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App Comparisons

App ComparisonsHunting

onX Hunt Review

by Nathan Copeland October 25, 2017
written by Nathan Copeland

Note: The author of this post, Nate Copeland, is a hunter from Oklahoma, who aggregates and manages much of the state-by-state hunting data for Gaia GPS.

For this post, I stack up Gaia GPS vs onX Hunt, doing an exhaustive comparison of features, maps, and pricing. Want to do your own Gaia GPS vs. onX Hunt review this season?

In a nutshell, I found both apps deliver the core package of hunting maps – land ownership, GMUs, and other sources, merged with topo maps and satellite imagery. Where onX is strong is having a sole focus on hunting, and it offers a few map sources and design touches geared towards hunters. Gaia GPS, on the other hand, has more powerful software overall.

Cost

Gaia GPS

Gaia GPS vs onX Hunt

onX Hunt

Gaia GPS vs onX Hunt

App

Free to Download Free to Download

Plan

Premium (global)

$59.99/year

(no state-by-state)

Elite (50 states)

$99.99/year

(1 state – $34.99/year)

Gaia GPS – Premium & Gaia GPS Membership

Hunters using Gaia GPS should usually choose a Premium Membership, which costs $59.99/year. A Premium Membership provides access to private land ownership, GMUs, and other layers useful for hunters. Premium also includes additional topo maps such as National Geographic Trails Illustrated, Neotreks, and even premium topos for Europe. Click here for a full list of available maps.

onX Hunt – Premium & Elite Subscription

An Elite subscription from onX includes data for all 50 states costs $99.99/year. You can also get access to all maps for a single state for $34.99/year.

In addition, the Boone and Crockett Trophy Game Records layer and the Prairie Dogs layer cost an additional $9.99 each.

Feature Comparison

If you are looking for a full-featured GPS, then Gaia GPS shows its strength.

In comparing the features of the apps, I just couldn’t find a single thing onX Maps did that Gaia GPS did not. You might think my chart below is biased, but truly Gaia GPS is easily winning the feature war (though I’ll point out some unique maps onX has in the following section).

Feature Comparison

Gaia GPS

Gaia GPS vs onX Hunt

onX Hunt

Gaia GPS vs onX Hunt

Map Downloads Custom Areas, Huge Sizes Grid-Based, Size Limits
Route Planning Smart-Routing

(Snaps to trails/roads),

or Manual

Manual Only
Export Trip Data (GPX/KML) Yes Via Website
Import Trip Data (GPX/KML) Yes Via Website
Vector Topo Maps Yes No
Group Sharing (sync routes/folders with your hunting partners) Yes No
Folders Yes No
Grid Overlays Yes No
Backtrack Yes Waypoints Only
Distance Markers & Announcements Yes No
Photos Yes No
Custom Map Sources Yes No
Apple Watch Yes No
Nautical Units Yes No
Datum Shifting Yes No
Coordinate Formats 5 3
Track Recording Yes Yes
Printing Yes Yes
iPad App Yes Yes
Trail Search Yes Yes
Data Sync Yes Yes
Layered Maps Yes Yes
Create Waypoint at Current Location Yes Yes
Night Mode* Yes Yes
Map Rotation Yes Yes
Visible Trip Stats Yes Yes
Custom Waypoint Icons Some Hunting Focused All Hunting Focused

*Not Available on Android devices

Give me a shout at copeland@gaiagps.com if you find something in onX that Gaia doesn’t do! The closest thing I could find was the ability to copy coordinates with one tap on the map, where Gaia GPS requires a few taps for it. But this isn’t something I ever do in the field.

The thing you see most complained about in onX reviews on the App Store are how the map downloads work. Here’s one recent review quote:

“And, it still isn’t set up to download complete maps into the phone for offline. It’s as if onX expects me to hunt a small patch of land…What I want is to define my area in terms of what tags I have, then download the whole area I can hunt in one go.” – onX Hunt App Store Review Oct. 10th, 2017

Maps Comparison

When comparing maps available in Gaia GPS vs. onX, overall Gaia GPS has a deeper catalog of maps, but onX has a few notable hunting-specific sources.

