Pack Tracker
Creating a hiking preparedness app through end-to-end design
With busy lives and ambitious weekend plans, hikers need a more efficient way to plan their hikes. Using UX research and UI design, I validated this hypothesis and created Pack Tracker, an all-in-one tool for hikers to plan and prepare their journeys. From newbie to veteran, Pack Tracker caters to all experience levels by helping users create custom packing lists to ensure nothing is left at home.
The Context
Even as an avid hiker, the task of preparing for a hike can still feel disorganized, and I was wishing for a reliable way to organize my packing lists to stop forgetting crucial items at home. I wondered if other hikers, be they new or seasoned to the trail, had the same issue of trying to plan their hikes without a simple, effective packing list. If my suspicion was correct, I wanted to create an engaging and easy-to-use solution to help hikers create packing lists from their phones.
The Problem
Many hikers rely on homespun methods of making packing lists, meaning there is no way to ensure that they have packed everything they need. As a result, they tend to forget important items and don’t realize they’re missing until on the trail. This becomes a greater problem for inexperienced hikers who don’t know what to pack in the first place. Hikers continue to rely on their own methods for packing because it is quicker than seeking out a tool to assist them.
The Objective
I decided to conduct competitor analysis and user research to better understand why hikers didn’t create their packing lists in a way that decreased the amount of forgotten items, as well as what tools currently existed to help them complete their task. Based on my research, I wanted to craft a design that could be tested with users to validate the issues they were facing and find the best way to solve them.
The Solution
1. Empathize
Finding strengths and weaknesses of the competition with competitor analysis
Using competitor analysis, I looked at three direct competitors and analyzed their strengths and weaknesses as packing tools. I chose these apps because they were marketed as essential to hikers who wanted to “optimize” their packing, make “smarter decisions,” and “head out with confidence.” Through my analysis, I found a gap in the mobile experience for hikers looking for a packing app. While each of these apps offer important tools to help hikers, none of them combine a clean, engaging UI with list building assistance. As a result, the competitors provide an overwhelming amount of information that acts more like a spreadsheet that a designated packing tool. This can be daunting for a new hiker seeking assistance.
Interviewing real hikers to learn how they prepare for their journeys
With a better sense of existing packing tools, I needed to speak with real hikers to learn how they packed for a hike and what they might want out of a packing tool. I conducted one-on-one interviews with six hikers whose experience levels ranged from two to forty years. I felt it was important to speak with both newbies and veterans to understand if there was a correlation between experience level and confidence when preparing for a hike.
Whether the interviewees lived in cities or remote wilderness, one thing became abundantly clear: these hikers did not feel like their current methods of preparation were adequate.
While some said they create packing lists through spreadsheets or write them out by hand, others run through a mental checklist and have no way of tracking what they pack.
Both types of packers also admitted that they tend to forget at least one important item on every hiking trip.
Additionally, whether they were seasoned veterans or new to hiking, the hikers unanimously said they learned from experience and sought advice from those who knew more than them. These hikers didn’t just want to learn: they wanted to learn from someone they could trust.
I also used this opportunity to begin thinking about my app’s branding: the ways hikers described their love of nature and the value they find in being outdoors helped me to start forming a mental image of not only what the app would look like, but how it would feel to use.
By stepping back and sorting user feedback into recurring themes, an essential opportunity became clear: Pack Tracker could serve as an engaging, easy-to-use, and educational tool that users could trust to ensure they have everything they need for their adventures.
Synthesizing user insights through affinity mapping
After gathering valuable thoughts from my participants, I synthesized this wealth of information using affinity mapping. This allowed me to group recurring themes, ideas, and pain points into categories that represented key user behaviors and needs. I was able to turn raw data into actionable insights and move forward with a clearer picture of both the user and their ideal packing tool.
2. Define
Framing the problem with POVs and HMWs
With a strong grasp of my users’ challenges with their current methods of packing and their desires for a better one, I used POVs and HMWs to frame these insights in a way that would keep the users’ pain points front and center during the design process.
POV: Cindy wants to get organized for her hikes to feel better prepared and forget less items at home, but she finds that her packing list is disorganized due to not knowing how to make one and she feels confused in her approach to being prepared.
HMW: How might we help hikers feel better prepared for their hikes by increasing organization during the process of packing and decreasing the number of items forgotten at home?
POV: Kalle wants to prepare for their first hike, but they feel overwhelmed with the amount of things they need to learn and don't know where to start, which is discouraging them from wanting to hike anymore.
HMW: How might we reduce the stress for new hikers of learning what and how to pack in order to increase their confidence and desire to go for a hike?
Developing personas to capture the core user types
After gathering insights from a diverse group of hikers, I synthesized their experiences into two core personas: Cindy, the veteran hiker who wants a simple way to build her packing lists to save time and stop forgetting items at home; and Kalle, the inexperienced newbie seeking to mitigate the overwhelming feeling of preparing for their first hike by finding a tool to teach them how to pack to feel confident when hitting the trail.
Cindy and Kalle aren’t hypotheticals: they’re the thoughtful blend of real experiences and needs discovered during user interviews. They represent the kinds of users Pack Tracker is for: hikers of all experience levels who want spend less time worrying about packing and more time enjoying the great outdoors.
3. Ideate
Brainstorming features and prioritization
With my personas firmly grounded in the project’s core user types, I brainstormed key features for Pack Tracker’s MVP and prioritized them according to my research. I determined that the most vital components to the app would be a comprehensive checklist tool that helped users create their lists with an optional template builder, and a visualization of the user’s backpack to assist them in the process of packing.
