Gaia is fabulous, been using it for years as my primary route tracking and exploration app. While the interface could use a little polish in some small areas, it's capabilities are excellent and I like to use it (both on the desktop and mobile) to plan out my routes in advance, then download the maps and my preplanned routes, and then use it in the field to track my progress and know exactly where I am and what waypoints I might want to explore. The various layers in the Premium are super useful, I like to include both Top and Satellite and the weather overlays are great to have.
That's a significant price increase! It's always good to explore other options like Garmin if it fits your needs better. Prior to this I would use gpx.studio to plan my routes and then upload them into my garmin watch. works really well
Great video mate very informative 👍 So tossing up between this Gaia and avenza and all trails....with avenza you buy the maps.and it works offline, with Gaia and all trails you pay a subscription and download the maps before you head out correct? As you and I stated before I'm not sure about all trails offline compared to Gaia but I gather all trails is for soft pony's not off track hikers like ourselves using Gaia 😅
Yep, with GAIA you can download their maps onto your phone prior to departure. I find their topographic maps to be as good as any others available. You can play around with the free version first which is what I did for some time before upgrading. GAIA has been fantastic for off track trips and we used it all the way through the Eldon Range.
@@mowsertas yeah nice....ok the price is overwhelming but avenza or all trails is alot cheaper I see but it's maybe cause of the topographic part maybe 🤔
@@TasHikingAdventures probably. If you already have Avenza and it works it is just as good and probably no hug advantage to switching and learning a new system.
@@mowsertas I mean the Gaia topographic looks better it's not like I cant afford it, I'm just use to avenza and all trails is only $30 a year I wouldn't mind testing it offline, I'll do a google search for Gaia offline vs all trails offline see what is there !
For simple route planning its ok. I tried to do multi week planning off road and the online planner was slow as fuck and it would sometimes mess up a long off road route when it wanted to snap to a trail/road. I just gave up after a while.
I'm glad you found the video helpful! Recently did a bit of a deeper dive which you can check out here: ua-cam.com/video/WJjWSVHCR0I/v-deo.htmlsi=BvMWQOk6sBr1GeMA
I'm sold! great vid highlighting the practical applications...only query is battery use? I heard "make sure you've downloaded the maps prior...and put phone in Airplane Mode" but I'm unsure how long I could use this app for before depleting the phone...(yeah, I know, newby question!🤣).
I have not noticed a difference in battery life when i have the app open while hiking and I have been taking a phone on every hiking trip since the dawn of smart phones. And I tend to be pulling out my phone all of the time for photos, video etc. I only use the GAIA app for reference/to check where i am in relation to my planned route and don't use it to record activities. It would be fine for a day walk but anything more than 1 night and i tend to always take a backup charging battery regardless. On my most recent 9 day trip with this app, i found the phone battery unaffected by app usage and as long as i had the phone in airplane mode, low power mode and powering it off overnight, i was generally able to get 2 days out of my phone between charges (at which point it was at about 30% battery).
@@mowsertas Ta for the comprehensive reply...as I suspected, it'll depend on the phone, the battery history...and the incidental usage...but really appreciate your clarification. Cheers!
I played around with a few apps too and like Land from TwoNav in combination with the TwoNav app (or device). It is very versatile and you can opt for buying separate card section (tiles ) Land also supports apps like Komoot, Strava, TrainingPeaks and Suunto
Hey - how do you get the waypoints you add to Gaia to come across on the GPX so when you load to Garmin watch it brings things across, e.g. campsites or other markings. Cheers
I don't tend to transfer waypoints/not use them on my watch and only use them within the app. I only export the routes/tracks created in GAIA. My understanding is that you would need to export each waypoint separately. Not 100% sure. Stay tuned as another more in depth video will be coming soon.
I have not noticed a difference in battery life when i have the app open while hiking and I have been taking a phone on every hiking trip since the dawn of smart phones. And I tend to be pulling out my phone all of the time for photos, video etc. I only use the GAIA app for reference/to check where i am in relation to my planned route and don't use it to record activities. It would be fine for a day walk but anything more than 1 night and i tend to always take a backup charging battery regardless. On my most recent 9 day trip with this app, i found the phone battery unaffected by app usage and as long as i had the phone in airplane mode, low power mode and powering it off overnight, i was generally able to get 2 days out of my phone between charges (at which point it was at about 30% battery).
I just used the 'record ' on a off track walk over Easter. It does use up more battery to do that. About 30% over 9 hours (included taking photos). New Samsung phone. Likebyou said, Mowser, Gaia doesn't seem to use significant battery if I just use it to check where I am or follow a route.
Great video, thanks! You asked what we might want more and I would love if you could show exactly how to prepare for using it downloaded if you're going to an area without cell phone service. I am not fully confident on how to do that and would like to make sure it works as it should when I do that kind of hike.
It’s be cool to see an AllTrails comparison, that’s been my goto of late for planning
Thanks for the idea!
I just said the same..mowser video incoming.....😂
Gaia is fabulous, been using it for years as my primary route tracking and exploration app. While the interface could use a little polish in some small areas, it's capabilities are excellent and I like to use it (both on the desktop and mobile) to plan out my routes in advance, then download the maps and my preplanned routes, and then use it in the field to track my progress and know exactly where I am and what waypoints I might want to explore. The various layers in the Premium are super useful, I like to include both Top and Satellite and the weather overlays are great to have.
Yep, I'm loving it. Wish I had found it sooner!
Their price jumped from $40 to $60 a year. I’m thinking about just buying a Garmin.