Gaia GPS uniquely provides National Geographic Trails Illustrated Maps as part of the package, which are amazing maps for certain forests and wilderness areas. Gaia GPS also has a remarkable depth of map sources – dozens of topo map sources for all over the world, ranging from classic USGS/USFS topos, to historic topos, European topos, and of course the default source in the app, Gaia Topo.

Gaia GPS Wyoming Mule Deer Areas, Public Land, US Shaded Relief layered on Gaia Topo base map.
onX Hunt with Wyoming Hunt Areas and Wyoming Public Lands layers with the Topo base map.

For the default source in the app, Gaia Topo sets the standard for digital topo maps, with adjustable text size, units, and tiny/fast downloads. Gaia GPS, unlike onX, displays many layers as “vectors” on iOS, which for the end user means the text is crisper and the downloads are faster and smaller.

On the other hand, onX does have a few interesting map sources for hunters that Gaia GPS lacks, such as praire dogs towns, precipitation radar, and a others (see the table below). Again here, give me a shout at copeland@gaiagps.com if there’s a map you’d like to see in Gaia GPS, because that’s my job!

Maps Comparison

Gaia GPS

Gaia GPS vs onX Hunt

onX Hunt

Gaia GPS vs onX Hunt

Map Sources
National Geographic Trails Illustrated Maps Yes No
Private Land (by state) Yes Yes
Public Land (by state) Yes Yes
GMUs/WMAs (by state) Yes Yes
Walk-In Areas (by state) Yes Yes
Satellite Imagery Yes Yes
Topo Yes Yes
USGS Topo Yes No
NeoTreks Land Use Yes No
US Forest Service Topo Yes No
Shaded Relief Yes No
Land Features Yes No
Public Land Survey System Yes Yes
Timber Cuts Yes Yes
Current Wildfires Yes Yes
Historical Wildfires Yes Yes
Recreational Sites Yes Yes
Trails Yes Yes
Forest Visitor Maps Yes Yes
USFS MVUM Yes Yes
USFS Roads & Trails Yes No
Nautical Charts Yes Yes
Precipitation Forecast Yes Yes
Snow Forecast Yes No
Possible Access (by state) Yes Yes
Roadless Areas Yes Yes
Roadless & Trailless Areas Yes No
US Wilderness Areas Yes No
Praire Dogs Towns No Yes
B&C Trophy Big Game Records No Yes
Eastmans’ MRS No Yes
NWTF Wild Turkey Records No Yes

Comparing Basic Usage

Gaia GPS track recording with custom waypoints while viewing interactive US Private Land Overlay and Satellite with Labels base map.
onX Hunt track recording with custom waypoints while viewing OK Private Lands layer and Satellite base map.

Gaia GPS

Gaia GPS offers a powerful set of features for customizing offline maps, planning routes, recording tracks, and layering map sources.

With a large collection of hunting specific map sources and interactive private land layer, it’s easy to create a custom hunting map and know exactly where you are while hunting. Offline maps with Gaia GPS can be set to cover a specific area or follow along a previously saved route or track.

The flexibility of Gaia GPS also allows hunters to conventionally import or export waypoints, tracks, and routes making it easy to transfer your past treestand locations into the app.

Gaia GPS also lets hunters organize their hunting trips into folders which can store everything from access points to offline maps to trail camera photos. Hunters can also share folders with other Gaia GPS users, so everyone knows the location of basecamp and who will be hunting which areas.

onX Hunt

The onX Hunt app, like Gaia GPS, has the ability to quickly provide users with the basic tools required for offline navigation and knowing the land ownership status of your current location. onX Hunt users can select between three predefined offline map sizes which vary in resolution. The onX Hunt app includes three different base maps: topographical, satellite imagery, and a hybrid base map which can be changed with a single tap.

Some people may prefer the more limited workflows and choices in onX – Gaia GPS is more flexible, but can be complex.

Websites

gaiagps.com

Pairing gaiagps.com with the Gaia GPS app, let users easily back up their hunting data and offline maps. Hunters can also scout from the web and finalized all of their pre-hunt plans on where should treestands, trail cameras, and access points be set up.

onxmaps.com

The online version of the onX Hunt app also pairs with the app and lets hunters back up their data and scout from onxmaps.com. Pre-hunt scouting can also be completed on onxmaps.com.

