Thanks for your thoughts, I guess I just don't understand the need for all this complication. I have never had a map turn off because of lack of power or a bad connection. I see it as a huge con. I am definitely in the minority.
Perhaps. But everybody's different and if you have found something that works for you there is nothing wrong with it. It is more important to get out and have a good time.
Perhaps I am a heretic but for a lot of trips there is no need for
any map or
any device. On many well-marked routes the only navigation tools you'll really need are your eyes.
For me the huge deal-killers on a paper map are that (1) they can be heavy and bulky on a long trip, especially if they have sufficient detail to be useful, and (2) chances are they are seriously out of date by the time they are published. And usually the places where you'll need or want a lot of detail are also exactly the places where they are likely to be out of date.
The other place where maps like the ACA maps really lose me is that if you are faced with a significant reroute or change of plans basically you are left with no useful maps at all. And for myself "change of plans" is pretty much normal operating procedure.
If you frequently find yourself in a maze of poorly marked roads with no good reference points you'll probably want a GPS or phone with decent maps stored offline. For obvious reasons depending on online mapping is a very bad idea.
The better Garmin GPSes have enormous battery life and pretty good offline maps that are frequently updated. I think Garmins have horrid ergonomics but it is kind of a pick your poison deal.
An iPhone in airplane mode can usually run just fine for three or four days. If you use a decent mapping app like ONX Backcountry with offline maps you can puzzle out your location and how to get to where you want to without too much effort.
I use a Hammerhead Karoo, which has superb ergonomics but poor battery life (though so far always enough to cover a day's ride) and their OSM maps, while adequate in built-up areas are seriously inadequate in more remote areas. But the better ergonomics and turn-by-turn directions (when I need them) make up for the weaknesses of the gadget.
Generally turn-by-turn directions on any bike computer or phone are voracious consumers of your battery. So only use it when you really think you need it.
In any event you'll want a decent battery pack to charge your gear up, or in the (mostly) unlikely event you run your device battery out.
My perspective on this is that I seldom slavishly follow
anybody's route and am usually putting together my own routes and my own trips. Often these trips are in more remote (sometimes much more remote) areas and involve challenging terrain and confusing routefinding on poorly marked roads. So of a necessity it is a very different toolset than most other cyclists might use.
