Navigation device or Smartphone?

[Blue Hills]

Kosong, I can unreservedly recommend osmand on android. Five map downloads for free I think to allow you to test it. If you pay a fiver or so you have unlimited map downloads and updates for life. Works offline and can even calculate routes offline. I use a garmin for navigating (prefer for all sorts of reasons) but I also carry a very humble 7 inch tab with osmand on it. You can put gpx files onto the app so that you can have a big pic of your full route on the map with the garmin taking care of the on ride turn by turn instructions. The app uses osm data so very detailed and up to date.

 

[Kosong]

Thanks @Blue Hills! I'm going to download that shortly and check it out...does it not deal with navigating you there or is it more to be used as a map?

 

[Blue Hills]

It will live navigate you there I think but I never use it for that. Prefer the garmin for live navigating on the bike. It will though as I said produce routes offline - slower than online I think and maybe depends on distance. But offline route generation does work - have used it in my tent and I don't use a smartphone. It is very configurable, particularly in the POIs you can get it to show. Some a bit dodgy as I recall somewhere in its murky depths

It can get a bit of getting used to so I would fiddle with it awhile before setting of on a tour.

The paid for unlimited version is called osmand plus. Same as the free one I think apart from having unlimited map area downloads.

Maps way better than google I think. And unlike google offline maps, no need to renew them frequently to stop them disappearing. You just have the option to update your offline maps once a month but you don't have to.

 

[Kosong]

excellent! their Plus package is half price right now - I'm going to have a play around with it the next few days, sadly i have no time to get out on the bike as im at work for the next few weeks but will most likely grab the full version if it turns out to be a useful looking app. for £4 you can't go wrong really!

 

[Blue Hills]

Used to be a fiver, a year or so ago in a real bargain promo it was £2.50.

It's gone up?

If it is a genuine half price I'd grab it now -their offers are usually limited I think.

There are other bolt-ons you can pay more for but they are pretty specialist and I've never bothered - for a very modest sum you get lifetime updated maps for anywhere you are likely to pedal.

Be nice if you could report back on your impressions of it Kosong.

 

[Kosong]

I will do indeed - I'm planning on doing my annual cycle from Bristol to London in a few weeks providing the weather isn't absolute rubbish so I'll get back to you then!