Anybody content with their smartphone and apps over a dedicated handheld GPS unit? - Page 3

travelviews · 01-10-2018, 07:19 PM

Thanks for the gps apps. I use alltrails but I will take a look at those.

ndoggac · 06-24-2018, 08:59 AM

I made a video showing how to load data into LocusMaps. Thought it might help some people here.

https://sites.google.com/site/stillw...smapsonandroid

Post has links at the bottom to all the mentioned apps, and the settings file.

MTVhike · 08-19-2018, 05:00 PM

Just an aside, but an out-of-contract iPhone works fine as a GPS, you just have to load the maps via WiFi.

Titanium Spork · 08-21-2018, 12:32 AM

Not I. Bought a Garmin handheld right after GPS was opened around 2002. Waterproof. Runs on two AA rechargeables. Loads the latest maps. Receives from the same satellites. Used it this weekend for three days on the same pair off AAs. I'm not a luddite. I have iPhones, but the battery life is terrible (and can only be charged with a cable, not battery replacement), they're very fragile (and expensive to replace). The only reason I'd consider trying to use a phone in the ADKs is if there were a data connection, which there isn't.

TrailBlaser · 08-21-2018, 12:11 PM

I just finished 6 days in the West Canada Lakes Wilderness doing the French Louie loop and used Gaia GPS. It worked well and I had it close background apps. I recorded tracks and waypoints. The battery drain was not a problem, I did not have to charge my phone until the 4th day and it was at 54%. I met a thru hiker who had done the AT last year and the CT the year before. He said he uses a free app from REI, so I may look into that. However, I am very satisfied with Gaia. I use a Galaxy Note 5, big, but the maps sure display nicely.

JohnnyVirgil · 08-21-2018, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jblaser

I just finished 6 days in the West Canada Lakes Wilderness doing the French Louie loop and used Gaia GPS. It worked well and I had it close background apps. I recorded tracks and waypoints. The battery drain was not a problem, I did not have to charge my phone until the 4th day and it was at 54%. I met a thru hiker who had done the AT last year and the CT the year before. He said he uses a free app from REI, so I may look into that. However, I am very satisfied with Gaia.

6 Days? I'm jealous. Hope you're working on that trip report.

TrailBlaser · 08-21-2018, 01:55 PM

It was my first time in there and definitely one that I will treasure for many years. Truly the essence of the ADK wilderness. Getting my son off to college and then will get a trip report and photos up.

forest dweller · 08-20-2019, 06:58 AM

Hey guys (and gals of course!)...

My wife and I will be doing a little backpacking in Banff next week and I wanted to download Gaia GPS to my latest smartphone. I was interested in the premium membership of that app for the Nat Geo Trails Illustrated maps of Banff but I just read on their site that they don't have Nat Geo maps for Canada available yet. It's $40 a year and since they don't have that I see no reason to buy that. My question is, if I want to know EXACTLY where I am on a trail (or if I mistakenly got OFF the trail especially) will the free version suffice (Can I get good maps?) or should I get the $20 "member" version?

Appreciate any and all feedback. I've got a million and one t's to cross and i's to dot before we fly on Friday so any help here will be one more thing I feel I got accomplished leading up to this.

JohnnyVirgil · 08-20-2019, 08:14 AM

I believe you'll get USGS maps & openstreet -- you'll know where you are, but trail info can be old. Any chance you purchased the original version? If you did, they have a "legacy license" where they will allow you to run the new version, free of charge, with some limits on features, one of which I believe is NatGeo map availability -- but they do have the newer vector-based USGS and some others as available options.

forest dweller · 08-20-2019, 12:58 PM

Hey, in desperate need of help with Gaia GPS...if you are quite familiar with how to download maps...

I need to know which type of map you recommend I download for offline use to know EXACTLY where I am in the backcountry at any given time. (In this case it will be in the Banff backcountry)

Please, this is one more chore stressing me out as I check off my "must do" list leading up to flying out on Friday.

I.know I was helped with this a few years ago but I haven't used it for a while, have a new phone and need to start over.

Which maps for Gaia GPS (or any other backcountry GPS app that you prefer) would you rely on to know exactly where you were at any given time?

