Walking and GPS apps

[JoHill]

There are so many new apps to track my walk that I need help in deciding which is best for the Camino Francés. Any advise would be helpful - I leave May 6 so not much time in practicing with a new app.
Which one?

Relive works with Strava, Endomondo, Garmin Connect, Suunto, Apple Health (Watch), MapMyRun, MapMyWalk, MapMyRide, MapMyHike and Polar Flow

Jo

 

[lt56ny]

You really do not need one for the CF. It will have lots of pilgrims and is very, very well waymarked. If you do happen to get lost a local will always redirect you. If you really need something than get the Wise Pilgrim or Buen Camino app. They have very good and easy to read downloadable GPS's. Believe me finding your way around will not be tough. The app would probably come in most handy finding albergues or wandering around in cities if you are taking a day off.

 

[MichaelF4]

I used Strava on the CF to track my walks. I added photos and a few notes and it became a bit of a diary for me to look back on after finishing. It worked well and I didn't have my data on, it used only GPS info to track.

 

[Pilger99]

For Symbian phones the only choice is OVI/NokiA/Here map. No worries which app to choose and no update expected. If you've updated in the last 3 years it's the newest release.
So it is just a matter of the right platform

Take a list with the accomodation choices and follow either arrows or other pilgrims. I guess you will still get such paper in SJPdP. The indication was about perfect 20 years ago, now it's much to much and sooo many pilgrim.

 

[Rado]

I think the best one for this purpose is Polarsteps https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.polarsteps&hl=en.

 

[Beeks]

I used the Buen Camino app to occasionally "see" my location. The markers, yellow arrows, and other pilgrims made getting lost rather hard. It was also very helpful in providing alburgue locations and phone numbers to make reservations.

I did not use a GPS app to track my walk, as I know where I was going, and the people back home that wanted to know, knew as well.

Side note - Someone in our group was obsessed with the "exact" distance they were walking... used an app that calculated stride length and number of steps, which is, okay, if you're into that.

I figured walking from Zubiri to Pamplona was about 12.6 miles. Good enough for me.

This person was actually calculating EVERY step for the day, including walking around town and trips to the bathroom for a complete grand total of mileage.

If they factored in altitude, barometric pressure and the Coriolis effect, I wouldn't have been surprised. It made for some rather amusing discussions.

Buen Camino!

 

[beryltravelling]

I'm looking for an app too, that acts as a travel diary that I can share with selected friends who may want to access it. I want one that tracks where I've been accurately (tried Polar Steps, and it doesn't); and that allows me to add some photos and text, and make it available daily to friends. All this with minimum battery use!
I don't want a fitness app or a competition app with heaps of info and connectivity that I don't want, just something simple. I'd be grateful for recommendations.

 

[DavidJ1215]

"I'm looking for an app too, that acts as a travel diary that I can share with selected friends" …… try Komoot it does all that you require​

 

[tomnorth]

Two things that take on increased significance on the Camino are battery power and bandwidth. Both are scarce and precious on the Camino. As others have said, you don’t need a GPS app constantly tracking your whereabouts on the Camino to stay on track. There are plenty of markers along the way.

 

[trecile]

I use Find Penguins for my travel blog. It creates a map of your travel as you go.

Plan, track, and blog your trips

Automatically and effortlessly track your travels, simply with your phone in the pocket. Create a beautiful travel journal and enjoy the benefits of our leading travel app.

findpenguins.com

I use the Buen Camino app for planning, finding albergues and checking my position on the Camino.

https://www.editorialbuencamino.com/app-del-camino-de-santiago/

 

[benny aumala]

Camino Companion. IMHO best overall App without need of Internet maps. They can be loaded to
memory card. The App includes plenty of knowledge about albergues, different routes etc.
It is a nice back-up. Do not use it all the time. But when you need info, it is available.

 

[MaryLP]

There really is no need for a GPS app on the Camino Frances. Well marked and a look at Brierley provides an idea of the Kms covered in a given day of walking. What a relief to put away the phone. Only used to text with Hubby every couple of days and take a photo on occasion.

 

[gerip]

There really is no need for a GPS app on the Camino Frances. Well marked and a look at Brierley provides an idea of the Kms covered in a given day of walking. What a relief to put away the phone. Only used to text with Hubby every couple of days and take a photo on occasion.

