Using the Apple Watch for Hiking - Footpath App How-To & Review

📲 FOOTPATH APP: footpathapp.com
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If you're an avid hiker looking to track your progress and explore new trails, the Footpath app for Apple Watch is a must-have. In this review and how-to guide, we'll walk you through the app's features and show you how to get the most out of it while hiking. With Footpath, you can plan your routes ahead of time, navigate with ease, and even share your adventures with friends. The app's intuitive interface and accurate mapping make it easy to stay on track, while its comprehensive stats and metrics allow you to track your pace, distance, and elevation gain. Whether you're a seasoned hiker or just starting out, the Footpath app for Apple Watch is an essential tool for exploring the great outdoors.
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#FootpathHiking

[@Hikingguy]

How to download a GPX file from AllTrails on mobile: kzbin.infokR5L6f8b-Lo?feature=share

[@theartificialsociety3373]

So in footpath app, when I download the map it does the navigation nicely on apple watch, but I dont see the name of the trail or the streets on the map. Is their a way to get the street names or trail names onto the applewatch? Actually workoutdoors gives me some more street names and trail names in the apple watch but not everything on apple watch either. So how can I do more detail in workoutdoors too?

[@Thecsyu]

This is the greatest Apple Watch hiking app review online one can find to date. Thumbs up for the detailed explanation and hard work! I am grateful to have found such a channel and a passionate hiker like you.

[@Hikingguy]

Big thank you! Stay tuned for more...

[@sordel5866]

Yes, great video, so much detail.

[@stephenstewart6091]

I recently returned from a few days using this app, Apple Watch Ultra 2 and iPhone in the Smokies. As long as you plan the route in advance and download offline maps to phone and watch it works extremely well! Your video gave me all information I needed to make this work. Thank you! This was my first non-Garmin GPS experience for many years and I must admit that I was a bit concerned that traditionally “on-line” equipment would work. But it worked very well and the very quick response to zoom and pan was a real joy. I just did 4-6 hour day hikes where battery life was not an issue. I’m still on the fence about whether I can rely on this for multi-day hikes due to battery life and the ability to change my plans to a route I have not pre-downloaded.

[@apostolis_23]

Excellent tutorial buddy!!! Very well made step by step instructions leaving all of my questions answered!!! Thank you and greetings from Greece 🇬🇷 !

[@vpnconsult]

Thank you. This video helped me to choose for Garmin.

[@ZachGrabill]

Great, great review. Love the detail. This is a huge service to the KZbin community and your subscribers. It’s great to know this BEFORE we head out on the trail. If the developer can fix that action button bug….. but knowing you can access map other ways is also helpful.

[@Hikingguy]

Thanks so much Zach, I appreciate it!

[@joncruz]

Looks fantastic BUT for me subscription apps model are a deal breaker.

[@whitenbald]

Your videos are brilliant. So easy to follow, nice and detailed but you go straight to the point. Really awesome! Thanks man. This is helping me to be safer on hikes and to also explore even more :) of course I won't totally rely on the app for my safety!...

[@10magicalfingers]

Best video about hiking with apple watch. Thanks

[@officialyasir]

Just found your channel, binged watched like 5 videos! Downloaded Footpath too. You earned a new subscriber, awesome videos bro!

[@ZubiForce]

I tried it a while back when I got the AWU and really liked being able to create routes but I went for WorkoutDoors, because quite honestly I am tired of everything being a subscription.

[@pavan20100611]

Amazing App and amazing video. Thanks HikingGuy for all this hard work to find apps that are useful for Apple Watch and for hiking. Grateful :) :)

[@Hikingguy]

Thank you!

[@johalun]

Hey! Just FYI, your blurred out email became visible for a second there when you're scrolling.

[@esku75]

Thanks for the detailed review, I used it for the first time last weekend and enjoyed it so far. Planned route at home with my finger 😊 and was able to make a 11km ridge walk with a series 5 and with Apple workout app 😅 finished with 10% from 85% when started (not bad for a 4 years Watch). Loved the app

[@bearkawiboy6246]

The minute apple puts offline maps on the Apple Watch it’ll actually be worth me buying another one.

