I ride horses, atv's, and hunt a huge area that is 1/2 WV and 1/2 VA. I also travel out west once/year for elk. I'd like to see property boundaries, track horse trails and hiking (speed, distance, elevation), and be able to use fully offline. What do you guys use??
Gaia GPS vs OnX
- Thread starter tctt3
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Can you track your path as you hike or ride through the woods? Will they give you your altitude change, speed, total miles, etc.? Thanks for the feedback
tmmcampbell
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I use Gaia. I like it. It tracks. Never cared about altitude except where I'm at or going. There are many different maps including terrain. I think both have a free week you can use them. Give them a spin. I don't leave home without my iPad and haven't used a paper map in years.
Yes, you can do all of the things you're asking about with both of these apps. They're both high quality with good features. Both can be used offline (you need to save maps to your device in advance).
tmmcampbell
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What jebel said.
tmmcampbell
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I think Gaia has more maps as well. However I have tried Gaia on non Apple hardware and did not like it. On my iPhone and iPad it is easy to download maps and know where you are in the process. I had a non Apple tablet and it sucked. I don't remember which brand. I would not use Gaia unless on iPad or iPhone.
crkckr
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I guess I'm old fashioned but, while I would definitely use a GPS, I wouldn't go into an area I wasn't really familiar with without a topo map and compass as a backup. No batteries or satellites necessary! Having been a victim of that guy Murphy more than once, I like having a backup plan... the more idiot proof, the better. (I'm not saying I'm an idiot... at least, not all the time!)
Cheers,
crkckr
Cheers,
crkckr
tmmcampbell
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I was like you until I started using Gaia. Then I realized I had gone years without using all the paper maps I was carrying. The detail on my iPad is amazing to me. So I bring my iPad iPhone and a garmin Oregon. Figure Murphy can't get all three and if he did he would probably burn my paper maps anyway. 
Always at least have a compass and a paper map has saved my skin a couple times when electronics didn't cut it.
I used Gaia for the first time last year. Downloaded my hunting area on my galaxy s8 plus before hand.
I have used paper maps and gps in the past. They were too slow and gps took forever to load...to mark waypoints ..and trails.
Gaia is super simple... you get different layers. I learned more about the area I've been hunting the past 6 years this past year than all the years combined. I marked trails, waypoints, wallows, trees that i had never bothered to mark because i didn't want to waste the time turning my gps on....acquiring satellites.... changing batteries.... scrolling through menus.... entering waypoints...etc
I love Gaia.
I also have recently tried onx.... not to the extent of gaia... but honestly i will never be without onx again, but most likely will have both.
On airplane mode my phone lasts days. I can enter a waypoint in less than 20 seconds...i don't even have to stop.
When trialing either of them i feel you have to actually be doing something instead of walking around your yard. I watched 10 minute tutorials on youtube on both and was able to figure out both of them.
If boundaries are of no concern i would go with gaia. If you ever have a question about boundaries then onx 100%.
Gps are a complete waste of time and money.
I have used paper maps and gps in the past. They were too slow and gps took forever to load...to mark waypoints ..and trails.
Gaia is super simple... you get different layers. I learned more about the area I've been hunting the past 6 years this past year than all the years combined. I marked trails, waypoints, wallows, trees that i had never bothered to mark because i didn't want to waste the time turning my gps on....acquiring satellites.... changing batteries.... scrolling through menus.... entering waypoints...etc
I love Gaia.
I also have recently tried onx.... not to the extent of gaia... but honestly i will never be without onx again, but most likely will have both.
On airplane mode my phone lasts days. I can enter a waypoint in less than 20 seconds...i don't even have to stop.
When trialing either of them i feel you have to actually be doing something instead of walking around your yard. I watched 10 minute tutorials on youtube on both and was able to figure out both of them.
If boundaries are of no concern i would go with gaia. If you ever have a question about boundaries then onx 100%.
Gps are a complete waste of time and money.
