Hiking Maps - PeakVisor Reviews

by CasualPhoneGamer

Upon installing the application I was notified that I would need the pro version in order to locate peaks in more than one location per day. Seemed fair enough, I likely won’t usually need to use this more than once a day but I figured I’d sign up for a year membership if I enjoyed using the free version.

I entered into HikingMaps to try it out and learned that I needed to download data for my vicinity, 130mb.. Seems like they must be doing something pretty inefficient to require a file that large for everywhere you go (and certainly makes it impractical if you have low cell service, like for example in the mountains lol) but I allowed it just to try it. While I am waiting for the information in my vicinity to download I am prompted that I have used up my one location for the day and must pay to view more. So essentially, I spent my free location for the day downloading unnecessary data (even though I was still in the same location lol). Pretty sweet! Looking forward to checking out other options or writing my own app for this.

by Are You Sirius

“Just open HikingMaps and point the camera.” Sounds easy. I’m in the highest mountain range in the Eastern USA, the Black Mtns in Western North Carolina. I’m 4.01 miles from Mount Mitchell (measured with my Garmin GPS), the HIGHEST PEAK in the Eastern United States, and after nearly a dozen tries, HikingMaps has identified NOTHING, although it did indeed download the data it needs for this area. I can clearly see Cattail Peak, one of the southern sixers, from my property. It’s barely a mile away. When I aim the camera at Cattail Peak, HikingMaps provides no data whatsoever, even after adjusting and readjusting numerous times, as the user is prompted onscreen to do. After trying over and over, all day long, all I’ve gotten is crude line drawings of mountains. GPS data, yes, but no peak data whatsoever. Nothing. Zilch. Nada. The instructions, which I’ve read, reread and reread, over and over, provide no help whatsoever. Only brief and cursory explanations. Sorry I wasted my money.

by Pts42

It worked once at my home. I waited a few days to try a new location since the “one location a day” paywall came up. Can neither load in a new location or determine what location is being used as it won’t load at home any more either. It’s just a bricked app now with no functionality asking me to pay a cup of coffee every month. I don’t drink coffee. And I don’t believe in never ending subscription models without any guarantee of new services.

by Pokeygumby

I wanted to test HikingMaps to see if it’s better than the one I’m currently using. So I’m up in the mountains and I load it up. Takes a while to download and stitch the panorama. And then nothing shows up, at all. So I restart HikingMaps , and wait again, and then the outlines of the mountains are in the sky, like way up in the sky, and the horizon isn’t even level. Whatever I used my other app. So a couple hours later I try to give HikingMaps a second (third) chance, and it’s locked out! One location per day. Wow great job guys.

by Dburton80

Love everything about HikingMaps except the way it updates. For some reason nearly every time I try to use it, it needs to update the data by downloading the vicinity. Of course this is always exactly when I’m on the trail without data or wireless available. HikingMaps beats the competition in about every other way by leaps and bounds so I hope they fix that!

by Evan_13

Great app, but missing landscape support. Only portrait mode is supported in the interface. While HikingMaps make “look” like it supports landscape mode, the interface demonstrates that HikingMaps still thinks of itself as only in portrait mode. This is seen with the startup screen and the subscription sign up screen... along with other visual components. Functionality is impaired on the iPad Pro 12.9 (3rd gen).

by TravisAK

Please just figure out what a fair price is for HikingMaps (high or low) and I’ll pay it. I am overwhelmed with monthly subscriptions and will not buy anymore. I would gladly pay whatever you consider a fair price to own it. It’s getting out of control. Too bad because it appears that the full version is amazing. :(

9/4/21 Any consideration given to a one time fee? If you think people would be deterred due to the price I think you would be surprised. Of course you can keep the monthly/annual purchase option, but I want a one and done price. After spending a little bit of time with the free portion of HikingMaps I am sure it is worth whatever you would need to charge for a on time fee. Tanka for considering this request.

by UffdaMN

Just love the application. We live in a mountainous area and it’s wonderful to have this tool. It also very much enhanced our experience on a recent trip to Glacier/Waterton Lakes and Grand Teton National Parks. Unbelievable how much capability we have in such small devices these days. Great job to the development team!

by Haninay

I had a problem with HikingMaps . My issues were completely fixed in the update today. They also sent me the most helpful video. Fantastic customer and really cool app.

by Tommmmmmmmmmmggggg

I’ve been backpacking in the mountains for about 30 years using Maps then handheld GPS and phone enabled GPS, and I just added this product to my quiver. I really like it a lot. The core functionality is that it lets you superimpose the horizon line and the names of peaks onto your phone screen when you have your camera viewfinder enabled. This works well and I have learned the names of a lot of features that I have been looking at for years without knowing what they are called. You can download these photos with the labels on them. You can also upload a picture and HikingMaps will add labels— assuming the photo is geotagged. The final feature that I will mention is the virtual terrain mode, which allows you to “see over” ridges. All this has really added to my understanding of the mountains that I backpack in southern Idaho. Highly recommend.

