Articles & Guides

In-depth coverage of high altitude, oxygenation and alpine preparation

Before you go

Training, gear and choosing your altitude

High-Altitude Training Camp: A Guide for Amateur Athletes

1,800–2,700m is the sweet spot for altitude camps — minimum stay, EPO timing, VO2max gains, and real SpO₂ data for amateurs training in Europe.

12 min readMay 5, 2026

Preparation

Best Pulse Oximeter for Hiking & High Altitude: 2026 Guide

±2–3% accuracy is the clinical bar (IEC 60601-1) — compare 5 fingertip and wearable models for cold, battery life, and readability above 4,000 m.

8 min readApr 12, 2026

Preparation

High Altitude Packing List: Complete Equipment Checklist

3–4 litres of water per day is the minimum above 3,000m — the full layering system, crampon kit, medication list, and pulse oximeter picks for expeditions.

9 min readApr 12, 2026

PreparationFeatured

How to Prepare for Mont Blanc: Training Guide

4,810m is the summit, and 12 weeks is the training window: a week-by-week plan, preparatory ascents, and the O₂ levels to expect near the top.

10 min readApr 12, 2026

At altitude

Symptoms, medication and what happens to your body during the climb

Health at AltitudeFeatured

Oxygen Levels at Altitude: % of O₂ From 0 to 8,849 m

At 3,000 m only 69% of sea-level oxygen is left; at 5,000 m, 53%. Full percentage chart by elevation with air pressure in hPa, on the ISA model.

8 min readJun 1, 2026

Health at AltitudeFeatured

Diamox for Altitude Sickness: Dosage, Effects & Safety

125–250 mg twice daily is the standard Diamox dose — how acetazolamide works, WMS 2024 dosing, side effects like tingling, and who should avoid it.

7 min readApr 12, 2026

Health at AltitudeFeatured

HACE and HAPE: High Altitude Edema Symptoms & Treatment

500–1,000m of immediate descent is the single most effective treatment for both — symptoms, field triage, drug doses, and when to call for evacuation.

9 min readApr 12, 2026

Health at AltitudeFeatured

Oxygen on Everest: The Science Behind the Death Zone

At 8,848 m only 31% of sea-level oxygen is available. Discover the data on partial pressure, climbers' SpO₂ readings, and why the Death Zone is lethal.

7 min readApr 12, 2026

Preparation

How to Acclimatize to High Altitude | Oxymeter

300–500m per night is the acclimatization ceiling above 3,000m: the climb-high-sleep-low method, warning signs, and pre-acclimatization tactics that work.

9 min readApr 3, 2026

Health at AltitudeFeatured

Altitude Sickness: Symptoms, Prevention and Treatment

1 in 4 climbers who ascend fast above 2,500m gets AMS — symptoms, the Lake Louise score, prevention rules, and descent thresholds, per WMS and UIAA.

8 min readApr 3, 2026

Health at AltitudeFeatured

Oxygen Saturation Altitude Chart: SpO₂ Every 500 m

At 4,000 m SpO₂ falls to 85–90%. At 5,000 m: 75–82%. Full chart every 500 m — from sea level to Everest — with AMS thresholds and descent criteria.

7 min readApr 3, 2026

Measure and monitor

Pulse oximeters, apps and devices for reading your values

Digital Health

Low Oxygen Saturation Alert: When to Act

Below 90% needs medical review, below 85% is an emergency: how to read a pulse oximeter or smartwatch SpO2 alert and when to call 911.

8 min readAug 18, 2026

Digital Health

Blood Oxygen Apps: Do They Actually Work?

±10-15% error in camera-only blood oxygen apps. Smartwatches with a real SpO2 sensor get closer, at ±3-5%. When to trust each, and when not to.

7 min readAug 3, 2026

Digital Health

Measure SpO2 Without a Pulse Oximeter: 3 Methods

3 ways to estimate oxygen saturation without a pulse oximeter: smartwatch, clinical signs, altitude calculator. When to trust each, when not to.

