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lacing technique for hiking shoes

Saving your Toes Hiking Downhill

Are you planning a hike in mountainous terrain or a gorge? Extended descents can put significant pressure on the knees and cause swollen toenails. Here are a few steps you can take pre-hike to minimize painful toenails, black toenails, and eventual toenail loss. We’ve already covered protecting your knees downhill in a previous article. Lacing technique to secure your foot Improper lacing can cause your foot to slide forward on steep descents, causing your toes to bang into the front toe box and bruise. The overhand lacing technique will help hold your foot securely toward the heel of your boot to prevent […]

hiking downhill

Saving your knees while hiking downhill

Knee problems are common because they are one of the most used and abused joints in the human body. If you frequently experience knee pain during descents or resulting soreness afterward, chances are you need to improve your form or pack weight. Excess weight adds more strain to the knees Your knees and hips are vulnerable to injury because they bear the most weight of your body. A force of three to six times your body weight is exerted on your knee with each level step you take. So, if you weigh 150 pounds, a force of 450 – 900 […]

4 Good Reasons You Should Be Sprouting

1. Sprouting is Green Sprouts are the edible young shoots of a plant as it germinates from a seed to a plant. Sprout seeds are low-cost and provide a steady supply of healthy, economical food. The seeds can be stored for 3 – 5 years if kept dry and at room temperature. Sprouting requires no electricity and minimal water — the growing process requires simply sunlight and moisture. Unlike gardening, you don’t need soil, fertilizers, specialized processing, or packaging. You can sprout seeds in a bag, mason jar, or recycled plastic container. Sprouts will grow in nearly any climate, although […]

Comparing Backpacking Meals

Why sacrifice a decent meal when you are on the trail? Eating well on the trail tastes better and gives you the right types of food to enhance your performance and give you the gusto to go a little further. Eating well does not have to be gourmet or cost a fortune. Learn how to compare packaged foods to determine if the meal is worthy of stashing in your pack for your next outing. Start by following these tips. Should I buy this common backpacking meal? The product displays the following ingredients: 1. Decode the Ingredient List Here is an […]

grocery store

Cherry Picking Packaged Foods: How to Avoid Inferior Products

How can you determine if a company is attempting to sell you a low-quality product despite its health claims? Food labels assert healthful claims on packaged products to get you to purchase them. Knowing what to look for in the ingredient list allows you to determine its worth objectively. There is a great deal of conflicting information available. Most people with special dietary needs are adept at reading labels to determine if the food contains hidden ingredients or allergens. Even if you don’t have any dietary restrictions, it’s beneficial to understand the ingredients in your food. There is an increasing […]