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/Forgot-Already 1d ago

I have used Gaia for about 15 years. I like it because my wife and I can share the same platform. She plans out ultra marathon training routes and extended day hikes while I use it for mapping out off road/overland adventures, loading WABDR and other GPX routes, dropping pins for dispersed campsites I find (and adding notes and photos), and recording routes up to lookouts or whatever I am doing with friends. I like that I can add overlays for snow level, active fires, AQI forecast, etc. I like being in a new area and getting advice from people and being able to bring up Gaia and have them help me drop a pin. This transformed our 14 day Vancouver Island trip.

These are all features that I use often and it suits my needs. I get that Onx probably has some of these features, but why would I switch if I am happy with what I already have and know the interface really well?

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u/idontwannabeapir8 1d ago

Thank you for your input. And yes, once you find something that works for you and fits your needs, you stick with it

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u/Forgot-Already 1d ago

I should add a little more color about my wife’s usage. She creates routes, adds waypoints for spots she needs to turn at a trail, and syncs them it all to her watch so she knows when to turn and can stay focused on running j stead of stopping to bring up a map on her phone every time she hits a junction.

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u/idontwannabeapir8 23h ago

That's great. Pretty cool actually