Apple GPS App

I use MotionX-GPS and am happy with it. It does everything you listed. I am not sure what it costs but I think it was around $5. Another app I use is GPS Hunt by Trimble. You can pay and download offline topo maps. Check them out.

I had previously bought and used MotionX-GPS, while on the trail I realized I had not downloaded the more detailed maps that I had hoped I had so I had some general high level maps but I couldn't zoom in to see exactly where I was at. You could say this is user error but on the trail it was just annoying none the less. I now use Gaia GPS and I was pretty hesitant based on the price at first but I can now say its 10x better than MotionX in its intuitive use and display of the maps, it also has dozens and dozens of different layers to use and play with and will download those more detailed levels without worry. I love Gaia GPS and highly recommend it.

+1 for the Gaia recommendation. It works great on my (now rather dated) iPhone4

Yep, Gaia is great on my iPad Mini Retina. Never liked the other apps out there much.

Is the add-on Gaia-Pro worth considering?

I have both Gaia and MotionX GPS.

If you want a simple app use Gaia, if you want a full featured app get MotionX.

I prefer MotionX GPS.

I think the main thing people get out of Gaia GPS vs Motion-X is the USGS topo maps and downloadable aerial maps, plus the data-sync via gaiagps.com. On the other hand, Motion-X also includes more of the driving-oriented nav features, leaking from their main Drive product.

I'd be interested to hear comparisons of particular features across the two. I wrote a blog earlier this year, obviously biased: http://blog.gaiagps.com/gaia-gps-vs-motion-x/

It looks like @Mike is in BC too, and we source great Canada maps for Gaia as well, which might be a selling point: https://www.gaiagps.com/map/#?lat=56.0841&lon=-123.6281&zoom=11&layer=nrcantoporama3

Motion-X also "did social" very well early on, with Facebook/Twitter integration. Now, the standard is more like how Gaia works, where data seamlessly syncs across the devices, DropBox-style, and tracks/photos can be shared to Facebook/Twitter, or just as a link in email. Gaia GPS has had a big year in 2014, and a lot of that was all of the data sync and sharing we started doing.

In a situation like this you MUST do a full disclosure of your interest in gaiagps. Keep everything above board.

Cheers
Roger Caffin
Online Community Monitor
Backpacking Light

>If you want a simple app use Gaia, if you want a full featured app get MotionX.

I haven't used Motion X for a long time but my preferred app in Gaia, I'm curious to know what feature set, makes Motion X superior or full featured.

No app does everything well but it really depends on how you navigate, I tend to navigate from point to point unless following a track and Gaia has the "guide me" option which is very similar to my Garmin Etrex.

The "guide me" option allows you to set a location forward of where you are walking and a solid line is attached, to you and that location, so no matter where you go it's always attached and eventually you'll get to your location. This feature allows you to zoom into where you are to see all the map features without too much concern for your end point because the line is attached. I don't only use it for walking but cycling out of large cities in Asia where I might set the forward location 10 kilometres away.

Andrew, since apparently you would know…

Was there any relationship between Nat Geo and Gaia? Or did they sell any assets? I think I remember seeing something on their site about Gaia. Am I mistaken?

Thanks for the feedback. I'm specifically looking for something to be used while hiking. I'm rarely wondering which way to go, but getting good distance traveled information, and being able to more quickly locate myself is very useful when trying to determine where/when to stop/rest. So I value the quality of maps, and tracking much more than turn by turn. I doubt I would ever use it for urban navigation.

I had MotionX once upon a time- but I'm sure it has evolved. So I will reevaluate.

"Is the add-on Gaia-Pro worth considering?"

I think so, with Gaia Pro I can upload .gpx files (routes/waypoints) via the web and it'll sync them to my phone which is pretty convenient. I usually enable/disable the subscription based upon my trips, its only like $4/mo and worth the convenience to me.