Use your angles.

TRAIL TIP Nº 1ANY HILL · ANY DAY

Use your angles.

That's what our camp counselor said every time the trail turned straight up the mountain. Don't march up the fall line. Cut across it, back and forth, and the hill gets shallower under your feet.

Turns out it works on a lot more than hills. When something resists you head-on, come at it at an angle.

Find your angle Share yours

Try it on a hill.

How steep is the hill?

Your angle off straight-up

Grade you walk–

Distance–

Feels like–

your grade = hill grade × cos(angle)

THE ANGLES

Everyday problems, solved at an angle.

Less effort

Take it at an angle and it gets easier.

Less effort Walking up a steep hill?Zigzag across the slope Less effort Going too fast on skis?Point across the hill, not down it Less effort Mowing a hill?Push mowers across, riders up and down Less effort Building a ramp?1 inch of rise per 12 inches of ramp (about 4.8°)

Doesn't catch

Meet the obstacle one point at a time.

Doesn't catch Shovel keeps catching?Turn the blade off square Doesn't catch Couch won't fit through the door?Stand it on end, hook and pivot

The sweet spot

One angle works better than all the others.

The sweet spot Ladder feel sketchy?About 75°: 1 foot out for every 4 feet up The sweet spot Too much foam?Tilt the glass 45°, straighten halfway The sweet spot Stone sinks on the first skip?About 20° between the stone and the water The sweet spot Shots clanking off the back rim?Shoot higher than feels natural The sweet spot Knife won't stay sharp?15° for Asian-style knives, 20° for Western The sweet spot Getting less from your panels?Tilt about equal to your latitude

And when not to use your anglesBike tires on rail tracks, flower stems and riding mowers →

#USEYOURANGLES

From the community.

Angles people have shared. Vote for the ones that work.

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