ftroop94
12 years ago
Mike,
LTR for the Cot! Great product...even if it did bite me!!!
~SMK
HTML:
http://alturl.com/hmksf
OR
http://www.backpackgeartest.org/reviews/test/TESTS/LTR-Luxurylite%20Ultralight%20Cot-STEVE%20KIDD/
TEXT:
LONG-TERM REPORT
LONG-TERM TEST LOCATIONS AND CONDITIONS
<<IMAGE GOES HERE. ALT TEXT = "IMAGE 1">>
22 - 23 June, 2013: Bear Island on J. Percy Priest Lake. The island is a fifteen minute paddle from Anderson Boat Ramp, in Davidson, Tennessee (a part of the Metropolitan Nashville Area). Lake elevation at full summer pond is 490 ft (149 m) and I used a tarp and the cot camping less than twenty yards from shore on this overnight outing. Temperatures rose as high as 91 F (33 C) during the day and dipped to around 70 F (21 C) at night. Most of my mileage was hiking around the island without my backpack.
2 - 4 July, 2013: Chesdin Reservoir Area, Matoaca, Virginia. This lake (reservoir) was created by a damming part of the Appomattox River in the late 60's and lies 108 ft (40 m) above sea level at full pool with a max depth of 45 ft (14 m). The three-day and two-night trip covered around 12 mi (19 km) of backcountry hiking with evenings camping near a beach. Temperatures ranged from around 95 F (35 C) in the day to around 70 F (21 C) in the evening. Conditions were dry.
PERFORMANCE IN THE FIELD
During the final testing phase I used the cot on two more outings and found it quite comfortable. On the overnight trip to a lake island I went completely minimalist using only a small down pillow and a summer weight tip quilt. Temperatures never dropped below 70 F (21 C) and I was not once chilled. I did find the cot more comfortable when using an air pad and I used it in that configuration for my final outing.
I also used it on a multi-day trip hiking in the backcountry around a reservoir in Virginia. I again used a tarp for weather protection and this time the pad and light quilt kept me completely comfortable. I did have a few mosquitoes swarm as the sun rose and notice a few spiders crawling around, but nothing to hinder me from using this configuration again in the future. If it were extremely buggy I may consider some form of netting.
<<IMAGE GOES HERE. ALT TEXT = "IMAGE 2" IMAGE CAPTION = "Battle Wound">>
I did have one drawback that caused me some concern and pain in dealing with the cot! One morning when I was disassembling it the tautness of the feet and poles pinched my finger causing a blood blister and superficial wound. The cot always sits tight under pressure and does take some effort to break down, but this was the first and only time I injured myself. That stated, I'm pretty sure my wife, would have difficulty in disassembling it.
After I pinched myself and apparently caught a capillary I lunged forward and poked a small hole in the bed sheet as it was lying upside down on a small root. I have since been able to repair the hole with a small piece of Tear-Aid, but the cot now has crimson reminders of the time it took me on and won! I bled enough to stain it pretty well!
The rails still continue to protrude from the bed sheet material by around an inch. I anonymously called Cascade Designs again and they were unaware of such an issue and believed it may be a problem with this particular cot. They told me I could mail it in and they would test it and certainly replace it if need be. I have not done so.
Save these negatives I do thoroughly enjoy the product.
SUMMARY
<<IMAGE GOES HERE. ALT TEXT = "IMAGE 3" IMAGE CAPTION = "Minimalist Setup">>
I've been quite impressed with this cot. I find the weight for such a comfortable product to be inspiring. I rarely sleep on the ground these days as I'm an avid hammock camper. I do this for both weight savings and comfort. I'd all but abandoned the ground except for the instances when I took my young children backpacking. The Ultralite has come in very handy in these situations.
I've been on the ground more this spring and summer testing this cot than I have in several years and I can happily report that I'm impressed with the comfortable night's sleep I receive when using it.
I have had a few minor snags with the cot...literally...snagging my finger! That was painful and a wakeup call! I was certainly more vigilant in disassembling the cot during my final outing. I'm still uncertain as to why the cot material recedes away from the poles and I have some concern it could snag tent mesh or my sleeping bag material. Cascade Designs said they'd investigate this and replace if need be, but I had that conversation before I pinched myself and made a small puncture in the material. Although, knowing the manufacturer's customer service I doubt that would be a problem if I decided to pursue this option.
The cot will not be a first line 'go-to' item for future use as I truly am a hammock camper and I've even had the opportunity to finally get both my young children in the air over the past few months. However, on the occasions I need to go to the ground or if a friend plans to go with me I will certainly have this product ready to go in my gear stash!
I'd like to thank both Cascade Designs and BackpackGearTest.org for allowing me to test this product.
This report was created with the BGT Report Generator.
Copyright 2013. All rights reserved.
