Do you have a dumb question that you're kind of embarrassed to ask in the main thread? Is there something you're just not sure about?
This is your opportunity to ask questions. No question too simple or too silly.
Culture war topics are accepted, and proposals for a better intro post are appreciated.
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
Notes -
Let's recommend some products. It's hard to find good product recommendations through all the shit today. I'll start.
Chatbox app for Mac. (Probably available for windows too).
Cost: free.
It's a LLM interface that lets you bring your own API keys. Running into limits on Claude but don't want to pay $20/month? You can get an API key then use it here. At $3 per million tokens, your credits will last a loooong time. Compatible with many different LLM providers.
If you do any amount of hiking, or aspire to do any amount of hiking, I highly recommend getting a pair of trekking poles. They make expensive ones that involve springs, carbon fiber, and the like, but a basic pair from REI will run you under $100 and are worth every penny. Some people who use them for the first time will collapse them down and put them in their pack because they claim they don't notice a difference, but it's not so much an immediate obvious improvement as it is that you'll feel a lot better at the end of the day. A remember reading something that said walking with poles on level ground will take 20 pounds off each of your knees. I don't know how accurate that is, but when I was in my early 20s I took a trip to the Adirondacks and after hiking 2 1/2 miles down one of the steepest trails in the park my knees were in some sort of pain for several months, flaring up a bit even walking down a gentle grade on a city street. After several more such incidents I bought poles and while they didn't solve the problem 100%, they turned it into a minor inconvenience that only happened occasionally. Even if I'm not doing any long or steep downhills, it's still like having 4 wheel drive and I can't even imagine going out without them, and in the odd situation when I don't have them I feel naked. Just to be clear, I'm only talking about actual hikes in the woods; I don't walk around town with them.
How "actively" do you use them/lean on them while hiking? Are they mainly for relieving the knees while going downhill?
Only if I'm in a position when I need extra support or leverage on rough terrain. 99% of the time I just walk normally with them and don't put any conscious pressure into them.
Ok. Might try out trekking poles once hiking season arrives. Do you recommend folding or non folding poles?
I've never heard of folding poles but most poles are telescoping. These I'd recommend since you'll be able to adjust them to your preferred length. I know that some people will adjust throughout the day, using shorter poles when going uphill and longer ones when going down, but I'm not this particular.
More options
Context Copy link
More options
Context Copy link
More options
Context Copy link
More options
Context Copy link
More options
Context Copy link
More options
Context Copy link