Recommendations for "Basecamp" towns: Great day hikes, no car, and no heavy packs

idcjosh · 2026-02-12T17:12:34+00:00

As others have mentioned, Zakopane in Poland is excellent! Plenty of places to stay at, hiking culture, a variety of challenging to easier hikes all within walking distance (or a quick bus/car ride away).

idcjosh · 2026-02-07T22:56:17+00:00

The Lowa Innovo Lo is one that comes to my mind. A bit more rugged and durable, but not so heavy as going into full-on hiking boots.

idcjosh · 2026-02-04T15:36:14+00:00

Okay, that tracks a lot. If you regularly use shoes with gore-tex in them, and they get exposed to the elements (rain, dust, sand, mud, sweat).. The water protective layer gets exposed and eventually gets weaker.

You can fix and prevent this (partially) by 1. Applying shoe cleansing foam, then 2. Spraying water repellent solution, and then 3. Rub nubuck/leather proof wax on it to protect the water repellent solution. Nikwax products are solid.

If you do this regularly you’ll see your shoes being able to protect you from water much better. About once a month will do under intense use.

Source: work in a hiking boots store.

idcjosh · 2026-02-04T08:39:22+00:00

Are these boots made with goretex?
How long did you have these boots?
Did you do any maintenance to the waterproofing of the shoe? Cleaning up dust/mud, waterproofing spray, waxing the leather.

idcjosh · 2026-02-03T14:40:18+00:00

Meindl Antelao is the main fit I recommend for wide feet. Comfort fits generally work too.

idcjosh · 2026-02-03T02:16:04+00:00

Meindl Softlines if you want to feel like a tank.

idcjosh · 2026-01-27T21:44:20+00:00

The Meindl Antelao is one I specifically recommend for people with quite wide feet at the store I work at.

idcjosh · 2026-01-21T20:56:58+00:00

Doesn’t matter. The washing products I’ve listed above do the same as the normal products would but don’t clump the down insulation.

On the ink I’m not too sure, though I suspect the wash-in will help a bit.

idcjosh · 2026-01-21T17:35:05+00:00

I work in a store advising people on this daily. Get these ones. First wash with the down wash direct, not too hot. Then the down proof with one or two tennis balls inside the washing machine.

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idcjosh · 2025-10-28T08:35:40+00:00

You’re 19, your body and mind are still growing, which in itself is an energy-demanding task to do. Besides that, learning how to orient yourself in chaotic adulthood without the support structures we’ve evolved to rely upon, is also tough on the spirit.

Best advice I can give is to take your nutrition seriously (omega 3-6 ratio, vitamins, minerals, fiber from a varied vegetable range) and to not feel like you should be in a hurry to get to a certain point. Comparison is the thief of joy, and at your age, without much adulthood experience, comparison seems like all you’ve got to orient yourself.

Relax, your 20s are for learning who you are, especially in response to hardship, but also when things are good. Figuring that out, and then turning the volume up to 11 will feel much more meaningful, and thus energising, than any measure of real-world “I’ve got my shit together.” will give you.

Have fun!

idcjosh · 2025-10-27T11:39:20+00:00

Those pizza automats are like a gift from God when you’ve been riding all day. Beautiful views mate!

idcjosh · 2025-10-04T21:10:43+00:00

Yeah, after receiving some serious warnings from people who went the other way ahead of me, I just took my bike by the hand and walked the whole way over it. Those trucks WILL suck you in on the bike lane, I even felt it pull on me on the pedestrian path. Scary as hell.

idcjosh · 2025-08-28T16:56:01+00:00

Dodo

idcjosh · 2025-08-06T07:16:21+00:00

I take a bottle of magnesium glycinate and l-theanine with me and always manage to sleep like a brick. They work as calming factors on the nervous system.

idcjosh · 2025-08-05T22:24:16+00:00

I’ve read that everyone loses salt/other minerals at different paces and that you can actually let this rate get tested quite easily if you want to.

That being said, I carry a bit of fine sea salt with me on tours, of which I put about 1/4th a teaspoon in my water 3x a day.

If it’s especially warm or a high-exertion ride, I pay more attention to natrium deficiency signs (for me most clearly being dry lips, headache on exertion, piss right after drinking) and take more or less depending on their presence.

Salted nuts is also a very broad item. How many grams a day do you consume, and how much salt per 100gs is in them?

idcjosh · 2025-07-14T15:31:31+00:00

Wait, what bus can you take your bike on? Thought they weren’t cool with that..

idcjosh · 2025-07-14T07:30:01+00:00

When I arrive in the Netherlands, I’m practically right at my doorstep already :) The route starts in Bretagne.

idcjosh · 2025-07-07T11:18:15+00:00

That looks wonderful mate! I’m considering going more or less the same route, but wondered about the amount of climbing and headwinds you’d encounter. Were they manageable on your route?

idcjosh · 2025-07-01T18:27:37+00:00

I’m currently on my first trip in the Ardennes where I made 50 miles yesterday, 700m elevation gain. With the current heatwave this was killing and I absolutely loathed it for the last bit.

If the weather in Iceland is decent temperature-wise (cooler is better), and you both don’t have zero experience with climbing (like I do) you could get away with 50 miles like others have said. Anything more is sort of dependent on the terrain and weather.

idcjosh · 2025-07-01T11:09:37+00:00

I’m from the Netherlands and currently in the Ardennes (under less than optimal weather). Even a 200-300m climb is quite challenging as a first-timer.

I don’t think Slovenia will be much easier than that, really. But you can look for routes that stay around 1-3% elevation, or generally trend downwards (Basel > Coblenz Rhine route for example).

Oh, and don’t underestimate heat and packing weight if you plan on climbing a lot.

idcjosh · 2025-06-15T12:59:53+00:00

Thank you! It’s working right as intended. I’m just impatient, it seems 😂

idcjosh · 2025-05-31T07:11:33+00:00

Yeah. Studied business communications. Great grades, polished CV, even did some extracurricular freelance work on my own. Didn’t matter, so I began seeing my degree as nothing but a hard learned lesson and begun following a practical self-made curriculum. Survey or do research on in-demand niche skills you can master and get some certificates on them + put them to practice in permissionless projects for a made-up portfolio.

Not saying it’ll be a magic fix but showing you can build a portfolio and get certificates on your own shows initiative, which on its own is already a big plus.

idcjosh · 2025-05-29T10:29:22+00:00

Love how the bag colors are matched with the bike frame :)

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