GPS apps for off road drivers are a boon for outdoor enthusiasts, allowing them to navigate with ease and confidence. Among the many options available in the market, Onx Off Road, Trails Off Road, and GAIA GPS are some of the most popular apps used for off-road navigation. However, these apps differ in their features and functionalities, making them better suited for different use cases.
OnX Off Road:
OnX Off Road is a comprehensive navigation app designed specifically for off-road enthusiasts. It offers detailed maps that cover over 985 million acres of land across the US, making it one of the most extensive off-road mapping solutions in the market. The app is primarily intended for use by hunters, hikers, and outdoor enthusiasts, allowing them to access detailed topographical maps that highlight trails, public land boundaries, and other essential landmarks.
OnX Off Road also includes a host of additional features such as real-time weather updates, trail recommendations, and the ability to track your location in real-time. The app also allows you to save and share maps, mark waypoints, and create custom trails, making it an excellent tool for planning outdoor trips.
It has been a mixed experience for Ken, an early user of the OnX Off Road program.
Having had a bad experience with OnX’s hunting app during a backpacking trip, Ken was initially wary of the app. However, he has since had a positive experience with OnX Off Road and even received a free subscription from a generous attendee at the Overland Expo. While he was not a fan of the colored trails on the app’s map initially, he has gotten used to them and now appreciates how they make off-road trails more visible.
Ken notes that OnX Off Road is not an overlander app, but it is a useful tool for planning off-road trips. He suggests using Google Maps to plan a big trip and then using OnX Off Road to draw lines and save notes on the map. The app’s feature of displaying the size of an area is also useful when looking for a campsite.
In terms of features, Ken highlights several pros and cons of the app. On the positive side, he mentions that it’s easy to see nearby trails as they’re color-coded, and different colors indicate different types of trails. He also likes that it’s a relatively simple app to use with only a few layers available. The app also lists private land to avoid getting into trouble for camping on private property. Ken found a trail using the app that he didn’t know existed, and he liked the isolation he found there. The app also makes it easy to copy and share coordinates using waypoints.
However, there are also several downsides to the app. Ken mentions that there are multiple subscriptions for different versions of the app, which can be expensive if you want to use multiple versions. Additionally, he cannot share a folder with others, which is a big flaw for planning routes with his friends. He can only share individual waypoints, which is not very practical. Moreover, he cannot add trails to a folder, making it difficult for casual jeep clubs to build a folder with trails to share with everyone.
Ken also shares some technical details about the app, noting that it allows for downloading maps offline and that it has three layers available: satellite with 2D and 3D, base maps hybrid, and topography. However, he did note that the app can double up on data, which can be inconvenient when downloading maps. He also mentioned that OnX maps offer different resolution options for downloading maps, and that downloads occur quickly with the app.
Overall, it seems like OnX Off Road has some useful features for off-road enthusiasts, but there are also some areas where the app falls short. Nevertheless, it’s clear that the app has helped Ken find trails and campsites that he wouldn’t have known about otherwise, making it a valuable tool for planning off-road trips.
Trails Off Road:
Trails Off Road is a popular navigation app that caters to off-road enthusiasts, offering detailed trail maps across the United States. Unlike Onx Off Road, which is designed for hunters and hikers, Trails Off Road focuses on providing information for off-road vehicle enthusiasts, covering over 6,000 trails across the US. The app offers detailed information on trail difficulty, length, and elevation changes, making it easy for users to plan and navigate their routes.
Chris, an avid off-road enthusiast, has been using Trails Off Road for several years and found it to be an incredibly useful app for planning his off-road trips. The app provides a wealth of information about various trails, including turn-by-turn directions with photos, reviews from other users, nearby towns, and directions to the trailhead. But what sets Trails Off Road apart from other apps is its unique feature that allows users to leave comments in real-time, providing updates about trail conditions, such as snowmelt or obstacles. Chris finds this feature particularly helpful, allowing him to plan his trips better and avoid any potential issues on the trail.
Chris highly recommends Trails Off Road to anyone looking for a comprehensive and user-friendly app to plan their off-road trips. And it’s not just Chris who is a fan of the app; there are plenty of other users who have left glowing reviews of Trails Off Road online.
One of the app’s advantages is its simplicity, making it user-friendly for even non-tech-savvy individuals. The app also provides access to offline data, which is especially beneficial when exploring remote areas without reliable internet connection. The ability to download an entire state is a convenient feature that enables users to plan their trips in advance without worrying about losing access to the information they need once they hit the trail.
However, like any app, there are a few downsides to keep in mind. For instance, Trails Off Road does not offer turn-by-turn navigation, although it does provide basic mapping information and directions. Nevertheless, for many off-road enthusiasts, this feature is not a dealbreaker; the real value of the app lies in its comprehensive trail information and real-time updates.
