In this video, I'm going to discuss my 5 favourite trail running apps for navigation
and route planning. I’m not going to go into too much detail on how to use each app,
but instead will provide a more high level overview of the features of
both the free and paid versions of each, and some possible use cases.
And be sure to stick around until the end where I’ll highlight a handful of
other apps you might want to check out as well.
I want to start by explanation some terminology. A GPX file is a file format designed for the
transfer of GPS data, including waypoints, routes, and tracks, between GPS devices and internet web
services. When using some of the web-based applications we're going to talk about here,
you might encounter other file formats like KML which are designed more for annotating maps like
on Google Maps and contain less information than a GPX file. But when it comes to building a route,
or importing one for the purpose of navigation, GPX and KML files
can be used somewhat interchangeably and can easily be converted using various online tools.
So with that out of the way, let's jump in. I'm going to run through these in reverse order,
starting with #5 which is Google Maps.
Google Maps has a surprisingly comprehensive data set for trails created from a variety of sources,
including labels for many peak names, so it's great to have for in a pinch when
you just want to identify a fork you might have come across on the trails,
or to find your way back to your car when you've gotten a little turned around.
Google Maps is a great tool, mainly because it's free.
But you're not able to do some of the things that other more powerful navigation apps can do, like
building or importing existing routes. But it is a good tool to have in your toolbox, nonetheless.
Just be sure to always pre-download your maps for offline use before leaving civilization. By
doing this you'll ensure that you'll not only have the maps ready in case you're out of cell range,
but you can then also keep your phone on airplane mode which will really help with
your phone's battery life. The GPS on your phone still works while in airplane mode,
but this ensures it's not constantly looking for a signal.
Fat Map is an app I more recently discovered
which is designed primarily for skiing but works great for trail running as well.
It's a really cool way to visualize your terrain in 3D, which is so hard to do by looking just at 2
dimensional topographic maps. You can add terrain layers to include visualizations of aspects,
gradients, and elevation. And with the paid version, you can access a ton of other features
that would be really helpful for snowshoeing such as snow depth if you have the paid version, as
well as the ability to download maps to your phone for offline use.
The web interface works great as well, although I find the app much
more intuitive to use by pinching and zooming on the maps. But the web interface does allow
you to create custom routes that can then be loaded on the app for use in the field.
Integrate it with Strava to automatically sync your activities from Strava
back to Fat Map so you can explore them later in 3D.
Peak Finder AR is less of a navigation app per se, but
such a great tool for peak bagging and one that I use so often, I had to include it in this list.
Simply hold up your phone, align it with a recognizable feature,
and the app will tell you all of the peaks that are in view. You can adjust the distance so that
it focuses on peaks closer or further away, and you can take pictures with the labels overlaid.
Quick tip here, most of the settings can be changed while you're exporting the photos back
at home, including the alignment, so there's no need to mess around with these in the moment.
Just take your shot and worry about it later.
This is a paid app and it's not cheap, but for me it's been worth every penny.
Strava is both a website and app best known for its social features, allowing you to connect
with and follow other runners. But it's also a great tool for getting ideas and beta for routes.
Using the web interface, you can also build, share and export routes which you can then
import into other apps like Gaia or to sync to your watch. What I like most about Strava for
route buliding is the popularity feature which works even when building a route off trail.
Strava is especially powerful if you have the paid version.
It allows you to download the GPX file from of any activity from other users,
without having to message the person and ask them to export it for you.
I get a lot of these messages on Facebook from friends looking for GPX files of my routes,
and this feature was the main reason I upgraded and have continued to renew year after year.
You can record runs in-app, but I prefer to record on my Suunto 9 GPS watch and then sync
using the Suunto/Strava integration. A watch is more convenient and reliable, will typically
have better battery life, and this way I save my phone’s battery in case of an emergency.
Strava offers in-app navigation, but I while I consider it a great tool for route planning,
it's not something I commonly use while on the trail. There is also
a Beacon feature which can share realtime location data with your family and friends,
but this is not only going to really drain your battery but it can't be relied upon in
the backcountry where cell service tends to be sparse. I'd highly recommend instead investing
in something like this Garmin inReach Mini if you do want reliable tracking via satellite,
along with the piece of mind of an SoS button in case you need to call for help.
