Hey everyone! I wanted to let you know that together with my wife, we make these minimalistic hiking posters for various thru-hiking trails. You can check them out over here ➜ trailgoals.com/ (10% discount code: oscarhikes)
did you tried komoot? It is cheaper , I paid 20 usd for the whole world forever. So I donwload regions to have them ready and not need that much charge and connection at all. Works on PC to look and find stuff and make your own routes. Sync automaticly with your phone and Garmin watch that is capable of running Komoot. I only recommend it for hiking. Not biking because the paths it recommends for that are sometimes to old and not possible to ride anymore.
Multi day hikes or just getting outdoors for a week or more is so much easier if you use those GPS watches from companies that have a long GPS runtime like Garmin. I dont like the app and how they manage the GPX transfer but the hardware and the software on the watch is rock solid. Why is it so much better then a phone for this? It need a fraction of charge compared to your smartphone and as you said. You dont need to take your phone out of the pocket. Its is way more natural. I can go outside for almost a week without a powerbank. Only with the Garmin Fenix. The phone is a backup but I generally dont use it. I use a Garmin Fenix since 5 years now. I would rather have my phone at home then the watch. Cell connection is pretty slim anyway.
Oscar, I'm a big fan of yours as well as a subscriber. I too have been using Gaia Pro for all my on trail navigation, it's my goto app. I also create my own routes as you mentioned. My biggest issue with Gaia is their elevation gain when creating a route is horribly over exaggerated. I always create my routes and have seen elevations practically doubled. Many backcountry hikers have complained for years and nothing has been corrected. None the less like you, no GPS app even comes close.
Yeah I get your frustration, because we've also experienced this when creating elevation profiles four our posters for different trails. There are many tools where you can upload a .gpx file, and it gives you out the total elevation. We've tried a lot of them, and let me tell you - they're all pretty much guessing. :D For the same file, Gaia can give you 10k elevation, alltrails 3k, Wikiloc 6k, and so on... We usually just choose something in between. But I've heard a lot of bad things for Gaia over the years, especially since they became acquired by outdooractive. That's why I'm particularly excited about GOAT Maps. The only alternative that I like so far. :)
@@OscarHikes, I'm not a fan of All Trails for navigating even though I have the paid version, but it's the most accurate when creating routes. I had Cal-topo but Gaia, for me, is easier.
Here in the UK I have the Alltrails app but you can't use this with your Smartwatch, well the map part anyway. I've recently started using Outdoor Active as the map on my phone also shows on my Ticwatch so that's great. Also we are very lucky here in the UK as the mountainus National parks here tend to have some of the worlds best volunteer mountain rescue organisations. Also even if you need a rescue with a helicopter you won't be charged.
I very much disagree with alltrails being the best for USA. It is ok but there are a LOT of trails not on the site from my experience. Still love your stuff. Thanks!
There's definitely a lot of information missing, but there's even more missing on other sites I've tried so far. I usually cross-reference AllTrails, Google Maps, and any website that has to do with the trail area (state park, etc.).
@@m4ngsta what the next comment said seems spot on. All trails has nothing in many state parks and small areas I have been. I am not doing huge through hikes, just state parks and some national parks. I may glance at all trails but I have found that the garmin explore app does pretty darn well and syncs nicely with my watch which I love. Otherwise I go to ths websites ahead of time. Some state parks are getting geopfs maps which is great in avenza! Overall: garmin explore, avenza for geopdfs, the park or areas website ahead of time, and last (maybe) alltrails for if anyone recommends a hike. Alltrails can sync to my watch which is handy.
You're speaking about the selection of pre-made trails, right? (Instead of incorrect maps, for example, some trails not showing on the maps). Have you checked also the community tab on alltrails? And I'm also interested - is there anything better for the US? Because in Europe, whenever I look up a location in Wikiloc, even a very remote one, it has tens or hundreds of different community trails. I checked the selection for the US, and Wikiloc doesn't seem to be as popular there, but there are quite a few options on Alltrails.
@OscarHikes Thank's for you thought on that!👍 Yes, Gaia looks really very impressive good! Some nice and practical features, the topo and 3D view i like the most. Goat Maps too, but I've got Android System.
If you know how to use a map and compass properly, you should never be guessing where you are :-) Also, if you are relying on gps and going into remote regions, a dedicated device is far, far better and more importantly safer - much more robust, more accurate, not affected by cold weather, battery depletion etc..
I've tried both of them, and I definately prefer Gaia. Especially over Komoot. In fact, I was giving Kommot another shot because I talked with some people from their team, and they told me that they're now better for hikers. And I used their app for about a month, and I just couldn't recommend it because I always found myself cross-checking everything in Gaia.
If you’re hiking in Australia, Please avoid using all-trails at all cost. It’s well known in the search & rescue community here that this app has lead to many hikers getting lost and requiring extraction. Their powerful marketing department is good at getting uninformed people to sign up, with the added bonus of getting them lost and in danger. Please use gaia or published paper maps instead.
Beware that satellite messaging on iphone doesnt work if you have the slightest level of cell service. I you have one bar, and calls or messages are not going through, satellite messaging will not work. Hikingguy had a video on it.
Hey everyone! I wanted to let you know that together with my wife, we make these minimalistic hiking posters for various thru-hiking trails. You can check them out over here ➜ trailgoals.com/ (10% discount code: oscarhikes)
did you tried komoot? It is cheaper , I paid 20 usd for the whole world forever. So I donwload regions to have them ready and not need that much charge and connection at all.
Works on PC to look and find stuff and make your own routes. Sync automaticly with your phone and Garmin watch that is capable of running Komoot. I only recommend it for hiking. Not biking because the paths it recommends for that are sometimes to old and not possible to ride anymore.