Conclusion

That’s a wrap for my review of Gaia GPS vs. onX Hunt. If you want to compare for yourself, click the link below to get started.

I prefer Gaia GPS for my hunts, largely because it has a deeper set of maps and features than onX. But there’s always room to improve, and I’ll be continuing my work this season to add more hunting maps to Gaia GPS.

It’s also notable how much less expensive Gaia GPS is for a multi-state hunter – you get the full package for just $59.99, compared to $99.99 for onX.  Lots you can do with $40 savings!

October 25, 2017
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National Geographic map of the PCT, as seen in the Gaia GPS app.
App Comparisons

Gaia GPS vs AllTrails

by Ashli Baldwin December 14, 2015
written by Ashli Baldwin

Editors Note: This article was published in 2015. Some information may be out-of-date.

This article makes it easy to understand the pros and cons of Gaia GPS vs AllTrails. Check out an at-a-glance comparison of features, along with a more detailed breakdown comparing app vs app, website vs website, and membership vs subscription.

In summary, Gaia GPS shines for people who go into the backcountry. Gaia GPS has better maps and GPS features, and offers all features plus hundreds additional mapsFor backcountry use, AllTrails lacks many maps and features.

The free versions of both apps include a trail search feature. If you do casual hikes in places where you have an internet connection, you can use either to search for trails, find route information, and stay on track as you hike.

*Not Available on Android devices

App vs App – Gaia GPS vs AllTrails

App

Gaia GPS

Gaia GPS vs AllTrails

AllTrails

Gaia GPS vs AllTrails

Features

Basic

Free

Premium Member

 

Basic

Free

Pro

 

NatGeo Trail Maps √  
Map Downloads for Offline Use √ √
Printing √ √
Route Planning√√ √
Data Sync √ √
Export Trip Data (GPX/KML)√√ √
Import Trip Data (GPX/KML)√√ √
Track Recording√√√√
Trail Search√√√√
Number of Map Sources125138
Coordinate Formats 5511
iPad App√√  
Watch App√√  
Folders√√  
Custom Map Sources√√  
Distance Markers & Announcements√√  
Backtrack√√  
Nautical Units√√  
Vector Topo Maps*√√  
Datum Shifting√√  
Areas (polygons)* √ √  
Custom Waypoint Icons√√  

Gaia GPS

Gaia GPS vs AllTrails

Useful as a replacement for a Garmin GPS, Gaia GPS offers a powerful set of features for downloading maps, recording tracks, and collecting data. Users of Gaia GPS include record-holding backpackers, search and rescue personnel, firefighters, GIS teams, and wilderness guides.

Gaia GPS is free to download. A Premium Membership includes unlimited map downloads and access to dozens of map sources. The free app gives you server backup of all tracks, photos, and other data. Gaia GPS makes it easy to record data, sync/backup with a server, and share trips. It also offers a deep array of backcountry navigation features and customizable settings.

The Gaia GPS app now includes a trail search feature, as well. You can search for hikes anywhere in the world, and quickly download maps and routes of trails you want to do. The feature also makes it easy to sort hikes by length, difficulty, or star rating, and view community-sourced photos, and reviews.

AllTrails

Gaia GPS vs AllTrails

The AllTrails app is best known for its trail search feature. You can search for many well-reviewed trails, typically day-hikes near your current location. The basic app allows track recording. Additional features—like offline maps in the app or plotting routes on the website—require a subscription. Non-pro members can view three map sources in AllTrails. Downloading maps of any kind requires a subscription.

Some casual hikers will find this app suitable, but it’s not a robust enough tool for planning multi-day backpacking trips.

Membership vs Subscription

Gaia GPS – Premium Membership

You can use basically all the core features of Gaia GPS, including a trail search feature, for free. With a Premium Membership, you can layer maps and overlays and print maps from gaiagps.com. You also get access to National Geographic Trails Illustrated, NeoTreks, France IGN and other Premium maps. Click here for a full list of available maps.

AllTrails Pro

AllTrails offers a subscription upgrade, which provides basic features for the app and website. Many of the features available in AllTrails Pro come standard in the Gaia GPS basic app.

AllTrails Pro benefits include the ability to download maps, plan routes, and access a few extra map sources.

