How do you plan a multi-day backcountry trip with campsites and resupply points in one place? Is FarOut enough, or does Xploreum offer a better way to organize the whole journey?
Quick answer: FarOut is an excellent choice for planning and navigating hikes on trails covered by its guides. It combines offline GPS maps, elevation profiles, trail mileage, campsite and water waypoints, trail-town and resupply information, and comments from other hikers. Xploreum solves a different problem. Its AI Adventure Companion, Xavier, organizes hiking days, trailheads, proposed campsites, supply stops, driving legs, accommodation and meals into one connected, personalized itinerary called an Xpedition.
If you are hiking a long-distance trail that FarOut supports, start with FarOut for trail information and offline navigation. If you also need to coordinate the journey before and after the hike, Xploreum is a complementary workspace for the wider schedule. For a complex trip, using both is usually more practical than expecting either one to do everything.
Neither app obtains backcountry permits, guarantees a campsite, verifies every water source, or replaces emergency preparation. This comparison explains the differences, gives a workflow for using them together, and helps you decide whether you need FarOut, Xploreum, or both.
Editorial disclosure: This Xploreum vs FarOut comparison is published by Xploreum, one of the products discussed. FarOut details come from FarOut's public pages and help articles, and Xploreum details from its public product documentation. The recommendations are editorial judgments about documented features, not results from a field test. See our editorial standards.
FarOut vs Xploreum: what is the main difference?
FarOut and Xploreum both help outdoor travelers plan adventures, but they are built around different parts of the journey.
FarOut, formerly Guthook Guides, is a specialist trail-guide and navigation app for hiking, biking and paddling. Its subscription page describes more than 200 guides, with the Pacific Crest Trail, Appalachian Trail and Continental Divide Trail among the best known. A guide combines a trail map, an elevation profile, water sources, campsites, junctions, trail towns and other waypoints, along with comments from hikers who have been through. It is especially useful to thru-hikers, section hikers and backpackers following an established route.
Xploreum is built for outdoor adventure travel. Xavier starts from your starting point, dates, group, vehicle, budget and activity level, and organizes the broader trip: travel days, hiking, overnight stops, supply stops and the return. Instead of centering on one trail, it connects the pieces around the trail.
The difference in one table
| Planning question | FarOut | Xploreum |
|---|---|---|
| Where is the trail, and how do I follow it? | Detailed trail guides and offline GPS maps | Not a trail-navigation tool |
| Where are the campsites and water sources along a supported trail? | Trail-specific waypoints and community comments | Proposed camps appear in the itinerary; no water data |
| How far is the next campsite or water source? | Distance to upcoming waypoints within a guide | Routed distance estimates, not trail-mileage data |
| What services are in the next trail town? | Town guides with resupply and service details | Selected supply stops can be placed in the schedule |
| How do I coordinate driving, hiking, lodging and the return? | You can keep notes, but it is not its main workflow | Core day-by-day workflow |
| Can I navigate without mobile service? | Yes, with downloaded guides and maps | No native offline maps or trail navigation |
| Can an AI turn my trip idea into a schedule? | Not its core function | Yes, through Xavier |
FarOut is strongest within the trail. Xploreum coordinates the journey around it. That does not mean FarOut cannot plan a multi-day hike. It can. A trail guide and a complete travel itinerary simply answer different questions.
Is FarOut good for planning multi-day backcountry trips?
Yes. FarOut is one of the most specialized options for long-distance hiking, particularly when your route is in its catalog. For a supported trail it brings together the information a backpacking trip depends on.
1. Trail maps and elevation profiles
FarOut guides include the trail track and an elevation view, with junctions, road crossings, alternate routes, campsites, water sources and points of interest marked. Your phone's GPS shows your position on the downloaded map without a cellular connection, which matters on a long route that leaves mobile coverage. According to FarOut's features page, the app can also calculate the distance to the next campsite, water source or other waypoint, which helps you judge possible stopping points during the day.
