panatomicx
Trail Wise!
Less noise and more green
Posts: 496
|
Post by panatomicx on Aug 23, 2021 10:56:17 GMT -8
One of my hiking buddies-Tim-uses Gaia, so I decided to try it. Although we always carry a paper Map and Compass, I had been bringing a succession of Garmins, last one being an Oregon 600. There are times, especially off-trail, when you need (or want) confirmation of exactly where you are, and if you're going in the right direction. Well, Gaia on my iPhone proved to be way, way better than the Garmin. I had an immediate view of the directional marker right on a US Topo Map, on a clear, bright display. Battery? I had my phone on Airplane mode, and I barely used up one out of four led indicators on an Anker 10,000 power pack for 6 days. The weight of the phone and power pack was 13.5 oz, compared to 6.5 oz for the Garmin, but I obviously could have used a smaller power pack. The direction and location of the marker was always spot-on. My tracks were saved, and navigating the app was easy. Easier and better usually translates to safer! I'm a convert!
|
|
|
Post by Coolkat on Aug 23, 2021 11:15:42 GMT -8
I'm glad Gaia works for you. I almost went over to them but stopped once they moved to a subscription service (I only need this maybe 15 days a year). I'm using Backcountry Navigator Pro (not XE). And depending on the map needed I might use Avenza. But I'm like you I'm using a 6oz Anker 10,000mah batter bank.
I'm guessing though that Gaia is probably an easier app to use. Backcountry Navigator is a bit cumbersome to get use to.
|
|
|
Post by High Sierra Fan on Aug 23, 2021 11:24:17 GMT -8
Fwiw Gaia is being bundled by its parent company with a bunch of other things including subscriptions to VeloNews (how I heard about the bundle, I follow the races) Outside and some other stuff. There may be fine print but anyway: www.velonews.com/outsideplus/
|
|
rangewalker
Trail Wise!
Agitate, organize and educate.
Posts: 1,029
|
Post by rangewalker on Aug 23, 2021 13:16:55 GMT -8
I have been using GAIA for about seven years now. I am a bit later to smart phones and started with an iPad ll. IMO the real power of GAIA is creating maps and routes on the PC/Mac and being able to feed the work to my iPhone, Garmin eTrex 30 (2012), my Ride_Wth GPS app for my bike, or bike computer. And then flip data between them and GAIA. The second is the map layer library through GAIA premium. Yes it is $40 a year. I day hike and do day and half trips in my area that are removed from high recreation use. It may be years before I visit that area again, if ever. I do not want to spend $8 a sheet for a USGS quad, much lest the two or three to cover the area, when I could download the area, with the latest GIS information on it to my phone or iPad for remote use. If it is a place I need to dig into, then get the paper map.
|
|
zeke
Trail Wise!
Peekaboo slot 2023
Posts: 9,879
|
Post by zeke on Aug 23, 2021 14:22:49 GMT -8
When I dropped my last GPS into the Everglades waters, I decided to go with a 4 yr subscription to GAIA instead of replacing the tool. So far, I like the decision.
|
|
swiftdream
Trail Wise!
the Great Southwest Unbound
Posts: 544
|
Post by swiftdream on Aug 24, 2021 17:53:04 GMT -8
I used Gaia for a couple years and liked it but don’t like subscriptions. So I switched to Avenza and bought a few excellent maps from them but didn’t go their subscription route. Free USGS quads can be imported too and some of the free versions are right in their store. I’m happy with the interface and was happy with the Gaia interface too.
It simply means less stuff to shlep around and less weight as apps don’t weigh anything. I’m already using the iPhone for photography and have captured a coiled diamondback last week and a stellar Gila monster the end of last month when all the rain deluges began falling. Got a good shot of the copious wolfberries laden on their branches too and use the four plant identification books on the iPhone for light foraging. None of that weighs anything extra. I need the weight savings these days. It is definitely a carefree, quick and easy tool to use.
|
|
|
Post by High Sierra Fan on Aug 24, 2021 21:04:08 GMT -8
“ carefree, quick and easy tool to use.”
It is that. But, eggs: one basket..,,
At least for me routine backcountry navigation feels like exposing my iPhone to too much potential risk, it’s far from drop proof, so I like having that reserved more in a backup role while other items, altimeter, paper map, gps, dSLR get the frequent use heavy lifting.
|
|
ErnieW
Trail Wise!
I want to backpack
Posts: 9,889
|
Post by ErnieW on Aug 25, 2021 5:13:34 GMT -8
Two quick points. Likely you were already going to be carrying your phone and maybe the Anker battery. So actually committing to your phone saves the weight of carrying a GPS not as compared to it as an alternatives. Also most phones are not truly waterproof unlike most GPS units.
Just for the record I carry a InReach Mini more for its sat messaging than GPS and use my phone for several different GPS mapping apps. I don't use Gaia.
|
|
|
Post by cweston on Aug 25, 2021 7:42:01 GMT -8
I've never used any sort of GPS, but I do routinely carry my phone (turned off, deep in my pack). So, I may try something like Gaia. Even off trail, I find that I rarely need continual access to map and compass. Some off-trail days I don't pull either out of my pack at all, especially if in the alpine. (I tend to have a pretty detailed recall of maps in my head, if I've studied them pre-trip.) But there are times where it would be extremely helpful to have confirmation of exact location: at the crux of a route, for example. I think I could probably benefit from Gaia or a similar app for those occasional confirmations, without having to add a lot of weight. I do typically take long-ish trips (6-8 days), so I'd need a charging bank for sure. But a subscription is probably not the way to go for me: I'd only use the technology sparingly on a small number of trips per year.
