Day of hiking
Thanks to these apps, nobody gets lost
If you have the right app with you on your tablet or smartphone, you will find your destination easier when hiking.
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Many people are drawn to nature not only on “Hiking Day”. With these apps, nothing stands in the way of your next tour.
Spring moves through the country and it drives people into nature. On top of that, May 14th is the “Hiking Day” proclaimed by the German Hiking Association. In order not to get lost on the hiking trails, there are several apps that replace heavy travel and hiking guides. These are the best.
Locus Maps
Locus Maps is probably the most comprehensive of the hiking apps, at least in the paid Pro version. The ten euros (no subscription model) are money well invested for hikers. On the one hand you will find gigantic amounts of map material here, on the other hand there is also the possibility of offline navigation. To use them, some technical tricks are necessary. But once the function has been set up, navigation abroad, for example, and without cellular reception is possible without problems. The only disadvantage of Locus Maps: Thanks to the large scope, the operation is sometimes more complex than with other apps. However, if you are willing to familiarize yourself with the subject, you will definitely be happy with Locus Apps. Locus Maps and Locus Maps Pro is only for Android available.
Outdooractive
The Outdooractive app is very popular because of its ease of use. However, the functionality in the free basic version is limited. For example, it does not contain trail markers, which makes it difficult to plan routes. In addition, a user account must be created in any case. But then users have access to more than 100,000 ready-made tours. The creators of the app not only rely on the input of their users, but also cooperate with numerous tourism partners and tourist offices. The option of importing your own existing GPS tours makes it easier to switch if you are using Outdooractive for the first time. The basic version of the app is free, Pro membership costs 2.50 euros per month, Pro + costs 5 euros. Outdooractive is available for Android and iOS.
Komoot
Komoot is one of the most popular hiking and outdoor apps. It is particularly popular with users to visualize height profiles of planned routes and to plan routes based on a specific surface. The function of being able to export saved routes to other GPS navigation devices is great. The app collects additional plus points by adapting the tours to the fitness level of its users. The free version includes a first map region for free, each additional region costs 3.99 euros. If you want the complete map material from Komoot, you have to shell out 29.99 euros for it. Komoot is for Android and iOS available.
Bergfex tours & GPS tracking
Bergfex offers more than 70,000 tours, many of which were shared by certified users. Most of the tours have additional information ready, such as how to get there or the equipment required for the tour. The paid full version is only available as an annual subscription, but at just under ten euros per year, the price is within reasonable limits. There is a clear and intuitive app for this, which has the most important functions for hiking enthusiasts: navigation, height profiles, even the angle of inclination of the current position, users can display. Bergfex tours & GPS tracking are available for Android and iOS.
alpine club active
The alpenvereinaktiv app is the joint tour portal of the German and Austrian Alpine Club. The free basic version contains standard functions such as planning routes or navigation. Users can also rate tours, huts and accommodations. Topographical maps and route networks as well as the option of offline navigation are only included in the Pro version (2.50 euros / month). The Pro + variant (5 euros / month) offers even more detailed maps, a 3D view of planned tours and an embed function for hikers who want to present their tours online. alpenvereinaktiv is for Android and iOS available.