How To Plan the Nerdiest Camping Trip Ever Addictive Technology

Technology and the great outdoors go together better than ever. Get out and geek out with these fun activities, apps, and gear!

Some people venture into the outdoors to “unplug.” To leave technology behind…to stop and smell the roses, if you will. And if that’s your thing, that’s great. But some of us are allergic to roses and break out in hives if you try to pry our gadgets out of our hands for a minute, let alone for a whole weekend in the woods. That said, we’re not suggesting that you bring an iMac camping, and thanks to the power of iPhones and iPads, even toting a MacBook Air seems like overkill. With the right case, some portable power, and some other goodies, you and your iDevice along can have a blast in the great outdoors.

High-Tech Hiking

iPhone & iPad apps make the great outdoors even greater.

Geocaching

Geocaching will help you identify nearby geocaches and then lead you right to them.

See that blue box in the picture? That represents a geocache, which is a hidden outdoor treasure you find by locating its GPS coordinates. This used to require a dedicated GPS device (see our how-to), but now you can do it with your iPhone. The gold standard is a $9.99 app called Geocaching, which works on iPhone 3G, 3GS, and 4…and technically iPod touches too, although they need a Wi-Fi hotspot, which aren’t exactly prevalent in the woods. The app integrates with the granddaddy of geocaching websites, Geocaching.com, and lets you search for a geocache nearby or by address. Then the fun, easy-to-use mapping feature helps lead you to it, and you can post a log that you found it from within the app, as well as on a paper log book traditionally kept in the geocache itself. Along with the log, you’ll typically find trinkets or toys—keep one as a souvenir and add a new one you brought from home. It’s the coolest thing to happen to hiking since trekking poles.

Wildlife Watching

When you take along your iPad or iPhone and a field guide app to help you identify the flora and fauna you encounter, you’ll bask in the glory of nature while learning something too. Our absolute favorites are the universal apps from the Audubon Society. Audubon Guides ($29.99) is the all-in-one, containing Audubon Birds (available separately for $14.99), Audubon Mammals ($9.99), Audubon Trees ($9.99), and Audubon Wildflowers ($9.99). Audubon Butterflies is another great app for $9.99.

Audubon Guides can keep a list of every critter, flower, and tree you encounter on your hikes.

And if you’re visiting a state or national park, be sure to search the App Store ahead of time to see if that park has a specific app that can enhance your experience. Going to Yosemite, for example? iFotoGuide Yosemite Valley ($4.99, for iPhone) will make sure you don’t miss a breathtaking photo opportunity, and Hiking Yosemite National Park ($1.99, for iPhone) can help you avoid the crowds with its menu of 50 lovely day hikes.

iFotoGuide Yosemite Valley makes sure you don’t miss that sunset picture of Brideveil Falls.

Gear Up

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Spot Connect

This ingenious waterproof gizmo is a satellite link for your iPhone or iPod touch. Connecting to an app via Bluetooth, it can track your movements and relay your exact location to rescuers if you get into trouble. (It has its own built-in GPS.) If everything’s peachy, you can email updates to family and friends, and even post to Twitter and Facebook. ($169.99, plus $99.99/year for service findmespot)
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The long-lasting HyperMac Mini ($99.95, hypershop.com) can be charged up before you go, then it’ll top off your devices if the solar panels can’t keep up.
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More solar? Why not! The solBAT II Solar-Powered Backup Battery and Charger from Scosche ($29.99, scosche.com) has a 1500mAh battery to charge your iPhone or other USB devices.
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Joby’s Gorillatorch ($29.99, joby.com) provides tons of light and can stand up or attach to tons of surfaces.
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The lightweight, Bluetooth-equipped FoxL V2 Bluetooth ($199, soundmatters.com) packs plenty of speaker power.
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The sturdy Otterbox Defender ($49.95 for iPhone, $89.95 for iPad) keeps dirt and moisture off your precious iDevice while also providing rugged drop protection.
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Trident’s Kraken case for iPad ($39.95, tridentcase.com) covers the entire device and provides comfortable grip handles for your stargazing or wildlife-watching adventures.
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No need to buy a new solar backpack: Voltaic’s Fuse Solar Charger ($129, voltaic.com) easily attaches to the one you already have—or just about anything else.
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On its own, the iGrill is a nifty digital meat thermometer. But use Bluetooth to pair it to the universal iGrill app for iOS, and you’ll get fancy dials, timers, recipes, and a cheerful alarm when your dinner’s been cooked just the way you like it. ($99.99, additional probes available, igrillinc.com)
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The Lego LED Torch ($19.99, playvisions.com) and Head Lamp ($13.99) from Play Visions are powerful and adorable.
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The Camper’s Dream Play and Freeze Original Ice Cream Maker ($25, rei.com) turns cream, sugar, and ice into actual ice cream if you roll it around for a while. The kids’ll love it.
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The Fozzils Solo Pack ($17.95, rei.com) has a plate, bowl, cup, and spoon that flatten out for easy cleaning, transporting, and storing. And they’re fun to snap together, origami-style.