Why I use Komoot – honest, spontaneous & still never getting lost
I don’t plan my hikes in advance. I choose them by feel – depending on the weather, mood, and how I’m doing that day. Sometimes I need silence in the forest, sometimes I’m drawn to a waterfall. And yet I never get lost. Why? Because I use Komoot . And this is not a sponsored post, but an honest recommendation from experience.
Outdooractive was my starting point – but not my path
At the beginning I used Outdooractive. Back then it was the only app that worked with my Apple Watch at all, at least halfway. Or so I thought. In practice it was often cumbersome, not stable, and not very intuitive. I was frustrated more often than pleased – especially out on the trail, when you want to be able to rely on technology. So I kept looking.
Komoot brought a change of thinking
Then I came across Komoot. And suddenly everything clicked. The app runs smoothly on iPhone and Apple Watch, reliably shows me my route, my position, distance to the next point – everything at a glance. Above all, it works with my spontaneous way of hiking. I don’t have to prepare anything for long. I simply find something suitable – and off I go.
What my planning looks like – or rather: my non-planning
When I want to head out in the morning, I first look out the window. Then I look inward. Do I want to walk through the forest today? Do I want some elevation? Or do I really want to see a waterfall? Depending on that, I search specifically for such places in Google or on maps – for example “Wasserfall Rheinland-Pfalz”. Once I’ve found something, I check whether there’s a suitable route.
I then either load these directly in Komoot or import them from another site. And this is exactly where the advantage lies: Komoot is open. I can plan my own routes, import GPX files, or use other people’s tours. Once loaded, Komoot transfers the directions to Google Maps – and navigation in the car starts right away. I get out, tap “Start tour” – and Komoot leads me off.
Technology instead of a hiking map – and deliberately so
Many swear by paper maps. I don’t. I deliberately rely on technology – because it takes the stress away from me. Especially trails that are poorly signposted would barely be manageable for me without Komoot. The app reliably guides me along forest tracks, hidden junctions, ridge paths – and in the end I always come out (so far) where I wanted to be.
That may not sound romantic, but it’s honest: I trust my gut when choosing the tour – and Komoot when it comes to the execution. The combination works perfectly for me.
My conclusion
Komoot is more than just an app to me. It’s my hiking companion. It takes the planning off my hands, gives me confidence, and lets me shape my hikes flexibly and freely – just the way I love it. And even though I often have no idea what awaits me at the destination: I get there. No detours, no frustration, no getting lost. And that’s exactly why I use Komoot – and nothing else.