Also, my current phone is old and its battery performance is poor, so I'll definitely have to upgrade before considering it a daily use tool in the BC.
But on my recent bushwhacky trip with TrailElder, I could definitely see the value. (He uses Gaia.)
|
|
tigger
Trail Wise!
Posts: 2,547
|
Post by tigger on Aug 25, 2021 8:51:03 GMT -8
I used Gaia for quite a few years. Thought I had a "Lifetime" subscription, but one day, it no longer worked. I've gone back to paper maps and my antique original ETrex that just does coordinates. I really only use it for coordinates anyway so it wasn't a big loss. I do miss the convenience of having a mini-map, but not enough to pay monthly fees.
|
|
swiftdream
Trail Wise!
the Great Southwest Unbound
Posts: 544
|
Post by swiftdream on Aug 25, 2021 9:45:06 GMT -8
“ carefree, quick and easy tool to use.” It is that. But, eggs: one basket..,, At least for me routine backcountry navigation feels like exposing my iPhone to too much potential risk, it’s far from drop proof, so I like having that reserved more in a backup role while other items, altimeter, paper map, gps, dSLR get the frequent use heavy lifting. I certainly wouldn’t argue against backup navigation of course. However maps add up in weight and I’ve got 10 maps just for my immediate area downloaded. Avenza sells Green Trails maps if you are familiar so the Saguaro Park bundle is on my iPhone and the Catalina mountains bundle is as well. Those alone cover the approximate 400 square miles of desert, canyons and mountain peaks wilderness out my front door and many miles around that. They also sell Delorme Arizona Atlas pages so I can see all of the above and on down to Mexico with those two pages of topo maps, an overall view where distant peaks can be helpful. Then there are six 7.5° quads that cover my most immediate hiking area for the highest detail. They are all active maps of various scales that I can actually see and zoom in with my extremely low vision. Avenza also sells the Nat Geo Trails Illustraded maps. I’ve not used the Avenza subscription but one thing with Gaia is you can draw out the boundaries for your own custom maps like one big contiguous map at 1:24000 that covers as many quads or parts of quads that you desire. I’ve liked maps in general since I was 12 but really only use the gps and map function sparingly. Most of the time I follow my gut if you know what I mean. I become kind of lost once many years ago and only for around 15 minutes but that put the hook off fear in me. I have used the gps plus map to make some moves through the terrain I’d likely not been able to do without them. They also warm of impending terrain obstructions. The real barometer/altimeter on the iPhone is cool too but does have to be checked when possible with a topo line.
|
|
|
Post by Coolkat on Aug 25, 2021 10:53:36 GMT -8
Avenza also sells the Nat Geo Trails Illustraded maps. I now have used two of these. One for La Garita Wilderness and one for Isle Royale (hard to get lost there though) both worked really well. The multitude of free maps on Avenza is surprising. For instance all the North Country Trail maps are free.
|
|
swiftdream
Trail Wise!
the Great Southwest Unbound
Posts: 544
|
Post by swiftdream on Aug 25, 2021 13:14:03 GMT -8
Coolkat, good maps for sure. I still have about 25 or 30 waterproof paper Nat Geo maps. Can’t see them well enough to use them anymore but I can see an OLED backlit screen pretty well. So I love being able to get them on my iPhone. Can’t see a physical compass well enough to triangulate anymore either but the current iPhone compass is easy to see and give huge heading numbers as well as latitude and longitude and elevation. Just a compass can save your bacon at times.
HFS, I’m not suggesting the current iPhone cameras are up to the IQ of your DSLR but I’m shooting ProRaw. Those files are from 25 mb to 35 mb so quite a lot of information to pull out. The dynamic range is astounding. So the iPhone does pretty good with difficult outdoor lighting. The main wide camera on the iPhone 12 Pro Max shoots 12 bit now, not up to a current DSLR but really very good. The ultrawide camera at 13mm equiv is very useful for some things and the tele is a bit longer this year. They are quick to get up and running. Last year I got a charging javalina in some very interesting early light with the old iPhone 7+. It was excited because I almost stepped on it. They have an aggressive streak. It just works for me nowadays.
|
|
|
Post by High Sierra Fan on Aug 25, 2021 13:55:52 GMT -8
Oh I agree. I’m often quite happy with my 12 Pro Max photos, and ones from models before that.
Plus there’s the truth: “the best camera to use is the one you’ve got with you”. And for a lot of walking around that is my iPhone. It’s just while on backpacks I’m using my photo gear, and for what I like to shoot that’s a dSLR and a variety of lenses. But even so, my camera images are often great.
It’s just while I won’t leave such electronics in a trailhead car I’m also not comfortably risking my phone for routine carry on the trail.
|
|
ErnieW
Trail Wise!
I want to backpack
Posts: 9,889
|
Post by ErnieW on Aug 25, 2021 16:26:40 GMT -8
I use Caltopo mostly for printing maps. You can use it from the computer browser for free for what I do and there are phone clients as well for an annual fee (I use the $20/yr level). CalTopo can import and export from a number of formats so you can use it the migrate info between other position devices.
Does anyone here have any hands on with onX Backcountry?
|
|