Staying safe outdoors: the top 5 apps for safety and navigation
Written by Christia Huntington
Check out our 5 favourite apps for staying safe on the trail
Getting outside in nature is inarguably beneficial to our health. Whether you enjoy taking a hilly walk around a reservoir, or you prefer to amble around a local park, being in nature can improve your sleep quality, brain function, and overall mental health*. It’s a fantastic way to keep healthy whilst exploring the world around you.
But before you run for the hills and hit the trail, are you prepared for all eventualities?
Alongside the right kit, integrating technology into your outdoor adventures can improve safety. There are thousands of apps available all aiming to make your outdoor adventure more enjoyable, safer, and easier. But how do you choose which apps to download? In this article, we’ve recommended our top five free apps which will make you feel more prepared on any outdoor trip.
While these apps can increase your levels of safety outdoors, it’s important to remember that they will only benefit your safety if your phone has enough juice for the duration. A fantastic safety app cannot work with a dead battery.
Before you set off on an outdoor adventure of any kind, make sure you:
Have the correct equipment and footwear.
Let someone know where you’re going and what time you expect to be back.
If you’ll be exploring the countryside, abide by the countryside code.
Met Office Weather Forecast
There are some breathtakingly beautiful outdoor spaces in Manchester and further afield, and the UK is home to some of the most scenic landscapes the world has to offer. However, the UK is also known as one of the wetter countries in Europe, receiving around 45 inches of rainfall annually.
The rain shouldn’t stop you enjoying outdoor spaces, but it’s important to be prepared for the weather so you aren’t caught off-guard. Ensuring you have a reliable weather app installed when planning a trip can help you to avoid muddy mishaps. The Met Office weather app provides essential weather information including hourly and daily forecasts, interactive rainfall maps and severe weather notifications. It also has some pretty cool tools to enhance your trip, such as sunrise and sunset times, pollen and air pollution forecasts, and wind speed and direction readings.
Availability: Available on Android and iOS.
Cost: Free. Paid option to remove ads.
AllTrails
AllTrails is the perfect app for all lovers of the outdoors. It’s a popular app for finding and navigating trails worldwide. The app features over 200,000 trails with trail maps, photos, user reviews, and directions.
This is a great app for outdoor safety as you can turn your phone into a GPS tracker and navigate on your trail, so you don’t get lost. It’s also useful for finding new outdoor spots to visit and hiking trails you’ve not done before. AllTrails has a lot of user engagement, allowing users to share photos and tips from their own adventures and share experiences with others on the app by leaving reviews of each trail.
Availability: Available on Android and iOS.
Cost: Free membership available. Premium membership allows map downloads for offline use and other perks.
OS Locate
Although technology can enhance our outdoor experiences, it’s important to not solely rely on it. The OS Locate app is the Ordnance Survey app, it’s a navigational grid reference app which can determine your location without the need for mobile data. There’s also a compass feature to take your bearings.
The OS Locate app does have a share function to share updates with friends and family and let them know how your adventure is progressing, though this does require mobile data and signal.
Availability: Available on Android and iOS.
Cost: Free.
First-Aid by British Red Cross
The First-Aid app by the British Red Cross is an app you hope you will never need, but that could save a life if you do happen to need it. The app is designed by one of the most trusted humanitarian organisations in the world and provides easy access to first-aid advice for everyday emergencies.
The app is easy to use and will allow you to quickly find step-by-step information and videos on how to handle many different medical situations. Allergic reactions, burns and scalds, choking, heat exhaustion, and strains are all examples of the ailments covered within the app.
Importantly, the app is designed for offline use, meaning you’ll still be able to access the app if you’re in an area with little or no mobile coverage.
Availability: Available on Android and iOS.
Cost: Free.
What3Words
What3Words divides the world into 3 metre squares, with each square being assigned a unique combination of three words, making it easy to share precise locations of anywhere on the planet. The simplicity of What3Words means that you can communicate your exact location with just three words and it’s a versatile app that can be used in several situations. For example, Manchester Airport is robes.december.vesting, the summit of Mount Snowdon is viewing.inversion.usage, and Windsor Castle is hang.fence.afford.
You can use What3Words to alert emergency services to your precise location, but you can also use it to let friends know exactly where you are if you’re meeting up with them.
Availability: Available on Android and iOS.
Cost: Free.
The bottom line
Getting out and about in nature is great for your health, but it’s important to prioritise your safety in outdoor spaces. Hopefully you’ll never need to use one of these five apps in an emergency, but it doesn’t hurt to be prepared. Before you venture out make sure to plan your route, take the correct equipment with you, let someone know where you’re going and —most of all— enjoy the adventure.
Christia Huntington is a freelance writer and PhD researcher from Manchester, UK. She specialises in appearance and body image, psychology, and wellbeing. Christia combines her academic insights with practical advice in her writings to help readers achieve their goals. For more information about her work or to get in touch, visit her website or connect with her on LinkedIn.
