Android GPS apps - topo maps

[alrock]

I thought I'd revisit this topic as the market seems to have changed a lot in the past year. Locus Pro seems to be crippled by its own success and that maps are now severely restricted from being downloaded - or they've been completely removed from being online.

Did a little research and it appears that the new top dog in Android topo maps is Backcountry Navigator Pro. It's not free at $9.99 but it is so far easy to use. For another $21.99 you can get access to Accuterra Topo Map Source maps, which are really nice and clean topo maps. So, you're at $30 for a good Android topo map source but it is really solid. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.crittermap.backcountrynavigator.license

You can see the demo of the Accuterra maps here: http://www.mobiletopomaps.com/

Here's a screeshot of the app as taken from the Google Play Store.

 

[Kurt]

I have to try that one. Right now I'm testing gaia GPS which has nice maps but interface wise its rough around the edges when it comes to zooming in and out.

 

[alrock]

There's a 21 day trial version, full featured, no risk

 

[Scarsman]

I downloaded the trial version but then neve had time to mess around with it before it expired. Have you gotten the full version yet? So, once you download the maps can you use it on its own, even if you have no data/cell coverage? I think I am goig to give it a try.

 

[Bigunit]

I have the Backcountry Pro on my droid razr. Have used it twice and it's a really good app. The maps are accurate. It's not the easiest to figure out how to work it but there's a good tutorial on youtube. Once you figure out how to download the quadrants of the area you are planning to run, it's easy and works very well.

 

[cbetts]

Thanks, I will have to load that up and take a looksie.

You can change the map source on Locus. I typically use the MapQuest Classic maps since they are a hybrid relief and trail map.

 

[Portager]

Thanks for posting this.

I need trail maps. I got the USGS Topo maps for my Garmin but the trails are impossible to see while driving.

 

[skeptic]

Back when I first got my Android phone I went on the lookout for a good topo/back country GPS app. Between the so-so apps at the time and my phone's crappy GPS I gave up. Since you guys are already looking into this and I'm going to get a new phone w/a new provider in the next month or two... What apps support:
offline maps - no service a lot of time in the mountains
offline trail routing - maps/routes including offroad trails (at least the ones that are officially state/county roads), not just paved roads
set destination by touching a spot on the map, not requiring an address
waypoints
"bread crumbs" - keeps track of your current trip and at the touch of a button you can follow the path back, great for exploring new areas when it's time to find your way home.
export to (and maybe even import from?) google maps - not required but a cool feature
different map types - topo, "streets", sat photo..

I have used MyTrails in the past, and it has most of the features but no directions/routing. Not required if you have a map, but it sure would be nice to stay zoomed in to see where you are on the trails when they branch out and have the route you want to take highlighted.

 

[Portager]

Since you've in the market for a new phone, some suggestions on phone choice might be good also.

I choose the Samsung Galaxy Nexus because it had the highest screen resolution available at the time.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

 

[skeptic]

Since you've in the market for a new phone, some suggestions on phone choice might be good also.

I choose the Samsung Galaxy Nexus because it had the highest screen resolution available at the time.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

Most definitely will be looking at phone suggestions, but didn't want to muddy this thread. Not only will I be ditching my Samsung Galaxy S (a quick google will show how screwed up the GPS on this phone is), but I'm also ditching AT&T. Reception is pretty bad at my house, and since I work from home... Lots of dropped/missed calls, messages delayed by hours sometimes. Plus all the AT&T bloatware that you can't uninstall, and if you accidentally use any one of a number of apps such as AT&T Navigator, well you just bought it and get to start paying an extra monthly service. After the last OS upgrade, my phone now often freezes then eventually comes back with a "tethering manager" error. More AT&T bloatware, this one related to their hot-spot app which I believe may be another fee. Either deal with occasional pauses and an error message or pay to activate their wifi hot-spot app. Naw, I'll just dump AT&T.

I'll be looking for the most vanilla Android phone I can find, with a provider that's going to give me good service without trying to ram their software down my throat. Good GPS, fast processor, good resolution, etc. are all considerations as well. I haven't really started looking yet, I think my 2 year contract (with ridiculously high early termination fees) expires in October.

 

[alrock]

I have the Samsung Galaxy S3. GPS still seems to be a weak spot as it lost connectivity a few times this past weekend, including on wide open I-10. Not much bloatware, very fast, great screen.

As for the features you requested in the App, I haven't played with it enough to validate what it can do. Features, and quality of reviews, are what led me to choose Backcountry Navigator. I downloaded a lot of maps this weekend for offline use. I'd really like to try this app on the affordable Nexus 7 tablet.

 

[backcountryislife]

I tried backcountry navigator pro... it's a decent app, but there's a lot of trail missing around here (like 1/2) so it's not terribly useful.

I've been using everytrail pro($4, but you can use the free version except where you're offline) it's got guides from the funtreks guys that are free, and are WAY worth the $4 cost of the app.

list of guides from Funtreks on ET:
http://www.everytrail.com/guides/search?q=funtreks

Aside from those full guides, you can load tracks from other users. In the couple trails around here without the guides, there's user tracks like this one: Many have pics at junctions, show you landmarks to watch out for...

http://www.everytrail.com/view_trip.php?trip_id=507265

or this one (this trail doesn't have an official guide)
http://www.everytrail.com/view_trip.php?trip_id=1704204

Also you can download the topo from whatever size area you want without a pain in the azz... I've got a 40 square mile area around my house downloaded on my A200 (acer tablet), then the guides or trip tracks overlay on top of that

I'll keep backcountry navigator for the places where everytrail doesn't have a guide, but around here & in Moab, most of the good trails have guides or a trip report.

 

[f5moab]

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