Therefore, if you are an off-road enthusiast or outdoor adventurer looking for a tool to make your trip planning process easier and more comprehensive, give Trails Off Road a try. With its wealth of information, real-time updates, and user-friendly interface, it might become your go-to app for all your off-road trip planning needs.
GAIA GPS:
GAIA GPS is a popular navigation app that offers a wide range of features and functionalities for outdoor enthusiasts. The app provides access to a vast library of maps that cover over 57 countries worldwide, making it an excellent tool for planning trips abroad. GAIA GPS also offers detailed topographical maps that highlight trails, public land boundaries, and other essential landmarks, making it easy to plan and navigate your routes.
Have you ever found yourself in the great outdoors struggling to navigate through unfamiliar terrain? Or perhaps you’re planning an off-road trip, but you’re not quite sure how to map out your route. Enter Gaia Maps – a professional app that can help you plan and track your route, even in areas with no cell service.
Professional Explorer Carol said: “Gaia Phone App, a Must-Have for Adventurers!”
Carol has been using Gaia Maps for some time now. Gaia Maps is a much more professional app compared to other map apps on the market. It offers features such as tracking and route planning, allowing users to record their tracks as they go, whether they’re driving or hiking.
One of the biggest advantages of using Gaia Maps is the ability to plan off-road tracks and the entire route on the app. Carol admits that she still uses Google Maps for most of her driving, but she likes having her entire route planned out on Gaia Maps as well. This is especially important when driving through areas with no cell service, as you can’t always rely on Google Maps to get you to your destination.
Gaia Maps is a much more complex system than other map apps, which may seem daunting to some users. However, this complexity also means that Gaia Maps offers many more options, making it a powerful tool for planning expeditions anywhere in the world.
One of the newer features of Gaia Maps is the Overlanding Map, which allows users to see where cell phone reception is available. While Carol is unsure of its accuracy, she thinks it’s a cool feature to have. The app also offers a variety of map layers, including 24-hour forecasts, trail forks, mountain bike maps, satellite imagery, road maps, and aviation maps, which Carol finds particularly useful as a drone pilot.
One of the most impressive features of Gaia Maps is the availability of National Geographic maps and most national park maps. These maps show up on the app just like paper maps, but users can plot and plan their route alongside the map on their computer. This is especially helpful for those who prefer paper maps but want the convenience of digital maps.
Carol’s experience with Gaia Maps has been overwhelmingly positive, and she recommends it to anyone looking for a professional map app. While the app may seem intimidating at first, she assures users that the benefits of using Gaia Maps far outweigh the learning curve. So, whether you’re a seasoned explorer or a beginner hiker, consider giving Gaia Maps a try on your next outdoor adventure.
The Gaia Maps app is a mobile phone application that allows users to download maps of different areas around the world. The app provides a wide range of maps, including topographical, satellite, and road maps. Users can download these maps and use them offline, which is incredibly useful when exploring remote areas without an internet connection.
One of the first things Carol highlights is how to download maps on Gaia Maps. To download maps, users need to tap the three tiles in the top right corner of the app. This will show the maps that are currently active on the app. Users can select the maps they want to download by dragging them up. The more maps users select, the larger the file size will be. Carol advises users to be mindful of this and to select only the maps they need.
The app provides different options for downloading maps. Users can select the area they want to download by dragging a selection box around the desired area. The app will show the file size and the number of tiles that will be downloaded. It suggests users be careful not to overlap areas as this will double up on the data and increase the file size unnecessarily.
Another useful feature of the Gaia Maps app is the ability to record tracks. This is especially helpful when exploring unfamiliar areas. Users can record their tracks and use them to navigate back to their starting point. The app also provides information about users’ speed, course, and elevation, which is helpful in planning and executing their trips.
The app also has a social aspect to it. Users can add different areas they have explored, which will be available for others to see. It advises users to be mindful of their privacy settings and not to share their locations publicly.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, Onx Off Road, Trails Off Road, and GAIA GPS are all excellent navigation apps designed for off-road enthusiasts. While they share some common features such as real-time weather updates and the ability to save and share maps, each app offers unique features and functionalities that make them better suited for different use cases.
Onx Off Road is an excellent tool for hikers, hunters, and other outdoor enthusiasts who need detailed topographical maps that highlight trails, public land boundaries, and other essential landmarks.
Trails Off Road, on the other hand, is primarily designed for off-road vehicle enthusiasts, providing detailed maps that cover over 6,000 trails across the US and information on trail difficulty, length, and elevation changes.
GAIA GPS is a versatile navigation app that offers a wide range of features and functionalities for outdoor enthusiasts, making it an excellent tool for planning trips abroad or navigating unfamiliar terrain.
Ultimately, the choice of which app to use will depend on your specific needs and preferences. Therefore, it’s essential to assess each app’s features and functionalities before making a decision, to ensure that you choose the app that best meets your needs.