As you will have seen last week, we published a post on the very best apps for camping where we went into some detail about how campers are using the technology available to enrich their camping experience.
This week we wanted to focus on the apps that people can use when they go hiking:
Taking in the amazing scenery is only one reason why hiking is such a popular pastime with people in the UK and the rest of the world. The other is the fitness aspect - folk love combining their time spent outdoors with getting healthier. That’s why apps like MapMyHike are becoming regular features on the the app store most downloaded lists, as they give you the option to track and record the different fitness aspects of your hike.
Thanks to the GPS tracking functionality on this app, you can track how many calories you've burned, the distance covered, an elevation profile, your average pace and a whole lot more. Although this is all in the free version, the premium version even includes features such as personal training and a heartbeat monitor.
You can download the app for Apple devices here or here for Android.
If you’re looking for ways to add another dimension to your hikes (and maybe even add an element of competition to them), then you need to check out Geocaching. Here’s a simple definition:
Geocaching is a real-world, outdoor treasure hunting game using GPS-enabled devices. Participants navigate to a specific set of GPS coordinates and then attempt to find the geocache (container) hidden at that location.
So, through the Geocaching app you can turn your hikes into a treasure hunt. The app is incredibly simple to use, with routes suggested to the geocaches you want to find and clues about where you’ll have to go digging about for them. That’s no exaggeration - to find some of the trickier geocaches expect to be putting your hands into interesting places and routing around tree trunks. It all adds to the fun!
One of our favourite things about the Geocaching app is the sense of community. In each of the containers you’ll find a notebook for you to sign, and a selection of treasures that you can take but have to replace with something of equal or greater value.
If you’re interested in Geocaching (there is a free version and a premium priced at £7.99) then you can download the app here for Apple devices and here for Android.
Hill Lists is a brilliantly well put together app for all the hill walkers out there. With detailed data compiled on some of the most popular hills in the UK and Ireland, it really adds extra depth to the experience of walking some of the most iconic routes across Great Britain and Ireland.
The hills in the app include:
Although there are many, many more on the app.
As well as providing external links to locations where you can get more detailed walking route information, you can add ascents, dates and notes for the hills you have climbed, view weather information for selected regions and share your location by email or SMS.
You can download the app here for Apple devices (it’s not currently supported on Android).
Are there any great apps for hiking that you are using? We’d love to hear.
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With spring just around the corner and camping season set to take off again in 2015, we wanted to take a look at something that is becoming increasingly popular with everyone from casual campers to seasoned experts – technology. More specifically, the very best apps for campers. Got a question about camping? Chances are that […]
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