2. Campsite and water waypoints
Guides mark camping and water locations along supported routes, and some waypoints carry descriptions and photos. Instead of picking an arbitrary point 15 miles from the start, you can look at the campsites actually on the trail and ask whether the distance and terrain suit you. A campsite marker does not show that camping is legal, available, or covered by your permit. A water marker does not guarantee that water is flowing or safe on the day you arrive.
3. Community comments, filters and water status
FarOut's distinctive feature is waypoint comments from other hikers about water, camping, trail conditions and more. Its comment filters let you narrow comments by topic, such as water sources, connectivity, camping and trail conditions. FarOut also describes a water status feature that summarizes recent water comments. This is different from an AI-generated itinerary: FarOut uses AI to sort and summarize trail information that hikers report, while Xavier is a conversational companion that builds and revises a trip.
Community reports need judgment. Check the date and relevance of every comment. A report of a flowing stream from several weeks ago may be wrong today, and an old note about a shuttle, campground or store may be out of date. Comments do not replace official closures, permit rules, or confirmation from operators. Downloaded guides work offline, but new comments only arrive when you have a connection.
4. Trail towns and FarOut for resupply planning
Resupply is one of FarOut's strongest advantages over a general travel planner. For supported trails, town guides show the services in upcoming trail towns, such as grocery stores, restaurants, hostels, post offices and showers, depending on the guide. That helps you see where the next resupply is and what it offers. FarOut also publishes advice on navigating resupply and zero days.
Town information is not a food plan. You still have to work out the days between resupplies, meals, quantities, calories, dietary needs and a reserve. FarOut gives you good inputs for those decisions, and you remain responsible for the result.
5. Custom routes and waypoints
FarOut is not only a viewer for an existing trail. It lets you create custom routes and waypoints, so you can prepare variations and keep your own references on the map. That makes it a real route-planning tool, not a passive digital guidebook.
6. Offline navigation, and its limits
You download a guide, its maps and waypoint photos while connected, and the app then uses the phone's GPS to place you on the map with no signal. Offline GPS is not emergency communication. FarOut's social check-ins are held until the phone has cell or Wi-Fi reception and cannot contact emergency services. For remote travel, bring an independent communication plan and equipment.
Where does Xploreum add value beyond FarOut?
FarOut gives detailed trail information for routes it covers. Xploreum organizes the experience around the trip.
Picture a six-day backpacking adventure. You must travel to the trail, perhaps sleep near it the night before, organize the hiking stages, reach a resupply town, maybe book another night, and get home. FarOut supplies the trail-specific information for the hiking portion. Xavier brings the days and activities into one chronological itinerary.
1. You start from the trip idea, not a trail guide
You describe the trip in plain language: starting point, dates, group size, activity level, budget, vehicle and travel style. For example:
I want to plan a six-day backpacking trip for three moderately experienced hikers. We will drive to the trailhead, camp for several nights, and need a supply stop partway through. Help organize the driving, hiking days, proposed campsites, lodging and return. Clearly identify anything that must be verified before departure.
If you already know the trail, include its name and the access points you have researched. If you do not, use the conversation to explore options, then verify the real route in a trail guide or mapping tool.
2. It builds one day at a time
Xavier shows a trip brief for you to confirm, then builds the Xpedition one day at a time. You review each proposed day and ask for changes before confirming it: shorten a hiking day, replace a proposed camp, add a rest day, add a supply stop before the trailhead, move a lodging night, or adjust a driving leg. A single stop can be changed by its number, and the changed day is confirmed again. Each day starts where the previous night ended, so the schedule stays continuous. Continuity does not mean the trail is passable or every proposed camp is legal. That needs separate checking.
3. It connects the trail to transport and lodging
Many hikes need planning off the trail. On a point-to-point route you might drive to a gateway town, stay the night, take a shuttle to the trailhead, hike for days, resupply in a town, and return to your vehicle. FarOut is useful for the trail and its towns. Xploreum organizes these steps as one itinerary, instead of separate plans for the drive, the hike, the lodging and the return.