[@Chad-ee2ko]

Thanks so much for this! Any big advantages of this over AllTrails? I’ve been using AllTrails on my phone and watch for a year and think it’s pretty good although not perfect

[@ivo_huth]

This is my favourite app to navigate. While it looks simple at first glance it’s quite complete and has almost all functionality I need for hiking. Missing is a community group with commented trails, but as you can import GPX files there is a way around. I like that the watch part can operate on its own, without the iPhone. Also like the feature syncing the data to Apple Health, like heart rate. 5*

[@sierraseb3311]

Well Done! The Satellite Live snow overlay will be especially useful this year with historic snow levels on Sierra trails. Love the elevation profiles. You did a great job highlighting which area to press to activate the next feature. On many tutorials I've watched, I've had to rewind over and over to see what icon they hit to enter the new window. I never had to do that on your tutorials. Thanks

[@rsousa78]

It’s really a good app for the ultra. Thanks for the review. One question… if I’m using the watch as a stand alone device, how can I reload the path to track back later?

[@highlanderes]

Love this video. Instant subscription to this channel.

[@jeffweber3295]

I gravel bike at up to 25 mph I assume this would work.

[@Hikingguy]

Yup

[@RodneyClang]

I wish this app would fuse with workoutdoors. I love the elevation profile and route creation.

[@陳俊廷-b7m]

太棒了，這資訊真的非常有用 感謝!!!

[@erikarnesen8874]

Thanks for a good tutorial 😉The most people are visiting places and downloading gpx files, but the problem is gpx files, and that trail often ends on the top, or destination. If so, is it possible, somehow to get the route back to the starting point, same path back. I did tried it, because I needed to get back to the car, app told me am out off path, yes I did know that 😂 Keep it up.

[@uhavinalaff]

Glad to have found your informative page. Look forward to your review of Ultra 2 and whether any of your feedback items have been addressed

[@yesterdayschild1418]

Nice video to get going for somebody who's just trying it. One thing that hopefully somebody can answer for me. When I was out on the rout the voice instructions were coming from my iphone and not the watch, any ideas?

[@yesterdayschild1418]

Second time of using I figured where I went wrong, don't start the hike on your watch and phone at the same time LOL

[@panzerdriver]

Thank you for the detailed and careful explanation of everything.

[@thiegoac]

Also the app “ Works outdoors “ does the same

[@Hikingguy]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/eInMYpuEp9hrqrM

[@williambanzhof9739]

EXCELLENT! You have helped me a lot in getting a good mapping app for my apple watch.

[@islandsnow]

What’s the difference between this and all trails

[@Hikingguy]

Stay tuned I'll do an AllTrails video soon

[@erikarnesen8874]

Following

[@cartermiller2705]

New subscriber. Amazing video! Thank you! We live in Brazil and would like to have hiking with our Apple Watch. How would you orient a novice to work with maps like you are doing there in the US please? More specifically, what set of maps is applicable for S. America and Brazil region? Thanks!

[@Hikingguy]

I haven't used Footpath in Brazil but it's based on Open Street Maps, so you should have coverage there with this app. If for some reason you don't, let me know and I can ask the developer.

[@waterglass55]

How Lucy I am to find such a useful and nice review of the AP apps, when exactly my Garmin F7x went down and being sent back to the service. Thank you so much!

[@immnotaboutthatlife2086]

I use the same app and love that I can plan my own route with it.

[@tonyO-e9f]

Great video thanks. Can you load on to Footpath more than one offline ready route at a time. e.g. load up 5 hikes on the watch offline for a full holiday?

[@Hikingguy]

Yup

[@allisonbogosian3802]

Once again as a new subscriber love this video! Just purchased my APU tonight and will get this app next - have a bigger hike coming up in a few weeks to try it out on!

[@Bani172]

Thank you, I was looking for an hiking app for so long. Great review.

[@DomTheHammerMan]

Hey very helpful video! If I don’t plan on using a computer, is there any reason to keep AllTrails?

[@Hikingguy]

It has good trail reports that I use, but otherwise this will do the trick

[@mariustillwich7288]

Hi, thanks so much for this. Two questions: is it possible to keep the app alive and on screen (maybe even keep map alive for tricky parts of the route)? For me, it always changes back to standard watch face after some minutes. Also, is it possible to only have vibrations and not speaking? This would be very helpful. Best regards, Marius

[@HuskyMike]

Great review. Hadn't heard about this app before.

[@tedhinkle124]

Just to confirm, once if sent the map from my phone to my Apple Watch and downloaded it, I would no longer need to bring my phone to get navigation? I’m just looking for something that will give me directions on a run without my phone. Some apps do this but always require your phone to be with you. It seems like you demonstrated this capability when you put phone and watch into airplane mode, am I correct?

