Offline Maps for Apple Watch - No Phone Needed!

[@Hikingguy]

Big thanks to the developers for answering some questions: 0. Goose is simple goose ) As they are considered great travellers, so we actually style the graphics a bit to reflect the goose theme ) 1. You can actually scroll the elevation map left and right if needed. 2. We have a snap-to-the-route mechanism in place, so small GPS jumps will not affect the cursor, that's why you need to go far enough from the route to be considered out. Another possible reason is GPS glitch. 3. We are not using a compass right now as our tests showed that it can be a bit unreliable on the Watch. But we are thinking about the ability to use it with a disclaimer. 4. Our goal is to create the good old general purpose offline world-wide maps, but for Apple Watch. That does not mean that you can't do hiking - you can - but some specialised pro-app may be more feature-rich in that. So, you can actually search for different things - urban or not - like the water category that incorporates sources of drinkable water. Also you can use text search instead of clicking the category and thus eliminating any limitations. 5. Our turn-by-turn notifications (if not disabled) are for the mode with the screen switched off. 6. We are planning to add an ability to load and export tracks in the future.

[@NemoNobody0]

If it would be paid (single time payment) it would be interesting, as it is a subscription service I keep looking for an alternative

[@twizzlestix9309]

@@NemoNobody0 you’ll never find one. It costs money to maintain apps and typically for a service like this the dev has to pay fees to the mapping service to use the api. So they will always have to charge so they can cover those costs. Only other alternative is they could bombard you with thousands of ads in a horribly obnoxious attempt to cover costs which would most likely result in loss of costumers due to a terrible user experience.

[@stanmakowski1985]

Never had a Apple watch, long time Garmin user. Question about the Ultra 2. If I have the watch only, no extra phone plan can I still use the GPS feature and will I get a map like with a Garmin? Thanks for any information and insight. I really know nothing about the Apple watch other than videos I've watch but looking for options to Garmin.

[@Hikingguy]

No, if you don't have an iPhone, don't even go near the AW, check out other options like Amazfit TRes or a Coros, they'll be a much better match.

[@StalwartMan]

Thank you, this app works so good.

[@jakeva9802]

Wonder how the battery life is when using. I bet it’s not good.

[@GunnarGarness]

Would love to hear your opinion of Gaia GPS. Not only does it let you download offline maps in multiple flavors (including national park maps which are beautiful) but it allows you to plot your hikes on thew web site, a phone or an iPad. So its seems quite flexible. The download process to get offline maps onto the Apple watch seems a bit finicky but it would be nice to hear how you feel it compares with other apps.

[@Hikingguy]

I have some videos and how-tos on Gaia GPS already on the channel, and will be reviewing it again. It's also recommended on my gear page ( hikingguy.com/gear/ ). The phone app is great but I had a bad time with the Apple Watch app. That was about a year ago. Stay tuned for an update on that and AllTrails

[@bonnierodriguez2316]

Thank you for sharing this. I have been waiting for a way to completely ditch my phone and just have the watch but I still need my maps.

[@ryansantrock7195]

Oh great, another app…. Wish some of the existing apps would update and allow for this. Already have a couple of apps (All trails and Gaia) but the last thing I want (but would love to be able to use my Apple watch like this) is to pay for another subscription and have a third app that I have to load with data before we head out on the trail.

[@Hikingguy]

Yea wish an app would just load a state or larger area for free. All the OSM data is there. At soem point someone will. That's the thing with the AW, you have to work / pay to recreate the Garmin experience. But you get all the front-country benefits that the Garmin just doesn't have.

[@apjapjapj3535]

Apple is so scattered with apps and sign ins and hassle whereas it’s all in one ecosystem with Garmin that you can access/ plan routes on your free Garmin web site that doesn’t force you to use an iPhone or iPad to see a editable summary of all your data. The button access, speed and maneuverability is far better than the Ultra; I’ve tried the Ultra many times over the past 2 years with the same frustrations and conclusion that Garmin Epix Pro continues to be my strong pick. @Hikingguy when is the Epix pro 51 review coming out? Thx.

[@villanuevafamily4]

Thanks for the info. I might consider getting an apple watch. I felt I should only get it if I can get good use out of it and getting maps in there is a nice deal.

[@Sometimes_Always]

This is what Garmin gets for having such a sh1tty UI experience... Considering this is early gen, if the progression continues to hold true, future revisions to the S/W are only going to make the user experience better and better. Thanks for reviewing this and providing such an in-depth review of the features!

