The best hiking apps for iPhone
Those who hike want to be on the move as easily as possible. Thanks to the best hiking apps on your iPhone, you save a lot of equipment - and frustration, because you won't get lost even without a network connection! Depending on your taste, you can follow your hiking trails through 3D mountain landscapes, with lots of statistics or previous, meticulous planning.
1. Hiking app for your iPhone: MotionX GPS - the navigation
- "MotionX GPS" is a must-have for sports hikers interested in statistics with many important functions, but at a relatively low price of 1.79 euros at the time of testing.
- The iOS app has already won several awards from specialist magazines for outdoor sports and is not only suitable for hiking tours, but also for other outdoor activities.
- You can always keep an eye on your average speed and the speed you have already covered, as well as the degree of incline. In addition, there are many maps and route tips for free download worldwide, which you can also use perfectly offline and on the go.
- "MotionX GPS" is particularly strong in areas far from known routes and paths, when other apps quickly lose their way.
- You are also directly connected to social networks such as Facebook and Twitter in the app and can snap your photos directly in "MotionX" and add geotags.
- There is an interactive stopwatch and real-time navigation with a compass for orientation and measurement.
- An impressive three-dimensional iOS alternative is Maps 3D - GPS tracks for bicycles, hiking, skiing & outdoor: a very chic GPS tracking program that costs 4.49 euros at the time of the test. This investment pays off quickly, especially if you hike through the mountains, because you follow your path in impressive 3D maps that can even be downloaded beforehand. This gives you a realistic impression of inclines, and you can even zoom in and rotate the map, as well as use altitude, route planners and waypoints.
2. Hiking app for your iPhone: wetter.com - the weather app
- The wetter.com website has also conquered the iPhone with its iOS app of the same name, "wetter.com".
- This gives you a rain radar for Germany and Spain, which is of course important for hiking planning.
- For the Pro version, you currently pay 1.79 euros and get the weather forecast for the next ten days in advance - of course, without guarantee.
3. Hiking app for your iPhone: Survival Guide - the survival aid
- The free "Survival Guide" gives you valuable tips on how to behave in outdoor danger situations.
- The findings of the iOS app are based on recommendations from the US military for trips into the great outdoors and are only available in English.
- For this, you will be shown how you can build a shelter in an emergency and survive with plants as food - in case you stray from the right path despite the navigation app - and into a storm despite the weather app.
4. Hiking app for your iPhone: First Aid DRK - the SOS app
- "First Aid DRK" is the official iOS app of the German Red Cross.
- Should something happen to you or a fellow hiker on the way - which of course is not to be hoped for! - you are also equipped for emergencies and can take important immediate measures. Even if your last first aid course was a long time ago.
- The iPhone app guides you interactively with yes and no questions through emergency situations with voice, text and image instructions. It currently costs 79 cents, which in extreme cases can even save a life.
GPS can quickly drain your iPhone's battery. Hence the general tip to purchase a solar charger for longer tours. You can find tips for this in the next CHIP practical tip. You can also read ideas here to save your iPhone's battery by switching off some features.