EQUiTrail App?

[atomicfriday]

Hi guys, I’ve been needing a new phone and finally made the plunge and ordered a new iPhone 4S, along with a Lifeproof case. When I start conditioning on trail rides I’d like a handy app to track my miles and speed. I’d rather not buy a specified GPS as I don’t want to spend more money or carry more things necessary! Has anyone used this app and have any insight as to its pros and cons? From reading about it I like the fact you can create way points with descriptions and even pictures. Also that the phone does not need to be “on” constantly in order for it to continue tracking your ride. But I’d like to hear reviews from those who have put it to the test!

If you have any other suggestions of apps to use on the iPhone that would be appreciated too!

[Snowdenfarm]

I was going to tell you that there have been threads discussing different riding apps. Then I tried to search for them. After being sidetracked for a good half hour on a “cool tricks for Siri” thread, I discovered that you cannot search for either GPS or app because they are too short.

Sooooo, I am not familiar with EquiTrail, but I use EquiTrack and love it. It keeps track of mileage for each horse. It also tracks "energy’ for each horse. At the start of each ride you choose whether it is an easy/medium/hard ride, it adds in duration, average speed, top speed, age and weight of your horse to calculate the energy expended. It also automatically records the weather and the name of the location (such as the name of the state park vs. just its coordinates).

The only downside I have found is that while it records your trail on a map, I have not been able to put my current position on that map to reuse it as a guide for a current ride. For that, I use the Gaia GPS app or BikeBrain, but that means I have to have previously recorded a ride on that trail without recording it in EquiTrack.

i have just started riding out alone and I have been using Glympse to send my location to my husband and he follows (well, infrequently checks in while at work) to make sure I am not in one position too long (unconscious). However, I do not have a record of my ride when I do that.

I would love to hear what you like about EquiTrail. I am always looking for new apps.

[atomicfriday]

After some further investigation it seems that EQUiTrail doesn’t work without a cell signal. I did a search for hiking GPS apps and discovered Trimble Outdoors Navigator.

http://www.trimbleoutdoors.com/Products/TrimbleOutdoorsNavigator/

It allows you to download maps for use when there is no signal, mark waypoints, and tracks your speed, elevation etc. You can store all of your journeys on their site and like EQUiTrail you can tag photos and videos to your waypoints. It has other features too but those are my biggies!

[Snowdenfarm]

Oh, sorry, I missed the part about your phone not being on. I will definitely take a look at Trimble. Where are you located? I am in PA and I have an app called PA Parks which gives me detailed trail maps for use without cell service. Perhaps you have something similar for your area.

[rememberthenight]

I use equitrail and like it a lot. I do have cell service almost everywhere I ride though.

[katyb]

Everytrail is cheap or free, and it operates off the gps, not cell service.

[atomicfriday]

My phone is on but I don’t trust it to always have a signal out in the woods. I downloaded Motion X after positive reviews but I am willing to try others out too! Thanks for the suggestions, I will check out everytrail.

[jaybird660]

I’ve used “Track My Hack”.

[Snowdenfarm]

I am sorry, atomicfriday, or course your phone is on – I misspoke and meant connected to cell service. Motion X looks great and I love that my husband could check where I am (and if I a still moving) in real time with the auto update feature. However, I just read a scathing review about it’s accuracy. Please keep us updated on your experience with it!

[atomicfriday]

Does Track My Hack still work if cell signal is lost?

I will totally make sure to give a review once I use it! I won’t have my horse here tip May so bear with me. My phone is connected to a service provider but like I said in the middle of the woods that’s not always a sure thing!

[Alibhai_s_Alibar]

[QUOTE=atomicfriday;7524572]
Does Track My Hack still work if cell signal is lost?

I will totally make sure to give a review once I use it! I won’t have my horse here tip May so bear with me. My phone is connected to a service provider but like I said in the middle of the woods that’s not always a sure thing![/QUOTE]

Not sure about the answer to your signal question, but be warned that all of my saved rides (20+) in Track My Hack vanished without warning. It made me log in one day, and the rides just started over as Ride #1. All the others were nowhere to be found.