[@jjlyon100]

personally i love the UI on my Garmin 🤷‍♀, i can use it completely with or without touch screen enabled which for me is a god send outdoors in rainy England! its also intuitive enough that i have sometimes used it without even looking at the screen, just using buttons alone from memory😂. i am also fond of having real sapphire glass that scratches at a level 8-9 instead of what ever sapphire apple apparently uses that scratches at a level 5-6 😅. might sound petty but in the UK we have so many low stone walls on very narrow paths, meaning its easy to scratch a watch screen if your not carful :) each to there own tho :)

[@JamesDavis-g8b]

⁠@@jjlyon100I can’t believe I’m about to defend Apple but this is a dumb comment. The Apple Watch does use real sapphire. It’s been tested both with a scratch test and a mineral detector. It scratches at an 8 with deeper scratches at a 9…. Just like sapphire glass should. Second off the UI on garmins are not great. Sure you can use it enough to memories it but that doesn’t make it fantastic. I knew girls in high school who could text off an old flip phone without looking at the buttons. That doesn’t mean those old cell phone had great UI by any means. Finally you live in the UK. You say you’re in the outdoors of England line it’s supposed to mean something. You’re on a small island. You can walk that far without hitting a city or an ocean. If you need gps to not get lost you have a problem. Try hitting the Smokey or Rocky Mountains. 😂😂😂

[@nostoneunturned6291]

Why is it so hard to make vector maps like WorkOutDoors? I’ve never found a good alternative to WorkOutDoors. I wish a proper mapping company would come along and do what Apple half heartedly does and give us a full fledge suite of outdoor maps that isn’t half baked. This apps nice, but not quite there for me.

[@Hikingguy]

It's really not the same as Workoutdoors. This is more about just having the maps loaded in case you need them, while Workoutdoors is about loading the map around your workout. This is helpful if you plans change (trail closed, fire, etc.) and you need to make some on-the-fly choices. Or if you just want to look at the map outside of your workout area.

[@ajpoe17]

@@Hikingguy In Workoutdoors, I thought you could select a whole area of map and download to your watch without it having to be focused around a workout?

[@Hikingguy]

@@ajpoe17 unless I'm missing something you have a route, then you can download maps for it

[@ajpoe17]

@@Hikingguy On your phone (I'm using an iPhone 15 Pro) in the Workoutdoors app, go into the maps tab at the bottom. Based on the instructions at the top, you hold on the map and then you can draw a rectangle as large as you like depending on how far you zoom out. It appears that it downloads that whole area and transfers it to the watch. I have not tested it by turning off my data yet. But, it seems as though you can download as much of the map as you want without a route.

[@Hikingguy]

@@ajpoe17 YES! Thank you for pointing that out. Maps aren't routable but still very useful.

[@yecombinator]

Doesn't the latest Apple Maps give you offline maps support? I downloaded maps for all of California on my phone and seems to work on my ultra 2 when in airplane mode.

[@Hikingguy]

You need to have your phone with you, this works with the watch alone

[@RolandKoller90]

This is great to know. Considering if you’re going out hiking you’re likely bringing a bag. Which your phone will be in your bag.

[@tomward2577]

How do you delete/remove maps from your watch so that you can preserve space? Great video btw thank you!!

[@vs200712]

Excellent video. I see that you have mentioned that you’re running this app on AWU2. Is it not good on AWU1 due to a different CPU and the brightness is at 2000nits?

[@johneville_bastard]

AWU1 and AWU2 benchmark close to exact same - it works perfectly fine on AWU1.

[@Hikingguy]

Should be same on AW1

[@LIMLIMLIM111]

It's crazy after you pay 1000 for the watch, you still need to pay some more to get the map downloaded lol

[@CC-en2lj]

Apple now has offline maps via their maps, as well as Topo for popular areas and adding new constantly. Not as good as CalTopo or WorkOutDoors or footpath yet but it’s getting there very fast.

[@snusmumriken232]

Would really love the ability to just download my entire state map tiles directly onto my Apple Watch natively. On iOS, I have started using Organic Maps for this purpose, works great IMO but no Watch component.

[@DeeKay1911]

Especially considering the Ultra have a ton of storage - would be nice

[@Hikingguy]

this is the closest thing to being able to download the state that I've found so far

[@brucelin5842]

Is there anyway that u can use offline maps to navigate like Garmin without your phone and shows elevation and heart rate etc?

[@CC-en2lj]

Yeah this app that’s in the video

[@Walter-uy4or]

When offlline, is Goose Maps using the satellite function? How else would it know where you are going? Nice video.

[@Hikingguy]

It uses GPS but not a data connection

[@Walter-uy4or]

@@Hikingguy Seems that gives it an advantage over a Garmin where one needs to preload trip, no?