------------------------------------
LTR for the Cot! Great product...even if it did bite me!!!
~SMK
HTML:
http://alturl.com/hmksf
OR
http://www.backpackgeartest.org/reviews/test/TESTS/LTR-Luxurylite%20Ultralight%20Cot-STEVE%20KIDD/
TEXT:
LONG-TERM REPORT
LONG-TERM TEST LOCATIONS AND CONDITIONS
<<IMAGE GOES HERE. ALT TEXT = "IMAGE 1">>
22 - 23 June, 2013: Bear Island on J. Percy Priest Lake. The island is a fifteen minute paddle from Anderson Boat Ramp, in Davidson, Tennessee (a part of the Metropolitan Nashville Area). Lake elevation at full summer pond is 490 ft (149 m) and I used a tarp and the cot camping less than twenty yards from shore on this overnight outing. Temperatures rose as high as 91 F (33 C) during the day and dipped to around 70 F (21 C) at night. Most of my mileage was hiking around the island without my backpack.
2 - 4 July, 2013: Chesdin Reservoir Area, Matoaca, Virginia. This lake (reservoir) was created by a damming part of the Appomattox River in the late 60's and lies 108 ft (40 m) above sea level at full pool with a max depth of 45 ft (14 m). The three-day and two-night trip covered around 12 mi (19 km) of backcountry hiking with evenings camping near a beach. Temperatures ranged from around 95 F (35 C) in the day to around 70 F (21 C) in the evening. Conditions were dry.
PERFORMANCE IN THE FIELD
During the final testing phase I used the cot on two more outings and found it quite comfortable. On the overnight trip to a lake island I went completely minimalist using only a small down pillow and a summer weight tip quilt. Temperatures never dropped below 70 F (21 C) and I was not once chilled. I did find the cot more comfortable when using an air pad and I used it in that configuration for my final outing.
I also used it on a multi-day trip hiking in the backcountry around a reservoir in Virginia. I again used a tarp for weather protection and this time the pad and light quilt kept me completely comfortable. I did have a few mosquitoes swarm as the sun rose and notice a few spiders crawling around, but nothing to hinder me from using this configuration again in the future. If it were extremely buggy I may consider some form of netting.
<<IMAGE GOES HERE. ALT TEXT = "IMAGE 2" IMAGE CAPTION = "Battle Wound">>
I did have one drawback that caused me some concern and pain in dealing with the cot! One morning when I was disassembling it the tautness of the feet and poles pinched my finger causing a blood blister and superficial wound. The cot always sits tight under pressure and does take some effort to break down, but this was the first and only time I injured myself. That stated, I'm pretty sure my wife, would have difficulty in disassembling it.
After I pinched myself and apparently caught a capillary I lunged forward and poked a small hole in the bed sheet as it was lying upside down on a small root. I have since been able to repair the hole with a small piece of Tear-Aid, but the cot now has crimson reminders of the time it took me on and won! I bled enough to stain it pretty well!
The rails still continue to protrude from the bed sheet material by around an inch. I anonymously called Cascade Designs again and they were unaware of such an issue and believed it may be a problem with this particular cot. They told me I could mail it in and they would test it and certainly replace it if need be. I have not done so.
Save these negatives I do thoroughly enjoy the product.
SUMMARY
<<IMAGE GOES HERE. ALT TEXT = "IMAGE 3" IMAGE CAPTION = "Minimalist Setup">>
I've been quite impressed with this cot. I find the weight for such a comfortable product to be inspiring. I rarely sleep on the ground these days as I'm an avid hammock camper. I do this for both weight savings and comfort. I'd all but abandoned the ground except for the instances when I took my young children backpacking. The Ultralite has come in very handy in these situations.
I've been on the ground more this spring and summer testing this cot than I have in several years and I can happily report that I'm impressed with the comfortable night's sleep I receive when using it.
I have had a few minor snags with the cot...literally...snagging my finger! That was painful and a wakeup call! I was certainly more vigilant in disassembling the cot during my final outing. I'm still uncertain as to why the cot material recedes away from the poles and I have some concern it could snag tent mesh or my sleeping bag material. Cascade Designs said they'd investigate this and replace if need be, but I had that conversation before I pinched myself and made a small puncture in the material. Although, knowing the manufacturer's customer service I doubt that would be a problem if I decided to pursue this option.
The cot will not be a first line 'go-to' item for future use as I truly am a hammock camper and I've even had the opportunity to finally get both my young children in the air over the past few months. However, on the occasions I need to go to the ground or if a friend plans to go with me I will certainly have this product ready to go in my gear stash!
I'd like to thank both Cascade Designs and BackpackGearTest.org for allowing me to test this product.
This report was created with the BGT Report Generator.
Copyright 2013. All rights reserved.
------------------------------------