When it comes to smartphone vs GPS for hiking, it's safe to say that both options are great if you're looking for accurate directional data. Whether you use a standalone GPS or a smartphone's built-in GPS features really depends on what your purpose for a GPS is. What follows is a basic introduction and tutorial on using Gaia GPS (with a Gaia Premium Subscription) and a review on how I plan a hiking trip using the app, how to save maps to your phone for offline use, and tips and how to use the app while on the trail. Introduction With the advent of the modern smartphone, identifying and navigating a hiking trail has gotten easier and simpler. No longer tied to a physical map, both hikers and campers can identify and navigate their given trail with ease and can review the trail before even embarking on the trip. Garmin GPSMAP 64st is one of the best GPS Trackers for Hiking, Backpacking, and Geocaching. It comes with the all features you may need during your mountain exploration. It comes with the dual Navigation System: American Global Positioning System (GPS) and Russian GLONASS systems. This article discusses choosing and using handheld units for the outdoors. GPS units for vehicle navigation and fitness tracking are not covered here, nor are GPS-enabled satellite messengers that offer navigation features. This article does not cover phone apps and maps. Innovation in phone technology is rapidly mimicking traditional GPS Your smartphone can easily double as an excellent wilderness GPS device. It's constantly acquiring satellite signals even when cell range is miles away. With the right app, you can use this feature to your advantage by turning your phone into an affordable and reliable navigation tool. 3. Can I use my phone GPS for hiking? Absolutely! Your phone's GPS will work even while in airplane mode. You can see your precise location on any of the applications we listed here that have offline functionality. The first decision to make is whether you want to use a smartphone GPS app or get a standalone GPS device for hiking. Smartphone apps are convenient and cheaper than standalone devices, so they make the best budget GPS for hiking options and are awesome for beginner backpackers . Your GPS can be extremely helpful on your hike for three main reasons. These include: Trip planning Most GPS devices come with preloaded trail-plotting software and downloadable maps that'll help you establish waypoints, topographical hurdles, and routes. Can you use Google Maps as hiking GPS? Yes, you can use Google Maps as a hiking GPS. It is an effective tool for navigating your way through the wilderness and provides accurate directions to help keep you on track. rTmm.