Using OS maps on phone whilst riding

[meesha]

Going to exmoor, doing a guided ride but on the other days will be following OS maps on phone. Have done this before, lovely owner of property gives us routes which I download offline and follow.

Any tips? I have worked out how to keep phone unlocked which will help and that hopefully will keep map on screen. Any other tips? I need a phone holder easily viewable, arm holder? What would people recommend?

Thanks in advance

 

[Gamebird]

I use OS maps regularly onmy phone when running or hiking, but haven't ever needed to riding. To be honest I've never needed to have my phone constantly in front of me. I usually look, memorise the next section, then put it back in my pocket. I am fairly good at finding my way, but would rarely have it out more than every 20mins or so, unless navigating somewhere completely pathless, or trying to find a turn/junction that isn't obvious on the ground.

 

[teapot]

Open the app, log your location, then only refer to it when you need to - it's how I use it when walking. Keeping it open 100% of the time will kill your battery! I'd be taking a hard copy with you too.

If it were me, I'd do a route maybe somewhere else has done and that way you can put it into the app beforehand as a reference point. Not sure I'd want to be winging it on unknown tracks on Exmoor, especially not after this winter.

 

[meesha]

Thanks gamebird, hopefully it won't be needed constantly but when we got open sections on top of Exmoor there really is a need to look fairly frequently. Have bought a clear arm band which will help. Was thinking of strapping it to breastplate just in front of saddle. We will see !!

 

[meesha]

I will have the route on OS maps (will download onto phone so available offline) provided by guided riding lady. We have done it before, just a faff sometimes to look at phone (had it in pocket b4 ) so wanted to make it easier.!! Also have a guided ride booked in which will be lovely as can just follow and enjoy the scenery.

 

[teapot]

I will have the route on OS maps (will download onto phone so available offline) provided by guided riding lady. We have done it before, just a faff sometimes to look at phone (had it in pocket b4 ) so wanted to make it easier.!! Also have a guided ride booked in which will be lovely as can just follow and enjoy the scenery.

Honesty, you'd be better off having a map in a plastic cover around your neck. Sometimes the old ways are the best.

 

[paddy555]

Honesty, you'd be better off having a map in a plastic cover around your neck. Sometimes the old ways are the best.

I’ve done thousands of miles that way. I would think it would be easier plus you get to look at the entire picture more easily if you need to change your route for an accident etc. Very easy on a large scale map to see all contours, features etc over wide area and the battery doesn’t run out.

 

[Tiddlypom]

The OS map app is great for tracking and recording your route for posterity, and for being able to give a quick position check if you’re not sure where you are.

Battery bank(s) to charge up the phone when you stop for a break would help make it last all day if you really do want to navigate by phone. I’m not a fan of a full size map round your neck when riding, it can get blown all over the shop by the wind, it’s bad enough when walking, plus it could get hooked up on branches as you duck underneath.

 

[I'm Dun]

Get a phone tether and hang your phone round your neck. You can get all sorts of different ones to suit your preference

like this or like this

Do not attach it to the saddle. If you fall off you could be left miles from anywhere with no horse and no phone!

 

[paddy555]

. I’m not a fan of a full size map round your neck when riding, it can get blown all over the shop by the wind, it’s bad enough when walking, plus it could get hooked up on branches as you duck underneath.

tuck it inside the front of your jacket perhaps.

 

[meesha]

Lol if I could read a map that would be great, on open Exmoor no chance ...

Os works, we've done it before didn't get lost once, works perfectly. Round neck idea good ... With friend so if attached to saddle not worried.

Thanks all

 

[teapot]

Lol if I could read a map that would be great, on open Exmoor no chance ...

Os works, we've done it before didn't get lost once, works perfectly. Round neck idea good ... With friend so if attached to saddle not worried.

Thanks all

I'm confused. How can you read the OS maps app if you can't read a map? They're the same thing.

 

[meesha]

Os app shows your exact location on the route u r followung, and the arrow moves with you as you move, you can then see if you have strayed off the saved route.

 

[webble]

Get a phone tether and hang your phone round your neck. You can get all sorts of different ones to suit your preference

like this or like this

Do not attach it to the saddle. If you fall off you could be left miles from anywhere with no horse and no phone!

I was about to link to one of these

There is an app called outdoor active, I "think" you can upload os routes to it and it reads the route to you but you can lock your phone screen to save the battery. Even if you can't upload routes it's worth looking to see if there are rides in the area others have ridden and shared

 

[teapot]

Os app shows your exact location on the route u r followung, and the arrow moves with you as you move, you can then see if you have strayed off the saved route.

Yes, I'm aware of how it works So you're relying solely on a battery eating app to give you the route you want/stop you going wrong/straying/getting lost, and pinpoint your location at all times.

Imho a bad idea to rely on tech only somewhere like Exmoor but I'm old school. Unless it's a walk or hack I've done multiple times, I don't go anywhere without some form of hard copy map.

