Our mobile phones might usually be more usually suited to their natural habitat of the urban jungle, but there are many reasons why you should pack your mobile for your backpacking trip. From GPS for finding your way around far-flung locations, to your camera for snapping those once-in-a-lifetime moments, your smartphone is now almost as essential to pack as your sun cream and local phrasebook.
From super-handy apps to accessories, here are the best mobile phone add-ons that no backpacker should leave home without.
iphone
Griffin Survivor Case - iPhone 5 - £26.24
While braving the elements, you’ll want to be sure that your smartphone can take the pace too – and make the journey with you in one piece. iPhone 5 users can invest in a Griffin Survivor Case: the mother of all protective cases; guaranteed to protect your iPhone whatever nature throws at it. Designed and tested to meet conditions outlined by no less than the US Department of Defense , the Survivor is shatter-resistant, shock-absorbing and features a built-in screen protector and plugs to protect things like your headphone port and dock connector from all kinds of adverse conditions, e.g. sand, dirt, shock, rain and whatever else Mother Nature has up her sleeve.
JVC Xtreme Xplosive in-ear earphones - £19.99
When you’re on the move in all weathers, you’ll need a sturdy set of earphones to accompany you. JVC Xtreme Xplosive in-ear earphones are one great option. As well as offering a powerful, deep bass sound , and an inline microphone for hands-free conversation, the earphones feature a robust, damage-proof design, which means they should be able to weather any knocks and scrapes along the way. Practical on almost all levels, these earphones are compatible with all devices that feature a 3.5mm headphone socket.
Victorinox Festival Ready app - Free
When you’re backpacking around a far-flung foreign country that you’ve probably never been to before, it’s important that you’re prepared for all eventualities – so whatever situation you find yourself in, you won’t be caught short. The Victorinox Festival Ready app, created by the people behind the Swiss Army Knife, is a multi-functional app that provides you with almost everything you’ll ever need to brave the great outdoors, including:
- Torch
- 3D navigation
- Sound flare
- Live weather
- Packing checklist.
SAS Survival Guide app - £3.99
If you’re looking for an all-in-one guide which can give you priceless advice whatever happens on your backpacking adventure, then look no further than this app. Written by a former SAS soldier and instructor, this app combines the full 400 pages of the bestselling survival guide, along with photos , videos, comprehensive first aid advice and even a quiz to test your knowledge. The app also includes Morse code and compass devices, and for just £3.99, it’s surely a small price worth paying for an app that could even save your life!
TripIt app - Free
This nifty app is ideal for organising all your trip’s travel arrangements into one handy bundle, creating an iPhone itinerary that you’ll be able to access whenever you want on your trip. All you have to do is e-mail your bookings – for hostels, hotels, flights, transfers, day trips, etc. – to plans@tripit.com and you’ll be able to watch your itinerary come to life before your very eyes. The app even adds useful information such as maps, weather forecasts and directions for driving, so you shouldn't feel out of your depth, even if you're thousands of miles from home.
Anti Mosquito Sonic Repeller app - Free
If there's one souvenir you certaily won't want from your backpacking adventures, it's a whole host of itchy, red, nasty mosquito bites turning your body into a human version of a dot-to-dot for weeks afterwards. This clever app will allow you to ditch the repellent sprays and tablets and still stay bite-free. Basically, it emits a unique high-pitched frequency that will send almost all mosquitoes flying for the hills. What's better, the pitch of the sound is so high that most humans won't hear a thing - so you can sleep soundly without being a sleeping target!
Opena case - iPhone 4/4G/4S/5 - £16.90
Picture the scene. You’ve finally trekked to your campsite through the heat, put up your tent and have the stove on, when you go to open a well-earned beer and realise – d’oh! – you’ve forgotten the bottle opener. Now, unless you’ve mastered the perilous art of opening bottles with your teeth , then you’ll find yourself pretty much stuck – unless you’ve planned ahead and invested in one of these brilliant phone-cases-meets-bottle-openers. Available for iPhone 4 and 5, and with free shipping to the UK, this one’s definitely a winner.
BioLite CampStove™ - $129.95
This is a bit at the pricier end of things, but it’s definitely an investment if you have a bit of spare cash handy, or you're a seasoned backpacker. The BioLite CampStove is a cooker with a thermoelectric generator built into the bottom, which means you’ll be able to charge your iPhone while you’re waiting for the water to boil. The stove is also fire-resistant, waterproof and - though it weighs in at 340g – how many cooking pots do you know of that can also keep your mosquito repeller app fighting the good fight all night long too?
So, there's our selection of the best backpacking apps and accessories for iPhone. Keep your eyes on this site for more updates depending on what type of smartphone you have. Up next month: backpacking apps and accessories for Android!