One of PitStopper's most powerful features is the ability to create and save custom presets. Instead of manually selecting categories every time, you can configure exactly what you need once and reuse it for all your future routes.

Why Use Custom Presets?

Different activities have different needs:

• Day hikers might only need water sources and viewpoints
• Bikepackers need water, food, camping, and bike shops
• Touring cyclists want fuel stations, accommodations, and restaurants
• Trail runners focus on water and emergency access points

Creating a preset means you can instantly apply your preferred settings with one click.

Creating Your First Preset

Step 1: Select Your Categories

Start by clicking on the POI categories you need. You can expand each group to see individual options:

• Water (drinking fountains, water sources)
• Food (cafes, restaurants, grocery stores)
• Accommodation (hotels, camping)
• Services (bike shops, pharmacies)

Step 2: Adjust Search Distances

For each category, you can set a custom search distance:

1. Click the pencil icon next to any category
2. Enter your desired search radius
3. Choose meters, kilometers, or miles

Step 3: Set POI Limits

If you don't want to be overwhelmed with results:

1. Enable "Limit POIs per Category" in the sidebar
2. Use the slider to set your maximum
3. The closest POIs to your route are always kept

Step 4: Save Your Preset

Click the "Save" button in the Quick Presets section:

1. Enter a descriptive name (e.g., "Weekend Bikepacking")
2. Choose to save to browser storage or download as a file

Loading Presets

To use a saved preset:

1. Click "Load" in the Quick Presets section
2. Select from browser storage or upload a file
3. Your categories and settings are instantly applied

Sharing Presets

Downloaded preset files (JSON format) can be:

• Shared with friends
• Backed up to cloud storage
• Transferred between devices
• Posted in community forums

Preset Ideas

Here are some presets you might want to create:

Minimalist Runner

• Water sources (500m)
• Toilets (300m)
• Limit: 5 per category

Full Touring

• All water categories
• All food categories
• Accommodations
• Fuel stations
• Bike shops (5km radius)

Emergency Only

• Hospitals
• Pharmacies
• Police stations

Conclusion

Custom presets save time and ensure consistency across all your route planning. Spend a few minutes setting up your ideal configuration once, and you'll never have to manually select categories again.

For more details on the category system, see our Help documentation.