Website vs Website

gaiagps.com

A handy extension of the app, gaiagps.com allows for seamless syncing and backup of data between web and device. You can view online maps, manage your data, search for trips, and create snap-to-trail routes to sync directly back to your device.

The brand-new hike search feature has access to one of the largest trail databases on the planet. Search trails and download maps to the Gaia GPS app, right from your desktop. Test it out at gaiagps.com/map.

alltrails.com

The AllTrails website has a reputable search feature, which takes center stage. Much like the mobile app, the website provides trail reviews and search as the core, free offering. Trail pages include pictures and reviews, and span many well-known trails.

Both Gaia GPS and AllTrails allow printing of maps (with a subscription). The AllTrails website also includes a “map creator tool” similar to Gaia’s hike search feature , as well as the ability to back up your data, but both features require a subscription.

Conclusion – Gaia GPS vs AllTrails

Gaia GPS offers the best solution for the backcountry. You should buy Gaia GPS if you want to go backpacking, or do work outdoors.

The free AllTrails app offers a few good features for doing day hikes, especially if you can access the internet. But the AllTrails subscription doesn’t match up to the professional-level Gaia GPS features, and can’t beat Gaia GPS in the backcountry.

 

Gaia GPS

Gaia GPS vs AllTrails

AllTrails

Gaia GPS vs AllTrails

App

Great maps, features, trail search, and data sync for backcountry trips.

Free

Record a track, view an online map, and search for trails.

Free

Website

gaiagps.com – Search for trails, plan trips, and use with the app.

Free

alltrails.com – Search for trails. Most features require a subscription.

Free

Subscription/Membership

Add specialized maps, download, and print maps.

Required for most features, including map downloads and route-making.

December 14, 2015
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App ComparisonsGaia GPS

iPhone vs. Garmin GPS

by Staff Reports May 19, 2014
written by Staff Reports

For nearly every purpose, people will find an iPhone or Android performs better than a Garmin or other outdoor GPS unit. We believe Gaia GPS is the best app to use your smartphone as an outdoor GPS, but there are dozens of other apps you will likely find preferable to a Garmin, as well.

Both Garmins and iPhones are suitable for getting GPS information, offline, without cell service. Both devices allow you to save map data for use out in the field, and track your location using satellites. But an iPhone has access to better maps, better software, at a price that can’t be beat if you already have the phone.

Below, we’ll discuss why an iPhone or Android is better than a Garmin, and also talk about what Garmin and its proponents will tell you.

GetImage

Why to Use an iPhone

Proponents of smartphones point out that they offer better maps, larger screens, better software, for a fraction of the cost of a standalone GPS unit. Hiker, hunters, offroaders, skiers, and even professional firefighters, rangers, and researchers have adopted smart phones for outdoor recreation and work.

  • Better Maps – With Gaia GPS on an iPhone, you can download a variety of topo, satellite, and special purpose maps, and import trail data too. With a Garmin, you’re locked into expensive, proprietary Garmin formats, and you can’t get the quality of maps you’ve come to expect from your smartphone.
  • Larger Screens – If you want to get a good awareness of your situation, then an iPhone, Android, or even a small tablet is going to be vastly superior to a Garmin out in the field, simply because the screen is larger and can show a large chunk of map.
  • Better Software – With a traditional Garmin, you have almost no choice in the software you run – it’s all one package. With an iPhone or Android, you can choose from Gaia GPS and dozens of other apps. And because app developers don’t have to worry about shipping hardware, we have room to continuously iterate on and improve the app itself.Gaia GPS, in particular, works on your phone, tablet, and computer, synchronizing data for planning and exploration. Try and get a Garmin to do that.
  • Less Expensive – Garmins are also simply an unnecessary expense. You’ll pay hundreds of dollars for a Garmin, and potentially hundreds more for the maps to go with it. If you already have an iPhone, then you’ll get a better system by getting a Gaia GPS Membership ($9.99/year or $29.99/year), maps included.