7 min readJul 26, 2026

Health at Altitude

SpO2 on Garmin vs Apple Watch While Hiking | Oxymeter

3.3% is the average gap between wrist SpO₂ and medical-grade fingertip readings at 12,000ft — what to expect, and when to trust a real oximeter instead.

7 min readJun 6, 2026

Digital HealthFeatured

What Is Pulse Oximetry? SpO₂ Basics Explained | Oxymeter

95–100% SpO₂ is normal for a healthy adult at sea level — what the device measures, how it works, and normal values by age and altitude explained.

7 min readApr 16, 2026

Preparation

How to Use a Pulse Oximeter at High Altitude | Oxymeter

5–10 points off is the typical error from cold hands or motion — the 3-step technique for a reliable SpO₂ reading, and how to read the number right.

6 min readApr 12, 2026

How to Choose Mountaineering Boots (B1/B2/B3) | Oxymeter

B2 boots cover most 4,000-metre routes: what the B1/B2/B3 ratings really mean, single vs double, and how to match boots to crampons.

8 min readJul 30, 2026

Preparation

How to Choose an Ice Axe: Length, Type and Use | Oxymeter

50–65 cm suits most mountaineers: how to size an ice axe to your height and terrain, plus classic vs technical types and materials.

8 min readJul 23, 2026

Preparation

How to Choose Crampons for Mountaineering | Oxymeter

12 points, three binding types, one rule: match the crampon to your boot. A practical guide to picking crampons for glacier and alpine routes.

8 min readJul 9, 2026

Preparation

Altitude Tents for Pre-Acclimatization | Oxymeter

3–4 weeks of nightly use raises red blood cell mass enough to cut AMS risk — the science, a step-up protocol, and how to set your tent's O₂ target.

9 min readJul 2, 2026

Preparation

How to Increase Oxygen Saturation at Altitude | Oxymeter

300–500m of descent raises SpO₂ faster than anything else — breathing techniques, rest strategies, and acclimatization schedules that actually help.

8 min readJun 25, 2026

Preparation

How to Prevent Altitude Sickness: 7 Rules | Oxymeter

500m per night is the ascent limit above 3,000m — the 7 rules that cut AMS risk, covering hydration, Diamox timing, and SpO₂ checks, per WMS 2024.

9 min readJun 19, 2026

Preparation

Altitude Oxygen Calculator: SpO₂ by Elevation | Oxymeter

69% of sea-level oxygen remains at 10,000ft — enter any elevation for O₂% and expected SpO₂, from Colorado trails to Everest base camp.

8 min readJun 18, 2026

Health at Altitude

Oxygen Levels on US Peaks: Whitney & Rainier | Oxymeter

58% of sea-level oxygen remains atop Whitney and Rainier — SpO₂ data, altitude tables, and AMS risk for Denali and Colorado's 14ers too.

9 min readJun 11, 2026

Preparation

Can a Pulse Oximeter Detect Altitude Sickness? | Oxymeter

88–92% SpO₂ is normal at 3,500m — what a falling reading means, which numbers should worry you, and why the device is an early warning, not a diagnosis.

8 min readJun 4, 2026

Digital Health

Nocturnal Oxygenation and Sleep Apnea: Complete Guide

How to track nocturnal SpO₂ if you suspect sleep apnea: normal values, which devices work, warning signs, and when to see a doctor.

8 min readApr 12, 2026

Digital HealthFeatured

Normal SpO₂ Values by Age: 2026 Chart

95-100% is normal SpO₂ in a healthy adult; ≥95% in children, often 93-97% past 65. Values by age, altitude, and when a reading is an emergency.

7 min readApr 12, 2026

Digital HealthFeatured

Pulse Oximeter for COPD: Complete Guide to Values

88–94% SpO₂: how to use a pulse oximeter with COPD, when to act, CE-certified models, and how to log your data for your pulmonologist.

8 min readApr 12, 2026