Favorite GPS?

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.

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.

(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?

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

“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?