Tablet instead of a GPS.

[chrislane]

What do you all think of a tablet (bigger onboard battery) vs a phone or GPS? Bigger screen, bigger battery, etc. The only thing I would worry about is waterproofing it.

 

[larryschwartz]

If you just want more battery I would go with an external battery for an iPhone or buy some extra batteries or an external battery for your Android. But, the bigger screen is definitely a good idea, especially to see topo lines on a map, so I say go for it.

 

[mtnrunner260]

I just ordered a waterproof case for mine at work. I'm nervous that it will affect the touch screen but we will see.

 

[COlineman78]

I have a 2013 Nexus 7 that I bought off Groupon for $100. It is the 2nd brightest screen that has ever been on a tablet (which is a big deal for use in the outdoors). That being said, it is not for use as a GPS. I bought it for use with my bluetooth fish finder (Deeper) for when I go to Canada this year. Personally, I find my phone better and easier to use, but I am young and have descent eyesight (up close, blind as a bat without my glasses at distance). If you would prefer a larger screen than the Nexus 2013 7 is worth considering as it has the latest Android software and a very bright screen. I am not super worried about waterproofing, but might throw it in a ziploc bag when in my pack. The waterproof bags made for tablets are a little on the heavy and expensive side, but if you're worried about it then do it.

 

[Yellowknife]

My coworkers and I have a fair amount of experience now using iPads as GPS tools. We use LifeProof cases and large external batteries of various types to recharge them on the go. They are great for specific tasks, but are not in any way a replacement for a traditional GPS in our experience.

Positives:

Large moving map screen is ideal for "big picture" navigating. Particularly at speed (we use the from helicopter seats quite a bit).

Can cache sat imagery, which is great for "looking" over the next hill or treeline.

Some of the GIS/GPS programs allow for great data gathering, including taking extensive notes and photos attached to a waypoint.

Allows easy route testing. A few swipes a finger will lay out a potential route and show you the distance, elevation gain, etc.

Negatives:

Even with the latest OS that allows use of the GPS in airplane mode, they eat battery really fast when being used continuously. Takes a lot of juice to run that big screen. Phones have the same issue if used continuously.

No way to stick them in a pocket, so you are either holding it in your hand or putting it in your pack. Major pain when brush crashing.

Heavy. Particularly when you figure in the external battery pack large enough for a few tablet recharges.


Long story short, tablets are great work tools when gathering data is a first priority, but I would never consider one for hunting or backpacking. Just way too un-handy in the field.

 

[oldgoat]

I have considered my tablet for scouting, but too big for hunting. I use Backcountry Navigator and have it downloaded on both my phone and tablet and have used the tablet at home to get a bigger picture of what I was seeing in the field on my phone.

 

[larryschwartz]

Yellowknife brought up a good point about continuous use that bears repeating. You don't have to run your GPS on your phone/GPS/tablet ALL of the time. If you turn it on when you need to it will still work just fine. I use the GPS on my Android phone and just turn it on when needed. You don't need to follow your progress step by step when you are in the woods. Pick a landmark to move to and just check your location when you get closer if you need to, or to pick your next landmark.

 

[Yellowknife]

Ironically, with a tablet or phone it is sometimes it easier to plot a route, get bearings... and then use a stone age compass to nav with.

 

[larryschwartz]

Ironically, with a tablet or phone it is sometimes it easier to plot a route, get bearings... and then use a stone age compass to nav with.

That is pretty much what I do. I use my gps to see where on a paper map I am located, if I couldn't figure it out (like along a ridge line or the side of a mountain), and then use the map and compass together with terrain association to navigate.

 

[dangerousD]

Last year was my first year to go without a traditional GPS and go solely with my iPhone. I use Gaia GPS app, which was fantastic. Cached my topo and satellite imagery to the phone before my hunt. I don't think for me personally I would carry my tablet on a backpack hunt due to weight and battery life, but I don't have a problem with external battery packs to keep my iPhone charged up. If you're back at a trailhead basecamp each night, then a tablet would be great, IMO. This year I have the larger 6 Plus iPhone, which is kind of a small tablet anyway. I still carry a map and compass though and pull that out as needed.

 

[WRM]

+1 on Gaia. A super app, and the pro version (available as one month purchase) allows great overlay capability of maps. If only they could get all the info Onx has for private/public land, I would not need Onx. I use it only to check property issues.

I almost got an Ipad mini but the 6+ came out just as I was getting ready to buy it. Screen size difference just not enough to justify the mini. But, my eyesight sucks so I have been looking at the Ipad pro. Maps are awesome on the pro but it will leave a hole in your wallet. They just came out with smaller screen version of the pro (regular Ipad size). It has some sort of auto color correction. Waiting to see if that will make a difference in direct sun. At less than 1 pound, it is only about 6-7 ounces heavier than my first Garmin GPS from 20 or so years ago. I still have it, and it came in at over half a pound with 4 AA batteries installed. A lot of technological advances packed into that 6 ounces and 20 years.

I can't see myself ever buying a dedicated handheld GPS unit again. The phones and tablets with gps chipset provide more than acceptable accuracy for me.

The $20 external charger I use will give me 2.5 full charges on the 6+. But, I have yet to use it. I set to airplane and don't fiddle with maps continuously so I have not run out of charge on even a week long trip.