Very useful info. And thanks for keeping it simple and to the point!
Multi day hikes or just getting outdoors for a week or more is so much easier if you use those GPS watches from companies that have a long GPS runtime like Garmin. I dont like the app and how they manage the GPX transfer but the hardware and the software on the watch is rock solid.
Why is it so much better then a phone for this? It need a fraction of charge compared to your smartphone and as you said. You dont need to take your phone out of the pocket. Its is way more natural. I can go outside for almost a week without a powerbank. Only with the Garmin Fenix. The phone is a backup but I generally dont use it. I use a Garmin Fenix since 5 years now. I would rather have my phone at home then the watch. Cell connection is pretty slim anyway.
Or hike in the UK where mountain rescue is free, run by awesome volunteers who selflessly help people in need of assistance.
Caltopo, just wow, that's so nice !
Thanks !
Oscar, I'm a big fan of yours as well as a subscriber. I too have been using Gaia Pro for all my on trail navigation, it's my goto app. I also create my own routes as you mentioned. My biggest issue with Gaia is their elevation gain when creating a route is horribly over exaggerated. I always create my routes and have seen elevations practically doubled. Many backcountry hikers have complained for years and nothing has been corrected. None the less like you, no GPS app even comes close.
Have you tried OnX Backcountry?
Yeah I get your frustration, because we've also experienced this when creating elevation profiles four our posters for different trails. There are many tools where you can upload a .gpx file, and it gives you out the total elevation. We've tried a lot of them, and let me tell you - they're all pretty much guessing. :D For the same file, Gaia can give you 10k elevation, alltrails 3k, Wikiloc 6k, and so on... We usually just choose something in between. But I've heard a lot of bad things for Gaia over the years, especially since they became acquired by outdooractive. That's why I'm particularly excited about GOAT Maps. The only alternative that I like so far. :)
@@OscarHikes, I'm not a fan of All Trails for navigating even though I have the paid version, but it's the most accurate when creating routes. I had Cal-topo but Gaia, for me, is easier.
Super helpful tips!
Here in the UK I have the Alltrails app but you can't use this with your Smartwatch, well the map part anyway.
I've recently started using Outdoor Active as the map on my phone also shows on my Ticwatch so that's great.
Also we are very lucky here in the UK as the mountainus National parks here tend to have some of the worlds best volunteer mountain rescue organisations. Also even if you need a rescue with a helicopter you won't be charged.
Wow do we? Lol I need to head into our mountains!
@Vellzi let's hope we don't need to call on them. 🙂
Your best video 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
thanks for this!!!
Don't fall for the clickbait trends. You have good honest content, when RUclipsrs say "No BS" smart people smell BS.
I very much disagree with alltrails being the best for USA. It is ok but there are a LOT of trails not on the site from my experience.
Still love your stuff. Thanks!
What do you prefer over alltrails?
There's definitely a lot of information missing, but there's even more missing on other sites I've tried so far. I usually cross-reference AllTrails, Google Maps, and any website that has to do with the trail area (state park, etc.).
@@peregrination3643 Spot on
@@m4ngsta what the next comment said seems spot on. All trails has nothing in many state parks and small areas I have been. I am not doing huge through hikes, just state parks and some national parks. I may glance at all trails but I have found that the garmin explore app does pretty darn well and syncs nicely with my watch which I love. Otherwise I go to ths websites ahead of time. Some state parks are getting geopfs maps which is great in avenza!
Overall: garmin explore, avenza for geopdfs, the park or areas website ahead of time, and last (maybe) alltrails for if anyone recommends a hike. Alltrails can sync to my watch which is handy.
You're speaking about the selection of pre-made trails, right? (Instead of incorrect maps, for example, some trails not showing on the maps). Have you checked also the community tab on alltrails? And I'm also interested - is there anything better for the US? Because in Europe, whenever I look up a location in Wikiloc, even a very remote one, it has tens or hundreds of different community trails. I checked the selection for the US, and Wikiloc doesn't seem to be as popular there, but there are quite a few options on Alltrails.
Nice. What do you think about Locus Map App?
A good alternative to Gaia! I prefer Goat Maps though, but Locus is also okay! IMO much better than Alltrails, Wikiloc, or Komoot.
@OscarHikes
Thank's for you thought on that!👍
Yes, Gaia looks really very impressive good! Some nice and practical features, the topo and 3D view i like the most.
Goat Maps too, but I've got Android System.
Can your watch alert you if you deviate from the track?
Yeah you can set it up in the settings. Mine alerts me when I'm 50m off track
If you know how to use a map and compass properly, you should never be guessing where you are :-)
Also, if you are relying on gps and going into remote regions, a dedicated device is far, far better and more importantly safer - much more robust, more accurate, not affected by cold weather, battery depletion etc..
What about alltrails and komoot?
I love Koomot
I've tried both of them, and I definately prefer Gaia. Especially over Komoot. In fact, I was giving Kommot another shot because I talked with some people from their team, and they told me that they're now better for hikers. And I used their app for about a month, and I just couldn't recommend it because I always found myself cross-checking everything in Gaia.
If you’re hiking in Australia, Please avoid using all-trails at all cost. It’s well known in the search & rescue community here that this app has lead to many hikers getting lost and requiring extraction.
Their powerful marketing department is good at getting uninformed people to sign up, with the added bonus of getting them lost and in danger.
Please use gaia or published paper maps instead.
Beware that satellite messaging on iphone doesnt work if you have the slightest level of cell service. I you have one bar, and calls or messages are not going through, satellite messaging will not work. Hikingguy had a video on it.
Just buy a Garmin fenix and you will never find better navigation again ❤