AllTrails+ vs Strava vs OnX Backcountry | Battle of the Hiking Navigation Apps!

AllTrails+ vs Strava vs OnX Backcountry | Battle of the Hiking Navigation Apps!

All three have their uses, but which hiking app is right for you? AllTrails+ is a popular hiking app, Strava has a strong social component, and OnX Backcountry has interesting functionality, can you count the amount of times I say “functionality” in this video?

0:00 Intro and Discussing Similarities
1:45 AllTrails+
2:43 Strava
4:38 OnX Backcountry
6:34 Conclusion

Download OnX Backcounty: https://www.onxmaps.com/backcountry/app
Download AllTrails: https://www.alltrails.com/
Download Strava: https://www.strava.com/

Read more in this blog: https://in4adventure.com/alltrails-vs-strava-vs-onx-backcountry/

Special thanks to Redpoint Travel Protection and Ripcord for being the official travel protection partner of Epic Trails and BackpackingTV: https://redpointtravelprotection.com/

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Blog: https://in4adventure.com/

Produced By
Heliconia Productions: https://www.heliconia.ca/
info@heliconia.ca

#backpacking #backpackingtips #backpackingadventures #hiking #hikingadventures #hikingtips #dayhiking #wildlife #northcarolina

50 Comments

  1. @TheEdition100 on June 8, 2025 at 11:11 am

    I have been using Komoot the main thing I like is how it gives turn-by-turn directions on my watch.

  2. @higler. on June 8, 2025 at 11:11 am

    Strava wins if only for the heatmaps. Super useful!

  3. @yesac42 on June 8, 2025 at 11:12 am

    I prefer all trails as it shows me every trail in searches and has reviews that help a lot. It’s failed me several times when I downloaded a map and it would show a blank screen once I went offline I can’t trust it anymore. Backcountry only shows the most popular trails in my area for some reason and the search produces very mixed results often not even knowing what trail I’m on. I’ve since switched to natural atlas as I like the nature features. It’s working pretty good so far.

  4. @blackpacking101 on June 8, 2025 at 11:12 am

    I’m a Gaia guy myself

  5. @StamfordBridge on June 8, 2025 at 11:13 am

    Question for folks out there: among AllTrails, OnX, and Gaia, do you use more than one? Is it worth getting more than one, or would that be redundant? Thanks!

  6. @TogtherWeThrive on June 8, 2025 at 11:14 am

    🙋‍♂ Is OnX Backcountry good for Canoeing trips?
    Asking for a friend!

  7. @cgmllr100 on June 8, 2025 at 11:16 am

    CalTopo. It gives you everything that you need all three versions of OnX for, and far cheaper. Alot of the layers are available for free.

  8. @hooperbloop7625 on June 8, 2025 at 11:19 am

    Map and compass. The most dependable.

  9. @b.s_offroad on June 8, 2025 at 11:22 am

    What about FarOut? I’ve heard several thru-hikers talk about it.

  10. @hefnhef1 on June 8, 2025 at 11:25 am

    Wrong. Gaia, no question.

  11. @ryansutton5904 on June 8, 2025 at 11:26 am

    Gaia is still better here Canada due no cell service

  12. @jrose152 on June 8, 2025 at 11:26 am

    I purchased onx only to be disappointed that you don’t get elevation data on offline maps 🙁 For backpacking this is key for me knowing what is up ahead and how much more climbing I need to do.

  13. @availablehandleomph on June 8, 2025 at 11:26 am

    Komoot is also great. No subscription necessary. You can buy offline maps for one-time payment. Lots of trails. I don’t use its social features. Sometimes I check what other people discovered, however for me it is more geared towards discovering new trails and venturing to unknown, at least to me, places with the route planning. Unfortunately, they have introduced streaks to collect, and sometimes they bug me to upgrade to subscription, but still this is one of the less annoying, not bloated too much apps subscription free. It is not geared towards sports achievements, which I find superb. So far I have made more that 1600 km with and I’m still using it.

  14. @Brandonbdk on June 8, 2025 at 11:27 am

    Gaia clears all of these

  15. @skdjf987 on June 8, 2025 at 11:29 am

    For a one time fee of 3.99 I used Motion-X for a good 10 years. Good selection of maps, including Thunderforest, which is one of the better maps for trails in my area. Motion-X folded up a few years ago and at that point I switched to GPS Tracks for 20.00 per year. It’s a little buggy, but the feature set matches my needs pretty well.

  16. @Ray_Here on June 8, 2025 at 11:32 am

    Good review. I use OnX backcountry premium version which is $29.99. It gives me everything I need. I agree that having the ability to plan your hike and download it is extremely valuable. As one who had a tendency to get lost, OnX has been very comforting to have on my phone.

  17. @davidskipton690 on June 8, 2025 at 11:34 am

    All Trails notification for being off trail is really annoying when the map is wrong

  18. @goblinant on June 8, 2025 at 11:34 am

    Komoot is my fave!

  19. @andrewbowden2594 on June 8, 2025 at 11:36 am

    Footpath is my go to, easily snap and grab trails and map them out. Easy to navigate interface on phone and smart watch systems. Also can send whatever trails I’ve mapped out to my friends and they’re able to save the exact route to their own Footpath app.

  20. @barefootpastor on June 8, 2025 at 11:37 am

    Natural Atlas and Gaia

  21. @robynroamsoutdoors on June 8, 2025 at 11:38 am

    I use the free Strava since it’s like Facebook and Alltrails had a baby. For paid subscriptions I use OnX and Gaia. Never had any issue with those two.

  22. @ericstephenson4676 on June 8, 2025 at 11:41 am

    AllTrails is more of a social media platform than Strata. Does anyone agree? Ive clocked over 1k on it and without other users data and reviews i’d never of had as much fun with it. I use OnX now because AllTrails has many off trail limitations and has changed so much over the years it sucks now.

