Author Topic: Best Android app for route planning, navigation and offline route recording?  (Read 12412 times)

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Offline juzzle

Hi all - I am heading out on some adventure cycling - Russia to Italy. I have been looking around for the best app for both route planning, navigation and offline route recording - on my list so far are:
  • Komoot - web interface is good providing you don't make too complex a route
  • OsmAnd - seems to have a clunky interface, doesn't always find destinations
  • MapMyRide - great route recording, but no route planning
I am happy to use one for navigation and separate app for recording (though I'd prefer not to since that will chew a lot of battery power)

There are a range of suggested apps on this page, though it's unclear of they only offer planning (and not route recording) - https://longhaultrekkers.com/the-best-offline-mapping-tools-for-cycle-touring/.

If you have experience with any of the above or in the link, do you have any thoughts?

Many thanks!

Offline RonK

Use your phone for route planning but not for navigation and tracking.

Get a GPS or cycling computer for navigation and tracking.

Your phone is your communication device - you want it to have plenty of battery power available in case you need to make an emergency call.
Cycle touring blog and tour journals: whispering wheels...

Offline juzzle

thanks @Ronk, fortunately I'll be packing a 20,000 MAh battery pack, so batteries running down wont be a problem - besides, I don't need another device to get stolen or have to charge.

For the benefit of others, these are the findings from other posts, so far:

  • Locus  - offline - plan, nav and record
  • OSmAnd - offline - plan, nav and record
  • Komoot - offline - plan, nav and record
  • Galileo - offline - nav, record
  • Maps.Me - offline - nav
  • MapMyRide - offfline - record
  • Sygic - offfline - nav
  • Strava - planning, recording

Offline RonK

thanks @Ronk, fortunately I'll be packing a 20,000 MAh battery pack, so batteries running down wont be a problem - besides, I don't need another device to get stolen or have to charge.
Touring through Russia? That may be a little optimistic.  ;)

Have you considered a dynamo hub?
Cycle touring blog and tour journals: whispering wheels...

Offline GusHauck

I've been trying to use my phone as a GPS system (an LG Escape 2) but the GPS signal is unreliable and intermittent. My use is strictly in the USA. The android apps I.m using are RideWithGPS (https://ridewithgps.com/), good for planning, navigation and recording; there's also Offline Maps & Navigation (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.navigation.offlinemaps.gps) which has downloadable offline maps of  just about everywhere; I also use some topo maps, but these are north america which won't help you out in Russia.

I was looking at the Garmin GLO, which is a GPS receiver that will communicate with a navigation devise, like a phone or tablet, via bluetooth. The attraction is that the screen on the LG phone is about 3x the size of the eTrex 20x.

Anyone have experience using the GLO with a phone?

Offline michael b

my wife and I recently did ACA's fingerlakes tour, and were encouraged to use the ride with GPS app on our phones.  The routes were planned and provided, and if downloaded (so no cell service required) seemed to use very little power. I was pleasantly surprised once I figured out the bells and whistles of the app.