Going solo is a great escape from busy lives for many hikers. Whether it’s a single or multi-day hike, some essential pieces of equipment will still be needed, from poles and hydration to emergency shelter and a repair kit with tools for those longer excursions. But what about the smartphone? Is that an essential piece of kit as well, or can you leave it at home?
Smartphones are heavily integrated into our lives and, from a hiking perspective, they are a multi-tool that provides GPS, a potential lifeline in times of emergency, as well as providing a camera, a trail guide and a device to help pass the time of night while camping out. From watching videos, to scrolling social media and playing games at online casinos with just a 50p deposit required, means that a phone acts as entertainment as well as being a critical tool for safety. But can you do a full digital detox on the trail?
Off the Grid
A smartphone is a great convenience to have with you on a hike, but of course, it’s completely possible to just not take it with you. Technically, it is not something that’s a necessity for completing a successful hike, and after all, our ancestors migrated all around the world for millennia without having the convenience of a smartphone. But now it’s so ingrained into us to just grab our device when doing pretty much any activity that it’s hard to shake the habit.
But there is a case for a digital detox, and making that intentional decision to unplug completely. The purpose of that would be to remove any potential distractions from a smartphone, so that you can simply focus on the world around you as you quietly move through it. The sounds and sights of nature would become a lot more meaningful, potentially leading to a more nuanced experience of deeper connection.
Without a smartphone to grab, there could be greater mental clarity on the walk as well, because detoxing from constant digital input can reduce stress levels. That can allow the brain to go wandering as well, because it will be at greater rest. Naturally, if you are hiking with friends or family in a group, then not having phones would encourage more interpersonal interactions and probably help towards more genuine conversations.
Trusting Your Abilities
Because a smartphone can do so much for a hiker, particularly when it comes to navigation, leaving it behind will prove to be a test of your abilities. Getting back to a map and a compass, for example, could be an invigorating and refreshing task rather than just relying on your phone to tell you where to go.
Trusting your skills and instincts would be a great way to build knowledge of a hike ahead of a future return. Plus, a waterproof map doesn’t have the issue of battery drain like relying on your phone for mapping would do (particularly in cold weather). But there would also be some considerations to make if leaving the phone behind, like needing to take a camera if you wanted to get some great snaps of your journey.
The Safety Concern
The most obvious concern about leaving behind the phone is safety. This is often the dealbreaker for people to actually grab it and take it along, just in case of an emergency. An accident can happen at any moment, whether it’s a fall, a sudden change in weather or getting lost.
The phone is then crucial in calling for help, even without service in remote areas and on those longer trips, it can be used for touching base with family to let them know you are safe and well.
For longer hikes, it’s still always a good plan to leave details of your route with a friend or family before you leave, and that is part of proper preparation, even if you are taking a phone, just in case the battery dies.
Also take some kind of PLB (personal locator beacon) device with you.
What to Do?
There is always a middle ground of taking your phone, but powering it down and leaving it in your backpack, and only using it if needed in an emergency. That would still give you the digital detox while erring on the side of caution.
The wilderness is a fantastic place to be and to explore, so getting away from the screen can enhance the experience, but in the modern world, the smartphone is now as much of an essential part of hiking as any other piece of safety equipment.