[@Hikingguy]

Correct

[@robertlockwood-ts4zz]

The app is excellent and thanks to your well prepared and detailed review I’m sold on it, nicely done.

[@MichaelLinkevich]

This had a ton of detail. thank you. I have an Apple Watch series 3. It's not an Ultra. Can I get Voice Prompts with the Footpath App? Thanks, again.

[@The.JZA.]

I got the free trial and tested it out. It looks like a nice app on the watch and phone but when using the map on the watch it's really laggy and moves around like jelly. Not the nicest :/

[@fronds.]

Super helpful... thank you for making this.

[@russellfogg2616]

Holly hell! I was researching replacing my Apple Watch Ultra for hiking navigation until I came across your awesome tutorial video for Footpaths - wow! Exactly what I was after and I get to keep my beloved Apple Watch Ultra as well - thank you. 😊

[@flipnblips6418]

GPS question ? If you have both the iPhone and iwatch with you on the hike, how do get the iwatch to keeps its gps on while the gps on the phone is off? I didn’t want to use the phones gps but the watch does what ever the phone does as far as the gps, if phone gps is off the watch gps turns off.

[@Hikingguy]

"Apple has confirmed that the Apple Watch Series 8, second-gen SE, and Ultra won't piggyback off your iPhone's GPS signal if your phone is nearby. Instead, all three will rely on their built-in GPS sensors. Older models, however, will still use your iPhone's GPS when possible."

[@musicbox4022]

Can you simply open the app with your watch (with no phone) in the middle of nowhere and see the map and star recording a trail?

[@Hikingguy]

you can record but no maps unless you downloaded them before

[@musicbox4022]

@@Hikingguy thanks again! Can you load in an area onto the watch with no route? I enjoy going somewhere and simply exploring and recording, but I like to know the way to get back to camp. I previously used Gaia on the phone, but the Gaia on the watch doesn’t seem very good. Thanks again! Great channel

[@Hikingguy]

I@@musicbox4022 I don't think - try this goosemaps.com - will have a review soon

[@Mr.Flex1992]

works only on ultra ? I have a 7 series

[@Jampper]

Def gonna try this! Have you tried it for longer hikes with power saving on? Wondering how is the battery life. 🤔

[@Hikingguy]

12-13 hrs on Ultra

[@karaoke77]

Hello, I really liked the video, and it is incredible what this APP can do, but I have a question, is it possible for the APP to upload the training to the Strava APP automatically? thank you

[@mmerwin2294]

Hi Chris, I thought Workoutdoors was the "go to" app until I watched your review here. Pretty useful. Did you get a feel for how Footpath impacts battery life on the Apple Watch Ultra? I noticed you have your Ultra on Low Power Mode. Does that doesn't impact the functioning and feature set of Footpath?

[@teutates619]

He answered that as a repky to another comment. Battery life using Footpath is about 12-13 hrs. 😉

[@jborrelli34]

I still dont see how this stacks up with workoutdoors and the incredible amounts of customization. This is certainly nice but as an owner of both, I dont think this comes close to workoutdoors as a whole

[@macb.631]

I also use both. But the elevation graph, remaining distance, estimated arrival time and so on is totally missing within WorkOutDoors. Otherwise it is a great app. Those features are big advantages over WorkOutDoors in my opinion.

[@brianrick5509]

Fantastic review! Thank you for your efforts!

[@peakproofuk]

looks like a great app - any thoughts on battery life? Just like using the Apple workout app?

[@Hikingguy]

Yea same ballpark as Workout

[@nickgercken1234]

This is really great! Very thorough, wish KZbin had more channels like this! Liked and subscribed. Your Apple Watch vids are great!

[@Hikingguy]

thank you!

[@guzz95]

Tested this app today on Strawberry Peak. Loved the app. Thank You for you videos, they are pure gold.

[@Hikingguy]

Awesome, glad it worked out for you

[@dukeandace2010]

Been waiting for your video

[@matthewmackay3354]

Great video. I think Footpath offers so much bang for the buck. Your video taught me some aspects of the apps I was not aware of. Much appreciated. Wishing you miles of smiles.

[@Hikingguy]

Great to hear, thank you!

[@davidbryant8003]

Is this app as good for the UK as the US? thanks for the information and great video presentation.

