If you’re an outdoor enthusiast, then you know that there’s nothing better than getting out into the wild, unplugging, and connecting with nature. But that doesn’t mean you can’t bring along a few devices to help make your experience a little easier (and safer).
We’ve put together this list of our favorite apps to use while exploring the great outdoors. These apps will help you plan your adventures, track your progress while you’re on them, and even find a good place to grab a bite or set up camp when you need it.
Table of Contents
Best Apps For Outdoors
Once viewed as a paradoxical addition to the adventure toolkit, outdoor apps have now become a staple for the backcountry user. Designed to be more energy-efficient and user-friendly, today’s apps give us access to vast amounts of well-presented, accurate real-time data. Armed with that knowledge, we have the ability to roam faster, farther and more safely into the wild than ever before. From navigation and first aid, to planning and weather, here is our guide to the apps that make it onto our home screens and into the backcountry.
PEAKVISOR
Platforms: iOS, Android
Price: US$5.99
Capturing the stunning features of a vista is difficult—but finding out the name and altitude of that mountain range in view isn’t. This app is impressively accurate—just hold your phone up and PeakVisor will label and render the nearby mountain panoramas in high precision 3D. Luckily, all of its 1,000,000 mountains, 2,000+ waterfalls, and 11,000+ mountain huts are automatically available offline so you can identify nearby peaks, pinnacles and spires while at the top of any summit.
FIRST AID
Platforms: iOS, Android
Price: Free
While we always recommend staying up-to-date on backcountry medicine through a professionally taught class, thanks to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies now you can have ready access to basic medical knowledge with the First Aid app. Preloaded content means you can study up on the basics before heading out, and offline capabilities with simple step-by-step instructions can serve as a quick mental backup for simple in-field first aid scenarios. Also included are preparation tips for major emergencies such as hurricanes, earthquakes and tornadoes, as well as integration with worldwide emergency phone numbers so you can call for help right from the app.
GAIA GPS
Platforms: iOS, Android
Price: Basic Free, Member US$19.99, Premium US$39.99
Google maps may rule the road, but Gaia GPS has the run of the mountains. With a deep catalogue of map layers including topo, satellite, road and National Geographic, as well as an intuitive and well-designed interface, this outdoor navigation app rises above the rest. The connected web app makes paper map printing available, while mobile users can track hikes, synchronize data from other apps and use downloadable maps offline.
CAIRN
Platforms: iOS
Price: Basic Free, US$4.99 Premium US$26.99 per year
The Cairn app is a game-changer in outdoor safety. Cairn’s core feature is a tracking function where your chosen contacts can follow your GPS location en-route and automatically receive instructions on how and when to contact search and rescue if you don’t return at your appointed time. The second big draw is a map function that lets you see available cell coverage along your route based on crowdsourced data. With Cairn you also get offline maps and the ability to track and update your own key stats such as distance traveled, elevation gained, and ETA.
SPYGLASS
Platforms: iOS, Android
Price: US$7.99
Spyglass is the swiss-army knife of the outdoor navigation category. Whether you’re mid-ocean or off-piste, this app will help you navigate and track your off-road travel. From an augmented reality view compass, to a speedometer and celestial navigation, the list of features in Spyglass is far too long to list. Suffice to say, if you were dropped in the middle of the tundra with only one app, Spyglass should be it.
ALLTRAILS
Platforms: iOS, Android
Price: Basic Free, Premium US$29.99 per year (lifetime option available)
AllTrails reigns in the day-hike department. While the premium version gives you access to their partnership with National Geographic in printing and editing maps, this app really shines in its sheer volume of user interaction. The free version allows users to easily create, edit and share their own GPS trackable trail reports. 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.
MAPS 3D PRO
Platforms: iOS
Basic: US$3.99, Premium US$13.99
Ever get mid-route and realize you missed more than a couple topo lines on the map? Maps 3D Pro enables you to map out your itinerary while actually seeing the obstacles along the way. Now instead of painstaking plotting on a flat map, you can plan, save, record and share routes in 3D. When you’re done planning, download maps for offline use before you leave for the trailhead.
WEATHER LIVE
Platforms: iOS, Android
Price: Basic Free, Premium varies depending on package
There are many weather apps these days, but Weather Live stands out by offering detailed data in a well-designed and customizable format across iOS and Android platforms. With hourly, daily and 7-day forecast data, the app also incorporates precipitation, pressure, visibility, animated weather radar and more. As all apps that rely on real-time data, it’s not available offline, but you can customize your layout to show relevant info to your upcoming adventure, such as precipitation and incoming storms.
ATLAS’ GUTHOOK GUIDES
Platforms: iOS, Android
Price: Varies depending on map
While Gaia GPS is great for most outdoor activities, if you’re planning a major long-distant route, turn to Atlas’ Guthook Guides. Built by and for thru-hikers, these guides have all the waypoint details you need en route, using your device’s GPS to locate and guide you while offline. There is a comprehensive worldwide list of trails, so make sure to check this app out when contemplating a thru-hike.
STAR WALK 2
Platforms: iOS, Android
Price: US$2.99
Star Walk 2 is best described as augmented reality meets Google maps for the sky. No matter where you are, this app with match your screen up with the stars around you. Imagine sitting in your camp chair and being able to accurately point out any constellation, read about its history and then see it in 3D. A time machine slider allows you to view the sky in the past or future, while a “Visible Tonight” section lists all the current astronomical events and celestial objects in in your location.
apps for adventure seekers
Adventure? There’s an app for that! In fact, there are dozens of apps for people who embrace travel, the great outdoors, and extreme sports. There are even apps for people whose adventure is a little more lowkey (like nature hikes and bird watching).
Whether you live on the edge or closer to the ground, the following five apps can help you make the most of your moments:
iTranslate
Remember your Spanish teacher from high school who told you that you’d never learn the language because you always skipped class? Boy, was she wrong! iTranslate helps you learn words and phrases in over 50 languages. You choose a word and the language you need it translated into and your smartphone will do the rest.
Wikitude
This app is perfect for travelers: point your phone at any location and the internet will tell you what’s nearby. Wikitude can do this for most popular destinations, though it’s most accurate in Europe and the United States. You can use it to find everything from hotels to Hardees.
Take My Shift
The Take My Shift app is the perfect addition for adventure seekers who don’t want their pesky jobs getting in the way of all their fun. This app is designed for a staff of 20 or less who want to manage their shifts spontaneously. Using it helps avoid group texting and mass emails – simply use the app to see who can clock in while you’re flying down the slopes.
Adventure Junky
Adventure Junky is desired to unite like-minded adrenaline seekers from all over the world; it provides a social network of sorts for those looking for everything from white water rafting to paragliding. But it’s not just about learning where the best snowboarding is or which beach has the highest waves; it also allows people to compete with one another, earn awards, and share their own experiences.
Miss Travel
Dating is, of course, its own type of adventure. But this app takes it even further. Miss Travel lives by the tagline “never travel alone” and allows people to find someone with which to take a trip. Among the app’s benefits: proposing trip ideas, determining the type of trip, and even deciding who pays. You can also choose to have your potential mate come to you, you can choose to go to them, or you can choose to meet somewhere neither of you reside.
If you seek adventure, then the world is your playground! These apps can help you plan, prepare, or simply be spontaneous.
A Take My Shift attendance policy helps keep adventure on the to-do list. Don’t forget to sign up for our mailing list. We’ll keep you up-to-date on how to keep your life full and fun. And download our app for tips and tricks on the go. You can get it at iTunes or the Google Play Store.
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