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Locus Map Pro - Outdoor GPS navigation and maps?
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Popularity Score: 24
This app was mentioned in 27 comments, with an average of 1.78 upvotes
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Locus Map Pro and the in-app maps called LoMaps. Absolutely indispensable for trekking, hiking, or international offline travel/navigation. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=menion.android.locus.pro
Agreed. I use an Android app named Locus Map Pro that uses open street maps, open cycling maps, USGS topo maps, etc and stores all data locally. Allows me to keep track of mileage and other stats and I don't have to worry about Strava (or whatever company) using my data in ways I don't like.
The Moto Z Play's positioning is flawless, the best I have ever seen. Perfect reception even indoors or under the thickest of clouds. And Galileo support is coming to improve it even more.
In addition to its essentially unbeatable battery life, I see little reason why it wouldn't make the perfect backpacking companion (in a nice, durable case). While it has no water resistance certification, this video suggests that water damage won't be much of an issue either:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxvLKskmkg8
Locus Maps Pro is on sale at 50% off right now, just grab it, download some offline maps and you should be ready to go.
I use Locus Pro when backpacking a lot. You can mark points, import coordinates/routes/etc, and it comes with a lot of map options (like USGS topo maps) for offline use.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=menion.android.locus.pro
Locus Pro - it does everything I need it to and a lot more. Records tracks, points, and can display thousands of points all at once.
The Suunto devices have really appealed to me, but I haven't developed the "need" to get one yet (just a very erect "want"). probably because I've been so burned by Garmin. I've been navigating and taking tracks with devices since early 2000s with a Garmin foretrex 201. then a 305, then later a 210... and I can tell you, that despite my best efforts to like their devices... I hate Garmin products now. every single one of those devices was crap for battery life (never met advertised results, and deteriorated quickly to short duration and random shutdowns, often leaving me with 1/2 a track. Last year, my significant othe got a 620 (against my recommendation) and she used it three times for running, before getting so frustrated with the random freezes, and twitchy, non-responsive UI, that she never used it again, saying "get that thing out of my sight." Never again, Garmin. Usually, I can tolerate the bad user experience, if the function (logging, navi, etc) is still happening. but those unnoticed freezes and 3 hour battery durations, are just deal-breakers... on top of it's horrible hardware interface, there is a terrible software web app, that will leave you completely frustrated, too. fuck Garmin.
That said... I've found a great solution (for me). Bluetooth HRM like Wahoo that will pair with your phone. I carry my android phone on trips with excellent, configurable mapping/navi/tracking/fitness app called Locus Pro and I have all the stuff I need, including offline maps, navi, configurable battery drain (airplane mode and smart gps usage), and very clean UX. So, i don't have to buy the current latest crap that Garmin is selling.
Bottom line, extend your phone. or buy a Suunto.
My favourite is Locus Map. There's a free and paid version.
Google Maps does still make you manually download areas. Locus you have to manually download as well, but you can get much larger areas. You can download areas from here. There are others sites that host .map files as well but that's where I get mine.
If you're on Android (which solves your GPS device problem as well), there's an app called Locus that I have been using for years. It allows planning, recording, saving maps for offline use, etc. It's served me well for hiking, geocaching, and driving. I think the full version is a one time $5 charge. Totally worth it.
Edit: Locus Maps Pro. It's actually $7.50. Still worth it.
I use Locus Pro as my go to. Has a track recording feature that works really well, and is also my go to geocaching map application.
I personally recommend an android app called Locus Pro, it's a little expensive but worth every penny, never needed a cycling GPS. I use a Roswheel phone holder with a portable phone charger inside. This is assuming you have an android device with GPS, but I have saved myself a lot of money using this setup and I just thought I'd share :)
If you're on Android, get Locus Maps Pro.
It's very heavily featured and takes some effort to learn, but well worth it. You can load maps from dozens of sources, or buy them once (not a subscription) from their store for very cheap.
It has rich topographical features, route planning, overlays and map stitching, navigation and guiding, and so much more.
Depending on where you are in the world, OpenCycleMap might be a viable option. I use it with Locus Map Pro on Android. The result is not perfect, but it's better than Google Maps at least for my use case.
You can make offline maps using Mobile Atlas Creator and view them on your phone using Locus Map.
I really like Locus Pro (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=menion.android.locus.pro) for my navigation. It's been updated in a regular basis for years and supports over a dozen different types of offline maps from around the world.
If you need something simple and off-the-shelf for collection of waypoints and tracks, then Locus Map Pro is pretty decent. It's less than $8 for the pro version and supports loading offline maps. I tested it in the field for a small archaeological project last year, and it worked pretty well. If I recall, it stores your points and lines as KML files. There's a free version to try out, too.
Maverick Pro offers much the same experience, but I found Locus to be a more robust application.
I used these in conjunction with ODK Collect with custom forms. If GeoODK had been out then, I would have been all over it.
