Sleeping with a rock jamming into your back or soaking up the cold from the earth below you is not a fun way to spend an evening camping. The LuxuryLite Mesh Cot by Therm-a-Rest is lightweight and comfortable, keeps you off the ground and packs down neatly for convenient carry. Set it up and toss your sleeping bag on top and your all set.
We never thought so until we tried out the Cot for a couple of nights but it’s become part of our essential camping gear. It will enhance your outdoor experience each and every time you use it. Therm-A-Rest also makes an Ultralite Cot for hiking that shaves off 1lb of weight and even a Cot specific tent, bug net, warming layer and more.
About the LuxuryLite Mesh Cot
The LuxuryLite Mesh Cot is a campers dream. The Cot comes with it’s own durable carry bag with instruction flap sewn onto the inside so you have everything you need. In the bag you’ll find the pre-assembled feet and anodized aluminum poles though they are easy enough to remove. Each of the aluminum poles are segmented and bungee roped on the inside just like your tent poles so setup and tear down is easy.
For our review we are using a Regular size LuxuryLite Cot which measures 24″ Wide x 72″ Long and weighs 57 oz (about 3.5 lbs). Packed dimension is 18″ Length x 6″ Width. Also available in Large or Extra Large size. The Large size weighs 63oz and measures 26″ W x 77in L while the XL size weighs 71oz and measures 30″ W x 77″ L.
Though Therm-a-Rest makes the Ultra lite Cot that comes in at approx 2.5 lbs, you can certainly hump the LuxuryLite Cot at 3.5 lbs with you for just about anything. The UltraLite design slims the support plastic, uses a polyester ripstop top fabric and packs down tighter.
The top fabric is made of fully breathable PVC Mesh which seemed pretty durable and super comfortable.Therm-a-Rest has provided us with the LuxuryLite Mesh Cot as a courtesy so that we could provide an up close look and review of the product, assembly and experience.
Our Experience
The LuxuryLite Mesh Cot is engineered with Therm-a-Rest’s patented BowFrame technology that keeps the crossbars off your back and keeps the joints from squeaking. The Cot is very comfortable with or without a mattress. The LuxuryLite is technically a fair weather cot but pair it with the NeoAir all Season SV Mattress and you can easily use the cot as 4-season gear. Therm-a-rest makes a warming layer for the cot or you can simply toss the NeoAir mattress on top of it.
The sleeping experience on the LL Mesh Cot is an excellent one. We were able to feel completely comfortable sleeping on our back and sideways as one might turn during the course of a night. The Mesh top fabric is breathable, stretch-free and durable. The mesh surface is smooth and very comfortable. There are some stress points that visually make the fabric stick up slightly at each crossbar but when laying down we were unable to notice it with any significance
Setting up the LuxuryLite Cot
Setting up the LuxuryLite Cot is simple but took us about 15-20 min the first time. You’ll want to assemble the length poles and layout the cross bar supports to make it easy for yourself. There are 4 single cross bar poles and 2 double bar poles; the double crossbar poles will be the two at the center of your cot.
Once you’ve layed it all out on the floor, take your two long aluminum poles and slide them into the Top Fabric all the way so that the pole is not sticking out of the holes in the middle or on either end. Lay it down so that the holes are facing up.
Take your single poles and guide the first notch of the support foot onto the long pole, snap it in place. (with one foot or knee on each long pole) Go to the opposite side and hold the support foot near the placement point with the left hand while pulling upward with your right like a bow so the crossbar pole arcs. (reverse it if you’re lefty) Then seat the notch on the remaining foot onto the pole so it’s secure. Repeat this process for the single crossbar poles. You’ll leave the 2nd hole from either end empty.
The feet on the double cross bar poles need to be facing opposite directions, one up and one down. When you place these you’ll follow the same procedure as the single crossbars to seat the one side, but then the twist the pole so the double crossbar poles criss-cross and then continue to secure the opposite side. Be careful not to pull your back out, take your time the first couple of times you assemble the Cot so you find the path of least resistance.
Conclusion
The LuxuryLite Mesh Cot by Therm-a-Rest is a must-have for a comfortable nights sleep when you’re out in the field. It’s durable, packs down neatly and most importantly very comfortable. Also works great indoors as well if you have a buddy crashin over for the night. We highly recommend one for your next camping trip.
LuxuryLite Mesh Cot $199.95 – $249.95
