Comparison

Backcountry Magazine vs AspectAvy

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Backcountry Magazine

Explore the world of backcountry skiing and snowboarding with in-depth articles, stunning photography, and expert gear reviews. Learn essential avalanche safety skills and discover new destinations. This app is your guide to the untracked experience.

Highlights
  • High-definition photography
  • In-depth stories
  • Avalanche safety skills
  • Unbiased gear reviews
  • Freeskiing and touring coverage
  • Destination exploration
Features
Read full description

Backcountry Magazine isn’t about defining boundaries, it’s about blowing them wide open. More people than ever are redefining their ideas of skiing and snowboarding, and Backcountry is their tool; a conduit and catalyst of the backcountry revolution. Each issue of Backcountry is packed with high-definition photography and stories, trusted avalanche safety skills and reliable, unbiased gear reviews. From freeskiing to touring, exotic destinations to backyard zones, the history of skiing to the cutting edge, we cover it all. In Backcountry, the possibilities are limited only by your imagination. Join us and imagine your Untracked Experience. ---------------------------------------------- This is a free app download. Within the app users can purchase the current issue and back issues. Subscriptions are also available within the application. A subscription will start from the latest regular issue at the time of purchase. -The subscription will renew automatically unless cancelled more than 24 hours before the end of the current period. You will be charged for renewal within 24 hours of the end of the current period, for the same duration and at the current subscription rate for the product. -You may turn off the auto-renewal of subscriptions through your Account Settings, however you are not able to cancel the current subscription during its active period. -Payment will be charged to your iTunes account at confirmation of purchase and any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when a subscription to that publication is purchased. -If a subscription offers a free trial, at the end of the trial period, you will be charged the full price of the subscription. You may cancel a subscription during its free trial period via the subscription settings on your iTunes account. This must be done 24 hours before the end of the subscription period to avoid being charged. Users can register for/ login to a pocketmags account in-app. This will protect their issues in the case of a lost device and allow browsing of purchases on multiple platforms. Existing pocketmags users can retrieve their purchases by logging into their account. We recommend loading the app for the first time in a wi-fi area so that all issue data is retrieved. If your app will not load past the splash page after a first install or an update, please delete and reinstall the app from the App Store Help and frequently asked questions can be accessed in-app and on pocketmags. If you have any problems at all please do not hesitate to contact us: help@pocketmags.com -------------------- You can find our privacy policy here: http://www.pocketmags.com/privacy.aspx You can find our terms and conditions here: http://www.pocketmags.com/terms.aspx

About

AspectAvy

This app provides real-time avalanche safety information and tools for backcountry enthusiasts. It features dynamic slope angle shading, live forecasts, and LiDAR mapping to help users assess risk and make informed decisions in avalanche terrain.

Highlights
  • Dynamic slope angle shading
  • Live avalanche and weather forecasts
  • LiDAR mapping
  • Safety checklists
  • Built-in slope angle meter
  • Route tracking and sharing
Read full description

At AspectAvy, our mission is to save lives from avalanches. Which is why we developed a whole new class of avalanche safety gear: preventive avalanche safety gear. AspectAvy Features: DYNAMIC SLOPE ANGLE SHADING This feature separates AspectAvy and makes us an avalanche safety tool. Our maps update slope angle shading in real-time based on the conditions you’re experiencing on the mountain. Even in airplane mode, we visualize the risk factor, helping to relieve decision fatigue, and giving you an objective picture of the risk level around your immediate location. LIVE AVALANCHE AND WEATHER FORECASTS We incorporate up-to-the-minute live avalanche and weather forecasts right into the app. The forecasts and maps are stored locally on your phone, meaning you have access to the most recent downladed information. Closing the gap between planning and touring, and ensuring you have the most updated forecast information available. INDUSTRY-LEADING LiDAR MAPPING Our rock-solid, fast-loading LiDAR maps are stored locally on your phone, meaning you’re not straining for a signal when decisions matter most. Accurate to 3-meter resolution, you’ll see the terrain and risk factor around your precise location. Giving you control of the slopes you ski, and putting peace of mind in your pocket. TRAILHEAD AND DROP-IN SAFETY CHECKS Our comprehensive and interactive safety checklists help ensure your preparedness, grounding your group in proper avalanche safety best practices. BUILT-IN SLOPE ANGLE METER Our built-in slope angle meter helps you verify slope angle so you know where to ski based on real-time risk levels. It also calculates the length of avalanche run-out zones, keeping you safe at the top of the slope, and the bottom when you’re traveling through avalanche terrain. ROUTE TRACKING AND SHARING Industry standard GPS route tracking shows exactly where your tour traveled, and makes it easy to share the route with everyone in your group. You can even see when and where you were close to avalanche danger, and where you avoided higher-risk terrain. DATA-DRIVEN SAFETY Our algorithm was built on decades of avalanche safety data. By harnessing this data, AspectAvy provides you with clear and precise route recommendations based on avalanche statistics. We pinpoint low-risk slopes – with risk levels akin to driving a car – empowering you to make informed choices with confidence, ensuring an exciting, yet safe backcountry skiing experience. Not available in Alaska or New Hampshire Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Backcountry Magazine4 screens
AspectAvy4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Backcountry Magazine at 4.8 against AspectAvy's 3.8. Backcountry Magazine also leads on device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (11.2 vs 16.6). AspectAvy's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 12 months). On price, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Backcountry Magazine sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $29.99 per year. AspectAvy asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Backcountry Magazine holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 45 and 37 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 27% of Backcountry Magazine's written reviews are positive against 50% of AspectAvy's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Backcountry Magazine ships an update every 12 months, AspectAvy every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Backcountry Magazine versus AspectAvy: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBackcountry MagazineAspectAvy
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (45 ratings) — better3.8 (37 ratings)
Positive reviews26.7% of reviews50.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings45 — better37
Update frequencyEvery 12 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS11.2 — better16.6
Further details — not scored
Size72 MB83 MB
Age rating12+17+
DeveloperHeight of Land PublicationsAspect Avy Inc

Customer experience

Backcountry Magazine

All ratings45 ratings
Positive97.8%
Neutral0.0%
Negative2.2%
Written reviews15 reviews
Positive26.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative73.3%

AspectAvy

All ratings37 ratings
Positive67.6%
Neutral2.7%
Negative29.7%
Written reviews18 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

In-app purchases

10 purchases

Backcountry Magazine

Subscriptions1
  • Backcountry Magazine1 Month trial$29.991 Year
One-time9
  • September 2013 - 2014 Gear Guide of Backcountry MagazineFree
  • September 2012 (id:344069)$4.99
  • October 2012 (id:344068)$4.99
Show 6 more
  • September 2014 ... (id:344057)$4.99
  • February/March ... (id:344064)$5.99
  • January 2013 (id:344065)$5.99
  • September 2015 ... (id:348793)$9.99
  • 2018 Gear Guide (id:344039)$9.99
  • September 2016 ... (id:349473)$9.99
None

AspectAvy

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Backcountry Magazine free?
Backcountry Magazine is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is AspectAvy free?
AspectAvy is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Backcountry Magazine or AspectAvy?
Backcountry Magazine is rated higher. Backcountry Magazine averages 4.8 out of 5 from 45 ratings, while AspectAvy averages 3.8 from 37 ratings.
Do Backcountry Magazine or AspectAvy have ads?
Neither Backcountry Magazine nor AspectAvy shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Backcountry Magazine or AspectAvy?
Backcountry Magazine ships an update every 12 months, and AspectAvy every 2 months. Most recently, Backcountry Magazine was updated on November 1, 2026 and AspectAvy on November 3, 2026.

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