Oh and by the way, I am on Strava so in case you’d like to follow along with my training,
I’ll include a link in the description below.
And finally, my favourite app for both route planning and navigation, Gaia.
Gaia GPS is an advanced, web-based route building tool, that also has an app.
With the paid version, you can sync your routes across multiple devices,
including your phone. You can then easily use your phone to navigate your routes. Of course,
this is possible without paying by exporting from the web version and then importing it manually
into the app, but for power users like me, I think paying is a no-brainer, given that the premium
subscription also allows you to download your maps for offline navigation which is super important.
Gaia really is one of the most powerful and intuitive route builders I've used. You can import
and overlay multiple routes which is a really cool way to compare routes and tracks, you can organize
everything into folders, and you can make your routes public and share links with your friends.
The reason that Gaia is my favourite app is because of all the apps and resources
I use it’s the one product that can do both
the level of route route planning in require and navigation really well.
If you'd like to sign up for Gaia, I have a link in the description below
which doesn't cost you extra but does help out the channel. I plan on doing an in-depth video
exclusive for channel members where I'll walk through examples of my entire workflow from
researching a route on Strava, building in Gaia, and then syncing it to my watch,
so stay tuned until the end of the video to learn how you can get access to that.
Alright, time for some honourable mentions.
First up is CalTopo which is very similar to Gaia,
offering both web-based application and an iOS app. I don't have a lot of experience with this,
but it functions in much the same way as Gaia when it comes to route building and navigational tools
so it's one I plan on testing out more in the near future. But it's definitely not as intuative to
use or as well designed in terms of its user interface as Gaia from what I've seen so far.
AllTrails is another super powerful app for discovering routes, or creating your own.
You can even record a track in-app. And the paid version allows downloading maps for offline use.
I know that AllTrails is the go to app for many trail runners and hikers. I’ve just
never personally found a need for it amongst the other applications I mentioned previously,
but it’s definitely worth checking out, especially if you're looking for some new trails to explore.
Google Earth, like Fat Maps, can be used to visualize terrain in advance
using either the web interface, dedicated desktop application,
or with the mobile app. The web interface and desktop app both allow you to import KML
files or to create projects from scratch. And the best part, is that it's free to use.
I still prefer Fat Maps myself though, given that it's designed
specifically for this use making it lighter and quicker to use,
as well as having so many additional data layers relevant for mountain navigation.
RunGo which was developed right here in Vancouver,
provides turn-by-turn audio directions while on the run and even has an Augmented Reality
feature. It works especially well for road running and for urban trails when you're
visiting a new city, as it allows you to easily discover and follow routes nearby.
Guthook is an app used by many throughikers for hikes like the PCT.
It shows not only the route, but each trailhead, campsite, water source,
and other data, with user-submitted updates. We used it for our fastpacking attempt of the
Tahoe Rim Trail and found it super helpful in locating water sources.
While the app is free, it does cost money for each route, so is really designed more
for longer through-hikes or fastpacks where it makes sense to invest in downloading the
data for a single route that you're going to be using for days or possibly weeks at a time.
The new Suunto app is a really great way to create routes which can then be synced instantly with
your watch, and loaded for you to follow along with. The old Movescount software from Suunto left
quite a bit to be desired, but I think that Suunto really nailed it with this new app.
I personally use this all the time, but of course it's going to really only be useful
if you in fact own a Suunto watch which is why I didn't include it in my main list.
Design routes on the fly or import existing routes to upload to your watch. And like with Strava,
you can record runs in-app or use it to sync your watch after a run over
Bluetooth, and then in turn have it automatically post to Strava for you.
And last but not least, the compass App which comes built-in to both iSO and
Android devices. While this shouldn't be relied upon as a replacement for a physical
compass when navigating by map and compass, it can be used in a pinch for orienting yourself.
But the feature I really want to point out about the compass app is that it will provide your GPS
coordinates which can be super important in case of an emergency. If you do find yourself having
to call for help, being able to provide your location to Search and Rescue is really important.
Now I do want to stress that while navigation apps and a GPS watch are great supplemental tools,
they are not a replacement for carrying a paper map and compass which I typically do as a backup,
especially when I’m running in a new area and when in the backcountry.
I'm sure there are more out there that I've yet to try.
So tell me about any apps that I might have missed in the comments below.
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