The Komoot app also keeps track of your activities and allows you to connect with other hikers around the world. . All Trails doesn't do nearly as many maps nor have the GPS tools of Gaia, but what it does do well is have a canned library of hikes to access. The quest for “miles” can also interfere with enjoyment of the experience. – advises when you are off route by showing what direction you are going and the direction you should be going When you link your activity to a trail, it means that you are contributing to the AllTrails community by making your activity viewable on the associated trail's page. Discover the best hikes in the United States. Your email address will not be published. Besides from that, it is relatively easy to use and even comes with preloaded trails which will unfortunately only work if you are connected to the internet. I was out to enjoy my hiking experience, and though I was sore, tired, and often wet, I remember clearly each state I passed through. I don’t want micro planning of a day trip as it takes the fun out of it. It is incredibly useful, to be sure, but I really like the idea of using it in list mode while hiking. One such feature is turn-by-turn voice navigation – yes, even on hiking trails! AllTrails is a hiking and running app known for its guides to more than 50,000 trails across North America, including photos, reviews, and tracks. During the brief overview of the hiking apps that made it into our initial selection, we never thought that the Green Tracks app would rank on the first place – the app stood out by its graphic design and not in a positive way. For those hikers concerned about weight and space in their packs, the book is lightweight (4.9 ounces) and compact (5 by 8 inches and a quarter inch thick). By GPS navigation we mean that the app can show your current location and direction on a map and supports import of GPS tracks. 1% for the planet. It includes filters for preferences like difficulty, trail length, elevation, dog-friendly, loop vs. out and back, etc. I set a reasonable goal each day, learned to go easy on the downs, respect the trail, and be flexible. Note that we only tested free features – for example some apps offer offline maps, but you need to purchase them. Usually, I check not long after I had the thought. 7. When I returned to finish my hike this year, I didn’t think twice and ordered the 2018 Appalachian Trail Data Book. Testing all of these properly during hiking trips to determine what to use would take an obscene amount of time. It has good reviews on Google Play . Discovered I could use it for hiking as well. Price: Basic free version or paid Pro version $29.99/year Use Offline: Yes, with Pro version Best For: Finding nearby trails for walking, hiking, and biking Available for: iOS / Android With the rise of the smartphone within the last decade there has been a corresponding rise in navigation apps. Now I can barely remain present. tis a great tool for visiting a new place and seeing what you can do in the area. Day four of my Guthook addiction includes Dragon’s Tooth and Tinker Cliffs. Well, there is a trick – if you click on edit route in the app, the app starts showing your location as well as the route So, theoretically it possible to use it for navigation. I’ll check out the app! Great overview, Guthook's contains information such as shelters, water sources, town and facility information. I think you’ve got a good take on Guthook. I use Alltrails to draw routes, it is very good, with a lot of different maps and overlayer to choose. Not even Guthook. I got back on the trail at Pearisburg, Va. Guthook is great so far. I’m planning to update this review soon and I’ll test the apps you mentioned. This app from REI is a living database that offers over 35,000 trails … In our opinion every hiking app should provide GPS navigation and GPS tracking. The A-GPS Tracker hiking app seemed like a less sophisticated version of the Green Tracks app. Account Basics. The trail is rocky and technical beyond anything I have experienced so far on the trail. Furthermore, hiking apps can also track your hikes and show you details about each hike such as the duration, distance, ascent, decent etc. You… Do you know any app (or webpage) that contains estimated times? Hopefully, the developers will fix this bug soon. There’s a free version on their website and a donate version in the Playstore. Games Details: 3. Let us know in the comments below. For breadcrumb trails I typically use my Suunto 9watch. You should never rely solely on your smartphone (regardless of hiking app) because its functionality is limited by battery life and availability of GPS signal. Reply. I can’t wait to read your new review of hiking apps 2021! Route fly-through on a superb 3D aerial photographic base. Although, it offers