One of the most frustrating (and lame) things I learned when researching GPS units was their crippled map capabilities. I really liked the features and price of the Garmins, but National Geographic TOPO (which, in my opinion, has the most comprehensive and powerful mapping tools) aren’t able to be displayed on the GPS unit’s screen.
Garmin has its own map software, but it’s overpriced, out of date, and missing giant chunks of hikers’ territories in the 1:24k resolution that’s best for the trail. Garmin’s MapSource TOPO West
It’s not easy, but a temporary solution is here — free, user-created, Garmin-compatible GPS maps.
The gearheads over at GPS Tracklog have put together a comprehensive list of sources and instructions on how to get some free 24k maps from the internets into your Garmin GPS. It requires a bunch of different web sites and a Windows freeware download, but hey — that’s what we hax0rs have to do when The Man doesn’t give us what we need, right?
Some of the map sites they link to have great, detailed maps of Sequoia and Kings Canyon, Yosemite, Lake Tahoe, and Lassen — but still no Angeles National Forest. So we’ve still got a ways to go.
Still, it’s free. So don’t complain.
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I recently got hit with the Garmin trap, and am pretty angry about it. My advice is – don’t buy it.
A question comes up for all of the map providers. How can they charge so much for what is largely public information. The U.S. Forest Service and various state parks use it for administration. We should be able to use freedom of information laws to get it without the high price.
Good for people to know.
I recently got a garmin as a gift. It seemed insane to me to pay ANOTHER $100 for good maps, I was pissed for a bit, then I researched and found:
http://www.miscjunk.org/mj/mp_main.html
which had good topos of Colorado. I also had to research to figure out how to use the garmin with a mac. Downloaded Garmin “Road trip” and installed the free mapset, viola…I can save and print images of my hikes with elevation plots and waypoints, plan future hikes or drives, and much more.
The map I currently have installed does not have trails on it, but oh well, I’ll always carry a paper map and compass just in case anyways. One thing is certain, I’ll never pay more.
I am looking for a new GPS if not Garmin which ohters would be good ???? Thanks Steve
I use pocket PC (an PDA) loaded with memory-map (a program) and a bluetooth GPS receiver. It worked the best I have to say. Forget those pricy GPS Garmins. With Memory-Map you pretty can load any map from any vendors into your pocket PC. Most cell phone has pocket PC version on the market. If not, you can get an used one for a very cheap price. Bluetooth GPS receiver price is dropping almost to nothing and with Memory-map, you got life-time upgrade. Can’t see any better deal than that.
I know nothing about GPS except that my son has a Magellan Triton 1500. He likes to hike in the Los Angeles forest and I want to surprise him for Christmas by downloading LA forest trail maps into his GPS. The Magellan website leads me to a Topo USA West, but after reading this page, I’m wondering if it will include what I’m looking for. Any recommendations or suggestions?