

- Hiking gps maps free for free#
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When it comes to maps, we were not picky, but we did indeed consider offline maps and/or topographic maps as a benefit.
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To learn more about GPS tracks check out our article What are GPS tracks and how to use them for hiking. GPS tracks are very useful for hiking because it is easy to get them online and they make navigation during hikes easier. In our opinion every hiking app should provide GPS navigation and GPS tracking.īy GPS navigation we mean that the app can show your current location and direction on a map and supports import of GPS tracks. What features did we consider as mandatory?
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However, many of these apps are also available for iOS (see the table below), but since we don’t have any iOS device, we only tested them on an Android device.
Hiking gps maps free for free#
We only tested hiking apps that come for free and are available for the Android operating system. From those we choose the best five and reviewed them here. For the last couple of weeks, we have been testing the 8 top-rated hiking apps on Google Play. We have mostly been using the Suunto Ambit 2 watch for navigation on our hikes, but we decided to try out the so-called hiking apps. Some hiking apps come with preloaded trails so that you can easily find hikes near your location. Furthermore, hiking apps can also track your hikes and show you details about each hike such as the duration, distance, ascent, decent etc. For European customers that means preloaded maps of 46 countries based on the OpenStreetMap database, with thousands of points of interests covering everything from natural features to places to get a post-hike pint.A hiking app allows you to easily navigate along the trails and quickly find the best route to your destination.

But it’s the TopoActive map that really matters here. Hardware-wise, it’s not exactly a radical upgrade. It supports both GPS and GLONASS and it has both a magnetic compass for fast direction-finding and a barometric altimeter for accurate measurements of your trail’s ups and downs. The difference between it and the eTrex 30x are minor: the 32X has more memory (although not much of it is available to you because of the very large pre-installed TopoActive map) and the menus are a little different. A slightly older model, the eTrex 32x is available as a standalone GPS or as part of a bundle with vouchers for additional maps, and whichever you pick, chances are you'll be able to find a decent deal. The eTrex range pops up a few times in our best hiking GPS guide, and with good reason.

All that in a package that weighs 76grams? Not bad at all. In addition you get all the bells and whistles of a sports tracking watch, as well as barometric altitude, weather alerts, and a bevy of heart monitoring and training tools. Battery life even on the most demanding GPS setting is 25 hours, which can stretch to 170 hours by tuning the responsiveness down a touch. The only downside is managing it all on the move, as the screen real-estate is limited by the fact it’s a watch. Indeed, the Suunto 9 Baro Titanium has access to GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS and BEIDOU satellite constellations, offers waypoint and visual navigation, POI navigation, bearing navigation and a variety of route planning tools all packed into a tiny unit. However, like many of it’s Suunto 9 cousins, there’s a potent GPS unit built into the watch, plenty enough to get an emergency GPS position, or follow a set of waypoints. The Suunto 9 Baro Titanium might look like a standard outdoors watch, and in many ways it is. Of course, GPS isn't the only thing you'll need on your hike – so make sure you're suitably suited and booted with our pick of the best hiking boots, and prepared for rain with one of the best waterproof jackets. Basic units are brilliant as emergency tools, but awful to actually use as intensive navigational tools, while some of the beautiful touchscreen units might look nice in the shop, but won’t work as well in driving rain or when wearing gloves. The key things to keep an eye out for when choosing the best hiking GPS unit for you are the number of satellite systems they can access (more is usually faster and more accurate), battery life, and your intended use.
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Hiking GPS units have come a long way from their early days, now available in a wide range of abilities, price points and sizes, from cheap and cheerful basic units for occasional use, through to professional-grade mapping tools that’ll locate you in seconds anywhere on the planet. This guide focuses on handheld units, but many of today's best best outdoor watches and best smartwatches in general also include GPS capabilities, so you'll also find a few wrist-based options in there too.
