GPS Question

[Moondoggy]

Thinking about getting one (guess I`m a retrogrouch) My question is, a GPS being electonic and prone to possible malfuntion and breakage. Does one bring a complete map set as backup, or just hope for the best. Some of these trips would require a ton of maps.

[ScottM]

Yeah, some of the trips I've done would have been a whole pile of maps that I likely would have mailed ahead in pieces.

Unless I'm racing I usually am traveling with someone else and we both have a GPS with the route(s) programmed in.  So if one GPS fails (hasn't happened yet) there's a backup.

It's a concern, but not one I'd worry too much about.  I've never had a GPS fail in thousands of miles of bikepacking.  ChrisP here on the forum did lose his off a cliff in last years Divide Race, though, so it does happen.  If I were worried, I'd have a spare that someone could mail out to you should you need it (that's what Chris did -- had a GPS mailed out to him).

[Slim]

It depends on what kind of trip you are doing (miles, timeframe and acces etc.) as well as what kind of GPS you are taking, mapping or non-mapping and what the quality if maps is that are on there. If you want to ride true off-road there are few onboard GPS maps that offer that level of detail. Is there a chance that you will change your raoute? What if an emergency happens? All these factors affect if you need a map and what level of map is acceptable.