Planning a group hiking trip shouldn’t require a spreadsheet, three group chats, and a shared Google Doc. Yet that’s exactly what most of us do—cobbling together gear lists in Notes, coordinating meals over text, and hoping everyone remembers which trailhead to meet at.
TrailSync changes that. It’s a purpose-built mobile app for collaborative hiking and backpacking trip planning that puts everything your group needs in one place.
The Problem with Generic Trip Planners
Most trip planning apps are built for vacations—flights, hotels, restaurants. They don’t understand that a backcountry trip needs:
- Trail-focused route planning with elevation profiles and waypoint types (campsites, water sources, lunch spots)
- Weight-conscious gear management where every ounce matters
- Meal planning optimized for backpacking (freeze-dried vs. fresh, calories per serving)
- Real coordination between multiple people bringing shared group gear
You could use AllTrails for the route, a spreadsheet for gear, WhatsApp for communication, and Splitwise for expenses. Or you could use TrailSync.
What Makes TrailSync Different
Built for the Backcountry, Not the Beach
TrailSync uses Mapbox’s Outdoors style mapping—meaning you actually see trails, contour lines, and terrain. Add waypoints by tapping the map, categorize them (campsite, water source, emergency exit), and let the app calculate segment distances and elevation changes automatically.
[SCREENSHOT PLACEHOLDER: Route planning screen showing trail map with waypoints and elevation profile]
Gear That Actually Gets Assigned
The gear system isn’t just a checklist. Add items from a pre-loaded library of 50+ common backpacking essentials, assign them to specific people, and track pack weights per participant. When someone asks “who’s bringing the stove?”—you’ll know.
Meal Planning with Backpackers in Mind
Browse a library of trail-ready recipes filtered by prep type (no-cook, freeze-dried, dehydrated) and dietary restrictions. Plan meals day-by-day on a calendar view, assign who’s responsible for each meal, and track calories for the trip.
Real-Time Coordination
Trip messaging keeps all communication in context—no more scrolling through weeks of unrelated texts to find that one message about permit reservations. Action items let you assign tasks with priorities and track completion across your group.
Works When Cell Service Doesn’t
Backcountry trips often mean no signal. TrailSync’s offline mode lets you download complete trip data—including map tiles—before you leave. View your route, gear assignments, meal plan, and participant info without internet.
One App, Everything Synced
| Feature | What It Does |
|---|---|
| Route Planning | Trail maps, waypoints, elevation profiles, distance calculations |
| Gear Management | Personal library, trip assignments, weight tracking |
| Meal Planning | Recipe library, day-by-day calendar, dietary filtering |
| Budget Splitting | Expense tracking, automatic splitting, settlement calculations |
| Communication | Trip-specific messaging with unread badges |
| Action Items | Task management with priorities and assignments |
| Weather | 5-day forecasts for your trip location |
| Permits | Upload and share permit files with your group |
| Offline Mode | Full trip data + maps available without signal |
Who It’s For
TrailSync is built for hiking groups who need coordination—not solo day-hikers. If you’ve ever:
- Forgotten who was supposed to bring the water filter
- Had someone show up without knowing the route changed
- Spent 30 minutes after a trip figuring out who owes what
- Lost important trip details buried in a group chat
…this is for you.
Join the Beta
TrailSync is launching on iOS soon, with Android following shortly after. We’re looking for experienced backpackers to help shape the final product.
Sign up for early access at TrailSync.app
Get your crew in sync. Plan better trips. Spend less time coordinating and more time on the trail.
TrailSync is independently developed by hikers, for hikers. No selling your data—just a tool that actually works for backcountry trip planning.
