Comments on: How to Use Your Phone as a GPS Device for Backpacking

By: Ian Krammer

Ian Krammer — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 19:47:33 +0000

In reply to James Dow. Thanks for this comment. We appreciate your insight with this app and we're glad you found something that works for you. Cheers!

By: James Dow

James Dow — Sat, 10 Jan 2026 22:22:57 +0000

Everyone knows that most all existing smartphone compass apps are notoriously inaccurate – mere simulations. You can do better with AugView Compass!

AugView Compass stands alone as the ONLY accurate smartphone compass app available – with or without internet access. You can correct your own (device-specific) smartphone sensor errors using Augview Compass. Also, you have a moving map with GPS location.

AugView Compass is available on both the Google Play store and the Apple store.

AugView Compass will benefit personal, commercial, and military applications that make use of accurate compass azimuths.

Research, documented at http://www.tru-path.org, proves that AugView Compass is capable of a) analyzing any type of compass [electronic, military rangefinder, smartphone app, or magnetic] and b) prescribing the parameters necessary and sufficient to correct the residual [after calibration] compass azimuth errors for such compass.

In particular, take a look at this link: https://tru-path.org/2025/02/06/fixing-rangefinder-smartphone-residual-compass-azimuth-deviation-errors-military-rangefinder-errors-vectronix-plrf25c/

Everyone has a smartphone; and the “find-my-car” / “find-my-spot” feature is a favorite.

By: Bud

Bud — Sun, 11 May 2025 17:22:09 +0000

Amazing devices, cell/smartphones & apps. After a few overnight hikes of 2 + nights try printing the map (topo map) and use just the map and regular manual compass and navigate the area yourself, discover the area yourself. Power off the phone, put in bottom of your backpack. It’s there if you get lost or want to consult to a greater or lesser amount. Hey, starting out backpacking, these apps may be the best invention since machine-slicing bread, but once you’re confident out there use a paper map, physical analog compass and landmarks, geological features, and your brain’s sense of direction to navigate. It’s mostly easy, sometimes challenging, and you’re doing it independently. Independently. Yourself, or you and your companions together, yourselves. Without electronics showing you how. You, your brain, your abilities.
BUT maybe this time you’d rather have the ease and joy of taking a hike for the hike, not worry about the pain in the ass of navigating. I dig it, I guess I’m not the one to ask about this cellphone app . . . stuff. Cheers!

By: Dave Collins

Dave Collins — Sat, 30 Mar 2019 21:56:41 +0000

In reply to Jd Law.

Happy to help Jd, thanks for the kind comment!

By: Jd Law

Jd Law — Thu, 28 Mar 2019 21:31:00 +0000

Thank you for this very valuable article! Haven't tried it yet, but like tomorrow is not soon enough. This cyclist will always remember ...