[@chbmckie]

Do you get the elite maps (like OS Maps and IGN Topo) on the watch map view?

[@carletto0805]

thank you is great

[@cubuklusevda1907]

its for swimming also ?

[@amiraseri]

Any equivalent apps for android Wear OS?

[@StalwartMan]

Thank you so much

[@lettruthshow]

I’m using Gaia for navigating on the trail. Would you be confident replacing Gaia with footpath for this? I’m talking specifically about maps on the phone, not the watch. (Thanks for your no nonsense videos. By far the best).

[@Hikingguy]

Thank you! I love all the layers in Gaia - Footpath doesn't have them but the layers it does have are good for navigating. I'd do a trial of Footpath and see if it works for you.

[@Тарас-и2у]

A question. can You see POI around the route? I'm interested to see water springs POI from OpenStreetmap

[@twrol]

Great video, but can I input an address and navigate to it when I have to walk in the city?

[@CLH126]

Great! thanks...I missed the part where you moved from the iPhone creating a route to the Mac computer creating a route...How do I get it on my Mac? :) Thx

[@Hikingguy]

iCloud or sync from web based Footpath

[@Meitao23]

Good stuff

[@dannylopez3714]

No luck. After I purchased the Elite plan there is no option in the Cue to send it to the watch. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

[@Hikingguy]

I'd restart everything and then try - still no go - contact the dev - it's been working for me and other folks

[@pufferjl]

Can this app do offline routing on the watch like a Garmin can? I don't think so, right? You have to upload the route to the watch from phone/computer ahead of time?

[@Hikingguy]

No I haven't found an app that does completely independent on-the-fly nav on the watch alone yet - if anyone knows of one, let me know and I'll check it out

[@robertf3340]

Appreciate ya. Thank you! Question for you. So I have AllTrails and Footpath and WorkOutDoors. Can you only use one of these apps at a time or can you use the AllTrails in concert with Footpath?

[@kennyle8640]

I don't know about the iPhone, but on Android I've used AllTrails and Garmin Explore at the same time. My Android phone's battery (which was a Samsung S7 at the time; I've since upgraded a number of times and still been able to use multiple trail apps simultaneously) lasted only 7 hours, but that's what a USB battery pack is for. I have heard that some Android phones (like Xiaomi's and Huawei [from what I've heard]) are quite aggressive in shutting down or suspending apps it doesn't think you are using, but Samsung is pretty good about not shutting down apps on their more premium models; especially the ones with more generous RAM such as my current S22 Ultra which has 12 Gb of and another 8 GB of configurable RAM.

[@Hikingguy]

On the phone you can use them all at the same time, but the Apple Watch only supports one active workout session from one app at a time unless you use a feature like Footpath has where it doesn't treat it like a workout

[@robertf3340]

@@Hikingguy thanks for the replies guys. Appreciate it

[@genwu84]

hi how to end The workoutdoors.

[@Hikingguy]

long press down and you get a menu to stop

[@doriaacheson8949]

Wonderful video - I learned so much!! Heading out for my first Footpath hike - thank you!

[@anwarabderrahman593]

Hello Great video How can I see the map in the watch when I’m hiking?

[@Hikingguy]

Check out this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hn7EoWiVjZmBfs0

[@posceve]

What's the blue circle on apple watch display?

[@teutates619]

Was wondering the same, but assumed it was the screen recording marking. On the right side the visuals are without it. You’re generally only fed the latter, but he was kind enough to show the real life actikns side by side to it.

[@piotrwydmuch9413]

Hi, thank you for this great info and best channel related to navigation etc. Please be so kind and tell me what is a better navigation device: GPSMAP 66i or 66SR? I would prefer an option of having an Inreach built in like 66i has, but only if the lack of Multiband Compared to 66SR is not making the device worse for navigating etc? what is your opinion?

[@Hikingguy]

Check out the new 67i, which is multi-band and inReach, sounds like it's what you're looking for. Initial review on the channel and fuller review coming soon.

[@piotrwydmuch9413]

@@Hikingguy thank you very much.i didn't know the new one was out. That's great news

[@asplundtube]

We are going on snowkiting trips in the outback. No routes, no trails, sometimes just whiteout and snow. We are looking for pure waypoint navigation. Think: Just an arrow and distance. Managing the waypoints on a map on iPhone or Mac and using them on a Ultra watch. Do you know of any app providing this functionality? (The build in Compass app does not offer any sensible way of managing waypoints)

[@Hikingguy]

If it's a hardcore trip in the snow with gloves, etc., I would get a Garmin 100%, which can do straight line to a waypoint without a problem.

