Hiking is one of those activities that seems like there shouldn’t be any prep until the morning of the hike, that is until you realize you don’t know much about the trail. No matter how big or small the mountain is, it’s always a good idea to at least look at a map of the area and know what you’re getting yourself into. AllTrails is one of the best ways to do just that. The app crowdsources trail maps, reviews and photos from its community of nine million. You can download and print maps for offline use, plus put the newest feature, Lifeline, to use. With Lifeline, you can select up to five contacts that can then follow along with your hiking adventure, so you have a backup safety base just in case. You’ll need a data connection to hook it up, and real-time tracking is dependent on it, but you can check in at certain spots to let your followers know you’re in the green.
Right now, if you sign up for a year-long membership, you can save $15. Typically, it’ll cost you $2.50 each month, or $30 for the year, but right now the app is running a 50 percent off promo with code LIFELINE. If you’re not one of the nine million users, we recommend you become one.