in-app purchases to avail of some of its premium contents. The hike leaders were really impressed. I actually preferred knowing what what ahead of me in terms of climbs. Nevertheless, I’m pretty sure Komoot supports this. Lately, I’ve been regularly using Gaia GPS (on desktop) for planning hiking routes because Suunto is discontinuing Movescount which I had been using before. I anticipate every climb, hoping that I will get to the next shelter and miss the rain. We would thus like to see that more types of maps were available. AllTrails opens with a list of nearby trails and a thumbnail summary of their name, rating, and location. GPS tracks are very useful for hiking because it is easy to get them online and they make navigation during hikes easier. There are preloaded trails in Komoot, though. Guthook's is a trail guide that has GPS capabilities. The goal is to visit real hills and peaks, get points for it, compare score with other users and possibly win trophies. 2021 Guthook also does well with an easily downloadable map but doesn’t give you the option of adding your own waypoints. AtlasGuides. Price: Basic free version or paid Pro version $29.99/year Use Offline: Yes, with Pro version Best For: Finding nearby trails for walking, hiking, and biking Available for: iOS / Android For the first six weeks of my hike I was content. Thank you!!! This thread is archived. I loved having the Data Book, and though I had maps I never obsessed over the elevations. However, after carefully testing the app we figured out that it is very easy to use. It’s a high-tech version of my Data Book use that I truly enjoy. Is there an app for it? and shows a lot of live data about your hike (ascent, distance, elevation graph etc.). The following eight apps made it into our initial selection: Map My Hike, AllTrails, Komoot, Hiking Project, Gaia GPS, Green Tracks, A-GPS Tracker and AlpineQuest GPS Hiking Lite. I wonder where I was on the climb. 10,000 trees (and counting) From our birthday to employee anniversaries, we celebrate by giving to One Tree Planted. that’s wonderful. Trial Run. How to Train for Hiking and Backpacking – A Beginner’s Guide. Since many trails often have more than one possible route, it can be helpful to check out other users' saved activity tracks for inspiration. What we didn’t like about this app was that if you touch the map, it stops updating your location until you press the re-center button again. The app is very easy to use and comes with several very useful features. Thanks for the suggestion. The Gaia GPS and Green Tracks apps have the best topographic maps. Update for Komoot: since a few weeks you can zoom in very very detailed. Not that I would know. AtlasGuides. share. It uses your mobile device's internal GPS to display… Lots of maps and free offline maps too. The rain never comes. I’m new to this and my needs are simple I think. When I’m not looking at my phone I see the the Guthook screen in my mind: kelly green profile against a royal blue sky. From those we choose the best five and reviewed them here. The app also keeps track of your activities and shows you how much you hiked each month. Using AllTrails It is Hill Hunter GPS. Why should you wear quick drying clothes for hiking? While you are hiking the app also draws a breadcrumb trail on the map (note: all apps in this selection have this feature). It seems the maps are very good. Nothing prepared me for the descent from Dragon’s Tooth. Maps 3D Pro. Guthook: If I was never allowed to hike anywhere but Maine and Vermont, I would be perfectly happy (especially the coastal mountains in Maine, all of Baxter State Park, the northern end of the Long Trail, and the quiet season on the AT in Maine). © Includes apps for iOS and Android. You need to manually export a GPS track and import it to a phone app. Naturally it does the GPS thing to tell you where you are, where your going etc. Guthook Guides. It’s fail proof except for one thing, and that is forgetting to do it at even one junction, which happened recently and a 3 hour evening mountain bike ride turned into a 2 day ” oh dear,” culminating in a helicopter rescue. Mileage is compatible with the Guthook Guides Pacific Crest Trail Guide (found on the iPhone & Android apps). We also didn’t figure out how to export GPS tracks from the app. Thanks for letting me know about this app Evan. The thought popped into my head that Guthook would make it easier to plan water during this section, and the idea stuck. I would like to see your review, as well, about the apps: ViewRanger, MyTrails and Locus. The hike descriptions are short and vague and can easily lead someone into undertaking a hike they are not adequately prepared for. Each step is only a step but they all add up to the almost unfathomable goal each thru-hiker holds. It was when I