Ski season is finally upon us! Those of us that love the winter may be interested in some of the best apps for skiing and other winter sports this season.
Whether you favor the rush of downhill skiing or the rigor of cross-country skiing, there’s usually an app available to assist with finding the perfect mountain, tracking your ski metrics, and a host of other features.
Don’t worry – other winter sports are also often included in these apps if you’re not a skier. Or there may be apps on their own that look specifically at snowshoeing or backcountry touring, for example.
In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the best (and our favorite) apps for skiing and other winter sports that you’ll want for this upcoming season.
Contents
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Quick list: 5 best apps for skiing and other winter sports
Our quick list introduces you to each app in case you don’t have time to read the whole article right now.
Don’t forget to come back and scroll down to discover each app in more detail!
- Liftopia: Our favorite option to find free or discounted lift tickets.
- Ski Tracks: Terrific option to track your snow sport metrics.
- Carv: An outstanding ski coaching app.
- OnTheSnow: Great option for weather and snow reports.
- FATMAP: The top app for finding mountain runs, trails, and maps.
Our 5 favorite apps for skiing and other winters sports
1. Liftopia
It’s no surprise that skiing (and snowboarding) are expensive sports. Not only are all the gear and equipment pricy, but the parking and lift tickets are as well.
Occasionally you’ll find a smaller mountain that doesn’t require you to pay, but these are increasingly rare.
Cue Liftopia!
Full disclosure: the company has transitioned to its desktop version to allow users to maximize a larger viewing platform as opposed to its smaller app user interface.
Though this site technically is no longer an app, I still had to include it since I personally use it and find it so helpful.
Liftopia is designed to search for discounted lift tickets across hundreds of different ski areas and resorts.
The concept behind Liftopia is to offer savings for winter enthusiasts in exchange for buying their lift tickets in advance.
For example, I’m heading to Switzerland in January to ski in the Alps. You simply tailor your search to the region, country, etc., with the dates you’ll be on the mountain.
If deals are available, you’ll see them displayed in orange. You can see that if I book my lift ticket on Liftopia for Arosa Lenzerheide in Switzerland now, I could save around 40%.
Try out Liftopia for yourself this winter season!
2. Ski Tracks
The Ski Tracks app is one of the best and original apps in the winter sports world. The app doesn’t come off as super fancy, but its tracking capabilities are second to none.
Just turn it on at the start of your day, and it collects tons of data as you downhill ski, snowboard, cross-country ski, or snowshoe to your heart’s desire.
Main tracking features include:
- Total skiing distance
- Top speed
- Vertical descent distances
- Highest altitude reached
- Average gradient
- Terrain profile
- Total runs
Ski Tracks churns out some nice graphs and maps to also give you a visual of your day on the mountain.
Another awesome app feature is that you don’t need a phone signal to continue using it. This is ideal for those backcountry trips or high altitudes where your service may be limited.
The app is available for both iOS and Android users. Additionally, if you have an Apple Watch, you can use the app directly on your watch and view your tracking metrics from there.
There is a one-time cost of $1.99 to download the app, but I feel it is more than worth it.
Based on Ski Tracks’ longevity and high reviews, we feel it’s one of the best apps for skiing and other winter sports out there right now.
3. Carv
If you’re looking to improve your skiing and want a super forward-thinking, high-tech solution, then the Carv app and its Smart Insole is the way to go.
Before I get into the details of the app’s paired insoles, let’s talk about the app itself. It is possible to use just the app and forego the pricier insoles.
Carv key features:
- Activity map of your ski day
- Average and maximum speed
- Total distance and vertical descent
- Number of runs and turns
- Compare data with other users via a leaderboard
- Connects with the Apple Health app
Carv as just a standalone app is pretty darn solid. It offers beautiful visuals to showcase your day on the mountain, and it tracks all of the major metrics you would expect it to.
However, if you want the full coaching experience this app can provide, you’ll need the smart ski boot insoles that Carv boasts as your “invisible instructor.”
With 73 different pressure sensors, Carv can detect your every move and provide real-time audio coaching and technique analysis to help you improve your skills.
This app and its paired insoles are the world’s first ski wearables that offer this type of intelligent, real-time coaching.
Now you probably guessed that this type of advanced technology comes with a price. The app is free to use, but if you want the smart insoles, they are expensive! Currently, the Carv system costs you around $300.
Did I mention skiing was an expensive sport?
However, it’s the perfect opportunity to add it to your Christmas list!
The reviews are amazing, and the improvements skiers have seen have been incredible. If you want to splurge a bit this year, the app and its insoles are compatible with both iOS and Android.
4. OnTheSnow
Before heading up to the mountains to ski, snowboard, snowshoe, or hike, it’s a good idea to check the weather forecast.
Knowing the mountain conditions and reading a good snow report is something I always try to do.
The OnTheSnow app is your one-stop shop for daily weather reports from tons of ski areas worldwide.
Key app features include:
- Library of over 2,000 ski areas worldwide.
- Daily snowfall and snow depth reports.
- Current piste and lift statuses.
- Notifications for new powder.
- General weather updates.
- Piste maps.
- Live reports, webcams, and pictures of your selected resorts.
The app is highly customizable. You can easily add locations to your “My Resorts” section to get updates on the mountains of your choice.
I can keep tabs on one of my home ski resorts of Whistler while also looking ahead at Zermatt, where I’ll be in January.
It’s such a handy and informational app that keeps you in the know. All mountaineers love a bluebird day, but we also like a fresh powder day.
With OnTheSnow, you’ll always know what to expect before hitting the slopes.
The app is free to use and is available for both iOS and Android devices.
5. FATMAP: Ski, Hike, Bike
The FATMAP app stands out from the rest with its 3D maps for all your favorite mountains.
As the app has continued to grow in popularity over the last few years, more and more ski resorts and mountain areas have been loaded into its platform.
If you’re new to an area or are traveling to a different mountain, FATMAP helps you scope out the terrain and discover both on and off-piste runs.
Their impressive 3D renderings give you tons of insight about what to expect: slope, elevation, avalanche warnings, etc. It even allows you to create your own free-ride lines if you’re an advanced skier or snowboarder.
It’s also an excellent tool if you plan on mountaineering or ski touring, which often involves expert-level climbing and trekking into the backcountry.
Additional FATMAP features:
- Get local insiders tips (off the record trail heads, points of interest, etc.)
- Create and share custom locations and waypoints
- Discover mountain huts and campsites
- Navigate trails not only for winter sports, but also for mountain biking, hiking, or running
- Sync your 3D tracks to Suunto, Garmin, and Strava
- Follow other users to see their adventures and points of interest
As you can see, FATMAP is an excellent, all-around app for those seeking a mountain adventure.
Better yet, you can use the free version of the app to access nearly all of its impressive functions. If you want the ability to download maps, routes, and other features for offline use, you’ll need to upgrade via in-app purchases.
FATMAP is available for both iOS and Android users.
With its impressive 3D features and high versatility, it rounds out our list as number five as one of the best apps for skiing and other winter sports.
Final thoughts
This time of year is always exciting for snow and winter enthusiasts. The mountains are just beginning to open up for the season, and all the skiers, snowboarders, snowshoers, hikers, and mountaineers are gearing up for the fun ahead.
Whether you want an app that simply tells you when the fresh powder is expected or a high-tech audio coach, there are a handful of good options.
We highlighted our five favorite picks when it comes to general apps for skiing and other winter sports, and we hope you found one that is just what you’re looking for.
Which app on this list would you choose for your winter adventures this season?
