When it comes to navigating a hiking trail, compared with 10 years ago we’re spoilt for choice. Numerous smartphone applications have carved out their niche since then. Visorando, VisuGPX, SityTrails, AllTrails are just the most well-known. These mobile applications – sometimes combined with a website – are often participative, allowing individuals to use trails posted by others: a kind of social network for hiking. You can plot trails on a map background, visualize routes, search for routes by region, and so on.
Before the emergence of these applications and sites, people used dedicated GPS-type handheld devices – similar to those in cars, but designed for use in the field, with pre-packaged maps and native functions in the device’s software. The aim of this short article is to propose a comparison between smartphone use and a Garmin GPSmap for navigating in the field and finding your way around etc.
The GPS device I’m referring to is the Garmin GPSMap 66, but the observations also apply to the 62 and 64.
Compare GPSMap vs Smartphone
| Criterium | Garmin GPSMap | Smartphone |
|---|---|---|
| battery life | 6-8 hr in normal use (tracking a walk) | depend on phone and screen usage time |
| battery type | 2 standard AA 1.5 v batteries (removable); can use rechargeables | sealed in device |
| data and privacy | location and usage data totally private | location and usage data transmitted to tech giants and hundreds of data brokers |
| dedicated desktop app | Garmin Basecamp (Windows) or Garmin Express (web app) | not required |
| device build quality | excellent, resists 1 m falls and water (but not full immersion) | depends on phone and case |
| form | rounded form fitting the hand | slab |
| loading tacks | connect USB to laptop and use Basecamp or File explorer | download from source and open in app |
| maps : look like IGN 1:25000 blue maps ? | no | yes if available in mobile app |
| maps : other sources | OpenStreetMap | yes , depends on mobile app |
| maps : price | Garmin maps are expensive. ex. 200 to 300 € for full France coverage | free apart from eventual app subscription fee |
| maps : source | Garmin | via mobile app |
| maps : visual aspect | Garmin style with 5 level of detail | different map layers available depending on mobile app |
| maps:loading | loaded via micro sd card inserted in device | loaded in realtime if mobile network available or downloaded in advance |
| native software | Garmin software provided with device | varies depending on app chosen |
| needs mobile network | no | yes to stream maps while hiking |
| precision : altitude | barometric or map based | depends on gpss chip in phone |
| precision : location (long/lat) | 3 metres | depends on gpss chip in phone |
| satnav networks accessible | gpss, glonass, galileo | gpss, glonass, galileo, + |
| screen brightness | good | depends on phone screen quality |
| software functions 1 | follow track | yes |
| software functions 2 | record track | yes |
| software functions 3 | navigate to destination | depends on app |
| software functions 4 | navigate on track | depends on app |
| software functions 5 | view altitude profile forward and behind | depends on app |
| software functions other | full gps functions, sighting, compass, barometer, clock, bluetooth connection to pair with HRM, wifi connection to share tracks, etc | depends on phone and app |
| touch screen interface | no | yes |
| usable in one hand | yes | depends on user |
| user interface | push buttons and thumb operated joystick | touch |
Which appliance to choose? This is very much a matter of taste. For long-distance routes through areas without network coverage, GPSMap will do the trick. For short outings in France, the phone will be preferable. If you’re a fan of IGN 1:25000 blue maps, you’ll want to go for the phone, because Garmin maps, while very readable, aren’t quite as “pretty”. Conversely, if you want a road companion that you can handle with just one hand, GPSMap is the way to go.
Final comment: If you don’t want to be geotagged by the tech giants and give priority to protecting your privacy, GPSMap will be your best choice.
Your view ?