4. Camps and supply stops sit in the daily plan
Xavier can place planned camps, supply stops, meals and other stops in the itinerary. A resupply town can be scheduled as part of Day 3 instead of appearing only as a waypoint: leave the trail, reach the town, collect supplies, find a bed, and prepare to return. That makes the cost of a resupply stop easier to see.
Two limits matter. Xploreum does not calculate a food plan: no menus, calories, food weight or quantities between resupply points. It has no water-source data, and it does not check that a store is open or stocks what you need. All of that requires your own research.
5. You can reopen and revise the plan
With Xplorer Pro, you can reopen a saved Xpedition and ask Xavier to change it, for example when a campsite is unavailable or an overnight stop moves. Pro also adds a connected booking log for reservation status, confirmation numbers, links and notes on arrangements and permits you made yourself. Xploreum does not book or issue permits. For the details, see Xploreum Free vs Xplorer Pro.
FarOut vs Xploreum: complete feature comparison
| Feature | FarOut | Xploreum |
|---|---|---|
| Primary purpose | Trail guides, route planning and offline navigation | Personalized outdoor itinerary planning |
| Main audience | Long-distance hikers, section hikers, backpackers, cyclists and paddlers | Travelers planning hiking, camping, road trips and multi-activity trips |
| Multi-day hiking planning | Yes, through guides, routes, waypoints and town information | Yes, as a connected day-by-day Xpedition |
| Detailed trail maps | Yes, within guide coverage | No; not a trail-map substitute |
| Offline GPS maps | Yes, after downloading guide data | No native offline maps |
| Elevation profiles | Yes | Routed estimates only, not a terrain analysis |
| Distance to next campsite or water | Yes, within supported guides | No |
| Trail-specific campsites | Yes, with guide coverage | Proposed overnight camps or lodges in the itinerary |
| Water-source information | Waypoints, community comments and water status | None: no water data, verify separately |
| Trail-town guides | Yes | Supply stops can be added to the schedule |
| Resupply stores and services | Trail-specific town information | Potential supply stops in the wider trip |
| Community trail comments | Yes, with topic filters | No |
| AI features | AI sorting of comments and a water status summary | Conversational AI that builds and revises an itinerary |
| Custom routes and waypoints | Yes | Mapped stops; does not replace precise route construction |
| Driving and vehicle context | Trail access information where documented | Part of the planning context |
| Hotels and pre-hike lodging | Town services where included | Part of the broader itinerary |
| Meal stops | Trail-town services | Can be placed in travel days |
| Food and calorie calculation | Not a complete food planner | Not provided |
| Campsite availability and permit booking | No | No |
| Booking record | Notes can hold details | Manual booking log with Xplorer Pro |
| Offline trail navigation | Yes | No |
| Social check-ins | Yes, sent only with connectivity | No equivalent |
| Sharing | Social features within its ecosystem | Read-only Xpedition link with Xplorer Pro |
| Automatic sync between the two | No | No |
| Several unrelated activities in one vacation | Possible with several guides, not its main workflow | Core use case |
What FarOut does better: offline navigation on supported trails, trail-specific campsite and water waypoints, distance to upcoming features, elevation profiles, resupply towns and trail services, community observations, and tracking progress along an established route.
What Xploreum does differently: turning a general trip idea into a personalized itinerary, coordinating travel dates and activities, combining hiking with driving, camping and lodging, placing resupply visits in the daily schedule, revising the wider journey through conversation, reopening saved trips with Pro, and keeping independently arranged booking details with the Xpedition.
Neither is universally better. The decision depends on whether your unfinished work is the trail itself or the trip around it.
How to plan a multi-day backcountry trip with campsites and resupply points in one place
Keep one master itinerary and use specialist tools for what they do best. For a supported long-distance trail, FarOut supplies trail-level information, Xploreum organizes it inside the travel schedule, and land managers and operators remain the authority on permits, reservations, rules and conditions.
Step 1: Define the whole trip
Record the destination and trail name, departure and return dates, number of hiking and travel days, group size and experience, vehicle and transport, expected pace, overnight preferences, budget, resupply needs, and any known permits or access limits. Give this context to Xavier when you create the Xpedition. Do not fix daily distances before the group has looked at the real terrain.