by Grantinius

I’ve climbed nearly 40 mountains, just climbed my first with HikingMaps on my phone. It added so much to the experience. I can look around and get a bearing on exactly where I am and what I’m looking at, as well as what is over the next hill that I haven’t been to yet. Just Great!

by Geezfools

Had a 1 star rating because of the subscription change and thought I’d be losing offline access in a year. The developer made it clear, via email, that nothing changes, at all. So, for now, 5 stars. Great app, always love using it while out in the woods!

by Robbo Mon

I have been very impressed with the breadth and abilities of HikingMaps. It has become my go-to tool for learning about the topography of mountains in California. Many times before HikingMaps, I had wondered what mountains I could see. HikingMaps makes incredibly easy to find out.

Before going on trips, I enjoy using the teleport feature to see the layout of the area. You can see relatively detailed images that give you a good idea of how your path will look from each position, so it’s useful for back-country treks where good trails aren’t available. The new 3D feature is very useful here as well. There are actually quite a few trails uploaded here too, so it is useful when you want to find the direction to a trail.

Both live and picture-based landscape matching work really well. I appreciate the download zone option, since there isn’t always service in the mountains. The landscapes are surprisingly accurate, and all of the features are easy to use.

by Tom The Mule

I am on vacation in Southern Utah and said, “wouldn’t it be nice to know what mountains and geographic features I am looking at?” Well guess what, questions answered. Thanks to the developers for such an amazing app. Could not be happier! Even used the teleport feature to go back to park I have already been, and identified mountains that I wondered about. Great product!

by Guymystere

I love HikingMaps. I use it all the time on hikes. If you’ve ever wondered, “hmmm... what is that mountain over there” you’ll like HikingMaps. I’ve downloaded all the mountain ranges that I frequent. It helps me have a better idea of which mountains I want to climb and where they are in relation to myself. Great app!

by Ron-DD-Dawg

Works great! This is a must-have for any mountain enthusiast. Albeit it does not suffice for a quad map or good gps, it does provide great information and pinpoint location of peaks.

I am told that next version is in near future with more great functions.

Hint to developer: I would like to see glaciers added. Also a function to mark peaks that I have achieved with dates and notes. This would be a great peak-baggers journal!

by Spinality

This is really a wonderful tool. It’s still evolving so it will only get better. The user interface is not instantly intuitive — for example, the great 3D hiking/terrain maps are displayed by double tapping the compass. Who’d have thunk to try that? But already a great travel companion. I haven’t really used it in the field yet but have high hopes based on test usage so far. I’m optimistic for steady improvement.

by Four Corners Resident

An excellent app for learning the names of visible mountains in your vicinity. HikingMaps is easy to use and offers an outline of the peaks you’re viewing that can be moved and aligned with the camera image of the peaks to accurately position the labels on each mountain. If you live near mountains, this is a must-have app. It’s intuitive to use and saves photos of the peaks you label for review later. The only drawback is that the free version can only be used in one area per day. If you’re moving through several locations in a day (e.g. driving for an hour or more through several sets of mountains) you need to subscribe to the Pro version of HikingMaps .

by Jrobert.in.Wilton

Update: The developer has explained that the data is necessarily large but that it can be pre-downloaded at home to save data quota. Since that was my only complaint I've upped my rating to 5-stars. Users on a measured plan should understand that the HikingMaps will pull a lot of data in the field if it hasn't been previously downloaded.

It really is quite amazing at identifying peaks - point and shoot! - and I feel bad about dissing it. But in 3 or so minutes, over a less than 30 degree segment of the horizon, it just blew through my - admittedly low, 100MB - entire monthly data allowance. This won't be a barrier for most people but those light-users on a measured plan, as I am, should know upfront: expect a hefty download to do what it does.

by LamTranVamp

I used HikingMaps when backpacking in Yosemite Np. It showed names and detail of all the peaks that appear in my real time camera and even some peaks that were behind objects. Of course I had to download offline data of Yosemite region before hand. Overall I think HikingMaps deserves 5 stars because It helped me a lot in backcountry

by Anoy111122

I used HikingMaps when backpacking in Yosemite Np. It showed names and detail of all the peaks that appear in my real time camera and even some peaks that were behind objects. Of course I had to download offline data of Yosemite region before hand. Overall I think HikingMaps deserves 5 stars because It helped me a lot in backcountry

by WhyDoINeedANickname55

I love Peakvisor. I hike in the Adirondacks, and I’m never quite sure which peaks I can see from my location. Peakvisor makes it easy! The developer is very responsive; I asked a question and he replied in a few hours. A great app, and new features are added frequently.