Outdoors App: what to use so you don’t get lost and keep up!

Science confirms that spending several hours outdoors, whether it’s a leisurely stroll or an intense sports activity, benefits not only the body but also the mind. Personally, I have found immense value in taking a walk of at least an hour to clear my mind and often find myself returning after a long and refreshing walk. Regardless of the activity, there are numerous apps available to help determine the best route based on specific preferences. Certain apps are essential to have on hand at all times, whether for a local walk, a journey to the other side of the world, or simply in your own backyard 😎 Of utmost importance is the weather app, and it’s wise to have a backup option to ensure access to accurate radar information (Just in case!!) Never underestimate the impact of rain, wind, and temperatures. Choose your weather app wisely😉😉

There are numerous apps available for hiking, trekking, cycling, and more. Many of them provide basic free packages, but by opting for an annual subscription, users gain access to a wealth of features that can greatly enhance the experience for enthusiasts. In this article, I highlight the free apps that I personally use, emphasizing their user-friendly nature and intuitive interfaces.

Komoot stands out as the most well-known option, offering a free basic version. With this app, you have the freedom to plan your route by choosing specific stops or by exploring routes created by other users. Upon selecting your area of interest and route, you gain access to comprehensive details about each registered waypoint, including photos and descriptions. The app provides valuable information such as difficulty level based on experience and fitness, total distance, and elevation gain. One particularly useful feature is the detailed elevation profile, offering insights into factors like incline percentage, altitude, distance covered, and time elapsed from the starting point. This level of detail not only prepares you for the route ahead but also informs you about when to expect particular challenges. Additionally, Komoot offers descriptions of surfaces (such as asphalt or natural terrain), types of pathways (such as hiking paths or trails), and even provides weather information for the area. The app allows you to save numerous routes for future reference and can also serve as a navigation tool 😊

Maps.me comes highly recommended for downloading offline maps of your current location. This user-friendly app conveniently displays all your marked paths, making it an excellent alternative to the well-known Google Maps.

If, however, you are eager to explore the local flora, fauna, and geographical features, there is an abundance of apps designed to cater to this curiosity as well.

BirdNet efficiently captures bird songs and accurately identifies their species whenever possible. It is best to remain silent during recording to exclusively record the animal’s sound, which can be selected directly from the generated spectrogram. Once identified, you can easily access the Wikipedia link for comprehensive information about the species.

PlantNet offers the simplest solution for identifying plants, even if you’re not a botanist. With just an uploaded photo or one taken on the spot, along with the associated type of element (leaf, flower, bark), the system swiftly performs recognition. Upon success, you’ll receive a screen displaying the most accurate results and their corresponding percentage of likeness.

PeakLens empowers you to effortlessly acquaint yourself with the majestic mountains in your vicinity. By simply geolocating your smartphone and directing it towards the peaks you wish to identify, you can instantly retrieve their names and, of course, their elevations above sea level.

For those passionate about the starry sky, the Star Walk app offers a seamless experience in identifying constellations, planets, and satellites with just a simple point of your smartphone. Detailed descriptions of these celestial bodies are readily accessible through the app’s selection interface.

Alrighty then! Off with the house slippers, onto the great unknown, stay in the loop, and let the wild ride begin!! Cheers to that!