went home for a few days that I started thinking about Guthook. If using technology interferes with enjoyment of the experience, it’s time to make an adjustment. I use Alltrails Pro which allows extra layers to be downloaded for use offline. You mention this for Gaia. I think more or less all apps that are listed above support breadcrumb trails. Thank you for the review, I tried a couple of these but they are pro hiker oriented and do not satisfy a rather simple need: create a breadcrumb trail as you wander about, using GPS and an offline map, then use the breadcrumbs to take you back home (preferably using turn-by-turn voice assistance). I will add just one more interesting one as it is more hiking location based game than pure navigation app. The AllTrails app is simple and easy to use. It will work with many online WMS/REST mapservers to get additional maps, which you can then download for offline use. After finishing a trail you can upload the track on other apps like Wikiloc, Koomot, Garmin, Relive. What sets it apart, other than the visual layout of course, is the technical details. New to AllTrails. More expensive, however they offer lots of great features that work for me. I need a (Android) smartphone app that lays a trail of breadcrumbs such that I can find my way back again. We recommend Gaia GPS hiking app to those who find the design of the Green Tracks app outdated or have an iOS device (the Green Tracks app is not available for iOS). *The newsletter is sent approximately once per month. … My friend chose this guidebook when we started the AT in 2012. Route plotting (at scales to 1:25,000) with distance, time, elevation data, and easy route editing. I added these apps to my list and will test them before I next time update the article . You can switch to map view to see them pinned to a map around your area. I kept a log of my hike by marking camp spots and dates. You can also record your tracks for others to view and follow. Furthermore, the Gaia GPS app supports satellite map and road map. Guthook's allows users to comment on all waypoints to give status on them that is available to all users. I’ll test it before I again update this article. Available for: Android and iOS. Covering over 100,000 trails and with 3.5 million downloads, AllTrails is one of the most popular hike planning app available. It’s an incredibly hot day and I end up running out of water two miles from a hostel. With Star Walk 2, you can identify the constellations above you when you’re on an evening hike or backpacking trip. Detailed, map-based hiking guide for the Pacific Crest Trail that works offline. Worth a second look from you. However, the AllTrails app provides you with much less information about your hike than the Gaia GPS app and has a less sophisticated topographic map. AllTrails AllTrails is an outstanding hike planning app. Note: You might ask yourself why we are so focused on GPS tracks. It does seem that you can now export GPS tracks in AllTrails app without the premium plan (source). Guthook is an app that provides a GPS-capable map and trail guide for your phone. In such case, we marked this feature as non-existent. Save hikes to to your phone, get driving directions to trailheads, and download GPX and KML files for GPS devices and apps. In some cases it can indeed be more enjoyable But it depends on the trail, terrain etc. The community reviews are monitored by AllTrails and include an abundance of useful information and honest user feedback. I will try it out before I update this post . Detailed, map-based hiking and mountain biking guide for the Arizona Trail. For the last couple of weeks, we have been testing the 8 top-rated hiking apps on Google Play. Guthook's allows users to comment on all waypoints to give status on them that is available to all users. I had failed to see it because my eyes were glued to the 0.1 mile-mark-to-campsite and the bobbing blue sphere marking my current location. Read more about us or check out our latest gear reviews and hikes. Gift Pro. Browse hiking trails for the best parks, lakes, campsites, and other places to visit. I link up with friends and we hike on together in the sunshine. I see it has good reviews. 