Technology Bytes: Best Outdoor IPhone Apps

Trails

For hikers, bikers, and climbers, Trails uses Google Maps to show you roads, satellite views, or topography, and records your trail and distance, whether you’re hiking Rainier or Everest.

Oakley Surf Report

As its name suggests, Surf Report checks all surf conditions, including height, tide, and swell direction, as well as weather updates and a listing of the best beaches near you.

Knots, Splices, and Ropework

This app is actually a copy of A. Hyatt Verrill’s 1917 guidebook, featuring 154 knots with instructions and illustrations. A trusted, classic guide right on your iPhone.

Moon Atlas

For astronomy geeks, this app actually shows you the moon as a sphere (not flat), which no less than 1,800 named features, along with the locations of 26 spacecraft. Something I could lose a few hours playing with for sure.