Pack Hiker's Android app is the full planner in your pocket, plus the pieces only a phone can do: push notifications, your live GPS position on the map, offline maps and check-in reminders that fire with no reception. It's the same account and the same data as the website.
Installing The Beta
The app is currently in beta, installed directly as an APK (not yet on the Play Store).
- On your phone, download the app from packhiker.com/downloads/pack-hiker-beta.apk.
- Android will warn about installing apps from outside the Play Store — allow your browser to install unknown apps (Settings → Apps → your browser → Install unknown apps).
- Open the APK to install, then log in with your normal Pack Hiker account.
When a new version is released, the app shows an update banner — one tap downloads the new APK; install it over the top and your data stays put.
What The App Adds
- Push notifications for chat — quiet, batched and private (details). Allow notifications when asked.
- Your position on the map — the locate button uses the phone's GPS; grant location permission when prompted.
- Offline maps & offline use — download a hike's map area and keep the whole plan readable with zero reception. See Using Pack Hiker offline.
- On-device check-in reminders — scheduled locally so they fire without signal (post-hike check-in).
- Native sharing — route files and PDF exports open into Android's share sheet.
iPhone?
iOS is on the roadmap. Meanwhile, the website works well in a phone browser — everything except push notifications and offline mode.