What are you using for navigation on the trails?

AssBurns

will wheel for beer
Staff member
Joined
Oct 1, 2018
Messages
7,959
Age
31
Location
Yucaipa, CA
This is 2018, using paper maps as your primary navigation is pretty archaic. Doesn’t mean you shouldn’t carry and know how to use them. GPS’s/Phones die or fail easily, but are a great form of primary navigation. They are super accurate, can track your routes, leave waypoints, have multiple overlays in the mapping, and all fits in your pocket or mounts on your dash.

I’m a big fan of Gaia GPS app on my phone. I’ve used a stand-alone GPS before and just wasn’t a fan of the limited options and the need to manually sync it to a computer. On my phone I can download a .gpx or .kml/.kmz files straight from the internet to my app and not worry about syncing on the road or away from the computer. What’s also very nice about Gaia is that there is a desktop website that you can use to preplan your trips and import files through the site (works especially well when importing files in bulk), then it automatically syncs instantly to your phone making it hassle free. I’ve spent a ton of time using the desktop site and just go on my phone to download the mapping offline for the areas I need, and it works so much better than trying to do everything on your phone (especially when you have dual monitors on your computer). I’ve used a couple cheap apps that I liked, but Gaia is far better than what I’ve used in the past.

What are you using to navigate on the trails and how do you like it?
 

RPS1030

Solid Axles 4 Life
Joined
Oct 4, 2018
Messages
408
Location
Phoenix
Gaia has definitely been my go to. Track function is also very easy for recording on the run.

Cartotracks.com is run by a buddy from HS, Jake. He’s done the KOH maps the last several years. Also has a lot of Sand Hollow and Moab available for purchase. Constantly traveling and adding new trail areas. More east coast since AL based.

At least initially, and I think still on iOS, CT uses the Avenza PDF Maps App. Avenza has a lot of the MVUMs (Motor Vehicle Use Maps) from various government agencies. Useful for traveling and camping and exploring to know what’s legal and open.

It would be great to have a one-stop shop, but I’ve got paper, books, Gaia, Avenza, and TopoMaps all available.
 

85straight

Starbucks gold card holder
Joined
Oct 4, 2018
Messages
549
Location
Menifee,Ca
I’ve been using Leadnav and Gaia. I’d say leadnav %80 of the time though. The app itself is just easier to use but requires a little more planning before the trip.
If you set up your route you can add custom waypoints similar to having a copilot with you. Like “stay left into wash” or “hard left then immediate right” or literally whatever you want.
So with proper preparation for a certaint trip I rarely need to even look at the map if I follow my preplanned route
 

4runner DOA

Hold my beer
Staff member
Joined
Oct 2, 2018
Messages
15,882
Location
OC
I used a Garmin eTrex35t for awhile in conjunction with my Nexus 6 tablet running Locus Maps Pro with the Cali Maps overlays. The Garmin died so mostly just using Locus Maps Pro now. I do have a Garmin Inreach+ for added GPS capabilities but you can't load tracks and overlays as easily on it as you can with the dedicated Garmin GPS units. I still use the Garmin Basecamp software to create tracks and map out routes to load onto my tablet.
 

AssBurns

will wheel for beer
Staff member
Joined
Oct 1, 2018
Messages
7,959
Age
31
Location
Yucaipa, CA
I used a Garmin eTrex35t for awhile in conjunction with my Nexus 6 tablet running Locus Maps Pro with the Cali Maps overlays. The Garmin died so mostly just using Locus Maps Pro now. I do have a Garmin Inreach+ for added GPS capabilities but you can't load tracks and overlays as easily on it as you can with the dedicated Garmin GPS units. I still use the Garmin Basecamp software to create tracks and map out routes to load onto my tablet.
I really like Garmins Basecamp software. I use that and google earth sometimes, in conjunction with Gaia’s online platform when planning our trips and looking for certain features.
 

theesotericone

Build It Beat It Break It. Repeat
Fredo Baggins
Joined
Oct 3, 2018
Messages
3,494
Location
Bishop, CA
Back Country Nav Pro. It's an android thing. Sorry iSheep.

Here's the track of the Dusy.

Bw5qyP0.jpg



Here's a graph cause graphs are cool.

imBAWtF.png
 

Hank

Sarcastic asshole
Joined
Oct 3, 2018
Messages
669
Location
SF Valley CA / Park City UT
I've been using Gaia heavy. I also use it for hunting. the ability to drop pins with pictures and add notes about each spot had become so useful to remember what each spot looks like. Also locating my freaking trail cams.
 
Joined
Oct 6, 2018
Messages
12
Age
43
Sounds like I’m going to have to give Gaia a shot. I’ve been using maps.me for a little bit but I’m not out as much as the rest of you. I like the ability to d/l to the phone and it asks if possible to add more maps as you cover ground. Been pretty easy and free
 
Joined
Oct 4, 2018
Messages
106
Location
SW UT
I use LeadNav, seems to have pretty up to date trails and can download everything to whatever resolution I want beforehand, though it comes at a $20/yr price point. I use it for camping to chasing to racing. More of a side effect of my girlfriend having an old iPad so I didn't have to buy one, but I like it.
 

