Trailmates
A group outdoor trip planning app that replaced chaotic group chats. 1,800 trips planned in the first two months, built in 26 days.
The Challenge
Every group camping trip started the same way: a group chat that spiraled into 200 unread messages, a shared note nobody checked, and at least one person showing up without the gear they were supposed to bring. There was no app built specifically for group outdoor trip planning.
The Approach
Scoped the product around the four things every group outdoor trip needs: a shared decision on where and when to go, a gear list where items are claimed and tracked, a day-by-day itinerary with trail details and maps, and a group chat tied to the trip.
Designed a trip dashboard with group avatars and a readiness tracker. A campsite voting system with photos, drive times and amenity tags. A shared gear checklist where members claim items so nothing gets forgotten. A timeline-style itinerary with trail distances, elevation and difficulty. All wrapped in a design that felt like premium outdoor gear, not a generic planning tool.
The Outcome
Launched to outdoor communities on Reddit and Facebook groups. One-tap social sign-in meant entire groups could join from a single invite link. Within two months, 1,800 trips had been created. The most-used feature was the gear checklist.
"I showed Nikola's designs to five friends and every single one said the same thing, this looks like it was made by a big team. The gear checklist alone solved the one problem that ruined every group trip. 1,800 trips planned in two months speaks for itself." Jake R., Founder, Trailmates