Creating a user flow to map out the experience
With strong goals, the next step was to translate them into a clear, intuitive structure to support the user journey. With my personas and feature roadmapping, I planned out a comprehensive user flow that encompassed every interaction a user might have when creating a packing list with Pack Tracker. The goal was to present the user with as few on-screen options as possible to ensure that the experience of making and using a packing list would be simple enough for a new hiker to easily get the hang of, while also providing an experienced hiker with the tools they need to customize their list.
4. Prototype
Sketching things out with low-fidelity wireframes
With my user flow solidified, it was time to start bringing Pack Tracker to life through low-fidelity prototypes. Keeping my persona’s needs in mind, I began translating key moments in the user’s journey through creating and using a packing checklist. I used this time to explore different layouts for the template builder and list view screens, simplify interactions, and ensure that every decision was made to help the user avoid unnecessary work.
With my two personas in mind, I wanted to design Pack Tracker to be both an efficient packing list builder for new and experienced hikers, as well as a tool to help educate beginners through a visualization of the backpack that taught hikers how and where to pack different items.
Testing low-fidelity screens for usability and design choices
The next step was to test my low-fidelity screens with prospective users. I conducted one-on-one user testing sessions over zoom with five hikers to better understand how users felt about completing the tasks of creating and completing a checklist. Using A/B testing and asking curated questions about the wireframes, I was able to ascertain valuable information that helped me proceed with making Pack Tracker a reality.
Key findings
Users preferred selection bars on the template builder screen because of the greater prominence of options on the screen and cleaner UI.
Users wanted labels on template selections because it made it easier to see what they were selecting.
Users liked the backpack visualization because, although not specific to their own bags, it helped new and experienced hikers alike in the process of packing and made the experience more fun and engaging.
Users wanted to see items fill the bag as they checked them off the list because it provides a sense of satisfaction and enjoyment to follow your packing in time with the visuals. They also saw value in the educational aspect of watching items fill different pockets.
Users wanted a progress bar on the checklist screen, as it provides a sense of accomplishment and completion to checking items off, while also gamifying the experience of packing.
Building the look and feel with branding and UI kit
After shaping the structure of Pack Tracker, it was time to bring the brand to life through a style tile. Returning to my findings from user interviews, I wanted to ensure that Pack Tracker would match the feelings of the hikers who would use it: adventurous, motivational, and empowering, with serene colors that evoked the tranquil beauty of nature. When developing the logo and color palette, I kept the user’s perspective in mind, while also revisiting to my competitor analysis to consider the market for hiking preparation apps.
To ensure consistency, I built a UI kit that includes buttons, text fields, icons, and essential components to flesh out Pack Tracker. Crafting each component at this stage also helped me to save time when creating my high-fidelity wireframes, and each component was designed with usability in mind. I also felt it was crucial to design an engaging backpack visual that would follow the user’s packing journey by expanding in size.
Using initial sketches to create high-fidelity wireframes
After defining Pack Tracker’s visual identity and refining the user experience through low-fidelity wireframes, I was ready to bring the app to life with high-fidelity designs. From research insights to user personas to Pack Tracker’s grounded-yet-motivational branding, this was the culmination of thoughtful decision making at every turn.
5. Test
Usability testing with high-fidelity prototypes
With Pack Tracker’s high-fidelity prototype ready, it was finally time to step away from the designer’s desk and place the app into the hands of real users. With five hikers, I conducted one-on-one usability testing sessions with my finished prototype. The goal was to evaluate how easily users could complete tasks, identify usability issues, and ensure that Pack Tracker was intuitive and easily navigable.
This final round of testing confirmed that Pack Tracker was on the right path. All users were able to complete each task within the given time frame with minimal misclicks. Users noted that the app was simple and straightforward to navigate, and they appreciated the clarity of the tasks thanks to the limited number of options per screen. The tests also highlighted subtle areas for improvement, like enhancing the template builder and streamlining the section editor.
6. Iterate
Iterating on the prototype with high priority revisions
The usability testing phase was incredibly insightful and reaffirmed many of the decisions made throughout the design process, while also highlighting meaningful ways to improve the user experience.
Here are a few of the iterations I made:
Enhanced the template builder: before and after
Redesigned layout of quantity edit options to improve heuristic design.
Changed the color of the delete button to be clearer.
Updated the completion screen: before and after
Redesigned distance and elevation measurement swap buttons to be clearer.
Added icons to the distance and elevation options to support a clearer overall design.
Refined the edit screen: before and after
Enlarged the completion message to increase user satisfaction when finishing a list.
These iterations not only reflect user needs, but also push Pack Tracker to be a more motivational and empowering tool for the adventurous hiker. As the design evolves, I’ll continue to ground every decision in user feedback, empathy, and real experience.
Learning & next steps
Looking back on this project, Pack Tracker turned out to be more than just an app to benefit the hiker in need: it became a reflection of the kind of product I’d want to use in my own life. As an avid hiker myself, I found so much joy in speaking with others who share that same love for the great outdoors, and their stories became the lifeblood of this experience.
Throughout the process, I gained a deeper understanding of how thoughtful design can meet the everyday needs of the user in simple but meaningful ways. I grew exponentially over the course of this journey—not just in my proficiency with tools and workflows, but in how I consider empathy, accessibility, and the little details that make a product feel intuitive and trusted.
Due to time constraints, I was unable to focus on the educational side of Pack Tracker as much as I wanted to, and I decided to pursue a design that focused on making the simple process of building and checking off a packing list the best it could possibly be. Moving forward, my main goal will be to enhance the educational elements of the app by making the backpack more interactive and giving useful information to the user on how and why to pack different items. While there’s always more to improve, I’m proud of how far Pack Tracker has come and am excited about where it could go next.