Glossary
Definitions for Trailkeep-specific terms and common trail concepts used throughout the docs.
A reference for terms used in Trailkeep and in these docs.
Account tiers
Free — The default account tier for new signups. Includes the full feature set: trip planning, gear management, Safety QR, Safety Timer (return-by monitoring), and collaborative editing. Limits apply: up to 6 trips, 10 gear lists, and itinerary trips of up to 3 days each.
Pro — The paid subscription tier ($5.99/month or $39.99/year). Same features as Free with no limits on trips, gear lists, or itinerary days. See Plans.
Pack Planner
Gear list (also: pack list) — A collection of gear items, organised into categories, attached to or shared independently of a trip. Trailkeep uses both terms interchangeably.
Base weight — The total weight of your pack excluding consumables (food, water, fuel) and worn items (clothing, footwear). Base weight is the standard comparison metric in ultralight hiking communities.
Worn weight — Items you carry on your body rather than in your pack — clothing, boots, watch, trekking poles. Marked with the worn flag in Trailkeep. Excluded from base weight calculations.
Consumable weight — Items that get used up during the trip: food, water, fuel. Consumable weight decreases over the trip; separating it gives a more accurate base weight figure.
Gear Vault — Your library of reusable gear items. Clone items into any pack list. Product links, prices, and affiliate flags can stay synced from the vault when a list item is linked to a vault template; weight, notes, and trip-specific flags stay per list. See Gear Vault.
Trip Planner
Waypoint — A named point of interest on a trip day: campsite, water source, summit, resupply point, road crossing. Waypoints can be placed on a GPX route or off-route with a custom connector path. See Waypoints.
Water source — A waypoint flagged as a water source — a creek, spring, or water cache. Displayed with a blue water drop icon in the day view and in the shared trip page.
Resupply point — A waypoint flagged as a resupply point — typically a town, post office, or shop. Displayed with an amber basket icon. Also labelled "Food" in the mobile action menu.
GPX file — A standard XML file format for storing GPS routes, tracks, and waypoints. Trailkeep supports GPX 1.0 and 1.1. Most mapping apps (Garmin, Gaia GPS, AllTrails, Komoot) can export GPX. See Uploading a GPX file.
Off-route path — A custom connector line drawn from the main GPX route to a waypoint that sits away from the trail. Off-route paths are your plan only — Trailkeep does not verify they are safe or legal. They are included in GPX export and shared trip maps so your navigation device follows the exact path you drew. See Waypoints — Off-trail placement.
Edit link — A unique URL that grants write access to a trip for collaborative planning. Collaborators do not need a Trailkeep account. The link is automatically invalidated when the trip becomes Active. See Collaborative editing.
Safety
Safety Timer — Trailkeep’s umbrella monitoring system: return-by monitoring plus optional Check-in Timer alerts to emergency contacts. Use this term in marketing and pricing; the Start tab uses Go to arm return-by monitoring, not to turn on the Check-in Timer alone. See Safety Timer.
Return-by monitoring — The primary safety layer. If you miss your promised return date and time, Trailkeep sends an overdue alert. Always active when your trip is armed and has an end date. On the Start tab: “Expect me back by” and the Return in duration chips.
Check-in Timer — An optional secondary layer (deadman switch). If you do not check in within your configured window (24 or 36 hours), Trailkeep sends an overdue alert. Resets each time you check in. Manage it from the timer icon in the Start tab header — not the main Go button.
Safety QR — A permanent QR code linked to your Trailkeep account. When scanned, it shows your current trip status. In normal state it shows only a status check. In overdue state it redirects to your full trip page. See Safety QR.
Trail Companion — A person (not a pre-registered emergency contact) who scans your Safety QR and opts in with their email to receive one overdue alert notification. Their email is deleted automatically when your trip completes. See Trail Companion.
Overdue alert — An email sent to emergency contacts and Trail Companions when return-by monitoring or the Check-in Timer fires. Contains trip details, last known GPS location, and emergency contact information.
Check-in — Tapping Check in now on the Start tab during an active trip. Resets the Check-in Timer (when enabled) once Trailkeep confirms on the server; captures GPS when signal is available. Offline shows Not confirmed yet until sync. Check in by text is the no-data path. Available on all account tiers.
Technical
Short ID — The 4-character code at the end of a shared link URL (e.g. /trip/ab12). Used to identify shared trips and gear lists. The same code stays with that list or trip until it is deleted. Collaborative edit links use a different URL pattern (/edit/…) with a separate token.
Pioneer badge — A blue badge-check icon on shared trips and gear lists owned by legacy Pioneer-tier accounts (open beta). Visible to anyone viewing shared content. Retained after Pioneer access expires.