Great functionality, clunky usability
I basically have to plan the route using their website (which is MUCH better but still not perfect). Since I’m now a paid user and am kinda stick with this compared to another app such as RideWithGPS, I’d really like to see this developed further and become more refined and user friendly.
Also, even though it’s not a fitness app, being able to view a heat map of the route in terms of speed would be very handy.
They let me down
Doesn’t work with low network connection.
Have to re share each time I made edit.
Press button , nothing change
Have to save , store offline every time I made a change .
Made me take crazy detour .
Komoot really let me down on my tour
Occasionally life-threatening routing
Other hand: sometimes (unpredictably) the routing software makes an edit that could get you killed. It has sent me on pieces of CA-1 in Pacifica that were 6 lane highway with frequent interstate on-ramp / exit-ramp crossings, which can be lethal. It had me cross 4 lanes of high speed CA-17 outside Santa Cruz (no traffic light) and then up 2+ miles of same next to 55 mph heavy car traffic & with little or no shoulder. Suicidal. Hated and feared every second of both. Terror.
Software uses OpenStreets, and the routing never broke traffic law in my experience. But it led me to junctures where my choice was “retrace course back 10 miles” or “briefly take life into hands.” Cycling routing software should never do this. Should stress: these things happened all on Komoot 5-star-rated routes.
Google Maps Cycling layer will route you onto goat paths and worse, but it’s great about not getting you killed. Komoot, for its part, won’t strand you on a rocky fire road or an overgrown path, but it WILL occasionally (& unpredictably) put you six unprotected inches from heavy traffic. Pick your poison. Use with care.
Response from developer
Thank you for sharing your detailed feedback with us. We absolutely understand the importance of safety when planning routes, and we're genuinely sorry to hear about your experience. We're constantly working on improving our routing to better suit the needs of all our users and to avoid situations like the ones you've described. We strive to provide as much information as possible in the planner so that you can be fully prepared and aware of what to expect before setting out on your journey. In the short-term, there are a few things you can do to avoid potential dangers: Check OpenStreetMap (OSM): As our routing is based on OSM data, you can contribute by updating or checking the paths there. Use Trail View or Google Street View: On our website, we offer both a Trail View and a Google Street View integration, which can help you assess paths and roads beforehand. Your feedback is invaluable to us, and we’ll continue to work on making komoot as safe and reliable as possible. Please don't hesitate to reach out directly if you have any other suggestions or concerns. Safe travels!
Couple of bugs to report
Also after editing a tour which is part of a multi day collection and clicking on the back arrow it takes me to the Tour bottom tab. When I then click on the Collections bottom tab it takes me back to the tour I edited and the back arrow then works correctly to take me out to the Collection.
Getting worse rather than better
Response from developer
Thank you for your feedback. We're sorry to hear about the issues you've encountered during your bike ride. We appreciate you taking the time to share your experience and will pass on your comments to our team. Please feel free to contact us directly for further assistance. We value your input and are continuously working to improve the app.
Pointless push notifications
Response from developer
Hi Andre, Thank you for your feedback. We apologize for any inconvenience caused by the notifications. Your input is very valuable, and we'll consider it to improve our user experience. Thanks again!
No offline maps
Response from developer
There are no regions available for download in your country, but you can access our navigation on planned Tours for free there. You only have to unlock regions if you travel to Europe or another country in which we do offer regions. You can plan Tours and download them with the entire map needed for the Tour and use them for offline navigation, without unlocking anything. Just plan a Tour, then use the switch "offline available" underneath it and it will be downloaded. You can also transfer your Tours to external devices or download them as GPX files. If you don't want to follow a preplanned Tour, but just want to take a look at the map as you record a hike for instance, we can only offer you a work around: plan a Tour that encompasses the area of the map you need offline, then download the Tour. If you now open the recording panel of the app, while you are in that area, the map will be displayed, even though you were not able to download the Region.
Almost perfect
Karoo
Can not read any ride from Karoo
Response from developer
Thank you for your feedback. We're sorry to hear that you're having trouble connecting to your Karoo device. Please contact us directly so we can assist you more effectively. We're here to help resolve the issue.
Long term review
First, the current version still has many bugs which I simply haven’t encountered with other app. Most notably, are the times when the app doesn’t notify you which way to go or when it does but it’s totally unnecessary. I use the app for navigation with my phone mounted on my bike handlebars. I typically like to have a combination of sound notifications and visuals to help me make turns, although I keep my phone lcd off most of the time to save battery. Countless of times, I was in a situation where there were clearly two possible ways but the app didn’t notify me until I had gone the wrong way. Conversely, the app often randomly tells to make a turn or go straight when there aren’t any other ways. The most annoying is when I am clearly notified to take a left or a right but should have continued straight. Those are just weird bugs in the app.
The other recurring issue I have with the app is that it keeps exiting the tour mode randomly. I’ll press the “navigation” mode button and a minute later it will pause the tour without me doing anything. Only restarting the app makes it better.
Aside from that, the app sometimes makes routes that don’t exist. I have found myself a few times being unable to continue forward on a path designed by Komoot. I believe this is because it attempt to make you avoid large roads if you travel by bike. Luckily though, the strong community of users and the routes they share makes using Komoot a generally positive experience.
Last thing, the thing I dislike and believe could be improved easily would be the option to connect back to your tour from your current location. Countless of times, I have deviated from my route to see something or take a break etc. When you want to go back on the tour, it’s always a pain to be told that you’ve left the tour every few minutes without indications on how to get back except “your 400m left of the tour.”
