Trail GPS aps

“I'm new to owning a Smart Phone (Samsung Galaxy) and looking at a few different trail/GPS aps. Any recommendations? Maybe others are looking for or have good ideas on iphone aps?”

“I was under the mistaken impression that a smartphone was reliant on cell service for the maps to work..well that's true with Google maps but an app called Backcountry navigator claims to use an fm signal like a GPS and be able to download zip file maps. Haven't tried it, its $10.
I do use an app called GPS Status. It shows the satellite's its marking but I guess I never made the .connection. I don't like hiking with a phone as a rule but the convenience of having such a multi-use tool is appealing. Definitely want a phone with a removable battery to be useful for real backcountry travel. Also, my Garmin seems to hold satellites better and boot up quicker. My phone won't even pick them up in the house.”

“I downloaded a bunch of them, but the GPS is earring up my battery, so I won't use any I my apps.”

“Oh and autocorrect hates me...”

“I downloaded a bunch of them, but the GPS is earring up my battery, so I won't use any I my apps

I haven't tried it yet but supposedly if you put your phone in airplane mode the battery won't drain as fast.
can anyone confirm that?”

“I believe most GPS are battery "eatters" (:P) if you're not diligent with your settings. Don't know that I would want to rely on my phone for it unless I had extra batteries. As a backup it might not be a bad idea.”

“Even with extra batteries several days is tough. I stream music or radio all day and I can go thru 3 in 18 hrs. I don't use any battery saver settings tho..
I don't know how you Apple devotees get by, lol.”

“I'd stick to an actual GPS for anything more than a dayhike. That said, my friend has one of those aps (don't know the name but I just texted him asking for it) and it worked pretty well for a dayhike we went on out here recently. I'll be back with the name...”

“I'm thinking of downloading Trimble - I did a backpacking trip with someone who was using it (I have a Galaxy 3s) and it was helpful when we did a major bushwhack (mostly to reassure the folks who were worried we were off course). Here's some thumbnail sketches of the options:

http://gps.about.com/od/mobilephonegps/tp/Best-Hiking-GPS-Apps.htm


I have two extra batteries for the phone - given to me by a friend who upgraded to Galaxy 4 - will definitely take at least one when I plan on using the Trimble.”

“1) Does the app still work when you don't have a data connection, something that is very common when hiking?

2) Smart phones don't seem to be as battery efficient as a dedicated GPS receiver. I know when I used my Garmin Rino hunting, I would use about 30% of the battery per time out verses 90% on my old blackberry. I think the reason the phone would use so much battery was that it was constantly searching for signal.


I might have to try the app out. I have the same phone as you.”

“I also have the same phone. I have been looking at GPS's for my phone also. Kind of surprised the link didn't have reviews on Gaia or Backcountry Navigator Pro”

“Will have to look into Gaia and Backcountry Nav Pro. I suppose the pro means there is a free version of Back Nav?”

“lz - GPS app should still work with phone in airplane mode which would save a lot of battery power”

“ped, I think there is a demo version of it.”

“Placed with Trimble on the trail today. GPS worked without cell signal, but meant nothing since data was necessary to see the topo and the map - so I'd need to download a map for the area I was hiking before heading into the backcountry. The map costs 19.99 or requires a 2.99/month fee for "elite" membership to download (though there is a brief free trial period). The monthly fee wouldn't be a good if I could use the map after I stopped paying the monthly fee - I can't see from the website (trimbleoutdoors.com) if that is the case.”