It depends. Yesterday I phoned an albergue in Fromista only to hear that there was an all-night disco in town, and they weren’t taking any guests. “Don’t stay in Fromista,” she said. I quickly called La Finca and added on a second day. Wouldn’t have been able to do that without my trusty phone!
And Brierley’s listing of albergues isn’t really complete. Things are so chock-a-block right now one needs all the help one can get!

 

[gerip]

I use Find Penguins for my travel blog. It creates a map of your travel as you go.

Plan, track, and blog your trips

Automatically and effortlessly track your travels, simply with your phone in the pocket. Create a beautiful travel journal and enjoy the benefits of our leading travel app.

findpenguins.com

I use the Buen Camino app for planning, finding albergues and checking my position on the Camino.

https://www.editorialbuencamino.com/app-del-camino-de-santiago/

Thanks again @trecile. Great tip, as per usual.

 

[Deleted member 43985]

I’m a big fan of MotionX-GPS for my iPhone. Tracks well, allows easy sharing of track at end of day, can be shared real-time with anyone else using same app (someone at home if you have any concerns), let’s you take and attach photos as part of the track file to help you remember where you were and downloadable maps for offline use. I carry a battery bank with me that I use during the day while walking (full-time use of GPS does use a lot more power) so I can just recharge the battery bank at the Albergue and not worry about leaving my iPhone unattended.

 

[beryltravelling]

I'm about to trial Traverous for recording my walk. Has anyone used it?

 

[David Tallan]

Polarsteps is good to create a record of your walk. I also used Strava linked with Relive to create a video animation using Google Earth.

 

[trecile]

I also used Strava linked with Relive to create a video animation using Google Earth

Relive can also be used alone without Strava.

Relive | Run, Ride, Hike & more

Track and share your outdoor activities in an easy and beautiful way with the Relive mobile app. Get out there.

www.relive.cc

 

[alaskadiver]

I really enjoyed using Relive to track my walk and share it on Facebook at the end of the day. It only uses GPS to track your walk and then places the photos on a google terrain map. My friends really liked looking at it.

 

[beryltravelling]

Thanks all for your replies. Half my problem is being technically challenged, but I'm sure that once I get to my first albergue someone will put me straight!

 

[PhxRiles]

A friend had asked me if there's an app that measured total elevation gain/loss for an entire Camino. I'm starting in Leon on Saturday 5/18 and walking to SdC. I've got a Droid phone...have looked into apps like Altimeter Ler, My Elevation and Polarsteps. Maybe something on Wise Pilgrim would show something like this?
Thanks in advance for any assistance you can provide.

Buen Camino!

 

[Paul on camino]

A friend had asked me if there's an app that measured total elevation gain/loss for an entire Camino. I'm starting in Leon on Saturday 5/18 and walking to SdC. I've got a Droid phone...have looked into apps like Altimeter Ler, My Elevation and Polarsteps. Maybe something on Wise Pilgrim would show something like this?
Thanks in advance for any assistance you can provide.

Buen Camino!

I used viewranger app on Android phone last year, gives daily elevation gain/loss, doesn't use much battery, even has a buddy beacon feature which let's family back home track your progress real time and all cost me nothing

 

[PhxRiles]

I used viewranger app on Android phone last year, gives daily elevation gain/loss, doesn't use much battery, even has a buddy beacon feature which let's family back home track your progress real time and all cost me nothing

Thanks, Paul. ViewRanger looks pretty neat. I actually found someone who had mapped the Leon-to-Santiago portion of the CF. He showed total elevation gain of 17,307' and loss of 19,150'. A lot of up-and-down!

 

[James_Anderson]

There are so many new apps to track my walk that I need help in deciding which is best for the Camino Francés. Any advise would be helpful - I leave May 6 so not much time in practicing with a new app.
Which one?

Relive works with Strava, Endomondo, Garmin Connect, Suunto, Apple Health (Watch), MapMyRun, MapMyWalk, MapMyRide, MapMyHike and Polar Flow

Jo

I use GPS, It is helpful whenever I go for a Trip. It also reduces fuel cost.