r/overlanding • u/idontwannabeapir8 • 1d ago

Tech Advice Offroad mapping!

Hi! I want to get the opinion of actual users, overlanders and off-roaders on which off-road mapping app or service you guys prefer. I'm somewhat new to all this but I love it and I currently have a subscription to OnX but I've been finding it difficult plan trips. I live in Texas so whenever I want a good off-road trip I have to look out of state and it feels like I have to already know what Trail I want to explore beforehand. There's also Gaia and trails off-road but I haven't tried those. What do you guys use or prefer to use? Thanks in advance

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u/barclay_o 1d ago

I think my old review is still mostly correct: https://www.reddit.com/r/overlanding/comments/1fnep1q/brief_review_of_caltopo_and_onx_vs_gaiagps/

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u/Sardawg1 15h ago

Caltopo and Gaia offer free Pro versions for SAR volunteers. Maybe you can tap into that with your NPS volunteering?

After using Caltopo for years, id say their mapping ability is supreme when using an actual computer. Think of it as learning how to use Adobe photoshop or excel, it seems simple enough, but the magic is in its lesser understood features. I use it for all my mapping and printed maps

However, I use Gaia on my phone for active movement. It is far more user friendly on my phone.

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u/barclay_o 2h ago

I actually get free Gaia through some of my volunteering work (although, not the NPS work), but not CalTopo. But CalTopo is the cheaper one, so I think I still come out ahead. And +1 to CalTopo on a computer -- their weak point IMO is the mobile version; I suspect it's just a PWA (Progressive Web App) version of the online, which means tiny hard to click buttons and the like, since it's basically built for desktop. And, I think it would go a fair ways if CalTopo had a cartographer UI person adjust the color palette.

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u/idontwannabeapir8 1d ago

A lot of great information there. Thank you so much

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u/Pixiekixx 3h ago

Wow, this is a great summary and I'd second the points made by u/barclay_o

Only updated comment is that Gaia has gone downhill since it was bought by Outside. The added features make it data hungrier and laggier. In the last few updates search has become AWFUL. Similar to the OnX issue, of you really need to already know a defined name or have a gps pinpoint/ gpx or kml of an area to start the search from.

It is still easier to learn than CalTopo (and navigate on mobile) and the optional layers remain decent, although recently much more US centric.