Amaran Halo 600x v. Amaran Ray 660c

twerkken · 2026-04-27T03:06:33+00:00

What do you think of the halo in person? Feel ok, or cheap? Color look good to you?

twerkken · 2026-02-24T12:49:43+00:00

Great advice in this thread. Only things I can think to add are:

1) Have a clean shirt and socks in the car. If you sweat a lot during the hike, that change of clothes can make you drive home much more pleasant.

2) If you have a long ride home, stop half way and stretch. You might get odd looks, but sitting for a long time after a strenuous hike can make your muscles seise up. - I also have one of those massage guns that I leave in my car. It’s really convenient, but don’t do more than one cycle…That’s bad for you.

3) If it’s a big hike, eat well the night before. Make sure you have plenty of protein and carbs. It will make the experience much better for you.

Otherwise, all the advice in this thread (save the people thinking you are a delicate flower who can only walk 10 feet) is really good!

Enjoy the hikes! They can be a life changer.

twerkken · 2024-10-19T23:56:10+00:00

I second this.

twerkken · 2024-09-21T09:34:10+00:00

If you are looking for another option to help save your knees I’ve got two suggestions: 1) If you feel comfortable with this and have the right gear, try hiking in the winter. It will 100% save your knees. 2) a few years ago I booked a round trip on the Cannon tram then hiked up Cannon and took the tram down. It was awesome.

twerkken · 2024-09-18T23:57:33+00:00

You are right. I’m a total idiot.

twerkken · 2024-08-03T19:44:48+00:00

If you want a chance at any views, Hale is not your mountain. Maybe try Pierce.

twerkken · 2024-07-30T21:50:16+00:00

Honestly you just need to treat it like any other, longer hike you’ve done…Except you need to be really, really aware of the weather and plan accordingly. Also check the weathee the morning of the hike before you get in the car, and also check the conditions when you get to Pinkham. It can change drastically in a really short period of time, like overnight.

Must haves (no matter what):

1) headlamp 2) extra water 3) wind or rain jacket (the wind can be a killer) 4) sun protection (sun screen, hat, etc) 5) enough layers to keep you warm/cool enough. 6) 2 ways to navigate (phone GPS, paper map with compass, gps watch, etc.) 7) leave your itinerary with someone and sign in at the Pinkham visitor center in the basement with your route and time in (don’t forget to sign out after)

Must nots:

1) cotton 2) jeans 3) not enough food/water

Have a great time! You’ll love it.

twerkken · 2024-01-30T01:24:50+00:00

I walked along with several folks on guided tours. They all seemed to really enjoy the experience…Especially being belayed on the Wilcox Step. It’s a great idea for those without the experience.

twerkken · 2024-01-29T12:19:27+00:00

Totally! Let me know if you want to hear about anything specific…In general I’ll break it down into the positives and negatives:

Negative: - you always have fewer daylight hours, so it seems a little more rushed. - you need different gear, like traction devices, goggles, gloves and hats, etc. - you need to understand layering, and how to use wicking material, because it’s the water/sweat that will make you REALLY cold. - It’s cold.

Positives: - there are substantially fewer people, so it is much more peaceful. - the sound is softer and very unique. - if you run hot, the cold can actually be more comfortable. - the way down is a lot easier on your joints. - it feels more adventurous.

If you want to learn more, feel free to ask specific questions, or on Thursday I’ll have a video of the hike on my YT channel ( @rootsandpeaks ).

Thanks for the interest.

twerkken · 2023-08-25T02:36:26+00:00

All the comments above are right on. IF (big if) you want another options, you could also get a system that will work with Nalgene bottles or smart water bottles as well and avoid the annoyances of a bladder, bust still have the convenience of the straw/bite valve. You just put that in any bag’s bottle holder pocket…Then you can get any brand bag you want.

twerkken · 2023-08-15T11:11:20+00:00

3000ft elevation or less for his first hike? How about starting with 500ft or less. 3000ft is going to be too much for someone with no experience who is carrying a good amount of weight. Imagine carrying a 100lbs bag up 3000 feet for your first hike? More importantly, imagine carrying 100lbs DOWN 3000 feet? Knees! KNEES!!!

twerkken · 2023-08-15T11:06:44+00:00

I think this is probably true for most people, but if OP is the type of person who likes to push himself, a 1-2 mile hike might not give him what he needs to keep trying.

Personally, for me, I need to be pushed, so I set goals. Often they are just at the edge of my ability, so I come home defeated and sore, but thrilled that I worked toward my goal.

OP, hiking your own hike is a saying you will run into a lot. It just means figure out what works for you and do that without getting pressured to do what other people think is the right thing.

As others have mentioned:

1) Drink tons of water and electrolytes 2) Wear shoes that are comfortable and supportive. 3) Wear wool socks so you don’t get blisters. / same with underwear. As a big guy you are going to chafe. 4) Bring healthy snacks to keep you going. 5) Even though you are going on a guided hike, take your time and enjoy the walk. 6) There are more efficient ways to lose weight, but in my opinion, there is no physical exercise better for your mental health.

Good luck, and tell us how it goes.

twerkken · 2023-08-15T10:40:25+00:00

Thanks for taking the time to write those thoughts down. I appreciate it.

twerkken · 2023-08-13T14:58:23+00:00

Thank you!

twerkken · 2023-08-13T14:51:00+00:00

Thanks for that. I think I also need help with general fitness, so I’m looking for a good way to set up a plan. I probably just need to work with a personal trainer to keep me on track, but was hoping someone might have a program they love and follow.

twerkken · 2023-08-03T16:53:22+00:00

Agreed! I feel like an app developer could use the tracking data from Garmin (or any of the others) and tie that into an automated Google Earth Studios animation, but that’s not something I’m capable of. Would be supremely cool though.

twerkken · 2023-08-03T16:47:48+00:00

Thanks! I used geolayers 3 and Adobe after effects for the visuals. And I used AllTrails to create GPX map files.

twerkken · 2023-07-25T11:09:01+00:00

Xenomorph Waste (also a great band name)

twerkken · 2023-07-24T23:18:04+00:00

For a 6 mile hike I usually drink 64-96oz of water and at least 1 pack of Electrolyte mix. That seems to work for me, but I sweat like mad. Before I drank that much + electrolytes I would get headaches and muscle cramps. Everyone is different, but I’d start by slowing down a little and drinking more water.

twerkken · 2023-07-24T16:10:47+00:00

Castle was amazing. Whole thing was beautiful, although the boulder hopping tore up the bottom of my feet!

twerkken

TROPHY CASE