Reasons to Use a Garmin

Proponents of Garmin and other standalone devices may cite the battery life, accuracy, and ruggedness as reasons to prefer these units. However, these needs can all be addressed, while still offering the benefits and low price of a smartphone:

  • Battery Life – As with a Garmin, you can provide near unlimited power to an iPhone using double AA batteries, through a cheap case.
  • GPS Precision – Garmins typically have a higher GPS precision, but this ends up not mattering for basically any activity. If this does matter for your use case, then you are still likely better off getting a high-precision GPS to work with your phone or tablet, such as the Dual XGPS150.
  • Ruggedness/Reliability – You can outfit an iPhone with a durable, cold-proof, and/or water-proof case to provide the same rubberizing and other protective measures a Garmin has. Try the ToughCase from Magellan or the Mophie Juice Pack.

Conclusion

For my money, a smartphone with Gaia GPS is the best outdoor GPS for backpacking and backcountry skiing. Along with a paper backup map and awareness of my surrounding, I always get where I want in the woods, and I always come home again.

What do you use for wilderness exploration? Send us a note at support@gaiagps.com, and we’ll post your story.

May 19, 2014
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AndroidApp ComparisonsGaia GPS

Backcountry Navigator vs. Atlogis US Topo Maps Pro

by Staff Reports May 16, 2014
written by Staff Reports

Here’s a comparison of two popular Android hiking apps – Backcountry Navigator and Atlogis US Topo Maps Pro.

I previously wrote about Gaia GPS vs. BCN, and it’s clear that Atlogis is a distant third. In this case, it comes down to the maps. I could take some fun jabs at the usability and performance of these apps relative to one another, but maps make the rest moot.

I’ll also note that we’d like you to compare Gaia GPS to both apps – we’ll give you a refund if you prefer our competitors, and we’ll give you a free GaiaPro subscription if you write to tell us why you like Gaia GPS better. Email support@gaiagps.com.

BackCountry has Better Topos than Topo Maps Pro

If you are looking for USGS topo maps, then you are much better off using Backcountry Navigator than Atlogis. BCN uses the same USGS topo maps that we do in Gaia GPS – the amazingly clear and updated USGS topos provided by CalTopo. On the other hand, Atlogis seems to have stitched together their own quilt of USGS topo maps – you can tell because of the ugly watermarks they superimpose on what are actually government maps.

Screenshot_2014-05-16-11-03-32

Atlogis maps are also just obviously less clear and inferior – CalTopo renders the images to a higher resolution with a better method.

I can’t help but point out that Gaia GPS is best of all in this respect – not only do we have the clear CalTopo maps, but we let you adjust the hill-shading in the app itself, if you have a GaiaPro add-on. Personally, I prefer to have hill-shading turned off in the field. See for yourself which USGS topo is the best:

Screenshot_2014-05-16-10-19-40

Backcountry vs. Atlogis vs. Gaia GPS

BackCountry has Better Map Selection than Atlogis

It might be that if you are looking for a weather app, Atlogis is what you want. There are a lot of weather layers, and like Gaia GPS, you can animate weather radar in the app and get some forecast info.

But for offline satellite imagery, international maps, and special sources like hunting layers and NOAA nautical charts, Atlogis isn’t going to do it for you.

Conclusion

I think people who buy Atlogis Topo Maps Pro do so for very random reasons, related to marketing and effort to promote the app. BCN is just better, and Gaia GPS is best of all.

Email support@gaiagps.com and let us know what you think.

May 16, 2014
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App ComparisonsGaia GPS

Gaia GPS vs. Motion-X

by Staff Reports January 10, 2014
written by Staff Reports

Gaia GPS is built for people who are offline and dirty – hikers, hunters, offroad drivers, geocachers, trailrunners, researchers, and other woodsy people. Motion-X GPS is a good, cheap tracking app, and it appeals to a more urban audience than Gaia GPS.

Our price is higher because we have features and maps for our special audience that Motion-X does not have. Buy both apps and compare – you can send us an email at support@gaiagps.com if you want a refund for Gaia GPS, for any reason.

Topo And Aerial Maps

There is no comparison between the maps in Gaia GPS and Motion-X.

Motion-X has stock maps you see in any app. Gaia GPS has the very best topo maps of the world, including government topo maps and international topo maps of the world, along with multiple sources of aerial imagery you can download for offline use, topped off with a big catalog of things like geology, public land, and National Park maps.

Gaia_vs_MotionX

GaiaCloud

Motion-X GPS doesn’t have modern syncing capabilities like Gaia. In Gaia GPS, you can share links to any tracks or photos (Dropbox-style), and have your data synced across all iOS devices, computers (or even Androids), backed up to GaiaCloud, and up on cloud.gaiagps.com.

