good review thanks

Most of the gear is used while backpacking. I've been in the involved in the "lightweight" backpacking forums and generally get the best gear. This is why I ride the KLR. hehehe. The true "crown jewel" of my camping gear setup shown is not the cot, but the tarptent.
Keithm

KLM,

How much do you weigh? Will this work for those over 200lb? How long is it (I'm 6'4")

Thanks for the review

Do you have to use a mat with it? If I traded my mat space for the cot, it's really not much more room.

Unless your environment is very warm at night, some type of insulation is required between you and the cot. The Exped downmat 7 was the ticket for me in terms of comfort, packed space, and insulation.

I weigh 170 lbs. Web site indicates booster kits available for weight support up to 300 lbs.

Nice review.......Thanks. I want one of these things!

His website now shows the price at $219 plus $10 for shipping:eek1

What happened to the $189????

It's them pesky apocalyptic horsemen again...

Aerostich is cheaper?? :huh

Story of my life! Always a day late and a dollar short!

Should of ordered when I first thought of it............I guess this guy is having too much success. I wonder when aerostitch will show a price increase.:huh


Good thing I won that room auction for WestFest!!!

May be sooner than you think. They're on backorder at Aerostich.

Interesting........price increase will be right arount the corner with the next batch!

I just ordered one from the "factory" and it will be shipped tomorrow........go figure:huh

Figured I better get one before the price goes up again:eek1

So, apparently, the price increase matches with a move to add two additional support trusses to the original package.

The idea is that since your body isn't uniformly distributed, neither should the cot's support. Where you want/need more support, you add trusses. There're a few combinations that make sense. But typically, this means adding support between your shoulder and butt, or between your lowerback and thigh.

With a air mattrice, you could hardly tell the difference.
Keithm

Ebay has the 300 lbs. version for $210 including shipping.