That's a significant price increase! It's always good to explore other options like Garmin if it fits your needs better. Prior to this I would use gpx.studio to plan my routes and then upload them into my garmin watch. works really well
Great video mate very informative 👍
So tossing up between this Gaia and avenza and all trails....with avenza you buy the maps.and it works offline, with Gaia and all trails you pay a subscription and download the maps before you head out correct? As you and I stated before I'm not sure about all trails offline compared to Gaia but I gather all trails is for soft pony's not off track hikers like ourselves using Gaia 😅
Yep, with GAIA you can download their maps onto your phone prior to departure. I find their topographic maps to be as good as any others available. You can play around with the free version first which is what I did for some time before upgrading. GAIA has been fantastic for off track trips and we used it all the way through the Eldon Range.
@@mowsertas yeah nice....ok the price is overwhelming but avenza or all trails is alot cheaper I see but it's maybe cause of the topographic part maybe 🤔
@@TasHikingAdventures probably. If you already have Avenza and it works it is just as good and probably no hug advantage to switching and learning a new system.
@@mowsertas I mean the Gaia topographic looks better it's not like I cant afford it, I'm just use to avenza and all trails is only $30 a year I wouldn't mind testing it offline, I'll do a google search for Gaia offline vs all trails offline see what is there !
For simple route planning its ok. I tried to do multi week planning off road and the online planner was slow as fuck and it would sometimes mess up a long off road route when it wanted to snap to a trail/road. I just gave up after a while.
Seems to work wellfor my hiking trips but I haven't tried it for any other activities as yet.
👑🔥
Thanks for the overview and tips in here, Mowser. Great video as always. Keen for a more in depth tutorial.
I'm glad you found the video helpful! Recently did a bit of a deeper dive which you can check out here: ua-cam.com/video/WJjWSVHCR0I/v-deo.htmlsi=BvMWQOk6sBr1GeMA
I'm sold! great vid highlighting the practical applications...only query is battery use? I heard "make sure you've downloaded the maps prior...and put phone in Airplane Mode" but I'm unsure how long I could use this app for before depleting the phone...(yeah, I know, newby question!🤣).
I have not noticed a difference in battery life when i have the app open while hiking and I have been taking a phone on every hiking trip since the dawn of smart phones. And I tend to be pulling out my phone all of the time for photos, video etc. I only use the GAIA app for reference/to check where i am in relation to my planned route and don't use it to record activities. It would be fine for a day walk but anything more than 1 night and i tend to always take a backup charging battery regardless. On my most recent 9 day trip with this app, i found the phone battery unaffected by app usage and as long as i had the phone in airplane mode, low power mode and powering it off overnight, i was generally able to get 2 days out of my phone between charges (at which point it was at about 30% battery).
@@mowsertas Ta for the comprehensive reply...as I suspected, it'll depend on the phone, the battery history...and the incidental usage...but really appreciate your clarification. Cheers!
You seem to have a whole team set for preparing trips! Definitely subscribing in hopes that you will upload additional tips soon. Thank you!
Yep! Lots more tips to come. Thanks for watching!
I wish the stats bar would appear on android auto. I use this app at work by marking km markers so I know exactly where i am for callouts.
Great vid. Would like to see you plan a route in the next video.
Noted! Coming soon! Thanks!
Fantastic video and explanation.
Great video. Seems like a lot of features are US only though, sucks for us Europeans.
Thanks! Yes the layering is very much US centric but even here in Australia I find it to be one of the better apps for navigation.
I played around with a few apps too and like Land from TwoNav in combination with the TwoNav app (or device). It is very versatile and you can opt for buying separate card section (tiles )
Land also supports apps like Komoot, Strava, TrainingPeaks and Suunto
Hey - how do you get the waypoints you add to Gaia to come across on the GPX so when you load to Garmin watch it brings things across, e.g. campsites or other markings. Cheers
I don't tend to transfer waypoints/not use them on my watch and only use them within the app. I only export the routes/tracks created in GAIA. My understanding is that you would need to export each waypoint separately. Not 100% sure. Stay tuned as another more in depth video will be coming soon.
Thanks for you video, but can you realize a comparison with koomot and outodoor activities?
Will add it to the list!
Does Gaia still burn through phone's battery like it used to?
I have not noticed a difference in battery life when i have the app open while hiking and I have been taking a phone on every hiking trip since the dawn of smart phones. And I tend to be pulling out my phone all of the time for photos, video etc. I only use the GAIA app for reference/to check where i am in relation to my planned route and don't use it to record activities. It would be fine for a day walk but anything more than 1 night and i tend to always take a backup charging battery regardless. On my most recent 9 day trip with this app, i found the phone battery unaffected by app usage and as long as i had the phone in airplane mode, low power mode and powering it off overnight, i was generally able to get 2 days out of my phone between charges (at which point it was at about 30% battery).
I just used the 'record ' on a off track walk over Easter. It does use up more battery to do that. About 30% over 9 hours (included taking photos). New Samsung phone. Likebyou said, Mowser, Gaia doesn't seem to use significant battery if I just use it to check where I am or follow a route.
Great video, thanks! You asked what we might want more and I would love if you could show exactly how to prepare for using it downloaded if you're going to an area without cell phone service. I am not fully confident on how to do that and would like to make sure it works as it should when I do that kind of hike.
Thanks! Will work on something that demonstrates that over coming weeks!
Zoom in on the map on the phone of the area you want to be in plus a bit to the sides if you see something you want to explore.
What a disaster HE DID NOT MENTION OR COMPARE ALL TRAILS.
This was not a comparison video. It was a video about GAIA gps