I've been through quite a few and have found the most convenient combination noted below. This is for hiking and cycling in Australia and overseas and is particularly useful for importing existing routes, changing route on the fly and creating new routes - all without a computer (just phone).
The main app is the Locus android app. I use the Pro, but used the free one for quite a while.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=menion.android.locus.pro&hl=en_AU
To get the maps, you don't use the in-app purchase system, just visit OpenAndroMaps on your phone browser and they give links to maps for each region, specifically for the app. It opens the app and lets you know new content is being download. This gives you OpenStreetMap data with contours and hillshade etc for each region, State or Country.
https://www.openandromaps.org/en/downloads
There are settings that allow you to change the 'map themes' which use different colour and line thickness etc, to prioritise hiking, driving etc using the same map data. There are a lot of options here to get the maps looking just how you like, so you aren't stuck with any colour schemes that don't suit your hiking gear!
For navigation, there is a plugin called BRoute, in the Locus App, which allows offline routing for walking, cycling and driving. It's in the settings menu and installs a small companion app that runs seamlessly inside Locus.
This lets you create routes that follow features in the maps, or you can just do manual (point to point) routing for draft distances, or manually skip areas where the trail isn't complete on the maps.
If you want to import a particular GPX, just browse to it on your phone browser and when you try to open it, let you open Locus and import the track. It allows you to store each one in custom collections, so you can keep things organised. You can even go back into the editor and modify and split tracks to suit your needs.
Anyway, it's all free, without any subscription, and you just need to decide if the ~$11 Locus Pro version is worth it for you.
One very helpful feature, deep in the settings, is to allow the proximity sensor to black out the screen, via a double wave. You just wave your finger over the front-top of the screen to turn the screen on and off. This really helps if you have password or fingerprint lock, so you can do it with gloves, in the rain etc. Using the double wave, it will only unlock between the map and screen off, so you can maintain your normal security settings.
Anyway, this combination has been very useful so far and I hope it helps someone out there.
Happy Trails !
Are you going to be using GPS hardware for creating tracks or using mobile devices? If the latter, and on Android, a similar question for biking was asked on /r/fossdroid awhile back and I suggested the following options that I knew of:
- AAT - Another Activity Tracker website / AAT @ F-Droid
- Trekarta Website / Trekarta @ F-Droid
- FitoTrack @ Codeberg
- OpenTracks @ F-Droid / OSM Dashboard for OpenTracks @ F-Droid
- BikeComputer @ F-Droid (Speed/Distance stats only)
- BRouter (for routing)
Full thread HERE. The user looking for an app liked FitoTrack best, but Trekarta might be better for hiking. If you want a robust GIS outdoor app and you don't need FOSS for the Android side, I recommend Locus Map Pro 3.xx series. It has loads of offline maps and is feature packed. Version 4 is subscription based.
Most are pure Android apps, but you could potentially sync your data to self-hosted storage. BRrouter has a web client that might be worth testing if you need a desktop option.
Again, this list was aimed at biking so not all are going to be usable for hiking, I just copied and pasted.
I've tried Nav for Google maps before and found it to be buggy/wasn't updating properly. It just parses the Google maps notification so isn't too accurate. Would highly recommend that people on Android look at Locus map instead.
Links:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=menion.android.locus.pro
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=info.wearsoft.locus.addon.ciq
It's not available on iOS I'm afraid though: https://docs.locusmap.eu/doku.php?id=manual:faq:locus_for_ios
Locus maps can do this. Not really a data collection app though.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=menion.android.locus.pro
I'd recommend locus maps pro. Its a wonderful app that works wonderfully for offline maps and tracking where you have been with lots stats on the walk.
OFFLINE maps
- whole WORLD - OSM based vector LoMaps with switchable themes for summer, winter, road or city use - first THREE MAPS ARE FOR FREE
- United States - NeoTreks trail maps
- Switzerland - famous quality SwissTopo maps
- Germany, Austria - Kompass, Outdooractive Summer and Winter, Freytag-Berndt
- United Kingdom - Ordnance Survey Opendata
- Poland - Compass
- support of SQLite, TAR, MBT, GEMF, Orux or RMAP formats
- support of own OpenStreetMap data or custom map themes
Tracks&Routes
- records your tracks and stores their stats
- plans your trip or workout routes
- imports/exports routes/tracks from/to various formats (KML, KMZ, GPX...) and web services (Strava, Runkeeper, GPSies, Google Earth, Freelogbook.biz etc...)Tracks&Routes
- records your tracks and stores their stats
- plans your trip or workout routes
- imports/exports routes/tracks from/to various formats (KML, KMZ, GPX...) and web services (Strava, Runkeeper, GPSies, Google Earth, Freelogbook.biz etc...)
How does that compare to Locus?
Locus Pro.... Best of all... trust me... https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=menion.android.locus.pro&hl=en just look at the ratings...