[@asplundtube]

​@@Hikingguy Yes we will be out for a few weeks, temp down to 0F. The only thing we need is the straight line to a waypoint, no maps or anything else. Which Garmin wrist model (watch) would you get for that?

[@Hikingguy]

@@asplundtube something like this sounds perfect for what you need - amzn.to/3OwIUJo - if you need maps then a Fenix

[@asplundtube]

@@Hikingguy Excellent! Will try out the new Foretrex 801 version. Sold my Ultra 2 today.

[@futuristicentity2417]

My Versa 3 still lasts more than 6 days no thanks.

[@teutates619]

After the android vs Apple fuzzy arrogance, now we get repetitive posts like yours. Congratulations. You prefer a camry to a bimmer as well probably. You can’t compare apples with lemons, boi. It’s obivious I can drive a normal car into the woods, and that there are jeeps and such that do the trick better. You cannot have similar comfort and complementary functionality in all directions, tsss

[@Keef181]

Great review. I have planned many trail running routes with Footpath. I plan with Footpath then send them to Workoutdoors for tracking on my Apple Watch as Workoutdoors vibrates when I go off track meaning I don’t have to be looking at my watch constantly - vibrate, look at map on watch, see where I’ve taken a wrong turn, easy. If Footpath implement a simple vibrate (verbal reminders can be fussy, annoying and hard to hear - to me anyway) function when taking a wrong turn I will ditch Workoutdoors as everything else it does perfectly.

[@teutates619]

Excellent point of thought! I am very impressed of and interested in the app, but I want less screen time. It would be super great to just have haptic impulses that tell us how to proceed on our route. I reckon that is currently not a feature of foothpath? That is a bummer then. I hope it is silent when the watch is supposed to be silent…

[@LuisOrtiz-nc3cv]

Thanks!

[@Hikingguy]

WHOA thank you!!!!

[@tonyO-e9f]

Thanks!

[@Hikingguy]

Thank you!!!!

[@SantaCruzLocal]

So this is not a stand alone app on the Apple Watch? You have to down load to your iPhone?

[@Hikingguy]

Yes, this is not included with your watch from Apple

[@teutates619]

The guy meant it needs to be downloaded from the iphone. The app on the watch is dependent upon it, and can assumedly not be downloaded at its own from the appstore on the watch 😉

[@HaiderAli-xh9lg]

If you have aGarmin watch you don’t need all that 😂

[@Lensandwander]

Hello what mic do you use? For recording outdoors

[@Hikingguy]

Sony mic on camera

[@Lensandwander]

@@Hikingguy whats the name of your camera and the mic? :)

[@Hikingguy]

@@Lensandwander hikingguy.com/best-hiking-gear/

[@Lensandwander]

@@Hikingguy thanks!

[@Lensandwander]

@@Hikingguy i think ill just get a rode wirless go 2 and use my gorpo since ill be climbing alot

[@chadshawver3870]

Will this app send maps to a Garmin also?

[@Hikingguy]

nope

[@Hikingguy]

but you can create a route, export to GPX, and then import that to Garmin (Explore or Connect)

[@chadshawver3870]

Ok, thanks for the reply!

[@pilgrum23]

There no such thing as good apple watch like most things they make some one else idea them made in swet shops

[@Miguel-cq1ms]

Does this app support native AOD ?

[@esku75]

Yes 👍🏻 and it’s pretty cool since it dims, in the map it uses negative when dimes but keeps the route so saves battery

[@antoniozerkhfaoui1918]

Workoutdoor is better and it only cost 5 Bucks

[@Hikingguy]

I like Workoutdoors (guide coming soon) but unless I'm missing something it doesn't have planning or turn by turn, just off-track alerts

[@jamesdixon6241]

Workoutdoors is an excellent activity tracking app. But, as mentioned, it lacks a lot of planning features. Additionally, WOD lacks distance/ascent remaining-this is a huge miss for me when hiking.

[@michalkrivanek5689]

@@jamesdixon6241 WOD does have remaining time or distance if you set it

[@esku75]

Navigation wise this app is far superior to WOD, this is a navigation tool, not a fitness app

[@macb.631]

But only in simple and manual way. It’s not a feature like it is on footpath