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Anyone use TomTom for Iphone for Hiking GPS

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Roleigh Martin BPL Member
PostedDec 12, 2009 at 4:55 pm

http://www.tomtom.com/products/product.php?ID=940&Category=2&Lid=4

Is currently 1/2 price off for the Iphone, $50 v. $100, during the Christmas shopping season.

I use a GPS on the JMT only for stopping purposes, as hiking groups I organize hike at different speeds, with the fastest hiker being about 2-3 hours ahead of the slower hiker each day. We have just one GPS programmed with stop points in it so the lead hiker knows where the stopping point is. Yes, most of the time, the Tom Harrison Map is fine, but not all the times – several days, having the GPS is very nice.

I've been using The Garmin Foretrek 101 which is only 2.5 oz and does the trick just fine. But I've wondered about using the Iphone instead of bringing along the Garmin Foretrek. Right now I ship the Iphone to Lone Pine c/o General Delivery awaiting me at end of hike. Which is a pain.

Anyone know of a GPS app for the Iphone that lets you route a hike with stopping points, like one can do with any Garmin GPS? Is the Tom Tom app worth it? I know it would be nice for driving assistance but that is not critical. The built in Google Maps feature for the Iphone works great too. Comments from users?

BlackHatGuy
PostedDec 12, 2009 at 5:05 pm

Hi Roleigh,

Won't work. The TomTom app is fabulous, I have it (and it blows the Google maps app away. Thursday I was heading home on 95N, an accident closed ALL lanes about 5 miles ahead. 5 miles ahead and I was already in a 5-lane-wide parking lot. I fired up TomTom, told it to get me home, but avoid 95. It was fabulous!).

But all such GPS apps suck your battery dry on the iPhone within a few hours. Literally. You wouldn't even get a full day hike in. You wouldn't even make it to noon, probably.

But for its weight, I just carry mine on a trip for other reasons, which I've mentioned in a few threads on this site!

Take care,

Doug

Mark Verber BPL Member
PostedDec 12, 2009 at 7:30 pm

If your primary use is back country, then the iTopomaps is just $10 is works well. As Douglas indicated you certainly won't get a full day of use from an iPhone with GPS… but if you turn off your phone between uses, and mostly use it periodically to verify your position on a physical map it can work well.

I believe tom tom has features that make it superior when around town like turn by turn driving directions.

–mark

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