Creating a Reliable Digital Navigation System for Hiking
The key concept behind building a reliable digital navigation system is that the level of redundancy should be proportional to the combined level and likelihood of risk. For instance, if you’re taking a short walk around your local nature reserve, you might not need any navigation other than your phone. On the other end of the spectrum, if you are going on a remote, multi-month snow expedition, then it would be sensible to have many levels of redundancy built into your system (both in terms of carried devices and charging ability). This is because in challenging conditions (such as a complete white out), you really don’t want to be in a situation where your digital navigation fails. A GPS could mean the difference between finding a sheltered spot to camp and facing a hazardous situation, such as skiing off a cornice.
Navigation redundancy
Navigation redundancy simply means having a primary navigation device along with at least one backup in case of device failure. For many, a phone serves as the primary navigation tool. Depending on the risk profile of the trip, a backup could be one of the following. Many of these devices are things you likely already carry with you.
- your hiking partner’s phone
- a Garmin InReach Mini (which can show a GPX file but no map details)
- a GPS watch with topographic maps
- a handheld GPS
Power redundancy
Ensuring you don’t run out of power is just as important as having reliable navigation tools. Based on our experience, running out of power is a far more common issue than a device actually breaking.
A power bank is probably your primary power source. A backup could be a second personal power bank, a solar panel, or a head torch battery that doubles as a power bank. If you are hiking with other people and the trip is relatively low risk, someone else’s power bank might be sufficient as an additional layer of redundancy.
To effectively plan your power redundancy, you need to start by understanding your power usage habits and needs. For example, do you typically use 50% of your phone battery each day? What about when you’re relying on your phone for frequent navigation or taking a lot of videos?
It is also important to consider the actual capacity of your power bank. Typically, a powerbanks true capacity is about two-thirds of the listed amount, as some energy is lost during voltage conversion or dissipated as heat. For example, if your power bank is listed as 10,000mAH, you may estimate its capacity as ~6,700mAh. If your phone battery is 3,000mAh, the power bank would provide roughly 2.2 full charges. However, your phone is likely not the only device you’ll need to charge. Be sure to factor in other devices, such as your head torch, watch, or any additional electronics.
Once you have an idea of how much power you are likely to consume, you need to factor in a buffer based on the risk level of your trip. If you’re not sure how much buffer to add, start by adding more than you expect and you can dial it in for future trips if you felt it was excessive.
A reliable digital navigation system can help you stay on course even when visibility is this poor.
Other things to consider
- Download maps for offline use. Apps like CalTopo and Gaia GPS provide offline access to downloaded maps. This ensures you can navigate even without mobile reception.
- Use battery saver and airplane mode. These modes can significantly extend your device’s battery life. GPS functionality does not rely on mobile reception.
- Disable background app refresh. If background app refresh isn’t disabled in battery-saving mode, you can manually turn it off in your phone’s Settings. Background app refresh drains your battery and mobile data, particularly with apps that update frequently. Disabling it helps reduce unnecessary power and data use.
- Carrying extra cables or adaptors. It is important to consider that your powerbank is not the only tool you need to charge your devices. You also rely on your charging cables, or sometimes adaptors (e.g. USB-C adaptor for a Garmin watch). On remote trips, you might want to consider carrying a spare.
Conclusion
A smartphone with mapping apps can certainly get you from point A to point B, but it is important to ensure that your digital navigation system has some level of redundancy built into it. Depending on the risk level of your hike, it is essential to have both a backup navigation tool and power source to ensure you’re never left without guidance on the trail.
If you’d like to dive deeper into hiking navigation, here are a few more articles on the topic: