Pre-acclimatization can help some mountain athletes prepare for altitude, but it is not a shortcut and it does not replace aerobic fitness, progressive ascent, or on-mountain acclimatization. The most useful approaches are individualized, monitored, and integrated with the training plan rather than used as generic DIY protocols. For years, altitude tents and simulated-altitude systems were surrounded by a mix of hope, skepticism, marketing, and confusion. Some athletes saw th