Technology has taken over. Most people now have Smart Phones and that opens up a whole new world of information gathering. Beyond phones for a second technology has changed the way we live. Even in the great outdoors! Tents are lighter, knives are stronger, GPS helps plot your routes and that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
With all that in mind we’ve put together this guide to what we think are six of the best apps out there for bushcraft and survival. The world of apps is a pretty big one though, so if you know of any others that we may have missed, please leave a comment below and let us know.
SAS Survival Guide
This was written by a former British Special Air Service soldier and instructor John ‘Lofty’ Wiseman. The SAS Survival Guide puts all of the skills you need to survive nearly any condition into one sleek and simple app. It contains over 400 pages from the best-selling SAS Survival Guide book, 16 survival tip videos, photos of dangerous creatures, poisonous plants and other outdoor threats, and several other nifty tools.
For anyone wondering about the different methods of building a fire, learning how to survive in extreme climates or looking for a few comprehensive hiking item checklists, this is the real-deal app.
Audubon APPS – Birds, Trees, Mushrooms, Insects and more
Not every critter is dangerous. Not every insect will bite you. In fact, many hikers travel the woods just to search for some of nature’s birds or mushrooms. Or you may even stumble across something you can’t identify. This is where these apps come in. They are brilliant catalogues of a huge array of plants and animals. Although these apps are American based, they still contain a lot of really relevant and useful information for the UK and Europe.
Whether you are a beginner or an expert it’s always good to brush up your knowledge with these brilliant little apps.
AccuWeather (Free)
Yes, most smartphones do come with weather apps out of the box but they may not be as reliable as you think. It’s mostly down the unpredictable nature of weather. That being said though the AccuWeather App is one of the better ones. Giving you accurate and up-to-date information, plus it’s FREE!
Survival Guide (Free)
Survival skills could come in handy in several different situations from unexpected weather to natural disasters. However, they can also be used to better appreciate nature and for recreation.
The techniques shared in the Survival Guide app provide advice to get basic necessities such as water, food and shelter. It will also teach you how to signal for help, navigate safely, avoid unpleasant interactions with animals and plants, and basic first aid. All in all a good all encompassing guide!
iTrack Wildlife
Although this is a North American based App it is still very useful outside of the States. We like this app because it keeps things simple and tell you what you need to know. It’s a pretty comprehensive guide to tracking. It’s maybe not needed if you’re an advanced tracker, but for those starting out or still learning how to track this app could definitely be useful!
Animated Knots
This is a fantastic little app for learning Knit techniques on the go. It gives clear and simple instructions on how to tie each knot. It’s also well categorised which makes finding the right knot pretty easy.
Knots are so useful, but it’s a skill that can be easily overlooked. With this app though you can learn or re-learn those essential knotting skills.
If you set your mind about going bushcrafting or trakking, these are just some of the apps you might find useful. Keep in mind that these apps tend to drain the battery faster than usual (especially if you’re a iPhone user) and that some of them rely on data usage which may not be available in the areas where you are going to. It may be worth looking into a portable charger. We’ve currently got in stock a good range of both solar and plug-in chargers which can literally be a life-saver. Always make sure to check on these things before you set off and make sure to learn those basic survival skills – you never know when you are going to need them!