Next time, I’ll either use another app or make sure I save the rides via email in batches.

[oldpony66]

Does this link work?
http://www.chronofhorse.com/forum/showthread.php?313966-Useful-Iphone-Apps-for-trail-riding-GPS

I just put Equitrail on my phone and used it a grand total of one time. What I liked about it was that it was super easy to figure out, and it did what I expected it to. I didn’t go out of cell phone range, though. What I don’t like is that it won’t send hubby updates if I go out riding alone, and I couldn’t figure out a way to upload/move any pictures I took on the app to my regular pictures (maybe there’s a way, maybe not).

[KarenC]

How are these apps on your battery drain? There is no way I could use an app with my cell signal on - my battery on my Android is pathetic. I may be able to get through a ride in airplane mode if it can work offline.

This is why I’ve always used a separate GPS, but it seems the smartphone apps would be a lot more user friendly. Maybe I just need to try one a few times (when riding with a friend who is NOT draining her battery…) and see. Like many of you, I do ride alone at times and I have always carried my cell on me, but turned it off so it is available in case of emergency.

[Snowdenfarm]

[QUOTE=oldpony66;7538996]
Does this link work?
http://www.chronofhorse.com/forum/showthread.php?313966-Useful-Iphone-Apps-for-trail-riding-GPS

I just put Equitrail on my phone and used it a grand total of one time. What I liked about it was that it was super easy to figure out, and it did what I expected it to. I didn’t go out of cell phone range, though. What I don’t like is that it won’t send hubby updates if I go out riding alone, and I couldn’t figure out a way to upload/move any pictures I took on the app to my regular pictures (maybe there’s a way, maybe not).[/QUOTE]

Thanks for the review and the link. Both were very helpful, but left me feeling that the app I am looking for still doesn’t exist. :sad smile: Sooooo, I end up using three, yes three, different apps.

1. Gaia - Once, the first time someone leads me on a new trail as it records our path and allows me to go back to it on a later ride and direct me if I do not have it memorized.

2. EquiTrack - Every ride with company as it records hours, mileage and energy for each horse separately.

3. Glympse - When I ride solo so my husband can keep an eye on me and always has my exact gps coordinates just in case.

Any programmers out there? I would pay good money to get all three in one app!!

[Top_Trail_Horse]

I have used a lot of these apps. I have an iPhone and several of them are still on my phone. I have tested all of them for use with my online trail mileage program, Top Trail Horse.

*EasyTrails: my current favorite. Seems to eat up very little battery compared to the other apps. It is easy to use and records my track, I can view where the trail I am traveling on, upload my track to the computer, etc.

*MotionX: my previous favorite. Gives good stats. Lots of bells and whistles I don’t need

*EquiTrail: used to like it but it doesn’t create a .gpx file which I need to upload to my website for trail miles

*EquiTrack: this seems to be more for workouts. Does have the map feature but it doesn’t allow you to pause your trail. I experienced a lot of frustration with this app.

*Endomondo: Good app!

*EveryTrail: I downloaded it but have not really tested it extensively.

[Top_Trail_Horse]

I have used a lot of these apps. I have an iPhone and several of them are still on my phone. I have tested all of them for use with my online trail mileage program, Top Trail Horse.

*EasyTrails: my current favorite. Seems to eat up very little battery compared to the other apps. It is easy to use and records my track, I can view where the trail I am traveling on, upload my track to the computer, etc.

*MotionX: my previous favorite. Gives good stats. Lots of bells and whistles I don’t need

*EquiTrail: used to like it but it doesn’t create a .gpx file which I need to upload to my website for trail miles

*EquiTrack: this seems to be more for workouts. Does have the map feature but it doesn’t allow you to pause your trail. I experienced a lot of frustration with this app.

*Endomondo: Good app!

*EveryTrail: I downloaded it but have not really tested it extensively.

*ViewRanger: I am waiting for the rain to stop so I can test this one! It looks a little more complex but I can figure it out!