Step 2: Check whether FarOut covers your trail
Search FarOut's catalog for the route, and confirm the guide covers your section, direction, alternates and access points. Coverage is not universal. For an unfamiliar or unsupported route, a mapping tool such as Gaia GPS may suit better, because it supports custom routes and topographic maps. See Xploreum vs Gaia GPS.
Step 3: Choose camping locations
Use FarOut's map, waypoint and elevation views. For each stage note the start, route, distance, elevation change, proposed campsite, nearby water information, alternative stops and exit routes. Never assume a campsite waypoint is usable. Check the rules and permits with the land manager. The National Park Service's guidance on planning a backcountry trip tells backpackers to work out total and daily distance, account for elevation, and leave a detailed itinerary with someone at home.
Step 4: Identify resupply opportunities
Use FarOut's town guides to see the services ahead. Ask where the next resupply is, how far it is, whether the group can reach it directly or needs a detour or transport, which business has what you need, whether it will be open on arrival, whether packages can be delivered and held there, and what you will do if it fails. The Pacific Crest Trail Association's resupply strategy describes buying along the way, mailing packages to remote stops, and combining both. It also notes that some remote stops can take about two weeks to receive a package and that you may need photo ID to collect one.
Step 5: Bring the stages into Xploreum
Once the route, camps and resupply are researched, give them to Xavier. For example:
I am planning a six-day backpacking trip on a route covered by FarOut. I have identified the trailhead, proposed overnight locations, a resupply town and the exit. Organize the trip day by day, including the drive to the trailhead, hiking stages, camps, the resupply detour, lodging and return. Keep unverified campsites, water, permits and services marked as needing confirmation.
Review each day before you confirm it. Xploreum does not verify what you take from FarOut.
Step 6: Confirm campsite permissions and reservations
There is a difference between a campsite on a map, an area where camping is allowed, a site or permit available on your date, and a reservation or permit you actually hold. Record the status of each overnight explicitly. Use the land manager or its booking provider, such as Recreation.gov for participating U.S. federal sites or Parks Canada for Canadian national parks. With Xplorer Pro, keep reservation details in the booking log.
Step 7: Prepare the resupply, food and water plan
Once the stages are set, work out how much food the group carries between confirmed resupply points.
| Item | What to establish |
|---|---|
| Resupply location | Exact store, operator or package pickup point |
| Trail access | The actual route from the trail to the service |
| Arrival window | Expected date and time |
| Food availability | Confirmed supply or package arrangement |
| Food quantity | Calculated for each hiking section |
| Water | Verified sources, treatment, capacity and backups |
| Transport | Shuttle, road access or other transfer |
| Contingency | The alternative if the service cannot be used |
Xploreum can organize the stop and the travel around it, and FarOut can supply trail and town information. Neither provides a verified nutrition plan or guaranteed supplies.
Step 8: Download FarOut and test it offline
Download the guide, maps and waypoint photos while on Wi-Fi or cellular. Confirm every section you need is included, refresh community information while still connected, check that planned waypoints open, and test the key views in airplane mode. Carry a backup navigation method and enough power. A downloaded guide works offline, but new comments and check-ins cannot be sent or fetched without a connection.
Step 9: Keep the itinerary and trail data consistent
Xploreum and FarOut do not synchronize. If a campsite change adds distance to Day 2, it can also change the next day's start, your water needs, your food carry and your arrival at the resupply town. Update the itinerary and the FarOut waypoints by hand, and make sure everyone in the group has the same final plan. An Xplorer Pro share link is read-only, so one person makes the edits.
Step 10: Leave an independent emergency plan
A shared itinerary or a social check-in is not an emergency plan. Leave your route, expected overnight locations, group details, transport and expected return with someone who is not on the trip, and arrange suitable emergency communication for areas without service.