08-21-2018, 12:11 PM	#45
TrailBlaser Member Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: Brewster, NY Posts: 222	I just finished 6 days in the West Canada Lakes Wilderness doing the French Louie loop and used Gaia GPS. It worked well and I had it close background apps. I recorded tracks and waypoints. The battery drain was not a problem, I did not have to charge my phone until the 4th day and it was at 54%. I met a thru hiker who had done the AT last year and the CT the year before. He said he uses a free app from REI, so I may look into that. However, I am very satisfied with Gaia. I use a Galaxy Note 5, big, but the maps sure display nicely. __________________ "Between every two pines is a doorway to a new world." John Muir Last edited by TrailBlaser; 08-21-2018 at 01:57 PM..

08-21-2018, 01:55 PM	#47
TrailBlaser Member Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: Brewster, NY Posts: 222	It was my first time in there and definitely one that I will treasure for many years. Truly the essence of the ADK wilderness. Getting my son off to college and then will get a trip report and photos up. __________________ "Between every two pines is a doorway to a new world." John Muir

08-20-2019, 12:58 PM	#50
forest dweller Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 588	Hey, in desperate need of help with Gaia GPS...if you are quite familiar with how to download maps... I need to know which type of map you recommend I download for offline use to know EXACTLY where I am in the backcountry at any given time. (In this case it will be in the Banff backcountry) Please, this is one more chore stressing me out as I check off my "must do" list leading up to flying out on Friday. I.know I was helped with this a few years ago but I haven't used it for a while, have a new phone and need to start over. Which maps for Gaia GPS (or any other backcountry GPS app that you prefer) would you rely on to know exactly where you were at any given time? Last edited by forest dweller; 08-20-2019 at 02:48 PM..

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01-10-2018, 07:19 PM	#41
travelviews Member Join Date: Jan 2018 Posts: 3	Thanks for the gps apps. I use alltrails but I will take a look at those.

06-24-2018, 08:59 AM	#42
ndoggac Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 34	I made a video showing how to load data into LocusMaps. Thought it might help some people here. https://sites.google.com/site/stillw...smapsonandroid Post has links at the bottom to all the mentioned apps, and the settings file.

08-19-2018, 05:00 PM	#43
MTVhike Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Elizabethtown Posts: 163	Just an aside, but an out-of-contract iPhone works fine as a GPS, you just have to load the maps via WiFi.

08-21-2018, 12:32 AM	#44
Titanium Spork Happy camper Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Pointe-Claire, Quebec Posts: 55	Not I. Bought a Garmin handheld right after GPS was opened around 2002. Waterproof. Runs on two AA rechargeables. Loads the latest maps. Receives from the same satellites. Used it this weekend for three days on the same pair off AAs. I'm not a luddite. I have iPhones, but the battery life is terrible (and can only be charged with a cable, not battery replacement), they're very fragile (and expensive to replace). The only reason I'd consider trying to use a phone in the ADKs is if there were a data connection, which there isn't.

08-20-2019, 06:58 AM	#48
forest dweller Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 588	Hey guys (and gals of course!)... My wife and I will be doing a little backpacking in Banff next week and I wanted to download Gaia GPS to my latest smartphone. I was interested in the premium membership of that app for the Nat Geo Trails Illustrated maps of Banff but I just read on their site that they don't have Nat Geo maps for Canada available yet. It's $40 a year and since they don't have that I see no reason to buy that. My question is, if I want to know EXACTLY where I am on a trail (or if I mistakenly got OFF the trail especially) will the free version suffice (Can I get good maps?) or should I get the $20 "member" version? Appreciate any and all feedback. I've got a million and one t's to cross and i's to dot before we fly on Friday so any help here will be one more thing I feel I got accomplished leading up to this.

08-20-2019, 08:14 AM	#49
JohnnyVirgil Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Porter Corners, NY Posts: 868	I believe you'll get USGS maps & openstreet -- you'll know where you are, but trail info can be old. Any chance you purchased the original version? If you did, they have a "legacy license" where they will allow you to run the new version, free of charge, with some limits on features, one of which I believe is NatGeo map availability -- but they do have the newer vector-based USGS and some others as available options.

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