Map download app

[Melalvai]

My dad & I are planning a bike tour of Missouri in the spring and we can count on not having cell coverage for some (or most!) of the trip. I heard you can pay to download regions so that you don't have to have data or Wi-Fi, since the GPS should work anywhere. He's got an iphone. There are too many options and we're having trouble figuring out what we need. Any advice?

[rebeccaC]

For an iPhone app to download excellent up to date maps and record your ride the Gala GPS (full version) is good for riding, hiking or anything outside. Remember that using the iPhone’s GPS function uses more battery power than normal even when being used in the background. You may want to make sure of that with whatever app you use before you do the trip. Why not a Garmin etc.?

[Sylvia]

Remember that using the iPhone’s GPS function uses more battery power than normal even when being used in the background. ?

You might consider getting a portable battery recharger to take with you. I have one that I connect to my iPhone while I am riding. Mine has a usb connection so I just connect my iphone to it via my iPhone recharging cable. My iphone is mounted on my handlebars via a handlbar mountable case, the recharging cable then runs out the case and then connects to the recharger which I have in a bento bag.

[Melalvai]

An iPhone might not be ideal but that's what Dad has. :) We'll look into gaia gps-- that sounds like just the thing.
I'll keep that in mind about running the GPS. We might keep GPS off and just check in when we need directions or get lost.
If it can be turned off. With the android I had, there was no way to shut off the GPS. Except maybe airplane mode, I'm not sure.
We have a little solar recharger that helps a little. But I'm not too worried about that; we can always plug in when we stop at a grocery store and at the campgrounds.

Thanks!

[OakLeaf]

Yep. My phone, and the phone I had before that, were good for five hours from unplug to dead with the GPS on. That's *without* keeping the screen lit so as to use it for navigation. Now, I'm told iPhones have better battery life than HTC phones, but still I would strongly suggest a higher-capacity solar recharger and/or battery pack that can be used while riding, either from a handlebar mount or a long cable to the rear rack.

Traveling in and out of areas with low or no cell coverage will drain the battery really fast too, GPS or no. That's something a lot of people overlook.