AllTrails Pro Review: Is the Pro Version Worth It?

Have you used AllTrails yet? This renowned trail app makes the great outdoors and nature more accessible and easy to explore than ever before. Simply put, AllTrails is a hiking app that I can’t live without. I’m pleased to present you with my AllTrails Pro review so you can learn more about bringing this companion app along for your outdoor adventures.

After using the free version of AllTrails for many years, I finally took the plunge and started using the AllTrails Pro app. It provides comprehensive maps and details so you can be in the know before you embark on your trek. You can also stay on track with offline maps, even if you lose cell service in the wilderness.

What is AllTrails?

AllTrails is one of the best hiking apps with the most definitive collection of paths from around the world. There are over 400,000 curated trails on the app worldwide, both created and used by over 40 million users. It is one of the most popular hiking apps and also useful for a variety of outdoor activities, such as walking, mountain biking, horseback riding, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, trail running and more.

It’s a great tool to assist beginner hikers when they’re first starting to explore the outdoors, but it’s also helpful even for expert outdoors enthusiasts. Through the AllTrails app, you’ll discover new trails in your own backyard and find the perfect places to explore when you’re travelling abroad.

There’s also a sense of community through AllTrails. When you look up a place to go hiking, you won’t only see a trail map. You’ll see reviews by other hikers with advice, information about trail conditions, difficulty level, photos by fellow app users, and even little details about how many bugs are on the trails or how muddy it was on a certain day.

AllTrails has a free version that everyone can use, as well as a pro version with more features. In this AllTrails Pro review, I’m going to go over the main differences between the free version and the pro version and why you should consider an AllTrails Pro subscription.

AllTrails Free Vs AllTrails Pro: The Main Differences

First, one of the main differences between AllTrails and AllTrails Pro is that one version is free and the other is a paid subscription. You can start using AllTrails on your computer or smartphone at any time for free. Login to your account and start browsing the website version online or the app on your smartphone.

Many of the main features of AllTrails are available for free for anyone with an account to use at their leisure. You can look up trails near you and plan your hiking trips. With your smartphone and cellular signal, you can navigate the trails as you walk (or cycle, snowshoe, ski, run, etc.). You can also create lists of trails and flag your favorites.

It’s also possible to be a contributing member of the AllTrails community. Share photos from your hikes, leave reviews of the trails, and make note of any special features or factors to consider. Rate your hike on a specific trail and find the best trails based on the reviews of others.

You’ll be able to keep a record of everywhere you’ve walked, including your route, distance, elevation gain, average pace, moving time and total time, and calories burned. It’s a fun digital diary of your hiking adventures and favorite trails.

AllTrails Pro Review: My Favorite Features

AllTrails Pro has several enhancements to the basic membership that I feel are essential for anyone who even occasionally goes hiking. If you’re an avid hiker, I recommend it even more. Here is a list of the features you receive with the premium membership when compared to the free version.

AllTrails Pro Features: Offline Maps and Alerts

AllTrails Pro provides exceptional functionality when you’re out exploring nature. While it’s possible to follow trail blazes on the paths, sometimes hiking trails aren’t especially well marked and it can be easy to get turned around.

I’ve been lost on the trails more times than I can count. Sometimes I’m not paying attention to the blazes, and other times there simply aren’t any indications of where to go. Paths can become trickier to follow when they’re covered in snow, and sometimes people have forged their own paths that look like trails but don’t go anywhere at all.

With AllTrails, the tables are turned and it will become difficult to get lost. Simply follow the map on your phone and you’re all set. With AllTrails Pro, you’ll also get alerts when you go the wrong way that will help you get right back on track.

You’ll feel more confident on your hiking trips by using their Navigator to help follow the trail. Get off-route notifications and GPS features that wouldn’t typically work without cellphone data. This is only available with the Pro version of AllTrails.

The “Distance Away” Feature

This is a new feature of AllTrails Pro. You can now find trails by distance from you, no matter where you are in the world. For instance, let’s say that you want to go hiking on a trail that’s within 10km of where you are right now. Set the slider to 0km to 10km to see the trails based on your current location.

For instance, if I’m at home in Georgetown, Ontario, and I set the slider to see trails between 0km and 10km, 31 different trails show up on the map. This could become even more useful if you’re visiting a new city or town. If you want to find the trails closest to your hotel, this filter will only display the ones within a certain distance from your location.

