There has long been no longer imagine the hike without her mobile phone, for obvious security reasons. But the arrival of smartphones and tablets upsets uses: large touchscreen, internet quasi-permanent camera, access, integrated with positioning within a few meters GPS: all these features are used in applications to truly enjoy your passion
Orientate properly required to possess a minimum of appropriate instruments. Paper maps with a compass are historically part of the panoply of any hiker. Then the arrival of the mini portable GPS has revolutionized the practice of this sport, it is now possible to always know where you are and / or how to reach its destination. With a smartphone or tablet, you can do almost the same thing ... only better!
Firstly, the screen of a smartphone, and more that of a tablet, to display topographic maps with a close paper record.
Therefore finished paper maps that wrinkle force to be folded and unfolded, and spoil tear with the rain, or are difficult to handle because of the wind. With the inevitable implementation iPhiGéNie (But there are others - see our selection), You can download all topographic maps IGN and then consult at any time, evenwithout network access. And to find north, the iPhone can also be used compass!
There are also many weather applications to prepare your route. It is possible to take advantage ofweather forecast(Temperature, rainfall, chance of a thunderstorm ...) quality up to 10 days, with the possibility of updating the way when a 3G/4G network is available.
Cellular internet access will obviously be useful for many other things, whether to send an email or make a reservation by way of a shelter or refuge.
If you want to evaluate your sports performance, Applications (see our selection) allows to benefit many interesting data to track your progress: distance, travel time, average speed and maximum speed. You can also save all your tracks, take pictures and share them with friends.
The advent of smartphones and tablets is also associated with other ways of looking at its outputs. And to add a fun character to theirHiking and interest children, some hikers, surfers began to hide small objects in nature, by exchanging information to find them.
Thus practice has developed of Geocaching. Simple and fun way to spice up his ride up for a real treasure hunt! More than 2 million "treasures" are hidden in geocaches worldwide. By downloading the application Geocaching. You can access information on caches lying nearby and find using your GPS. Once the discovery is complete, you can take the contents of the cache replace condition (small toys, trinkets, coins ...).
More information on the site www.geocaching.com
On the material level, to make your tablet your best hiking companion, you have the choice between an iPhone in the pocket or on the arm, An iPad Mini hand-held or shoulder, solutions protection and portage do not miss!
Useful links
- Other forums hike: Visorando, Camptocamp, Hiking-passion.