Example: a six-day backpacking trip with a resupply stop
This fictional trip shows how the tools divide the work. It is not a verified trail, a real route, or a field test.
| Day | Planned activity | FarOut's role | Xploreum's role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Drive to the trailhead, hike to Camp A | Trailhead, route, elevation and Camp A waypoint | Departure, driving leg, trailhead arrival and overnight |
| 2 | Hike from Camp A to Camp B | Stage distance, water waypoints, campsites and user-reported conditions | The day's hiking and overnight in the itinerary |
| 3 | Hike to the exit and visit a resupply town | Exit junction, town information, possible supply services | Trail exit, supply stop, meals, transport and lodging |
| 4 | Return to the trail, hike to Camp C | Re-entry route and trail waypoints | Departure from town, trail access, hiking and overnight |
| 5 | Hike to Camp D | Distance, terrain, water and campsite options | Timing and overnight location |
| 6 | Finish the hike, travel home | The final section and exit | Exit, vehicle retrieval and the journey home |
What FarOut contributes. It shows the group the geographic route: the trail, waypoints, distance and elevation, user observations, and offline navigation. The town guide helps place resupply services relative to the trail.
What Xploreum contributes. It arranges the six-day sequence in one itinerary: the driving, hiking stages, overnights, resupply visit and return. If Day 3's lodging or Day 4's departure changes, the schedule can be revised through Xavier.
What still needs checking. Campsite permissions and permits, current trail conditions, real distances and difficulty, seasonal water, resupply availability, food and water quantities, transport, and emergency procedures. The value of the pairing is clearer coordination, not automatic verification.
How do you keep one master itinerary without duplicating work?
Give each tool one responsibility:
- Xploreum holds the master travel itinerary: days, activities, overnight locations, driving legs, lodging and supply visits, plus manual booking records with Pro.
- FarOut holds trail-level information and offline navigation: the trail, camp and water waypoints, trail-town services, distances and elevation.
- Official sources hold permissions and conditions: land managers, park websites, reservation providers and service operators.
- Your own plan holds food, water and emergency arrangements.
That gives you one agreed itinerary without pretending a single app does everything. For a fuller method, read How to Plan a Multi-Day Backcountry Trip With Campsites and Resupply Points and How to Stop Using Five Different Apps to Plan a Remote Hiking Expedition.
FarOut vs Xploreum pricing: what do you pay for?
The two use different pricing models because they sell different things.
FarOut. The app downloads free, but full trail guides generally need an individual guide purchase or FarOut Unlimited. According to FarOut's subscription page, Unlimited comes as a monthly, a six-month Season Pass or an annual plan and covers its whole catalog, annual subscribers earn FarOut Points toward permanent guide purchases, and a lifetime guide purchase includes future updates. A single lifetime guide can be the better choice if you only need one trail. Prices change and differ by app store, so check the current price of the guide or plan you actually need.
Xploreum. A visitor can start with Xavier without an account and build Day 1. A free account can continue through the remaining days, revise the trip while planning, and save the finished Xpedition permanently. On the free plan a saved trip opens locked: basic details such as the title, destination and dates stay visible, and the full itinerary and map need Xplorer Pro. Xplorer Pro costs $79 per year for new subscribers, and every renewal is also $79. It is not an introductory price, there is no monthly plan, and there is no free trial. Members who joined earlier keep the plan and price they signed up with. Pro opens the full saved trip, editing with Xavier, a read-only share link, and the booking log.
Do you need to pay for both? Not necessarily. If you need a well-documented long-distance trail with offline maps, camp and water waypoints and resupply information, FarOut may cover most of your planning. If the trip also has substantial travel arrangements, driving legs or several overnight changes, Xploreum may add value. A FarOut purchase does not include Xplorer Pro, and Xplorer Pro does not unlock FarOut's paid guides. Judge each purchase by the work it finishes for you.
