POSTED BY

Steven Leckart

AT 9:40 AM
Tuesday June 23, 2009

Accessories • Airports and Travel • Phones and Wireless • Sports and Survival • Theme Post

app store • apple • camping • iphone • iphone 3G S • themes

8 iPhone Apps For Camping

tent.jpg

I picked up my first iPhone last Friday. I've yet to take it camping, but I'll be heading out into the wilderness this coming weekend. Nothing hardcore, but some light hiking, stove-top cooking and tent living.

Here are the apps I'm most curious to try, even though there's some mixed feedback on iTunes. If you have any experience with these or can recommend additional apps worth paying for (or free ones worth the time), please leave your suggestions in the comments.

I'll be posting any truly useful favorite(s) after I return.

1) TrailBehind ($.99): User-generated maps with info about specific trail heads, summits, streams, state park landmarks, and more.

2) Park Maps ($.99): GPS maps of 250+ national parks and recreational spots in the U.S. The reviews are mixed.

3) Knot Guide ($3.99): Version 1.7 got pretty high marks from iPhone App Reviews.net. Version 3.3 offers instructions on 68 knots. For $4, it better be exceedingly better than...

4) Knot Time ($.99): Only 28 knots, but instructional videos sound clutch. However, some 3G S users are said to be experiencing issues with playback. As soon as an update's in place, I'm game.

5) Flashlight ($.99), Flashlight. (FREE), Torch (FREE) and Super Torch ($1.99): I use a headlamp, but the idea of having a less direct mood light for reading in the tent seems appealing. Since some of these let you tweak the color (i.e. red), too, you can preserve your night vision.

6) Motion-X GPS Lite (FREE): I've read it's one of the most accurate mapping apps. Bonus: you can plot your pace and set specific locations to help you make your way back to camp, for instance.

7) Anti Mosquito ($.99), Repel Mosquito ($.99), Mosquito Repeller($1.99) are just a few of the apps which emit high frequencies that supposedly keep away pests. I'm skeptical. I used Bug Spray (FREE) last Saturday at a wedding in a wooded area in Sonoma County. I got one small mosquito bite on my neck, but that's fewer than some of the other people I was with. Needless to say, I can't really say for sure whether this app helped or not.

8) AccuWeather (FREE): If you're spending any prolonged period of time camped outdoors, you'll want to know more than the chance of rain and current or predicted temp. 411 for humidity, pressure, winds = good. A long-term forecast of 5 to 15 days = good-er.

After the jump, see why it's not such a bad thing to be paranoid about taking your iPhone into the wilderness...

photo by proviatoes

photo by julia ellen.jpg

From my friend Julia:

i slipped in the snow (on some ice) and my phone was in my pocket... my hip got the gnarliest bruise.

Total bummer all around.

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15 Comments

TedJohnson

#1 – 10:43 AM June 23, 2009

The best iPhone accessory for camping is a hammer.

If weight is a concern, put the iPhone in your hip pocket, and hope for the same results.

dculberson

#2 – 12:07 PM June 23, 2009

I'm skeptical of even specially manufactured high-frequency audio pest repellent devices. But even more so, I seriously doubt the iPhone's speaker would be up to the task of outputting anything approaching an effective sound level in the high frequencies (well over 20,000hz) that electronic pest repellents use.

randalll

#3 – 12:12 PM June 23, 2009

Is it surprising to anyone that it's not a good idea to keep a delicate, expensive piece of electronics in your pocket while doing ANYTHING physical?

Not a Doktor

#4 – 12:57 PM June 23, 2009

for those like me still stuck with oldies

http://www.qcontinuum.org/compass/

dculberson

#5 – 1:02 PM June 23, 2009

Randalll, I don't know that "walking" is usually considered all that "physical," though.

Fang Xianfu

#6 – 3:20 PM June 23, 2009

#5, now you're just being facetious. The danger isn't the walking, it's the falling over, and you've clearly got a greater danger of that while walking around in the wilderness than, say, to Tesco.

Anonymous Anonymous

#7 – 5:53 PM June 23, 2009

imho, if your iPhone is turned on while out in the wilderness, you've missed the entire point of camping.

dw_funk

#8 – 7:21 PM June 23, 2009

That picture is enough to make me cringe just seeing it. I went rock climbing a few months ago, and completely forgot my iPhone was in my pocket until I was halfway up the wall. It escaped unscathed. Sorry to see that yours didn't.

Endif

#9 – 7:30 PM June 23, 2009

Wow, lots of luddite snark replies to this post.
Lame.

I'd sure as hell bring mine; never without my iPhone, Bersa, Gerber multitool, keys, wallet. Be. Prepared.

Anyway, my contribution isn't an app, it's a case:
http://www.handhelditems.com/nextware-iphone-clear-case-p-15559.html

Fully enclosed protection for us clutzes, and you can use it through the case, no lid. Helps prevent scratches and horrorshows like the image above. *cringe*

SeattlePete

#10 – 10:00 PM June 23, 2009

Bringing an iPhone is no different than bringing a regular cell phone or other safety device camping. I agree 100% with ENDIF. It's SMART to bring a phone camping with you. Just because you have a phone doesn't mean you have to answer it. But if you slip and fall it may still be possible to get a call for help out.

As for risking delicate, expensive electronics in the wilderness...my tent is expensive. My fly rod is delicate. I bring them as well.

Matt

#11 – 9:43 AM June 24, 2009

I recommend bringing it for safety reasons (maps, communication, emergencies). The lights are all pretty worthless and drain the battery... something you definitely don't want to happen when you are "out there". Stick with headlamp/something simpler...

TomD.Arch

#12 – 10:36 AM June 24, 2009

Randall/#3 - I can't tell you how many times my buddy Ed, a network admin, has been hanging just about upside down, 40 feet off the ground, rock climbing when his blackberry has gone off on his hip. Because it's basically fused to his flesh, we all just forget that it's there. Once in a while someone will notice and remind him to take it off an leave it on the ground.

Speaking of rock climbing, I know a little about knots. Be skeptical of the "more knots is more" approach. In rock climbing there are only about 4 to 5 knots you need to know, but you should know them really, really well with a few variations. (You can debate about the good, old, "European Death Knot" - hey, it works for me - I'm not dead as far as I can tell.) Campers don't 28 knots, so pick the core knots and get them down pat.

Anonymous Anonymous

#13 – 10:58 AM June 24, 2009

What do you do when the battery dies (which shouldn't take long when you're using all of those silly apps)? Are there any solar, wind or hand-cranked charging devices for iPhones?

vreiner

#14 – 1:25 PM June 24, 2009

SeattlePete said it right. I also take my iPhone (and previous phones) wherever I go (including camping) simply because of all the nifty things it does, and for emergency calls should it be necessary. Doesn't mean I'm checking my email constantly, it's just there. I feel more secure having it. Same with my Leatherman... I use it every. single. day.

@13 There are a number of solar and hand-crank generators with a USB out which are usable. The only challenge is finding one with sufficient output wattage for the thirsty iPhone. The Solio has an internal battery so it stores the charge gained by either it's solar cells or plugging it in, not cheap but it's small and light. Even a simple standard car charger is usable with some modification if you have a battery or generator with 12V output.

Be prepared: I'd rather carry a couple extra goodies and not need them, than vice-versa.

matthew e hackman

#15 – 3:08 PM August 8, 2009

http://www.otterbox.com/iphone-cases/

Defender is the best case I've found to protect Iphone hiking and camping.

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