Give Back: 1% for the Planet

AllTrails is a proud member of 1% for the Planet. This means that they donate 1% of their annual sales to nonprofit organizations focusing on protecting the environment and creating positive change for a healthier planet.

You can feel good supporting a company that not only helps people explore the great outdoors, but also gives back to good causes that protect nature and the planet. In addition, AllTrails also removes any ads from the app and website when you are a Pro member.

Unlock More Map Details

There are many more real-time map details that provide continual updates to AllTrails Pro users. This is really useful no matter where you’re hiking in the world. You’ll get access to information regarding air quality, satellite weather, pollen, fire history, light pollution, and user heatmaps.

For instance, you may not want to hike when the air quality is poor or thunderstorms appear over a particular region. This is a really handy feature that helps you discover the current weather conditions before you venture out on your trek.

You’ll also unlock 3D maps that provide more visual references for the trails. This is particularly useful for elevation changes and mountain climbs. In these situations, it makes more sense to view the trail on a 3D map. There aren’t really any mountains in Ontario, but I will be using this feature when hiking in other parts of Canada and the world.

AllTrails provides more details than Google Maps, like the topography of the area, even with the free version of AllTrails. The real-time map overlays with the Pro membership show even more insightful data that helps you plan and prepare for your trip.

Use Lifeline to Stay Connected

Lifeline is a fantastic safety feature within an AllTrails Pro subscription. It is a real-time tracker that will share your trip details with your loved ones. It includes your planned start and finish time, as well as a map of your route. This feature provides you with even more peace of mind for you and your family members.

You can send status updates to your designated safety contacts quickly and easily from the AllTrails app. If you aren’t back from your hike at your predetermined time, the Lifeline feature will automatically send an alert to your safety contacts with your last known location. Lifeline is an amazing feature for all hikers, especially for hikers who like to embark on solo trips.

Print Paper Maps for Backup

While I do have some print maps for the Bruce Trail (their official guidebook), I haven’t yet printed any maps from AllTrails for backup. It’s always possible that your phone could run out of juice, so it’s great to have a backup plan for these situations. Some hikers prefer a paper map over a hiking app, so you have the option.

Hiking Safety: Never Rely Solely on an App!

While the AllTrails app will help you navigate the trails with ease, it’s best to not rely solely on an app when it comes to hiking safety. First, I suggest always bringing a portable charger for your cell phone. This keeps your phone from running out of battery. You can continue to use AllTrails and your phone’s calling and texting features with this backup battery source.

AllTrails Pro Review: The Price

The price point for an AllTrails Pro subscription is incredibly reasonable, especially if you take advantage of one of their sales or special rates. AllTrails has been quite generous to extend a discount to all of our readers. If you’d like to try the premium version of the app after reading my AllTrails Pro review, please feel free to take advantage of this special price.

Try AllTrails Pro and receive 30% off – use the promo code OntarioHiking30 at checkout! With this promotion, an AllTrails subscription costs less than the price of a cup of coffee each month.

AllTrails Pro Review: The Verdict

Is an AllTrails Pro subscription worth it? Absolutely! I hope that in reading this AllTrails Pro review that you came to a similar conclusion as I did. The offline maps and alerts are well worth the purchase price. Plus, there are several other features that are essential for your adventures in the outdoors.

On the flip side, AllTrails isn’t perfect. For instance, the trails are curated and added by fellow users. While AllTrails strives to keep these accurate, sometimes the trails become rerouted. Former trails can quickly become private property in some instances. Also, there are a few inaccuracies that I have personally encountered where the trail on AllTrails didn’t reflect the official trail map provided by the conservation authorities.

Before heading out, be sure to compare the AllTrails map with the official trail maps at the national parks, provincial parks/state parks, conservation areas, etc. For hikes in Ontario, be sure to search for the park or trail on the Ontario Hiking blog as I’ve featured so many trails that I have personally hiked myself.

I suggest using AllTrails as inspiration to find new trails, to help you navigate the trails, and to keep track of your hikes. The AllTrails community is a great place to share your experiences, directly through the mobile app.

Even with a few minor critiques, I really love using AllTrails and highly recommend AllTrails Pro to all of my readers. With this special price for an AllTrails Pro subscription (using the promo code OntarioHiking30 as well), I suggest giving the AllTrails Pro app a try today.

This product review is brought to you by AllTrails. This is my honest review of the AllTrails App, and my opinions are entirely my own.

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