Hosted by Trevor Connor and Rob Pickels, the Fast Talk podcast recently had Dr. Peter Hackett and Jon Jonis to discuss altitude training camps, altitude tents, and the related physiology as it relates to cardio improvement. Dr. Hackett is the head of Mountain Air Cardio’s scientific advisory board and the director of the Institute for Altitude Medicine. Jonis is Mountain Air Cardio’s Co-founder and CEO.

The Fast Talk podcast explores the science behind achieving maximum performance. The hosts focus on endurance athletes, including their training, nutrition, and psychology, and chat with leading experts from around the world. There are currently more than 200 episodes available on all the most popular podcasting platforms, including Spotify, Google Podcasts, and Apple Podcasts.

Even if you’re not actively training for a race or trying to achieve peak physical performance, this Fast Talk episode is worth a listen. After all, virtually anyone who wants to improve their cardiovascular fitness can benefit from learning more about altitude tents. If you can’t spare a whole hour, however, we’ve compiled some of the most compelling snippets for you to enjoy below:

Discussion on Live High Train Low (2:42):

Living high and training low appears to be the most effective combination for maximizing performance as an endurance athlete. If you reside at a lower altitude and can’t change where you live, you can at least change how you live (by sleeping in an altitude tent, for example).

Elevation Tent Best Practices (3:42):

In an elevation tent, a simulated altitude of between 8,000 and 10,000 feet appears to be the sweet spot for those who want to reap the most benefit. As for the ideal number of nights, sleeping at altitude for four to six weeks before the event seems to be the optimal duration.

Initial Acclimatization Response (2:34):

It’s a common misconception that acclimatization to altitude increases red blood cell count in a matter of days. In reality, it takes weeks for an increase in red cell mass to occur. If you travel to a location with a higher altitude, your hemoglobin concentration might be higher after just a few days, but that’s because you lose plasma volume in the first 24 to 48 hours at altitude.

Considerations When Selecting an Altitude System (0:49):

Not all elevation tents are created equal. Moreover, most of those that are available on the market today are fully sealed, which makes for massive temperature, humidity, and CO2 spikes. When shopping around, look for a system that’s continuously ventilated and has environmental sensors inside it.

Discussion on how high and how long (1:51):

At minimum, you should spend four weeks at 2,000 meters (6,600 feet) or more to reap noticeable benefits from altitude training. That means if you’re comparing altitude training camps, you should look for those that last for three to four weeks, as opposed to just one or two weeks.

How Altitude Affects Recovery and Heart Rate Variability (1:53):

In an elevation tent, you can increase the altitude slowly. Athletes are generally encouraged to increase their altitude by 500-foot increments each night while monitoring their metrics (heart rate variability, REM sleep, and deep sleep) closely. If any of these metrics start to drop during the ascent phase, it means they’ve gone too high too fast, and they need to let their body catch up.

Physiological Responses to Altitude (4:20):

When you’re exposed to altitude, there are a number of adaptations and responses that occur within your body. It’s important to keep in mind that not all of these changes are useful or even necessarily positive, which is why ongoing monitoring is so important.

Buy or Rent an Elevation Tent Today!

Did the podcast convince you of the benefits of using altitude tents for cardio improvement? If you want to experience the difference for yourself, turn to Mountain Air Cardio. Whether you’re training for an upcoming race, trying to lose weight, or looking to improve your cardiovascular fitness, our innovative system can help. If your doctor says you’re a good candidate for altitude training, check out our elevation tents here!