 

[lynz88]

Does it give you notifications or something if you go off plan? I tried OS Maps for hiking but prefer AllTrails and if you go off route on AllTrails, it will alert you (the paid version but can get it on deal sometimes for £17/year).

 

[meesha]

Teapot tech works for me, we are only out for a few hours and in morning so all good. Hard map would be great but on the very top of exmoor no use to me. Friend will also have phone with os maps. Will have saddle bags so might print maps.

 

[meesha]

Lady gives us OS maps routes so will stick with that. Doesn't alert if off route but very obvious when u check.

 

[gunnergundog]

A BE cross country bib is perfect for carrying an OS map; it doesn't flap around and you can quickly unclip the side to lift it up for closer inspection.

Do NOT rely on mobile phone reception on Exmoor.....it won't be there when you need it....trust me.

 

[meesha]

No need for mobile phone reception, I download the maps offline and the phone uses GPS, done it before so all good.

 

[Gloi]

Any areas I don't know that I am riding I have the laminated o/s map for. Storm proof unlike paper maps or phones.

 

[paddy555]

Imho a bad idea to rely on tech only somewhere like Exmoor but I'm old school. Unless it's a walk or hack I've done multiple times, I don't go anywhere without some form of hard copy map.

it's an interesting thread showing the old fashioned way ie pick up map, fold it, stick it in map case around your neck and go and the modern way.

 

[Tiddlypom]

I’d never rely solely on a phone or any other electronic gizmo, I’m a paper map person at heart, but it’s really nice to have something like this as a momento.


This was a guided ride, though . Started app when we set off, stopped it when we got back, but otherwise didn’t need to check phone. Lots of off road riding with numerous trails across open country.

 

[ester]

I'm happy to rely on a phone have never had an issue, I only use paper for planning. Battery can be the killer, viewranger used to be terrible for it though was my preferred app (now outdoor active) so absolutely take a battery bank with you, won't need to be huge. I turn off the autosleep so it stays on while I need it. Keep it in a pocket and have a lanyard on it so less likely to drop it while riding and looking!

 

[Caol Ila]

I'm with teapot. Relying on a little arrow following a trail on a map without any knowledge of how to actually read an OS map, as well as other useful skills, like knowing how to take and follow a bearing, gets a lot of people into trouble.

We wad OS paper maps into map cases. For hiking, I attach them witha carabiner to my rucksack since I don't like them around my neck.

 

[Fransurrey]

I always save my OS routes as pdfs and print them out. For phone holder, go to an outdoor shop and get a waterproof phone lanyard. Mine enables me to use the touch screen without removing it.

 

[PeterNatt]

I carry an OS Map in a clear plastic waterproof map carrier and mark the plannedc route in felt pen. Far easier than looking at a small image on a phone! You can buy centered OS maps directly and online from Ordnance Survey.

 

[Tarragon]

I organised a 100-mile ride over 6 days on Exmoor a couple of years ago to celebrate the 100 year centenary of the Exmoor Pony Society - and the OS guide on my phone really helped on a number of occasions! Especially important on Exmoor when you are riding on open moorland. I am am avid lover of maps, but never mastered using a compass, which is the other way of doing it. Just being able to work out where you actually are, not where you think you are, is what you need.
So, I took paper copies of the planned route in a waterproof case, downloaded the routes on to my phone and took a spare battery pack. The GPS bit was only needed if I felt that I was off route and couldn't work out how to get back on.
My phone is on O2 network, and that doesn't work well on Exmoor, I found! I would get a signal, and a message saying my phone wasn't allowed on this network. The EE network works best (we joked that EE stood for Exclusive to Exmoor!)

 

[Marnie]

I use the OS App when I'm dog walking. One thing I have found is that it doesn't show all foot paths - I have spotted a number around home that aren't on the App but are on the actual paper OS map. Sometimes you have to zoom in on the app for the paths to show but other paths just aren't on there. Perhaps something just to be aware of - although it sounds as though you have the routes provided so that may not be a problem.

 

[ester]

I organised a 100-mile ride over 6 days on Exmoor a couple of years ago to celebrate the 100 year centenary of the Exmoor Pony Society - and the OS guide on my phone really helped on a number of occasions! Especially important on Exmoor when you are riding on open moorland. I am am avid lover of maps, but never mastered using a compass, which is the other way of doing it. Just being able to work out where you actually are, not where you think you are, is what you need.
So, I took paper copies of the planned route in a waterproof case, downloaded the routes on to my phone and took a spare battery pack. The GPS bit was only needed if I felt that I was off route and couldn't work out how to get back on.
My phone is on O2 network, and that doesn't work well on Exmoor, I found! I would get a signal, and a message saying my phone wasn't allowed on this network. The EE network works best (we joked that EE stood for Exclusive to Exmoor!)

EE uses o2s network