Camp away! Five free camping apps to get the most of your long weekend

Independence day is just around the corner and, with it, a three-day long weekend is finally here! So if you’re looking to venture out of the city and enjoy your time with the nature, this is a great time. And for those with smartphones, travel apps are dime-a-dozen. But what about apps that help make most of your camping trip, whether it be for survival or pure recreation? For example, if you’re a birder, there are apps to help you identify and record the different kinds of birds in your location, while maps and compass apps make sure you’re always on the right track.   Whether you’re a seasoned adventurer or camping for the first time, these five free apps will make your trip smooth and easy.   All Trails    If you’re a pure wanderer, you’ll certainly enjoy using the All Trails app, which allows you to track the route you cover - It’s a social app specially designed for travellers. You can record the route you cover with photos of what you see along the way and add it to your profile. A blue dot shows your current location, while a red line tracks where you are on the map. For those who are not proud of their sense of direction, it includes a compass that tells you if you’re heading in the right direction. All Trails makes use of the phone’s GPS to give you additional stats such as the elevation level and the signal strength.   ** iOS |** Android    SAS Survival Guide Lite    This app includes everything you’ll need to know to have a worthwhile camping trip. Written by a former soldier and instructor, John Wiseman, this application is an elite guide to get you through some of the toughest situations you might come across during a camping trip. You’ll find the app useful even if you’re a basic camper, with options such as the list of things you‘ll need to carry before the trip, a comprehensive first aid section and how to read different weather signs. For those who wish to go on more challenging trips, there’s a full-blown app available for Rs 370 on the App store and Rs 325 on the Play store.   ** iOS |** Android | Windows Phone   Google Sky Map     It’s not often you’ll get to see starry nights in a busy city, so make the most of your outdoor trip by watching the stars in the clear night skies. If you enjoy star gazing, Google Sky Map is an app that gives the name of stars, constellations and planets above you by pointing your smartphone or tablet to the sky. The app makes use of your smartphone’s integral GPS and compass to give the exact placement of stars and planets based on your location. The app is available only on the Google Play store.   iOS alternative: SkyView   First Aid – American Red Cross    It’s important not to ignore your safety as it’s common to have breathing problems and injuries when you’re on an adventure trip. The First Aid app includes a comprehensive catalogue of information to help you and your companions in such emergency situations. You don’t need the Internet to read the instructions, so you can use the app even when you’re out of network coverage. The first page includes common symptoms to help you address travel sicknesses such as dizziness and nausea.   ** iOS |** Android   Konkoit  Konkoit lets you access a vast database of birds depending on your country. Enabling GPS also lets you see a list of species common around your GPS area. It lets you identify the birds you see depending on their characteristics. Once you’ve identified a particular bird, the app lets you record your observation with a photo or sound recording. This not only helps you keep a record of birds you’ve identified, but also adds to the quality of the database. iOS | Android   As much as we try to cover the best apps, there’s a good chance that we’ll have missed out a few thanks to the sheer abundance of apps in the stores. If you know apps that fit the bill, but didn’t make it to this list, feel free to add them in the comments.