AssBurns

will wheel for beer
Staff member
Joined
Oct 1, 2018
Messages
7,959
Age
31
Location
Yucaipa, CA
I use LeadNav, seems to have pretty up to date trails and can download everything to whatever resolution I want beforehand, though it comes at a $20/yr price point. I use it for camping to chasing to racing. More of a side effect of my girlfriend having an old iPad so I didn't have to buy one, but I like it.
One thing I really like about LeadNav is the waypoints that can be used to Mark trail conditions and shit for you and your co driver to spot.
What I don’t like about LeadNav since last time I looked into it is the limit on tiles you can download.
 
Joined
Oct 4, 2018
Messages
106
Location
SW UT
One thing I really like about LeadNav is the waypoints that can be used to Mark trail conditions and shit for you and your co driver to spot.
What I don’t like about LeadNav since last time I looked into it is the limit on tiles you can download.

I've never hit a limit on tiles to download outside of what the device's memory is, what I really hate though is that you can only download 50mb tiles and since I always download the highest resolution it turns into me spending hours sitting there and hitting download and coming back in a few minutes and scrolling over just to cover 50 miles or something. I wish you could just high res download like a whole state.
 

AssBurns

will wheel for beer
Staff member
Joined
Oct 1, 2018
Messages
7,959
Age
31
Location
Yucaipa, CA
I've never hit a limit on tiles to download outside of what the device's memory is, what I really hate though is that you can only download 50mb tiles and since I always download the highest resolution it turns into me spending hours sitting there and hitting download and coming back in a few minutes and scrolling over just to cover 50 miles or something. I wish you could just high res download like a whole state.
Maybe that was it that I didn’t like. I used to use MotionX and the downloads were so slow that it would take a whole day to download anything in high resolution. Gaia has no limits that I have hit yet, and downloads are fast. It’s super cool to just pic an area, choose your layers, and download what you need. I typically choose high resolution for the areas I know I’ll be in, then choose a mid resolution for the surrounding areas too.
 

opt.offroad

Jason
Joined
Oct 4, 2018
Messages
22
Age
37
Location
Southern California
I use Gaia on my phone, had to retire the old iPad because it was just way too slow. Even on the small phone screen it’s great, but we’ll get another iPad and mount it on the dash when funds allow.

Use trailsoffroad.com to download the GPX files! So convenient, and it’s all free once you create an account (also free).
 

85straight

Starbucks gold card holder
Joined
Oct 4, 2018
Messages
549
Location
Menifee,Ca
I use Gaia on my phone, had to retire the old iPad because it was just way too slow. Even on the small phone screen it’s great, but we’ll get another iPad and mount it on the dash when funds allow.

Use trailsoffroad.com to download the GPX files! So convenient, and it’s all free once you create an account (also free).
Trailsoffroad is the shiznit! But I’ve been having issues downloading the gpx files ever since they updated the site a few months ago
 

AssBurns

will wheel for beer
Staff member
Joined
Oct 1, 2018
Messages
7,959
Age
31
Location
Yucaipa, CA
I’m on iOS , but the results have been the same on chrome and my laptop as well. Downloads work25% of the time. Has been my go to for a while so it sucks
That’s weird! They work for me fine. I’ve downloaded a bunch of stuff since they updated the site. Sucks to suck :flipoff::rofl:
 

KevinK

Probably Drunk
Swiftie
Joined
Oct 26, 2018
Messages
338
Location
AZ and OH
Gaia has definitely been my go to. Track function is also very easy for recording on the run.

Cartotracks.com is run by a buddy from HS, Jake. He’s done the KOH maps the last several years. Also has a lot of Sand Hollow and Moab available for purchase. Constantly traveling and adding new trail areas. More east coast since AL based.

At least initially, and I think still on iOS, CT uses the Avenza PDF Maps App. Avenza has a lot of the MVUMs (Motor Vehicle Use Maps) from various government agencies. Useful for traveling and camping and exploring to know what’s legal and open.

It would be great to have a one-stop shop, but I’ve got paper, books, Gaia, Avenza, and TopoMaps all available.

Gaia has the MVUMs now, but the labeling isn’t as clear as on the pdf versions in Avenza. Gaia’s getting closer and closer to a one stop shop for me.

4503CBFB-6E50-4C52-9A07-F614A4565C11.png


I’d like to know more about that east coast maps thing. I have a bad feeling that finding good places to wheel in or near Ohio is gonna be a challenge. At least from an exploration perspective. There’s a fair number of off road parks and shit like that apparently, but public land is super scarce east of the Mississippi.
 
Top Bottom