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I-Phone Hiking Apps
#38961 07/24/14 04:54 PM
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Well I have finally entered the world of smartphones (my blackberry went Salmon fishing last week) and looking for suggestions from you all for the best GPS, map, hiking, picture apps.

What say you all?

Re: I-Phone Hiking Apps
Chicagocwright #38965 07/24/14 07:24 PM
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I use Motion-X gps. App is cheap and downloads of terrain maps are free. I have downloaded maps for Peru and Nepal as well as the Sierra. Sometimes they are more accurate and detailed than Nat Geo maps or other competitors. I've been impressed with the accuracy.

I also have a variety of Tom Harrison maps and the JMT map pack on my iPhone, GPS-enabled apps. Nice to be able to idiot check my read of paper topo. Has helped me get better and more confident with paper topo.

Re: I-Phone Hiking Apps
Chicagocwright #38967 07/24/14 08:17 PM
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My main use for a hiking app is to keep track of things like my pace to maintain the proper rhythm (not too fast or slow), elevation profile, and all those sorts of other metrics. I don't count on it for mapping, though the app I use does have some basic mapping capability.

The app I use is Walkmeter. I really like it and it has tons of use for tracking and logging training hikes as you work up to big goals like Whitney. I know everything from how many feet I've climbed on trails this year to how many miles I have on my hiking boots.

I'm sure there are folks with a lot more experience with different apps, but that's my 2 cents.

Re: I-Phone Hiking Apps
Chicagocwright #38969 07/24/14 09:16 PM
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Like Jammer, I use mobile apps more for tracking speed, distance, elevation gain, etc.., than GPS tracking or map reading. I tried several apps, and didn't feel confident in the GPS capabilities of my iPhone. I tried maybe 4-5 apps, and the only one still on my phone after 5 years is MapMyHike. There's a free version and I like it for tracking everything from walks to hikes, but typically for training or day hikes.

Once I get out in the wilderness, though, it's a huge battery and data drain (as most apps that require constant signal are) and the reliability really starts to diminish. Most notably, on a hike in the Northern Sierra (in the Grouse Ridge area) it noted my ~5 mile hike as being close to 30 miles, with a straight line trajectory out and back for ~12 miles right in the middle of the hike. Not something I'd care to rely on if my positioning depended on the app!

Re: I-Phone Hiking Apps
Chris B #38970 07/24/14 10:26 PM
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Thanks for the info. Anyone heard of EveryTrail Pro?

Re: I-Phone Hiking Apps
Chicagocwright #38998 07/25/14 11:38 AM
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I use Gaia GPS - there are a bunch of different maps that you can view (USGS, OpenStreetMap, Google Terrain, etc) and download areas for offline viewing. I've used it on various hikes deep in the wilderness and on Whitney, mostly to see where I am and become more comfortable with topographical map reading. It's a great app with excellent support and they keep adding useful features.

I don't track my mileage and elevation gain/loss like the people above me do, but I'd like to start (though the data/battery drain is a worry).

Edit: Gaia also has the ability to show pace and avg. speed. I just never pay attention to those numbers.

Last edited by goldscott; 07/25/14 11:39 AM.
Re: I-Phone Hiking Apps
goldscott #39002 07/25/14 12:13 PM
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I use Avenza for GPS and maps. App is free but most of the useful maps cost between $2.00 to $8.00. I think Whitney Zone map was over $7.00.

I have not used anything else so hard to comment on how it compares.

But I found it very useful on my hikes and as long as I had the map downloaded it seems nearly impossible to get lost... as long as your battery doesn't die.


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