At the end of a good hike, most of us have to shelve our outdoor character, put our gear out of sight. Cover up our bruised legs, which we are kind of proud of, and venture back into work.
Returning to our routines rinses us quickly, and the last hike starts to feel more like a dream than something we actually lived.
As daily life consumes us, where can we revel in the impact of our last trip? And when do we go again?
For Hikers Worldwide, a Platform Worth Your Time
The Hikers is a direct answer to those questions. It assumes that most of us do not live on the trail, but that we really like it out there, that version of us that shines on simpler terms. Of course, there are many good reasons for that: research in neuroscience says exposure to nature is a necessity for a healthy brain, not a luxury.
But when we return, we are flung back to computers, screens and the internet. Now, with this platform, there is a tab in your browser that is about your past trips and the new ones you're planning. A place where, if you give it your attention, it rewards you with well-planned hikes, and encourages you to come back and tell us about it.
That means you can plan well on a platform built for purpose, whatever the next trip looks like. Solo. With friends. You and your dog. You and your daughter. It's also about you as an adventurer, how you progress, and about finding new people to hike with, as life sometimes shuffles the pack.
The success of the platform will not be measured in engagement or ads sold. It's measured in hikes initiated and completed. The platform exists to be a wholesome part of creating physical experiences in your life. A means to an end, not the end itself.
It is therefore a place to escape to when you're back in daily life, where your outdoor character can stay alive between trips. Where your dreams of the next time out turn into actual trips on the horizon. Where you can obsess about the few trips a year life affords.
It's where your time spent online isn't wasted, but plays a part in the hikes you carry with you through your one wild and precious life.
Two comments on r/Ultralight stayed with me. One person wrote, "I enjoy arm-chair backpacking by obsessively planning for the few trips I can go on." Another, "I love planning trips to keep me involved from afar." That is the feeling The Hikers is built around, staying close to the trail even when you are far from it.
Stay tuned for news on the blog, and sign up for our waiting list to be the first to try.
— Caspar
Plan Trips, Manage Gear, and Connect with Your Hiking Community
A web application for everyone. From beginners heading out for the first time to professional guides running expeditions.
Our measure of success is simple: By putting people at the center of the spectacle, here and out there, personal views of nature are formed and enriched, likely leading to increased empathy and respect for our planet's basic greatness.
Everything is built to move people from dreaming about adventures, to actual trips and experiences that enrich their lives. Those hikes you remember for a lifetime.
With leisure time in scarcity, you kind of want to get your hiking trips right, and you best have some trips in the pipeline or time simply passes by. The Hikers will do that for you.
Philosophy
The Hikers is not trying to replace CalTopo, AllTrails, LighterPack, Google Docs, or any specialized tool. It is building the central hub, the place where hikers and professionals start, organize, and connect, while freely linking out to whatever tools work best for specific tasks.
This is both a practical constraint (can't build everything) and a strategic advantage (reduced adoption friction, respect for existing workflows).