Phone-as-GPS
Overview
Phone-as-GPS refers to using a smartphone loaded with offline maps and GPX data as a primary navigation tool during hiking.
Key points
- Requires downloaded maps and sufficient battery management.
- Offers multipurpose functionality for navigation, communication, and documentation.
- Accuracy depends on GPS hardware and environmental conditions.
- Often supplemented with a backup map and compass.
Details
Smartphones have become the most common navigation devices among long-distance hikers due to convenience and access to detailed maps. Effective use requires power management strategies such as airplane mode, external batteries, and protective cases. Although versatile, dependence on electronics means hikers often maintain redundancy using traditional navigation tools.
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Illustrative hiking footage
The following external videos offer general visual context for typical hiking environments. They are not official route recommendations, safety instructions, or planning tools.