Trail navigation help (Gaia vs Garmin Overlander vs any other?)

For unplanned exploring;

I'm thinking of Gaia vs Garmin Overlander for navigation.

Does Gaia GPS support navigation without a PC? For example while you drive you found some gravel road and you turn towards that. Now can I view the trail and set navigation points?

All the videos I see is people use a computer to set a map at home unlike a dedicate GPS unit like a Garmin Overlander where you can navigate without planning.

Any other solution you use for this kind of unplanned exploring?

TIA.

(pic for attention, not my pic)

 

I use GAIA, and you can use it as you go. Most people plan their trips on GAIA which is what you’re seeing, but you can 100% take a random trip and use a GPS enabled device to set routes and explore trails. It also has a map layer you can download, to view which sections are private and which are public. There are many helpful layers in GAIA.

I like to use my iPad for GAIA trips as it’s much easier to set a route and what not, as well as following course whole driving.

 

Sweet..!! Thank you.

 

Small question to any android users;

Can you download the maps to the sd card vs saving on the phone? Since I got a 512 GB card I can download lot of maps without wasting phone storage.

Having a big device in front is little inconvenient..

 

Hi @Mtbpsych,

Do you know how do I know the download status of maps. This is the second time I tried downloading maps and its a never ending download. Curious if there is a way to know the progress.. Like is it 10% or 90%..

Thanks in advance for the help..

If I can't solve this i guess I'll try contacting Gaia. Worst case will ask for refund.

(Missed to add the picture)

 

I am on iOS so it might be different, but it does show a progress bar for downloading a map of a general area.

 

I need to look more into this GAIA. So far we use a combo of NFS/NPS maps, the 4Runner's nav system, and Google maps, lol. Seems to work OK but it's certainly a pain to not have them all overlaid in one spot.

Dang, 21GB for a map.. that's big. I'm not surprised it could take a while to download..

 

I think its not downloading at all.

I sent an email and waiting for a response. If Gaia can't fix it I will ask for my money back and get a Garmin Overlander.




I already have a Garmin (on road gps) which I use and it would be a simple swap if I buy Garmin Overlander since I have all the wiring done.

 

I just got onX off road. Plan on using on an iPad. I’m not sure how it is as I just switched over from onxhunt which was great for knowing who owned what land. FYI, their customer service is stellar.

 

Before the days of the Garmin Overlander there was a Garmin DriveSmart that was marketed to people with hunting dogs(?) It displayed topo maps like the Overlander and would also function as a turn by turn traditional GPS unit. It was called the DriveTrack71, I remember it being really expensive. The Overlander might have similar specs? not sure. Ive never seen any in the wild.

I am a huge fan of redundancy... and I love my Garmin stand alone unit. I feel like when using an iPad/iphone "A jack of all trades is a master of none" But Gaia is also very powerful. I have a friend that uses it for off roading in his 4runner and dual sport bikes. I only use it for hiking. I se the free version pretty much to only mark custom waypoints mostly good camp spots.

It wouldn't hurt to have both imo.

 

I have been happy with it so far. Using a separate device for it seems like a good idea. One great feature is the ability to download and save offline maps to use in areas where cell reception isn't good

I like the idea of redundancy as well. I use Gaia, Avenza, ONXoff-road, and Google maps and I usually download maps of areas I know I'll be visiting in case of poor reception

Having a second device would be even better.

 

OnX is now CarPlay compatible

 

Thank you @Big B. Let me see if I can try OnX as well if its not too expensive.

As from my side I used an entry level Android tab (Samsung Tab A) and now Gaia is working well. I was able to move the app storage to SD Card and was able to down load a large map area with highest details with lot of layers. Used few routes by using the search functionality (not pre-planned) and it worked.

I might have to find a different mounting solution since its a big tablet it covers the middle air vents and part of the windshield with the suction mount tablet holder I have. (I'm scared to drill holes for a ram mount.)

 

Drill baby drill!

I use Avenza (free) and Gaia (paid subscription). Gaia will show you both public trails and MVUM National Forest Trails.
Avenza is way easier to read with my aging eyes. I really haven't mastered either one.

Gaia seems overly complex to me.

Might have to give OnX a try.

 

I use Gaia GPS on my iPad with GPS, so I am always connected. I also download forest service maps to my iPad.

Working with Gaia takes a little practice, but one you get it down it works well

I also use Google maps on my phone when traveling roads.

 

I use Gaia,download a few layers to where I'm going.MVUM national forest trails are real handy.
Hook the phone up and run it through Android Auto.
Also have a Garmin Montana hooked up in a charging mount.Use that mostly for bushwacking to old mining sites I've saved in waypoints.
By using both I can find a spot to park and start hiking.
Thought about the Overlanded but then got the premium subscription form Gaia.Gaia keeps adding more layers too.
Neat just going through some of the old USGS map layers.
Read the Overlanded won't take the state specific SD cards the Montana or other Garmin handheld take.

 

I'm going to have to try this Android Auto thing...

 

I had problems downloading maps at first with Gaia, until I realized that there is a limit to the size of the map you can download. Gaia should tell you if you've selected too large an area. I know in the past the app didn't give you any indication, and it would just sit there stuck, not downloading, and not giving an error.

 

I use Gaia on my phone. The idea of a garmin overland er sounds cool but idk what it can do that my phone can’t?

 

Garmin GPS now has the Tread® - Overland Edition. It's like the Overlander Plus more...
https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/732737/pn/010-02508-00

 

It also seems to have less, as well. Wasn't working with BT cameras and did not have voice recognition. From what I've gathered it will now work with one certain camera but I've not seen where they've taken care of the lack of voice recognition. That sucks but I'm still intrigued.

Keith