Do you pack in a cot and sleeping pad?

[Mtwood24]

I was curious if you guys are using both a pad and cot, like a lightweight helinox, in tandem when you are packing in to hunt an area. It seems a little redundant to me, as the pad is supposed to be a barrier between you and the ground, and a cot gets up up off the ground anyways. Wondering if I should get both, or just 1 or the other. Thanks!

 

[Chuckybmd]

Just a pad when hiking. I use a Klymit insulated static v.

 

[ElDiablito]

I don’t - but I cut the handle off my toothbrush…,

 

[*zap*]

a cot and two pads.

 

[NRA4LIFE]

Just a pad, I'm good with that.

 

[Backofbeyond]

Cot and pad for me. I’m ok with paying the weight penalty for comfort and a good nights sleep.

 

[Crowmangler]

both because we pack in on horse. it's one of those sub 5lb Alps ready Lite cots that's about 6" off the ground... If I had to carry it on my back I'd just do the pad of course.

Pro tip: always check your pad & make sure there's no hole in it BEFORE you go into the back country for 10 days.. ask me how I know this

 

[Carrot Farmer]

Backpacking an insulated 3.5” BA AXL

BASECAMP, Big Man Cot +Exped Insilated 4” pad 30x78!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[MTHokie]

both because we pack in on horse. it's one of those sub 5lb Alps ready Lite cots that's about 6" off the ground... If I had to carry it on my back I'd just do the pad of course.

Pro tip: always check your pad & make sure there's no hole in it BEFORE you go into the back country for 10 days.. ask me how I know this

How do you know this?

 

[MTHokie]

Just a pad. With a good, quality pad, I don't know how a cot would improve the setup.

 

[ElDiablito]

Pro tip: always check your pad & make sure there's no hole in it BEFORE you go into the back country for 10 days AND CARRY A REPAIR KIT.. ask me how I know this

^Fixed it for you.

 

[Crowmangler]

^Fixed it for you.

I had one but couldn't locate the leak.. it took a couple hours to go flat with me laying on it. I just pumped it up before going to bed & rolled with it. That was also about the same amount of time it took for our little wood stove to burn out.
When I got home I tried locating it in the bath tub & took a long time to find it then. It was the tiniest pinhole in the crease of the seam flap on the side. Very frustrating

 

[Mykolaivka887]

Pad only, except when sometimes doing non-backpack hunts in the Lower-48.

 

[ElDiablito]

I had one but couldn't locate the leak.. it took a couple hours to go flat with me laying on it. I just pumped it up before going to bed & rolled with it. That was also about the same amount of time it took for our little wood stove to burn out.
When I got home I tried locating it in the bath tub & took a long time to find it then. It was the tiniest pinhole in the crease of the seam flap on the side. Very frustrating

Been there, done that…

 

[rcook10]

I have limited experience with ultralight cots but they are absolutely incredible in hot weather. If you are a hot sleeper who suffers during the summer and early fall they are worth trying in my opinion.