Phones as GPS units

@Bio What phone do you use? (Mine is a Samsung 6 edge)
Your result sounds workable.

I am using a phone with a fairly large battery (Samsung Galaxy Note 4), so I am note sure it would be workable on all models, but then again I was running two apps at the same time.

Hi everyone,
Just wondering why there is no mention of Wikiloc.com
Wikiloc is free, its public contribution based, its worldwide, it covers all outdoor activities (Hike, run, ride etc.) and it has an app for Apple for free, not sure about Android.
I place all my outdoor activities on Wikiloc.com (using a PC) and it converts the files automatically, allows for info and pics to be added. Tracks can be downloaded for free and exported in all the major formats (GPX). Best of all you can download anyone track off the website onto your phone.
If you use Google Earth there is a standard plugin under Google Earth-Layers-Gallery-Wikiloc. So you can see all available trails, you can check them out on Google Earth, download to your mobile, use downloaded maps (save on data) then use your mobiles as a GPS. I use a Solar Monkey to keep power on my IPhone and a Lifeproof Case, which allows me to use the IPhone in wet conditions.
You can follow, record or create tracks.
The maps are well detailed in Hybrid, Map or Satellite. To give you some idea the path from Cathedral Peak Hotel up past Doreen falls and Ribbon Cave up Camel is on their base maps.
Give it a bash, start by checking out the website or flagging the plugin on Google Earth. As I said it’s free and it has worked for me.
Cheers
Redshift3

Interesting.
This sounds like a great solution for someone like me that is not keen on a dedicated GPS solution.

Thanks for the info, Redshift3. I will definitely try it out.

There is indeed Android support. Just downloaded it now.

Cool, check out the website they just when over 3 million trails worldwide.

I downloaded the app, and downloaded the 880mb South African map. Map is rather detailed as well.
Waiting for a good test

Does the map show contours? I find that contours add more to your GPS than everything else put together. Importantly it is contours that all you to explore and go somewhere other people have not!

Hi Andrew,

I have taken a screenshot to show this: