Which is best for navigating: phone vs map and compass vs GPS

A utilitarian might point out that the best tool in your arsenal is the one you know how to use. But if there's a better tool you could be using, then why not learn that? 

So let's see what the experts have to say when it comes to choosing between phone, map and compass and GPS. 

Phone, compass, GPS: pros and cons 

There are lots of opinions out there. You can find plenty of articles, forums and social media posts debating which navigation tool is the best. 

To get some clarity, we consulted Bill Sperling, a navigation expert and search and rescue (SAR) specialist in Grand Forks, BC.

PHONE: lots of options, easy to use, multi-functional

Let's face it, a smartphone is the most common tool in most people's pockets. And many of us are using it more and more often for our outdoor adventures. It's handy and multi-functional—but it has its limits. 

Pros: Before you even reach for a compass app, of course, most of us lean on map applications (Google Maps or Apple Maps) that will keep you on the right course in most places a satellite and wifi reach—with that being a big caveat off the top. 

When it comes to the compass apps themselves, "lots of options, easy to use" says Sperling, listing a few of his preferred apps: Gaia, CalTopo, OnX. There's no argument here from most outdoor discussion groups, but there is one major drawback above all else… 

Cons: battery life. "GPS kills your phone battery fast," says Sperling, who uses a phone and GPS-enabled smartwatch for recreational day trips. 

GPS DEVICES: accuracy and emergency comms

When you've got a phone with built-in GPS, why use a GPS device? There are several possibilities. 

Pros: the most accurate of the three, GPS provides a "separate system from your communications and camera phone (unless using an inreach/sat messenger, then that's your GPS and emergency communications)," Sperling points out. 

The satellite messenger feature of newer GPS devices means they can call for help even outside of cellular phone range, and that could be well worth it alone if you're planning to be deep in the backcountry. 

Cons: Like a phone, it relies on a battery, making it "another thing to charge," says Sperling. Devices can also be a heavy, expensive add-on to your pack. 

In comparing the phone versus GPS device, Sperling says, ""In this day and age, the main reason to use an external GPS is you have an accuracy requirement. Functionality between apps and GPS are basically identical, although GPS can be more accurate."

The other, perhaps far more compelling reason is emergency communications. 

MAP & COMPASS: no battery required, but some skill

Back in the day, practicing your origami skills by unfolding and refolding a paper map in the passenger seat of the car was a common pastime on road trips. 

Nowadays, a paper map is a pretty rare thing to spot, but they do exist and there are good reasons why you might want to use one, along with a good old handheld compass. So why did their use fall so dramatically by the wayside? 

Cons: beyond the origami challenge, Sperling breaks it down pretty bluntly: "Using a map and compass requires a lot more skill to use." That alone is an issue but there's more.

"You need visibility in order to find your location and navigate using bearings. Maps get wet, torn and destroyed. You need a different map for every location. 

While traveling, that can mean you need a lot of different maps (maps aren't cheap) and they don't get updated without buying a new map." 

Pros: "Doesn't run on batteries. Makes it look like you know what you're doing," quips Sperling. 

Backcountry cred aside, the low-tech value of not relying on batteries, satellite or wifi is an obvious plus when you're off-grid for several days.

Upshot? The map and compass is still the backup method of choice for navigation in the backcountry, if you know what you're doing. It's there when all else fails, which-when we're talking technology-might.

Choosing your navigation tools 

Without sounding wishy-washy, the choice of whether to use your phone or smartwatch/GPS, a dedicated GPS device or a map and compass comes down to what you plan to do and how you want to do it. 

If you're going out for a hike in an established hiking area with marked trails and good wifi coverage for a couple hours, the old school voyageur kit might be overkill. 

However, if you're heading into the backcountry for several days along trails or paddling routes that are remote and span greater distances, relying on technology alone is probably not the safest choice. Having multiple navigation tools means that if your phone or GPS dies or your map gets wrecked, you have a backup plan. 

And if all three go down, there's always the stars—but that's for another story. 

More navigation tips 

For those who want to really dig into the art of navigation, BackPacker has an excellent series of how to's on navigation. 

Other things to consider: 

• If you're in bear country, planning for bear safety is essential 
• Grab these three hiking hacks to use every time out