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I purchased a premium Gaia subscription on Black Friday. So now have used paid accounts on:

• AllTrails
• Gaia GPS
• Komoot

I’ve not yet used Wikiloc or ViewRanger.

But I understand Wikiloc is good for Europe and South America.

I use Komoot for bikepacking and have been very happy with that product. Is it any good for hiking?

In this post I compare offline navigation for the paid subscriptions.

For discovering trails nearby me (Parksville, Vancouver Island) on their websites, I felt Komoot was weakest. AllTrails best, by far.

On the other hand, one problem with AllTrails is displaying too many options. Too many variations in the same hiking area can be confusing. Since there is a lot of user generated content, quality is mixed.

When I decided on a well known, popular hiking area ➙ Little Qualicum Falls, again AllTrails was by far best at giving me hiking options.

In terms of description, the AllTrails preview graphic video is most useful for me. I make a lot of decisions on which hike to choose based on these preview videos.

Click PLAY or watch an example on YouTube.

So far, AllTrails is by far my favourite of the three.

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Next I went to my iPhones.

Logged into all 3 apps, I searched for “Englishman River Falls“. This is one of the most popular and well established hikes nearby. Komoot identified the trail on a map, but didn’t offer a way to SAVE and download.

I did the hike simultaneously using Gaia and AllTrails on two phones. Both worked well at the basic function of navigation.

I won’t use many of the functions, including Lifeline on AllTrails.

IF I want to make a record of any particular hike, I use the free version of the ReLive app. I’ve had a paid subscription in the past, but find the free features enough for my purposes.

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Most mornings I take coffee down to Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park, my favourite walk in the area.

Again,

Johnny Cheng did a deep dive into both apps, concluding that more inexperienced hikers would probably like AllTrails better. That hunters and those going off trail would appreciate the enhanced mapping features of Gaia GPS.

I’ll search for hikes using a number of different sources as AllTrails can be confusing.

Look at the video preview on AllTrails.

Mostly use AllTrails for navigation. And compare with Gaia if there is any confusion.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Honestly, for the majority of trails I hike I follow signage. And check the free offline Maps.me app to confirm I’m still on popular trails. It’s all I used on the challenging Laugevagur Trail in Iceland, for example, summer 2023.

I don’t mind getting a little lost on trail. 😀

While hiking in Vietnam, I was wondering about possible health effects for me — even decades later.

Agent Orange is a chemical herbicide and defoliant …

It was used by the U.S. military … during the Vietnam War from 1962 to 1971.

… the Vietnamese Red Cross estimates that up to one million people were disabled or have health problems as a result of exposure to Agent Orange …

… documented cases of leukemia, Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and various kinds of cancer in exposed U.S. military veterans. …

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Mostly, I use my Apple Watch as a remote for taking PHOTOS and VIDEOS on the trail.

Most of the time, the watch shows a low resolution image so I can better frame the shot.

For example, I took this photo of myself in a Prambanan temple using the watch. Typical range is 33 feet (10 meters) — but I find it varies quite a bit.

One downside ➙ doing this does kill the watch battery quickly. MUST remember to bring the charging cable with me on the hike. 😀

I was inspired by Kurt Papke to better organize how I use my Apple Watch while hiking.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Hong Kong is one of the best major cities in the world for hikers.

But Singapore?

This post was a surprise to me.

Singapore offers a‌ plethora of trails​ that showcase its⁢ rich biodiversity and stunning landscapes. The trails range from serene ⁣coastal ‍paths to ⁤lush forest routes …

Among the must-visit⁤ trails is​ the Southern​ Ridges, a 10-kilometer stretch that connects several⁢ parks and offers breathtaking views of the city’s skyline and the harbor.

Another popular choice‍ is​ the MacRitchie Reservoir Loop, ‌where hikers immerse themselves in‍ the sights and ⁤sounds ⁣of native wildlife while navigating a​ canopy ⁣walk that elevates them above the‌ forest​ floor. Here are a few ​more⁤ trails to consider:

• Bukit Timah Nature reserve – Home to Singapore’s tallest ​hill.
• Coney Island ​-‌ Explore ⁢unique ⁢flora and fauna in‍ a⁣ rustic setting.
• Labrador ⁣Nature Reserve – A past‌ site‌ with tranquil sea views.

Healthy Globe Trotter – Traveling to Singapore for Trekking and Hiking: A First-Timer’s Guide

The Biking Viking considers a minimal set-up ideal for racing long distances on a bicycle to be called “Bikepacking“.

He’d call what I do “Cycle Touring“.

Many use the terms Cycle Touring & Bikepacking interchangeably, however.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Everyone considers the Amatola Hiking Trail one of the best in South Africa.

Most people do it hut to hut.

Distance is a minimum of 86.4 km. Elevation gain 4,661m.

Stingy Nomads hiked about 100km. Average walking time 7 hours per day, between 14-20 km.

Getting a permit can be problematic.

You can hike the trail all year round though in winter (June to August) days are shorter and temperatures are lower. Snowfalls can occur high in the mountains.

Summer months (December to February) are known as rainy months; it’s warmer than in winter and days are longer but heavy rains can be a pain.

December is as well a peak season due to the Christmas holidays so it can be crowded and you’ll probably have to book the trail beforehand.

October and November is a good time for hiking; the weather is nice and there are very few people on the trail.

We did it at the end of November – beginning of December and were the only people on the trail. It was very easy to book we did it just 2 days before the hike. In 6 days we didn’t see any other hikers or even people (only locals from far away). The trail is well-marked and easy to follow just always check for yellow footprints that you can find painted on trees or rocks.

Accommodation on the trail

Every night you sleep in a hut so no need to carry a tent and sleeping pad. All huts have beds with mattresses, showers, toilets, running water, fireplace, rubbish bin, and outside or inside dining area. No electricity on the trail don’t expect to charge your devices or read with electric light. …

Fantastic Amatola trail – a detailed guide and itinerary

Click PLAY or get a glimpse on YouTube.

Personally, I like neoprene booties either in trail runners or speciality water walking shoes.

Neoprene booties have worked well for me on coastal trails, walking in the surf. And on slot canyon hikes like Zion Narrows.

Kurt Papke has a good overview online.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

I’ve only once hiked in Newfoundland. It was terrific.

Guidebook author Taryn Eyton went twice to compile a list of best hikes on the large, wild island.

• Quick picks: My top 5 best hikes in Newfoundland
• Newfoundland hiking map that shows the location of every trailhead
• Hikes on the Avalon Peninsula near St. John’s
• Hikes in Eastern Newfoundland near Bonavista and Trinity
• Hikes in Central Newfoundland in Terra Nova National Park and near Twillingate
• Hikes in Western Newfoundland in Gros Morne National Park and near Corner Brook
• Newfoundland hiking tips including fees, weather, gear, and more

BEST of all for me is the challenging Long Range Traverse, Gros Morne National Park.

35km one way. Elevation gain 1270m. A route, not maintained trail. So distance and elevation may vary.

Parks Canada – Long Range Traverse

I often cook in my tent vestibule in the morning.

Coffee in bed. 😀

In Peru, I did see one tent catch fire from a cookstove — but it’s been 100% safe for me.

related – Hiking in the Rain VIDEO

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.