92% Upvoted. Juan, most phones and tablets have a GPS in them and can be used for navigation in conjunction with your watch. I’ve asked other hikers and they have their favorite aspects but most tend to agree that having the elevation profile handy had potential to negatively affect your hike. Going GPS-free can be much more enjoyable. Guthook tells me the accuracy of the GPS can be affected by tree cover, but usually it’s not. The AT in each of those states is getting a little too crowded for my tastes, but it’s not hard to avoid those folk. Is it also available for any of the others? Planning for water is easier during the 13-mile section with no water sources between Rice Field Shelter and Pine Swamp Branch. I remember a notch in New Hampshire. The Map My Hike app didn’t make it either, because it only supports road maps and thus it seems more oriented towards those who like to walk within cities. You can also record your tracks for others to view and follow. Enjoyed your story, Inspector Gadget, 5 Reasons Why I Chose to Flip-Flop the Appalachian Trail, Mud, Rocks, Blazes: Heather Anderson on Her New Book (Plus a Giveaway), ATC Rejects Mountain Valley Pipeline Opponents' Request to See $19.5 Million Agreement, As Trail Days Moves Forward, Hikers Wonder About Safety, My First Week Thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail, ATC Reveals Further Details of $19.5M Pipeline Agreement, The Benton MacKaye Trail: An Alternative to the AT in 2021, Brood X Cicadas to Emerge on Appalachian Trail After 17 Years, Appalachian Trail Magic: A Bill Irwin Memory. Also note that smartphones cannot compare to handheld GPS devices or GPS watches when it comes to battery life and durability. This website contains affiliate links, which means The Trek may receive a percentage of any product or service you purchase using the links in the articles or advertisements. AllTrail's browse capability lets you locate trails closest to you. . A list of best-hiking apps for mobile wouldn’t be complete without Maps 3D Pro. I found Guthook to be very useful on my 340 mile section hike this spring. The A-GPS Tracker app does not support a topographic map. Have you looked at Topo Maps+ application? I attempted to describe how in-the-moment you have to be in order to wake up and hike every day. I use Koomot only in Tirol as this is the region I got when I subscribed. Guthook's Pacific Crest Trail Guide. Required fields are marked *, 39 comments on “Best Hiking Apps of 2021 – Tested and Reviewed”. Home; Alltrails pro vs free game; Best Hiking Apps of 2021. Or even allow you planning tours (by setting start and end of tour and displaying estimated time)? AllTrails is a hiking and running app known for its guides to more than 50,000 trails across North America, including photos, reviews, and tracks. Download on iOS . Keep in mind that GSM signal is not always available in remote or mountainous regions and thus offline maps are indeed a very useful feature. For example, if we travel to France and want to climb some mountain, we check if there is any GPS track for that mountain available online – and there usually is. During the last two miles mountain laurel bushes veil any view of the shelter and I compulsively check the app. Alltrails is packed with trails in whatever corner of the country you find yourself in. Best Hiking Apps of 2021 – Tested and Reviewed. I’m looking for an hiking app for my Android smartphone. It wasn’t long before I began occasionally asking other hikers with the app if we had passed a campsite, or if they had additional water sources listed. The biggest problems will come from being in deep valleys and canyons, or being under dense tree cover while it’s raining heavily. Great for finding out if a water source is running or if shelters have pest problems. – create a route in advance so can advise fellow hikers on distance of hike and show them the trail in advance; It also shows less information about your hike than the other apps in this review. Thanks for the update Hugo. I’m not familiar with Locus Pro, but I will check it for sure. unfortunately, I don’t know any such app/website. As I began to consider logistics and timing of my town visits I realized I wanted more information on towns while I hiked. The community reviews are monitored by AllTrails and include an abundance of useful information and honest user feedback. If they came, I climbed. I had a buddy using Gaia with me on the CT, but I didn't see anything that made me think it was better or worse than AllTrails. Reply. Great for long-distance hikes. When I was close to town, I pulled out AWOL’s pages and called hotels for reservations and planned my zero days. Is there any app for phones/tablets able to receive GPS data from the watch (Suunto, Garmin) and handle maps, waypoints and routes? I'm in this boat as well. The Hiking Project app did not qualify because it does not support GPS tracks and therefore you cannot plan a route for your hike beforehand. Looking forward to a future report on it. I’ve always used map and compass, (the compass didn’t get used all that often on AT but on other trails, plenty). Also, if you’re close to either the South Pole or North Pole, that will also affect things. – pre load routes for offline usage during hike no need for data or wifi while hiking Thanks for pointing out this app Carl. And create they do; with over 50,000 U.S and Canadian trails uploaded so