Motion-X shares your tracks to Facebook in an old-school way, but it’s just a standalone iOS app, and you’re out of luck if you want to use Motion-X on the web, or on an Android.

Conclusion

Motion-X is a good app, and they even update it a bit, even though they have much bigger successes (Jawbone and their Drive app). The custom UI in Motion-X is skeumorphic and cool, if a little retro under iOS7.

So, check out Motion-X GPS, but we think Gaia GPS is the only app for people who spend time in the woods and need serious tools.

January 10, 2014
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AndroidApp ComparisonsGaia GPS

Gaia GPS vs. BackCountry Navigator for Android

by Staff Reports January 8, 2014
written by Staff Reports

Since the dawn of Android, BackCountry Navigator has been the market-leading outdoor app. The developer behind the app took his long experience on Windows and translated that to the new Android platform, and BackCountry Navigator was the best for a long while.

With the latest release of Gaia GPS, things have changed. I can now say Gaia GPS is competitive with BackCountry Navigator in many ways, and overall, the best outdoor GPS app for Android. If you have to make the choice, buy both. If you think I’m wrong, send an email to andrew@gaiagps.com, and I will personally give you a refund.

What Makes Gaia GPS Better

Gaia GPS has many advantages over BackCountry Navigator now, both with regards to speed and performance, and features. Most importantly:

  1. Faster map display
  2. Sync, share, and backup with GaiaCloud
  3. Better maps

Faster Map Display

The most obvious difference between the two apps is that Gaia GPS displays maps smoothly and beautifully, while BackCountry Navigator flashes black and white as you move the map, which creates a jarring and unsatisfying map experience.

Though there are many capabilities that Gaia GPS has that BackCountry does not, it is this basic map display disparity that makes Gaia GPS obviously better on launch. BackCountry Navigator’s developer will have a hard time matching the smooth, openGL-based maps Gaia now offers.

Sync, Share, and Backup with GaiaCloud

The biggest feature difference that sets Gaia GPS aside from BackCountry Navigator is that Gaia GPS works across all of your devices (Android, iOS, and computer).

Similar to DropBox, you can share a short link to any track, waypoint, or photo, and browse your data online at cloud.gaiagps.com. And if you enable GaiaCloud, getting a new Android phone or dropping your smartphone in a river doesn’t wreck your tracks.

Better Maps

Gaia GPS has many map sources that you cannot get in BackCountry Navigator. For example, Gaia includes MapBox cloudless aerial and up-to-date road maps, which we license for use in GaiaPro. Gaia also includes Inland River Charts, Geology Maps, and National Park visitor maps. We are always working to add more public land, charts, boundaries, and other professional map sources to our catalog.

Also, while you have to purchase map packs like “Alaska Public Land” from BackCountry Navigator, Gaia conveniently makes all of this public data available to you without a hassle. You can always view all of the maps we make and license online for free, use them in the apps, and you can view them in layered fashion with a GaiaPro subscription.

Why Gaia GPS Overtook BackCountry Navigator

Bottom line, Gaia GPS performs better than BackCountry Navigator today because we put more effort into Gaia GPS than Crittermap does into BackCountry Navigator. We started out on iPhone, and we focused on making the best iPhone GPS app for years. While we did that, we outsourced the Android development.

As of May, we brought Android development in-house, and we made it our #1 priority. We put nearly 1,000 work hours into Android since then, and we’re not slowing down. Those work hours mostly come from an engineer who last worked at Google for 4 years (CTO and Founder Anna) and our lead developer Jesse, who besides being a great programmer, thru-hiked the Pacific Crest Trail.

Conclusion

If you start looking into what outdoor GPS app your should buy for your Android, you’ll see several choices come up on Google, including Gaia GPS and BackCountry Navigator. Choose Gaia GPS if you want the best app, and choose BackCountry Navigator if you want the old leader.

I could list a bunch of other features, like weather overlays and heads-up display that you won’t find in BackCountry Navigator either, but it’s really the core mapping and data capabilities that will make Gaia GPS better than BackCountry Navigator over the long haul.

January 8, 2014
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