I used two GPS hiking apps for backpacking and I’ll do it again
1 min read
Summary
After years of relying on paper maps, Bradley Chambers decided to try hiking with GPS apps, and tested AllTrails, Gaia GPS, OnX Backcountry, and FarOut among others, on a four-day, 38-mile hike in California’s Los Padres National Forest.
He found AllTrails easiest for route planning, and Gaia most reliable on the trail, but both suffered from worrisome inaccuracies.
He also experienced battery drain and privacy issues with OnX Backcountry and FarOut.
He concluded that while the apps were useful, he wouldn’t rely on them without a backup paper map, and isn’t sold on their privacy policies.