far, AllTrails is the leader in up-to-date trail photos and reports. It’s true that these app might be a bit complicated for beginners but I haven’t heard of any simpler app with such features . The Colorado Trail Hiker. Whether you’re celebrating someone you love or getting to know someone new, AllTrails Pro makes the perfect gift for the adventurer in your life. The app is also very easy to use and comes with a great topographic map. I'm a NOBO '18 AT Thru-hiker. I’m able to find campsites up on the ridge, how many tent sites are at each, and any comments from previous hikers. However, the new Suunto app keeps routes in sync with the watch, but it doesn’t provide navigation. I have used guthook before for my time on the AT, but I like AllTrails more. Through an inexpensive subscription, we have access to a wonderful range of services, on a desktop, iPad or phone app. In love with via ferrata trails and snow-covered slopes. Reply. AllTrail's browse capability lets you locate trails closest to you. The app calculates this location in relation to points both ahead and behind you. Guthook is free to download on Android and iOS. The Gaia GPS app, has the best topographic map of all apps reviewed here. A portion of every Pro membership goes to protecting the wild places we cherish. Hiking Footwear Guide – How to choose the right footwear? I had my Data Book, which was always strapped at the top of my pack for easy access. To use GPS tracks you need to transfer them to your smartphone storage (via cable, Google Drive, email etc.) See a list of the top 4 options and learn their pros and cons. Just wanted to note that you can import and export GPS tracks in AllTrails. ‎Guthook Guides is the most popular app for hiking on long-distance trails! How to Pack Lighter for Hiking and Backpacking? – using same app and device, can create a scenic drive to and from the trailhead; Interactive Hiking Checklists for Different Conditions, Suunto Body Resources and Sleep Tracking: Hands-on, FreeReign Everyday Tank top with Built-In Bra Review, Sherpa Adventure Gear Makalu Jacket Review, Arms of Andes Alpaca 110 Naturally Dyed T-shirt Review, Your email address will not be published. This time, I’m organizing drop boxes. Getting GPS tracks to the app was quite a hassle – definitely more complicated than with the other hiking apps in this selection. Follow my hike more on Instagram, or at my website [www.theoneswhowalk.com] for my A.T. story-collecting project. We were testing features, accuracy, ease of use and battery consumption. Thanks for review. Thank you Blaz for this review!!! Responsive and helpful support team too. Alltrails is packed with trails in whatever corner of the country you find yourself in. At this point I am checking Guthook frequently. So tried it two ways: 1 to record a hike, 2 to create a route for a hike and then hike that route. Hiked in the Alps, Iceland and other countries. Congratulations! Great for finding out if a water source is running or if shelters have pest problems. I usually had the ATC guide when on the AT, and it showed trail profiles. As Fran said above, if the trail went up, I just kept walking. What is your experience with hiking apps? The maps and tracks/route need to be installed on the device before heading out to prevent battery drain in low or non existent service areas and when using for navigation should be placed in airplane mode. Is it possible? A letdown is that the app only comes with a topographic map which can’t be zoomed in adequately. Steeper climb, slower walk. Thanks. The app can be downloaded onto either an iPhone or Android. For the testing a OnePlus One Android device was used to ensure that all apps also work on older devices. Premium maps available to purchase if you need them. – voice navigation, so I’m not always looking at the phone; To learn more about GPS tracks check out our article What are GPS tracks and how to use them for hiking. I’ll check it out! Experiment: Does Polyester Really Dry Faster Than Merino Wool? I used to know my pace almost down to the minute. GPS Trail Guides have preloaded trails and information that hikers need to plan routes and follow trails GPS-Enabled Trail Guides. This channel is Agenda Free and is fully supported by the viewers. Platforms: iOS, Android. Our Guthook Guides smartphone apps feature world-class hikes, wilderness regions, and trails from all over the world. “I can’t say it’s better or worse, it’s The Gaia GPS hiking app impressed us with live data while we were hiking – no other app in this review shows you so much information about your hike (speed graph, elevation graph, highest point and all other kinds of important information). The AllTrails hiking app has a good interface and comes with road, satellite and topographic map like the Gaia GPS app mentioned above.