What are /r/14ers' favorite Products & Services?

From 3.5 billion Reddit comments

I use BD carbon cork but they are expensive and honestly overpriced compared to other poles. One of the most popular carbon sets are these

The Belford/Oxford trailhead is 2 1/2 hours from Denver. I was up there a few weeks ago, great hike. The roads to the trailhead are great. As the other comment says, just assume there is going to be a storm every afternoon.

Here's the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness weather forecast, just rain for the next 2 weeks: https://weather.com/weather/tenday/l/Collegiate+Peaks+Wilderness+COWACP:13:US

I use a phone app for GPS. It is called "US Topo Pro". It has a free version you can try first if you want.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.atlogis.northamerica&hl=en

You often need to download the maps you want before you go on the hike because you might not have any cell data. The app will still work with no cell signal if the maps you need are downloaded into your phone.

You may also want to consider the battery on your phone. I also take a USB battery with me in case I need to charge the phone.

I also save every hike in Google Earth. I can view every hike I have ever done in Google Earth. I save each Track I make with this app.

>about trekking poles $150 less?

Many people use them incorrectly - your weight goes on the straps - you don't grab the poles.

https://www.amazon.com/TheFitLife-Carbon-Fiber-Trekking-Poles/dp/B07XXWVKNB?th=1

Investigate Quandary Peak. It is a 14er but not as challenging. I live at low elevation and went up it while on vacation there. Congrats on hiking Longs!

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/quandary-peak-trail

At the end of the day, if he had any shoes on, he'd probably would have been better off. Accidents like this happen because of a cascading series of (usually) small, bad decisions - a theory expanded on in the Laurence Gonzales, Deep Survival. He left late, he went alone, he summited when the weather worsened, he lost his way, he lost his shoes. It wasn't just the shoes.

Looking at the OP referenced Mracol spikes, I'd say they're a decent set with good build. My biggest concern for failure is the strength of the rubber used. Will the eyelets tear through after a year or will they last for years and years?

AH! My mistake - it's actually a Front Range 13ers Guide -

​

https://www.amazon.com/Colorados-Front-Range-Thirteeners-Derek/dp/189254010X

Which covers a lot of the Indian Peaks.

Either Amazon or Xandau's
https://www.finalfrontiersports.com/xanadu-mountain-press https://www.amazon.com/dp/1734911204?ref=myi\_title\_dp&fbclid=IwAR3Tfc39wKFhVoXdFP3THbzalaKF7KixaEV-LFjs3P1jUS-8o-Y6wuxZcFk

While I agree with not relying on supplemental oxygen, there are products that you could take along if the altitude does start to be an issue that could make the descent easier.

There are pretty mixed reviews for this, but for the cost it might be something worth having in her pack.

https://www.amazon.com/Boost-Oxygen-Natural-Small-Green/dp/B005LZSWU4/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1531232145&sr=8-9&keywords=boost%2Boxygen&th=1

I came across this snippet in Chris Bonington's book Annapurna South Face, and thought of you:

> In light of our experience on the South Face, I should not recommend anyone to encumber himself with oxygen equipment for use while climbing or ferrying on mountains of up to 26,500 feet; but it is as well to have some oxygen in reserve for medical purposes or for a last-ditch effort similar to my own ferrying on the South Face of Annapurna.

He's talking about multi-week, siege-style ascents of much bigger mountains, and I don't know how '70s oxygen kit compares to today's consumer oxygen cans in terms of benefit-per-weight. But I think that argues for oxygen cans not being worth the extra weight and hassle.