When should you choose FarOut, Xploreum, or both?
| Trip scenario | Recommended option | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Thru-hike on a well-covered long-distance trail | FarOut | Specialist waypoints, resupply towns, offline navigation and trail data |
| Weekend section hike on a supported trail | FarOut may be enough | Trail-level planning is the main need |
| Multi-day trip with driving, hiking and lodging | Xploreum plus a navigation tool | Organizes the wider trip while field mapping stays separate |
| Long-distance hike with complicated arrival and return | FarOut plus Xploreum | Trail knowledge plus a connected travel itinerary |
| Remote hike with no cell service | FarOut, where covered | Offline maps and GPS |
| Several unrelated hiking destinations in one trip | Xploreum for coordination | Combines activities and travel legs |
| Custom route outside FarOut's catalog | Gaia GPS or another mapping tool, plus Xploreum if useful | Better coverage for the route, plus trip coordination |
| Trail with complicated resupply | FarOut | Trail-specific town and resupply information |
| Trip needing official campground reservations | The reservation provider | Neither app guarantees availability or issues permits |
| Group following a prepared itinerary | Xploreum for a read-only share, with navigation prepared separately | Organizes the schedule; group editing is not supported |
If you already know the trail, have arranged transport and lodging, and mainly need reliable trail navigation and resupply information, FarOut alone may be enough. If you are still exploring a hiking trip and shaping the schedule before committing, Xploreum's free planning may be enough to produce an initial itinerary, though a remote trip still needs proper maps, verified conditions and emergency preparation. If the trail is one piece of a larger adventure, such as a gateway-town stay, a section hike, a rest day and another destination, FarOut can support the trail section and Xploreum the complete journey.
Seven mistakes to avoid
- Treating a campsite waypoint as a confirmed place to stay. A marker does not mean a site is legal, available or reserved.
- Assuming water will always be there. Water changes with weather and season. Read recent reports, verify conditions, and plan carrying and treatment capacity.
- Assuming a trail town guarantees resupply. A town may have few stores, seasonal hours or no package service. Confirm the provider and your arrival window.
- Forgetting the journey to and from the trail. Transport, lodging, parking, fuel and vehicle retrieval belong in the main schedule.
- Using an itinerary map as navigation. A line between two stops does not show a walkable trail. Prepare route data for field use.
- Not refreshing offline guide information. Downloaded files work offline, but new comments and updates need a connection. Refresh before departure and test on the device.
- Believing a check-in can summon help. FarOut check-ins need a connection to send and are not an emergency function.
Frequently asked questions
Is FarOut good for planning multi-day backcountry hiking trips?
Yes. FarOut is especially useful for backpacking and long-distance hikes on trails in its guide catalog. It provides offline GPS maps, elevation profiles, campsite and water waypoints, trail towns, resupply information, custom routes and community comments. For a trip with substantial travel logistics beyond the trail, a broader itinerary planner may also help.
How do I plan a multi-day backcountry trip with campsites and resupply points in one place?
Create one master itinerary that connects each hiking day, overnight location, resupply visit and transport arrangement. Xploreum can organize these as a day-by-day Xpedition. Use FarOut for detailed trail information on supported routes, and confirm permits, campsite rules, water and resupply through authoritative sources.
Is Xploreum a better alternative to FarOut?
Xploreum is a better fit for organizing the wider itinerary, including driving, lodging, activities and scheduled stops. FarOut is stronger for trail-specific camping and water information, town resupply details and offline navigation. The better choice depends on whether your main problem is the trail or the whole trip.
Does FarOut help plan resupply stops?
Yes. FarOut's town guides describe trail towns and their services on supported routes, such as grocery stores, post offices, lodging and restaurants. You still need to confirm current hours, stock, package arrangements and transport.
Can FarOut show campsites and water sources?
Yes. FarOut includes campsite and water waypoints on supported trails, shows distances to upcoming waypoints, and offers hiker comments. These features do not guarantee legal camping or reliable water on a particular date.
Does FarOut work offline?
Yes. After you download a guide and its map files, FarOut uses the phone's GPS to show your location without cellular service. New community updates and social check-ins still need connectivity.
Does Xploreum work offline?
No. Xploreum does not provide native offline topographic maps or offline trail navigation. It helps organize the itinerary before the trip, and travelers heading into remote areas should prepare a specialist navigation system.
