The Apple Watch is an excellent asset to hikers and a must-have for those who need to take total control of their hiking adventures. However, you can only maximize the potential of this gadget around your wrist by installing hiking-related apps. In this article, we will help you make the right decision as we review and recommend 5 best hiking apps for Apple Watch.
What Are Hiking Apps?
Hiking apps are mobile applications that help hikers maximize their adventures and get the best out of them. These apps come with various features that allow hikers to access information about their present location, weather, safety, and other related hiking details.
The best hiking apps are available for both Android and iPhone users and include some of the following features which were considered before we recommend our top apps:
- GPS & Trail Map
- Weather Forecast & Updates
- Route Planner
- Timer
- Safety Alerts
5 Best Hiking Apps For Apple Watch
There are tons of intuitive hiking apps on the internet with divergent features. Hence, it is crucial to go through reviews and recommendations of the best hiking apps for Apple Watch carefully before subscribing to any app. Other factors to consider will be discussed in the subsequent section.
Here are our top 5 picks:
AllTrails
AllTrails will easily be named the number 1 hiking app globally due to its popularity and extensive features. Outdoor enthusiasts such as hikers, mountain climbers, mountain bikers, and other related enthusiasts can use the AllTrails app to access a database of over 400,000 detailed trail maps across their hiking locations. The app operates a freemium subscription, so you can check out some of the features before subscribing to the paid plan, which is affordable at $35.99 per year.
Currently, AllTrails boasts over 50 million users in over 100 countries across the globe, making it the most installed hiking app on the list. It is pertinent to note that Alltrails is available for Android, iPhone, and desktop users.
Pros Of AllTrails
- Extensive and robust features
- Support 3 languages- English, French, Spanish
- Over 50 million users
- Freemium Plan
- It is more effective when paired with the Apple Watch
Cons Of AllTrails
- It might not be best for closed trailheads.
Gaia GPS
Gaia is another highly-rated hiking app and will easily pass for the best GPS hiking app for Apple Watch if we are specific on features. The app is the second option to many lovers of AllTrails as it has the same features as AllTrails and even more, although it offers fewer trail maps. The catalog of Gaia has over 250 maps with satellite imagery and topographical indications, which can be downloaded and printed for offline use.
It also enables checking for location and calculating distances of trails. Hence, it is best used when hiking in a new terrain. Gaia offers a freemium subscription with the annual place fixed at $39.99 annually.
Other features include weather forecasts, route planners, campsite markers, etc.
Pros Of Gaia GPS
- Extensive and Robust Features
- Best for first-time visitors in a terrain
- Features an intelligent route planner
- Provide downloadable advanced trail maps
- Offer a freemium subscription with an affordable paid plan
Cons Of Gaia GPS
- The free plan is more like a demo with extremely limited usability
- Some trail maps may be outdated
- The paid plan is rather expensive for some hikers.
Strava
Strava is another popular hiking app that has been around since 2009 and has continued to develop its features to satisfy its users. The app started as a basic tracking and outdoor fitness app but has grown into a fully-fledged exercise and tracking app, including indoor and outdoor activities.
The app can easily integrate with popular fitness and tracking apps on Apple Watch and include several activities to keep users engaged and excited as they use the app. Like other apps on our list, Strava also operates a freemium plan with the price charged by country and significantly raised earlier this year. Currently, the subscription is around $59.99 per year.
Pros Of Strava
- Extensive and robust features
- Support 14 languages, including English, French, Spanish, Dutch, Japanese, Italian, etc.
- Over 50 million users
- Freemium Plan
- Great for both indoor and outdoor activities
Cons Of Strava
- The subscription fee is expensive
- Issues with data privacy
Komoot
Komoot is renowned for its simple and innovative user interface, which makes the app more accessible and user-friendly. It features all the necessary tools for a great hiking experience, including trail maps, route planner, and offline options.
It also includes a voice navigation tool and is best for hikers who want to get full value for their money. Komoot offers three types of lifetime subscriptions and rewards new users with a single region for free upon signup. You can either subscribe to the single region, region bundle, or the world plan, depending on your budget. The plans cost $3.99, $8.99, and $29.99 one-time fee respectively.
Pros Of Komoot
- Extensive features
- One-time Payment
- Features a voice navigation tool
- Great with Apple Watch
Cons Of Komoot
- It may be limited in features
- Does not track fitness info
- Some routes may be outdated
Factors To Consider Before Installing A Hiking App
- GPS: A simple advice is to only go for a hiking app with GPS. The primary purpose of using a hiking app is to ensure you can quickly locate routes and readily access trail maps. All the hiking apps we have recommended include GPS and other advanced geolocation features.
- Subscription Plan: It is essential to confirm how much an app charges before using their service. In most instances, you will need to upgrade to a premium plan since the free plan is usually overly limited and cannot give you the desired satisfaction. Fortunately, most of the best hiking apps for Apple Watch offer affordable plans.
- Geographical location: You should also consider your location before selecting a hiking app. Check if the hiking app includes trail maps and routes in your vicinity or hiking routes.
- Offline Mode: This is an underrated feature that has proven to be significant and should be included in every hiking app. Imagine hiking in a place without a stable internet connection for the first time; this can be dangerous but can be averted via the offline mode feature.
SEE ALSO: 8 Best Notes Apps for Apple Watch
5 Best Hiking Apps For Apple Watch: Wrapping Up
Every hiker must have one of the best hiking apps for Apple Watch to assume total control of each hiking adventure with ease. The recommended apps offer all the features to step up your hiking game for free or some dollars.
However, you should always check if a hiking app includes all the features you need as a hiker and consider some of the factors we have discussed. Note that the list could be more optimum, and you can also evaluate other options that best suit your hiking needs, but which needs can the apps on our list not take care of?