Just out of curiosity, are you full digital do you still buy map often ?.
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The last summer before the “brexit” I went to scotland, one of the classic hike there is going atop the Ben nevis mountain. Even though in summer it’s not a complicated hike, I still bought a paper map to not be yet another tourist lost in the mist, I have a limited trust in mobile phone map in outdoor activity, especially when the weather isn’t optimal.
Question was triggered as I stumbled open that map when sorting some stuff on my bookshelves.
False dichotomy: I’ll still happily grab a paper map to this day if given the option, but I’ve never paid for one.
Every paper map I’ve ever used has been either a state highway map given for free at the state welcome center on the side of the freeway, or a state/national park hiking trail map given for free at the visitor center or ranger station.
That’s a good point. I’ll use paper maps for, say, park trails all the time.
Maps were always free. My family even had AAA so we could get those fancy Trip-Tiks.
Do decorative video games maps count?
Hiking.
I use digital when my life doesn’t depend on it.
Edit: bought it last month.
I love paper maps, I have never had one run out of battery, or direct me onto a dead end.
It’s more than that though. It’s an adventure whenever you look at one.
I never use GPS or location services, show me a map and I know where I am and how to get to the next place.
My most recent paper map is of Tobago.
I buy some roadmaps probably every 10 years or so to make sure mine are up to date and not too beat up, I keep them in my car and do use them occasionally. I usually have 3 maps, a local maps of my nearest city and surrounding area, one of my state, and then one of the surrounding region.
I also tend to pick up free maps wherever I can, lots of state parks and such, tourist maps, etc. but I’m not buying them so not exactly relevant.
I also tend to pick up free maps from AAA since I’m a member whenever I’m going on a road trip, I’m paying for the membership so I guess in a sense I’m buying them, but also not really
Backroads Map Book a couple years ago, because logging/mining roads aren’t marked well online, and then you have to figure out how to download it offline when you’re in the ass end of nowhere. Best I’ve found is OSMAnd and even that doesn’t have everything.
I have a road atlas in my car. Other than that, I will print out trail maps when backpacking.
In our neck of the woods, membership in the Automobile Association comes with free maps. You have to go into their offices and request them, and they’re very helpful about which maps may come handy.
I usually get them before a long roadtrip into areas where they may be weak cell service. To be safe, I also download digital maps, but a paper map gives better broad context on where we are and what is nearby.
Problem is, we’re terrible at getting rid of them after the trips…
Dnd sessions, always fun to have props
Forgot that simple trick to get maps :). But actually when I use rpg maps, it’s digital and printed and in general not bought (either found online or done)
They always gave them away for free, so I guess never?
I bought a topo map a few weeks ago for a backpacking trip. Electronics are heavier and less suitable for that purpose in my opinion.
- road trip
Where ? Any cool stories ? I’m a sucker for road trip stories
I’ve kept a 6-county atlas (Chicagoland) in my car since the 90s. Highly recommended. We had a hell of a time explaining to my I’ve cousin’s oldest kid why learning how to use a paper map was a critical skill. Sometimes the Internet don’t work kids; keep a map in the car.
Pennsylvania over a decade ago. Somehow I had managed to get on the wrong side of the freeway and when i realized (very little directional signage and no GPS), I took the next exit to find there was no corresponding on-ramp to get back on the otherside.
After some wandering I found a gas station, bought a map, and took side streets until I could get back on the main road.
