Back in July I was asked if I'd have a look at a new free outdoors app called the Hikers Toolkit. I did and I liked it, which is why there's a quote from me on the website saying that the app "is useful and contains helpful information and links. It's easy to use and uncluttered with no confusing or unnecessary material. I think having the info together is valuable".
The app contains the following:
Grid reference
Basic mapping
Interactive compass
Grid magnetic angle
Timing and conversion calculators
Weather links
Sunrise/Sunset
Moon phase
Windchill calculator
Emergency procedures
All bar the weather links work offline. Those links give connections to the Met Office Mountain Weather Forecast, MWIS, and the Scottish Avalanche Information Service. Having these three together makes it easy to check them all at the same time.
I think the most useful tool for regular use in the hills is the grid reference, which you can see as just numbers or with your position on a basic map. The latter does have contour lines and is legible on a phone screen smeared with sunscreen and food and with my reflection as you can see in my photo!
The most useful page of all is one that no-one wants to ever have to use and that's the Emergency one. However if an emergency does occur having clear information about what to do would be valuable. In an actual situation I can imagine it would be easy not to remember everything. Having instructions could be helpful and calming.
This free app is well having on your phone even if you rarely use it. At the moment it's only available for Android phones via Google Play but it should be available for iOS soon.
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