[@mykoc-hx1nx]

No@@Walter-uy4or

[@janmasek699]

​@@Walter-uy4orAbsolutely not.

[@Hikingguy]

@@Walter-uy4or yes Garmin much better with preloaded maps

[@davidkipperman5218]

Thanks for the info. Apple just doesn't want to be Ultra! 😎

[@pangeransulfahmi4749]

Whats the name of app in appstore?

[@isaacvff]

Wow looks good!! do you know if there is also topo maps for outside of USA, i.e. Mexico?

[@Hikingguy]

I'd download the trial and see if it has what you need

[@ezikkiel]

Subbed for Goose B roll

[@stevek4449]

Question, does Apple Watch work with Garmin messenger app? Currently have InReach Garmin map GPS 67i messenger and iPhone 15 pro max. Can messages be forwarded from GPS to phone to Apple Watch? Have solar battery backup and have fenix 7 solar, but I like the Apple Watch interface. Scenario: off grid, no cellular connection. Messenger device to send and receive messages and map location as well as to iPhone via messenger app interface for composing messages and bigger screen for map via messenger app. Can Apple Watch display topographic map in its messenger app and messages as they come in to Garmin InReach device to phone to watch?

[@Hikingguy]

There's no Garmin Messenger app for AW but you can get notifcations on the AW

[@stevek4449]

@@Hikingguy interesting, how one brand spites the other quietly. Well I guess there is All trails or featured app you mentioned and I can use the phone for the messaging part and bridge the trails either by gps and phone or a trails app for phone and watch. Thanks.

[@Hikingguy]

@@stevek4449 Yea they do the minimum to be on the platform, but really nothing more unless it's in their ecosystem.

[@RXP91]

Can't say I can move away from Garmin with this. I need the compass with the types of routes I take (bush whakcing, off trail etc.). I also find the zooming in and out of the Garmin increadibly quick. It doesn't have fancy transitions but it just works fast. If AW ever support full offline, routeable, compass enabled maps ala Garmin I'd be more likely to jump. But until then I'm sticking with my Forerunner 955 until that happens

[@CC-en2lj]

Doesn’t Apple allow this now? Sorry if I’m missing something

[@ingloriouspancake7529]

Interested in Apple Maps offline maps with iPhone not really a problem because I’d take my phone anyway

[@applejuicegg2511]

Does it still working

[@Hikingguy]

yes

[@wendyamsterdam8482]

5:11 On my iPhone (since ios17) I have that exact same problem when I use apple maps while walking. The location is stuck

[@Hikingguy]

Interesting wonder if it's a location services thing from the OS, thanks for letting me know

[@wendyamsterdam8482]

@@Hikingguymust have been a bug, it is fixed in 17.1

[@InsEngineered]

Did you try FATMAP in your Apple Watch?

[@Hikingguy]

didn't know they had a watch app - also they were bought by Strava

[@cjclose6594]

I have a Garmin tactix delta solar. I have preload maps on my watch. It’s super quick. Don’t need to download any maps on my watch period. Battery life smokes an ultra. Don’t need to take my phone period. Was looking at an ultra but it’s not for me.

[@yams900]

Just my fear, can you trust in the Australian Outback ?

[@Hikingguy]

the AW is more for casual users - for a more hardcore option I'd go with a Garmin

[@Littkickks]

Is it better then footpath

[@Hikingguy]

Different, Footpath has map for a workout, this has a preloaded area independent of any route / GPX

[@rotvaldi]

Its a subscription model app utilizing open source map data, without mentioning the open source project. No

[@Hikingguy]

Please give me an alternative that has offline routing

[@rotvaldi]

@@Hikingguy Workoutdoors has improved a lot.

[@jjlyon100]

Meh, just get Garmin 🤣

[@vpnconsult]

This ❤

[@johneville_bastard]

This is exactly why I sold my AWU, and bought a Fenix lol

[@JamesDavis-g8b]

Yes, because I want to drop over a grand for Garmin with GPS and compatible scuba diving just to not have a full time watch to have with my phone 😂😂😂😂

[@jjlyon100]

​@@JamesDavis-g8b 1 - most of them don't cost over a grand 2 - there are many outdoor reasons having a phone is pointless. my Garmin watch is connected full time to my phone 😂unless i'm in an area ware my phone makes no sense or cant get a signal, then i'm glad my Garmin doesn't require a phone 🤣 silly

[@slick6227]

If your only use is Mapping, Fine. The problem is the other Nice features you can get with a Apple watch

[@shanolek]

paid? no thanks.