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AllTrails navigation platform helps Australians spend more time outdoors

AllTrails navigation platform helps Australians spend more time outdoors
June 23, 2021

Industry leading outdoor recreation and trail navigation platform - AllTrails - has experienced unprecedented growth as Australians look to the outdoors for mental and physical health.

The platform, which is home to the world’s largest collection of online maps, boasts nearly 200 thousand detailed, hand-curated trails worldwide, five thousand of which are located in Australia. Not only can trail-goers find and navigate new trails, but users can browse up-to-date reviews and photos, crowdsourced from its like-minded and outdoor-loving community of over 25 million global and 460 thousand Australian users.

Whether it’s bushwalking and mountain biking, or cross-country skiing and horseback riding, the AllTrails platform offers a diverse range of trails to help connect trail-goers of all backgrounds and experience levels to the outdoors. Users can select trails by filtering for trail length, rating, and difficulty level. The application and website also provide options to easily find dog, child, pram, and/or wheelchair-friendly trails. 

AllTrails Chief Executive, Ron Schneidermann advises "at AllTrails, we believe that everyone has a right to the outdoors, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, or socioeconomic standing.

“Our public lands are for everyone to enjoy and to experience the mental, physical, and emotional health benefits that come from spending time outside. This level of growth confirms that we are on the right path in leveraging technology to democratize access to the outdoors for all."

2020 drove most Australians inside their homes, many of us trying to keep up with yoga via Zoom or finding that our daily exercise dropped off the to-do list. However, AllTrails data shows that people hit the trail at over three times the normal rate in 2020, highlighting the desire and importance of spending time in nature for both physical and mental health in times of uncertainty.

“Spending time outside, moving and appreciating nature can have immediate effects on our mood and physical health,” notes Dr Suzanne Bartlett-Hackenmiller, medical advisor for AllTrails.

Dr Bartlett-Hackenmiller adds “when we’re outside, our brain produces mood boosting neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin. This is particularly important, because more and more evidence is proving that when we’re happy, our immune systems are happy too.”

Some of the health benefits of spending time outdoors include:

• A recent study done by Berman et al. found that being outside for one hour a day can improve memory in adults by 20%.

• A study by White, M.P., Alcock, I., Grellier, J. et al. argue that we should spend at least 120 minutes a week in nature, as it is associated with good wellbeing.

• Studies also show that within just the first five minutes of being outside, we experience a better and more positive mood. For many people, these five minutes can mean a quick walk outside while taking a break from work and the computer.

• Getting outside for a quick walk around the block is a great way to soak in some extra Vitamin D from the sun (just make sure to always wear sunscreen!). This can help boost our naturally occurring melatonin and promote restful sleep by the time we’re ready for bed.

AllTrails is available for free, but trail-goers can access a full suite of features with the premium subscription, AllTrails Pro, for $29.99 per year.

AllTrails Pro includes the following added feature and benefits:

• Explore new trails with confidence - Download maps to your phone and see your exact GPS location on a fully detailed trail map, even when you’re offline.

• Never miss a turn with off-route notifications - Hit the trail knowing that if you wander off route, we’ll alert you to get you back on track.

• Use Lifeline to stay connected to your loved ones - Lifeline is a real-time tracker that helps you share trip details like planned start/finish time and a map of your planned route. Send status updates to your designated safety contacts, and if you're overdue for your planned finish time, Lifeline will automatically send an alert to your safety contacts along with your last known location.

• Stay current with real-time map overlays - Know what to expect before you hit the trail with access to real-time overlays including air quality, satellite weather, pollen, light pollution, fire history, and user heatmaps.

• Print maps before you hit the trail - Always have a backup without thumbing through guide books, or print your own custom maps, choose your scale, orientation, gridlines, paper size, and even your map layer.

Additionally, as a proud member of 1% for the Planet, AllTrails Pro users can feel confident about their purchase, knowing that AllTrails donates 1% of all annual sales to non-profit organisations focusing on protecting wild places and creating positive change for a healthier planet.

For more information visit www.alltrails.com. The Alltrails app is available for free download on the App Store or Google Play.

Study done by Berman et al. found that being outside for one hour a day can improve memory in adults by 20%.

Study by White, M.P., Alcock, I., Grellier, J. et al. argue that we should spend at least 120 minutes a week in nature, as it is associated with good wellbeing 

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30th January 2019 - VicHealth research considers the effectiveness of health and wellbeing apps 

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