  23. @GarryCollins-ec8yo on June 8, 2025 at 11:42 am

    I bounce between OnX and Gaia depending on which best covers the trail. I’ll use All Trails for ideas and initial planning but I have on trail it is inaccurate too often.

  24. @kmichaelp4508 on June 8, 2025 at 11:44 am

    Mike Mike Mike… I’m disappointed in you 😮 you said you all 🤔 but you know it’s y’all!!! You’ve got to get into the program. But nice comparison.

  25. @hindsfeetonhighplaces on June 8, 2025 at 11:46 am

    You missed what I consider the best app, which is FarOut. Though it does not include as many trails, the information that it has on those trails, and the ability to purchase maps as needed or pay a subscription to get access to all the maps allows it more flexibilityfrom a financial standpoint, and gives you a lot more information from a survival standpoint. Though I really like the AllTrails wrong feature, so I generally use both.

  26. @swilsher on June 8, 2025 at 11:47 am

    I use All Trails it too allows you to create your own hiking route. I took two existing trails and hiked the parts I wanted creating one trail.

  27. @abreezeinthepines on June 8, 2025 at 11:47 am

    I like OnX, but the premium membership is only 29.99, the elite is the 99.99.. For whatever reason, i usually end up using Alltrails though, its just so user friendly. The cowdsourced maps is a downside to Alltrails though.

  28. @SmokeytheJeep on June 8, 2025 at 11:48 am

    Do the AllTrails recipients of LiveShare have to have/use the app themselves?

  29. @daveevans7151 on June 8, 2025 at 11:50 am

    Gaia here too…map download and build routes. Export GPX file and send to Garmin watch to help with nav. Can rebuild route while on trail and download new GPX file to your phone. Use the Gaia app to track while on trail. It’s a combo deal for me. Just have been using it for so long, I don’t really see the need to switch.

  30. @johnd1736 on June 8, 2025 at 11:51 am

    I heard Strava purchased FatMap?

  31. @Ahoweth on June 8, 2025 at 11:54 am

    I have used AllTrails and OnX but still prefer Gaia.

  32. @edmundmuyot7415 on June 8, 2025 at 11:54 am

    Are all these apps different from where you live. I live in Canada and i purchased an Outdormaps+ for my garmin devices to access satellite maps. I paid in Canadian $, but unfortunately they didn’t offer this service in Canada???

  33. @davidcooper8390 on June 8, 2025 at 11:55 am

    I like OnX and have been very happy with it for planning a trip on PC then downloading the offline map on my phone.

  34. @poormanshellcat on June 8, 2025 at 11:55 am

    OnX all day

  35. @warren6899 on June 8, 2025 at 11:58 am

    From South Africa…… None of the below…. this is South Africa… Compass and guess-work, perhaps a map…..😅

  36. @esteemedenergy on June 8, 2025 at 11:58 am

    AllTrails is no reliable, constant syncing issues and I have to manually download and upload in order to place in completed activities.

  37. @TheDonovanFisher on June 8, 2025 at 12:00 pm

    Count me in on the Gaia Train! It’s not even close!

  38. @kenberry1850 on June 8, 2025 at 12:01 pm

    It’s kind of funny, I’m paying for and running three that you didn’t cover. Topo Maps + Hunt is an Apple only app that is very robust, Gaia Pro, and CalTopo Desktop. CalTopo makes some amazing printed maps.

  39. @blackibex on June 8, 2025 at 12:02 pm

    I don’t understand why you in the United States seem to ignore the best outdoor navigation app of all: Komoot. It has all the features of the other apps, plus more, and it’s very user friendly and multi-platform, and connects to all sorts of devices. (I’m not affiliated with this app or company in any shape or form, just a user)

  40. @TwylaWorld on June 8, 2025 at 12:03 pm

    Been using Gaia for years. I have the pro version with tons of layers, fire heat maps, private property boundaries etc for 60.00 a year, can plot my routes etc. I have All trails and Far out as well, but I use them for pre-trip planning to get recent trail data from other users.

  41. @Pelvicpunch on June 8, 2025 at 12:04 pm

    Caltopo!

  42. @Katy-Did on June 8, 2025 at 12:05 pm

    Great video! Thank you! I agree!

  43. @Mike_v_E on June 8, 2025 at 12:05 pm

    Komoot

  44. @adriantodd4183 on June 8, 2025 at 12:05 pm

    This is already outdated. AllTrails just had a big update

  45. @stevenbrewer8788 on June 8, 2025 at 12:05 pm

    No mention of Gaia?

  46. @julianadiaz4799 on June 8, 2025 at 12:06 pm

    Hey! I was wondering if any of this apps have an AR feature, maybe like Pokemon Go but marking the way

  47. @anthonyelder7158 on June 8, 2025 at 12:06 pm

    I use an assortment. Use the free all trails to research trails, and then I’ll use Gaia to plot out a particular route, and to track my progress.

    I have the OnX paid version, but am still figuring it out.

  48. @Carlitabita on June 8, 2025 at 12:07 pm

    You didn’t even mention the best one, Gaia

  49. @DavidMitchell-qx9ne on June 8, 2025 at 12:07 pm

    Paper topography maps rule, fools. Paper what ?, the tech dweebs are asking.

  50. @bradplueger7951 on June 8, 2025 at 12:10 pm

    I’ve used the paid Pro version of AllTrails for years. I don’t hike without a downloaded map. Unfortunately, I have gotten off-trail on poorly marked trails or lesser traveled trails and AllTrails got me back on course! I find an interest in OnX, but since AllTrails works for me, I’ve hated to change.

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