23 replies to this topic

[ski3pin]

I'm curious as to who here on WTW uses Gaia GPS and what mobile devices you are using it on while traveling. Are you pleased with how it is working for you?

[Vic Harder]

I use Gaia GPS.  iPhone and iPad.  Create routes on my Windows 10 PC.

[Scott81621]

I have been using for the last 10 years and it is fabulous!  Both on my Iphone and Ipad.

[rubberlegs]

I used to use Gaia on a phone and computer which was very handy in the field. A few years ago we switched to CalTopo, because at that time it’s interface was simpler on the computer for planning at home, and worked fine on a phone in the field. Maybe Gaia has improved since then. They are close competitors from what I gather. Gaia could load a rectangular area on a phone back then, but CalTopo was based on USGS quads, so Gaia was slightly easier for loading maps on the phone.

[buckland]

We have used Gaia Premium and the detail is excellent. We use on iPad and iPhone. For out of cell area we have a very small GPS unit in truck that works great with the downloaded maps.

[Taku]

I have tried Gaia but so many areas we frequent are out of cell service and trying to download maps without Wifi or really strong cell service is difficult to manage.  Likely going to onX maps

[Wandering Sagebrush]

I have tried Gaia but so many areas we frequent are out of cell service and trying to download maps without Wifi or really strong cell service is difficult to manage.  Likely going to onX maps

I tried Gaia, (on iPhone and iPad, with planning on the iMac or iPad) but something just didn’t click with me.  So many people like Gaia, it’s probably my problem.  
 

I do find the OnX Hunt application easier to use.

[SunMan]

Mr. 3Pin, I’ve been using Gaia for about 5 years now. I use it for both hiking and off-road driving, always on an iPhone or iPad ( iPad for planning only, as it is not GPS enabled). Zero complaints, I consider it an invaluable tool now. So much so that I haven’t left home with my trusty Garmin 60CSX in years. Works great in Baja and I even used it on a trip thru the Simpson desert in Oz, it has always worked flawlessly. On X seems interesting and perhaps better in some ways, but I’m sticking with what I know. Well worth the premium subscription. 

[ski3pin]

Thanks everyone for your comments and additional information.

 

For years we've been using backcountry navigator pro (BCN) on an 8" Samsung S2 tablet with a 258 micro sd card for external storage. It has worked well in the field out of the truck and on rough backroads. I have most of the western states downloaded onto the sd card for offline use. The gps antenna in the tablet is excellent.

 

All my navigation work with the tablet on the road is offline.

 

Basic road navigation is with paper maps and benchmark state atlases. We've learned to use google maps on Julie's cellphone to find grocery stores in cities.

 

My biggest issue with BCN is the downloading process and then ending up with missing map tiles right when I need them. Also, the map packages are small and a trip requires moving through several packages.

 

I expect we will continue using BCN when muscle powered.

 

Because I'm tired of the downloading process,  I am/was considering the Garmin Overlander mounted in the truck with an update-able database.

 

I started learning Gaia, signed up, paid for premium, and downloaded the app unto the tablet. I like the base gaia topo map. I find working with waypoints and routes on the desktop and syncing with the app easy. I still have to download for offline use. But the file sizes are much smaller than BCN, making for shorter download times. Thus far I've found no missing map pieces. I like the map overlay selection. I have discovered one glitch thus far. I cannot get the MVUM overlay to complete a download. I can easily copy over waypoints and such (gpx and klm files) from Google Earth to Gaia. It all worked easy enough, we were anxious to try it in the field on our last trip.

 

Here's what happened. The app - at least on our old tablet - is a system and power hog. The tablet got quite hot and the battery power level dropped 1% a minute. Charging the unit during use could not hold the power level steady. Overall, the app worked well as a navigation aid, but it killed this tablet. The battery level drops quickly now when using the tablet for any task.

 

Overall I like gaia enough to continue using/learning it. I am considering purchasing a new android tablet. Checking online I find many running gaia on an android without issue but playing "hot potato" with the old tablet has me a little apprehensive.

 

 

[rubberlegs]

These GPS apps can eat batteries. Hopefully a newer, faster processor will improve your battery life. I used to use a Garmin 60SXwhatever also, which had replaceable batteries and worked well, but the phone/tablet apps are far superior.

 

There may be options to improve battery life. See this: https://help.gaiagps...Life-on-Android

Edited by rubberlegs, 16 November 2023 - 06:53 PM.