Our friends over at Safe-Xtract have recently published a new vehicle recovery app, and we've taken it for a spin - and we've found that it provides extremely useful functionality that is 100% accessible even when your device has no connectivity - a plus when you are stranded in the middle of nowhere.  The app is built around a 'total resistance' calculator, where you enter some data (vehicle weight, number of stuck wheels, terrain type, gradient and more) and it calculates the total resistance that needs to be overcome in order to "xtract" the vehicle.  It's very thorough, with precise data entry and 12 different ground conditions to select from (smooth road, grass, hard wet sand, gravel, loose dry sand, shallow snow, loose wet sand, shingle, shallow mud, deep snow, deep mud and soft clay) - this calculator alone is worth the price of admission.  But then it takes this data and applies it to a comprehensive set of "winch" and "non-winch" recovery configurations, providing the required strengths for all the components needed to perform a single line pull, double line pull, kinetic recovery (called "momentum traction"), etc.  The app then goes one step further, providing you with diagrams that explain each recovery configuration and videos that show setup and execution.  And again, all of this is available offline, so you don't have to worry about whether or not you have a signal when you need to use the app. And when you first download the app, you are able to enter your vehicle's profile data, and use it as a default data set to shorten the vehicle recovery data entry process.

There is also a learning center where you can learn more about recovery methods, conducting a stuck assessment, minimizing environmental impacts, and much more. We use this app to help with sizing various components to an application, and it's also great for running through theoretical recovery situations in the safety of your own home. In that way, you can ensure your gear is properly sized, greatly increasing the safety associated with whatever recovery effort you are planning to undertake in the future. We recommend you check it out... at only $9.99, it is an excellent value and well worth the money!