Can Xavier calculate how much food I should carry between resupply stops?
No. Xavier can place supply and food stops in the itinerary, but it does not generate backpacking food requirements, calories, menus or carrying quantities. Calculate these yourself.
Does Xavier know where the water sources are?
No. Xploreum has no water-source data and no live water or trail conditions. For water on a supported trail, FarOut's waypoints and comments are a better starting point, and you should still check recent reports and the land manager.
Does FarOut have AI features?
FarOut uses AI to sort hiker comments by topic and to summarize recent water comments. Its main product is a trail-guide and navigation app. Xavier is a conversational AI companion that helps create and revise a personalized itinerary.
Can Xploreum book campsites or obtain backcountry permits?
No. Xploreum does not complete campsite bookings, issue permits, or show live availability. Use the appropriate booking provider or land manager. Xplorer Pro lets you record booking and permit details you arranged yourself.
Can FarOut book backcountry campsites?
No. FarOut's documented functions are trail mapping, waypoints, navigation, community information and town services. A campsite waypoint is not a booking. Use the official or authorized reservation service for permits and overnight stays.
Can I transfer an Xploreum itinerary into FarOut?
There is no documented automatic sync between Xploreum and FarOut, and Xploreum does not offer GPX export to every account. Do not assume you can move an Xpedition, bookings and trail information directly into FarOut.
Can I share an Xploreum itinerary with my hiking group?
Yes, with Xplorer Pro. A saved Xpedition can be shared through a read-only link, and recipients need no Xploreum account. They cannot edit the trip, and the owner's private booking log is not included.
Is FarOut free?
The FarOut app downloads free, but full trail guides generally need an individual guide purchase or FarOut Unlimited. Check the current price of the guide or plan for the trail you intend to hike.
Which is better for thru-hiking, FarOut or Xploreum?
For a supported long-distance trail, FarOut is usually the more directly relevant tool, with trail-specific waypoints, water information, campsites, town services and offline navigation. Xploreum can complement it when the trip includes extra transport, lodging or other travel arrangements.
Which app is best for hikes FarOut does not cover?
For a custom or lesser-known route, consider a mapping tool with coverage for the area, such as Gaia GPS. Xploreum can still organize the wider itinerary, but it does not replace route research or offline maps.
Can I use FarOut and Xploreum together?
Yes. Use FarOut to prepare and follow the trail and research its towns, and use Xploreum to organize the whole travel schedule. Keep the two consistent by hand, because they do not synchronize.
Final verdict: FarOut for the trail, Xploreum for the whole journey
FarOut and Xploreum solve different, complementary problems. FarOut is the strong choice when you need detailed information about a supported trail: campsites, water, trail towns, resupply, elevation, route options and offline navigation. Xploreum is for travelers who need to coordinate the broader adventure around it, turning a trip idea into a day-by-day itinerary that connects driving, hiking, proposed camps, supply stops and lodging.
For a straightforward section hike on a supported trail, FarOut alone may be enough. For a trip with transport, several destinations and overnight changes, Xploreum adds a useful planning layer. For an adventure that needs both trail detail and a coherent travel schedule, use both and verify the critical details with the right sources. When the logistics around the trail are the hard part, start planning with Xavier.
To go further, read the best apps for remote hiking trips with campsites and resupply stops and Wanderlog alternatives for backcountry and off-grid trips.
Turn what you read into a trip.
Bring the route, campsites, and stops together with Xavier.
Sources
FarOut features, guide coverage, prices and terms change, and so do trail conditions, campsite rules, water and resupply services. This comparison is documentation-based, not a controlled field test. Confirm details for your trail and dates before you travel.
- FarOut: Features. Accessed October 5, 2026.
- FarOut: Subscription and guide purchase options
- FarOut: Filter, flag and report for a better trail
- FarOut: Water status at a glance
- FarOut: How to use social check-ins
- FarOut: Navigating resupply and zero days with FarOut
- National Park Service: Plan a Backcountry Trip
- Pacific Crest Trail Association: Resupply strategy