What Is The Best Topo Map App For iPad

[PathAway]

PathAway for Android

In addition to PathAway for iOS, in November 2011 we released PathAway for Android.

It's available on http://pathaway.com or on Android Market.

The Express Edition supports all PathAway maps including maps generated from Touratech-QV and Fugawi. Data Import/Export GPX, KMZ, KML is also included.

 

[RobRed]

Motion X is the best offroad nav app and they have improved the download speed (v16.5) but it's still time consuming - mainly due to the map supplier's servers. v18 (already out for iphone version) has Bing terrain, sat, road and hybrid maps that can be downloaded SUPER fast. The iPad will be getting this.

For pur USGS Topo look at Avenza PDF Maps. You can download a USGS map in about 20 Seconds and have it for you trip. The maps are Geospatial and show your postion on them. It has the ability to waypoint and some other basic nav features.

I use a combination of the above.

 

[Lostmanifesto]

I got the Bad Elf and Emprum GPS pucks for Xmas and plan on reviewing them both soon. I have found Gaia GPS to be a great app for offline maps. You can download various types of maps from topo to google satellite to street, track, mark waypoints, watch your speed, lat/lon, upload GPX files and more. I have one unit on my iPad and the other on my iPhone. So far they both work identically well. Found my location within a few feet in seconds.

 

[kattie00]

I will vote for Topo maps. Going perfect with me.

 

[Ryan_S]

Haven't had much time with MotionX GPS, but it looks like the interface is similar to MotionX Drive, which means it is absolutely horrendous.

Trying to do even the most simple tasks while driving is a life threatening experience. I gave up using to search for anything and instead use the Google Maps app or Google Places.

Don't know if it's better on the iPad, but the iPhone version seems to have every menu exactly where you wouldn't expect it. And any of the functions you will actually use have smaller buttons than the lesser used features. They also attempted to redesign the iOS for standard menus and option selections, and have failed miserably.

I guess the only positive is that it was only $0.99.

 

[Triumphdog]

I went to my local Apple Store. I had a few questions about the Ipad. While there I asked a tech guy (customer service rep) if the GPS that is built into the Ipad works without WIFI/3G/4GLTE service. He seemed to think the GPS wouldn't function without signal from one of the three. Is it possible to get trackable GPS service while in the Mts/desert. Most of the places I go there is very little to no cell service. Would I need to buy a seperate GPS (antenna) to use the Ipad as GPS unit? I'm very interested in using an Ipad as my navigation, but if I can't use the GPS aspect of the Ipad in remote places I might as well buy a traditional GPS. Not to mention REI is having their member appriciation on Fri. March 23. 20% off any 1 item. Plus I have $200 in dividens. Might be a no brainer!!

 

[reece146]

Apple needs to fire that "genius".

 

[Triumphdog]

Well, that "genius" asked a few other "geniuses" and they all seemed to agree the GPS wouldn't work without a WIFI/3G signal. I'm so confused!!

 

[reece146]

It works fine.

 

[grimbo]

Gps signal has nothing to do with wifi or 3G. Certain mapping apps require network feed to load maps so you need to ensure you either pre cache or get an app that allows for pre loaded maps.

 

[off-roader]

Just goes to show that those 'Geniuses' don't use the GPS function outside of cell coverage areas. I'd hazard a guess that 99.99% of iPad owners don't use it beyond cell coverage areas.

 

[evldave]

Just goes to show that those 'Geniuses' don't use the GPS function outside of cell coverage areas. I'd hazard a guess that 99.9993% of iPad owners don't use it beyond cell coverage areas.

Given that they sold 3 MILLION ipad 3's over launch weekend, and I'm guessing maybe 15 or 20 of those users took it out of cell service to track on GPS...I fixed your estimate for you

 

[RobRed]

The assumption that GPS doesn't work with out 3g/4g service by the genius is of course not true. It works fine. What doesn't work is A-GPS (Assisted GPS). The assisted portion does improve responsiveness of the mapping etc... but it's not a required to get great performance. I have been using an iPad for in-car/off-road navigation for 2 years with and without network signals.

 

[jCubed]

I love my iPad, I can't think of a better in vehicle "computer.". From maps, music, to movies, does it all well while sitting on my dash!

 

[onelow1ton]

I finally mounted my ram mount in the truck and tested the bad elf and motionX gps on my wifi only iPad 2 and was impressed with both