TheSamba.com :: View topic - Off-road apps anyone?

Thu Apr 24, 2025 9:54 am

Looking for anyone with experience with any of the popular off-road apps.
I'm not talking about a dedicated onboard sat-nav system.

I'm planning a 3 day 2 night trip end of June to visit the summit of Hull Mountain and explore the surrounding remote wilderness around Lake Pillsbury, CA.

I want to try out an app but not sure which one?

Location sharing is a plus as the group also wants to try out the app as well.

OnX ?
Gaia ?
Etc...

I've been up in this area many times riding dirt bikes when I was younger but that was 15+ years ago.
We'll be sticking to fire roads for this trip. Est ~80mi of light-moderate off roading throughout the trip.
For anyone interested in joining, PM me for details. Not a VW specific adventure.

Thu Apr 24, 2025 10:23 am

I use Gaia routinely with pretty good luck. It can be a little clunky sometimes but it is generally user friendly for me.

Thu Apr 24, 2025 11:01 am

I've never had the need to use any of the apps. Its a lot more fun to navigate using paper forestry maps. Just for the hell of it we thought it would be fun to try an app out.

In my opinion paper maps for navigation make you pay attention more to your surroundings vs a screen telling you which way to go. They also don't require a signal or batteries.

Thu Apr 24, 2025 11:08 am

I have always referred to myself as an analog guy trapped in a digital world. My description of Gaia as being clunky is most likely a reflection of my condition.

Nothing wrong with a good old paper map on land or chart on the water.

Thu Apr 24, 2025 11:38 am

I been known to go to GOOGLE Maps and select routes I'm interested in and then print out "pages" for that route and put them in a sequence folder.... As I don't have a cell phone to run APPS. and WIFI for my tablet is not really a solution.... Satellite views are great for routes....

Thu Apr 24, 2025 12:23 pm

I've used OnX a few times and it seems good. My 4x4 friends really like it.

-Joe

Thu Apr 24, 2025 12:38 pm

I've been reading reviews of people's experiences in the overlanding community. There's pro/con for each app.
General sense is OnX is easier to use out of the gate but less overall route planning/map information.
Gaia is more in depth for route planning with lots of layers but a steeper learning curve.

I'm all for ease of use.

Thu Apr 24, 2025 7:32 pm

I like Onx. If you buy the extra upgrade It has the property lines so you now your on BLM land.

Its also nice if you have an annoying coworker bragging about all the property's they own. (when you never asked)You can go why do they have your Moms name listed and its not in a trust? Then you can show them your house with your name listed as sole owner. :lol:

Sat Apr 26, 2025 7:37 am

We use Polaris Ride Command a lot.

Don't have a SxS...will never own a SxS....

But the app is free.

You can add other riders and see where they are.

Here in Michigan it shows you the trails.

Maybe worth a download just to check it out ?

Dan

Mon Apr 28, 2025 6:17 am

Dan,
Thanks for the bit on Polaris Ride. Ill tell my buddies to check that out too.

Mon May 26, 2025 10:37 pm

I like Avenza, you can download all of the Forrest service maps free as well as some pretty elaborate maps.

Tue May 27, 2025 11:38 am

I've had the Rambl app on my phone for awhile. I've looked at others but they all seem to be lacking in different areas.
Honestly, I must be getting too old because I just don't see the need for apps. I get the idea and being able to share a route with someone else is really cool. But usually I find after monkeying around with the app a few times I get annoyed at how much I'm looking at a phone and not driving.

Screw apps and the phones they rode in on!
Get off my lawn!