GPS device for newbie

If you have a smartphone there are mapping apps that make it work as a gps quite cheaply. (there are free options as well but they dont work so well on preloaded maps) A real gps is still better in that it will have replaceable batteries better conectivity etc but a phone woks

I use the Backcountry Navigator phone app, with madpom's offline NZ maps https://tramper.nz/forums/thread/10903

Same as @chriss.

Dave Robertson’s MapApp on my iPhone.

Any one with an overview of these different phone apps and features, what they've found the best? Backcountry Navigator is Android only? Have [Topo GPS](https://apps.apple.com/nz/app/topo-gps/id578960575) on my iPhone, seems to do the job. +- compared to Dave Robertson’s MapApp? Main minuses of the phone app from my point of view (which aren't a function of the app as such) would be difficulty using the touch screen in heavy rain, and less of an overview/harder to extrapolate time and distance on the small screen due to smallish screen/need to zoom in and out. I find it easier to look at a paper map, see I went X distance in time t, and then estimate future progress from that. Not impossible on the phone, but less intuitive.

If anyone has a favourite app that they want the offline topomaps and public access land (WAMS) boundaries for then let me know. Especially IPhone apps which I currently don't produce anything for. Next time I run off a version I can include the format your app requires - so long as MOBAC supports it. Matt

The NZ Topo50 app on my iPhone works a treat in most instances. In fact on a recent trip on the Dusky everyone we met was using this app and spoke highly of it. Will still always carry a map and compass as well though :).