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Favorite GPS?


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  • #3827021
    Mudjester
    BPL Member

    @mudjester

    I use both Gaia and CalTopo GPS especially for off-trail travel, and would like to simplify to one, as I find it confusing to remember the separate mapping protocols (neither of which do I find particularly user friendly) & how they link to offline use.

    CalTopo seems easier & better for making paper maps, incl. as it has scale, which Gaia seems to lack. But generally I have preferred Gaia in the field with CalTopo as a backup/2nd opinion. I have a premium subscription ($60) with Gaia (allows for paper mapping) and a GPS subscription ($20) to Gaia. I’d prefer to reverse these, but Gaia doesn’t allow a GPS-only subscription, and I am getting a tad annoyed by the increasing “helpful” suggestions Outside pushes to me.

    So what do you use and prefer re: these two, or something else for off-trail?

    – Ken Bradford

    #3827165
    Martin Van Laarhoven
    BPL Member

    @vtrek

    Locale: NorthEast

    If you’re already using both and leaning toward simplifying, I’d say stick with what works best for your needs in the field. Since you prefer Gaia for off-trail navigation, it might make sense to keep it as your primary app, especially since you’re already used to it. CalTopo does shine for pre-trip planning and printing maps, so maybe keep it for that purpose.

    #3827176
    sbennett3705
    BPL Member

    @sbennett3705

    Locale: Midwest and West

    A game-changer for me has been “CalTopo for planning, a GPS watch for execution”. Not having to frequently pull out the phone is very convenient. Newer Garmin watches have really excellent maps and show moving time, mileage, elevation gain/loss, ETA to destination, off-route alerts, etc.

    #3827794
    Jason G
    BPL Member

    @jasong

    Locale: iceberg lake

    (never messed around with watchs)   Can you get the actual Caltopo maps on the watch? or are they garmin maps? and i assume you can load your points/tracks from CT to the watch?

    #3827798
    Jerry Adams
    BPL Member

    @retiredjerry

    Locale: Oregon and Washington

    one thing I don’t like about standalone GPS, compared to a phone, is the screen is smaller

    it seems like a watch would be worse

    you want to display a big enough area with enough detail

    you don’t want it to be like looking through a straw at a big map

    #3827806
    Mudjester
    BPL Member

    @mudjester

    “you don’t want it to be like looking through a straw at a big map” – haha Jerry!

    In looking to upgrade my Suunto ABC watch to GPS, I’ve been wondering about just this point. I’d like to not have to pull out the phone to see GPS, including running the risk of not stowing the phone back properly! But even a “big “ watch is an eency screen. Is it really practical?

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