The apps that enhance your trip
The mobile apps you need - or just want
By Dahn
Disconnect and connect
One of the best things about a hiking trip or cycling trip is finally being able to unplug. At the same time, the smartphone is omnipresent nowadays, and there are apps that are either necessary or just fun. Here we list our favourites.
The travel apps you need
These smart tools make traveling easier and smoother. We rank them by necessity 1-5.
Necessity: 5 (if available)
For self-guided trips, you increasingly get the whole trip in an app. You need to have it, even though in many cases you can print a pdf version at home. The advantage of using the app is that you can easily follow a track on the screen without unfolding maps in the wind.
The travel apps that enhance your trip
You can manage without these apps, but they're worth more than the attention they cost. Here we don't give ratings - the value depends on what interests you.
Save your tracks
Even if you follow ready-made tracks, it's fun to record exactly how you walked yourself, and keep the tracks forever. Komoot, Alltrails, RideWithGPS, Gaia GPS, Wikiloc… there are many that are good at different things.
Apps you already have on your phone
Camera, Notes, Compass, Weather, and the phone's built-in location sharing – a lot of useful things are already there. There are hardly any absolute must-haves – but some apps can actually enhance the experience of the destination. The choice is yours.
