Garmin recently introduced Outdoor Maps+, a premium subscription-based mapping solution for outdoor enthusiasts. Here’s everything you need to know about the new service.
If you enjoy exploring new trails, hunting game, or fishing in remote waters, you know the importance of having a reliable chart on your wrist. However, not all cards are created equal. Some are out of date, incorrect or incomplete. Others are prohibitively expensive, time consuming, or difficult to obtain.
Garmin Outdoor Maps+ is available for download on the Fenix 7 series, MARQ, Tactix, Quatix and Enduro 2 smartwatches and on the Montana 800 handheld hiking GPS line. This mapping solution enhances your outdoor experience by complementing the features pre-installed on these devices.
What makes Outdoor Maps+ different from other map services?
While there are numerous mapping solutions on the market, Garmin’s Outdoor Maps+ is characterized by its comprehensive features. This includes the following:
High-Resolution Satellite Imagery: Photorealistic maps allow you to see a high-resolution perspective from above and find land features, mark waypoints, and do other things. Enhanced TOPO Maps: Garmin’s elevation mapping has been enhanced with premium contours. Names and boundaries of Landowners: Learn who owns the land you are on and where public and private land types are located. View state-specific hunting areas for deer, elk, turkey, and other species. Discover thousands of fishing hotspots in lakes, rivers and reservoirs.
Certain Garmin devices have been able to store maps for quite some time. Outdoor Maps+, on the other hand, goes one step further.
Without a computer or smartphone, you can download maps directly to your device via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. So there’s no need to carry around a laptop or smartphone to transfer maps.
With Outdoor Maps+, you can choose from a variety of map types, including satellite imagery, TOPO maps, property lines, and others. You can customize your map settings such as orientation, zoom level, and color scheme.
You can also use the Garmin Explore app or web portal to plan trips, review activities, and share your experiences with others. Create and send waypoints, routes and tracks. You can also view stats like distance, elevation gain, speed, and calories burned on your device or in the Garmin Explore app.
Most importantly, the service is regularly updated. This is necessary to ensure that you always have up-to-date information on your device.
Getting started with Outdoor Maps+
You need a compatible Garmin smartwatch or handheld to get started with Outdoor Maps+. As already mentioned, the maps can then be downloaded directly to your device via WiFi or Bluetooth.
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Outdoor Maps+ subscriptions are currently available for $49.99 per year. That’s about $4 a month on top of your already expensive, high-end Garmin device.
It’s worth noting that the plan can only be used by one compatible Garmin device at a time. However, you can sync your data across devices and access it both online and offline.
The big question is – is it worth it?
That is totally dependent. If you find yourself frequently getting off track—hiking in the Rocky Mountains, hunting in Texas, fishing in Minnesota—you’ll most likely find these useful. Outdoor Maps+ helps you navigate safely and discover new places. Also, since Garmin has now discontinued the standalone birding service, this is the only way to get such images on your watch. It may even make more sense to add a wander handheld than a wristwatch due to the larger display.
Others will most likely be satisfied with the current map capabilities of Garmin devices. OpenStreetMaps are free to download and very useful. If you want United States Geological Survey (USGS) satellite views and maps, Garmin Explore offers them for free. Between these options, maps from services like BBBike.org, you probably won’t need anything else.
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