Phone died mid-hike: paper maps saved me, but is carrying extra weight worth it?

I was on a remote trail when my GPS app crashed. Pulling out a backup paper map got me back on track, but it added bulk to my pack. Do you guys think the safety net is necessary or just dead weight?

3 comments

3 Comments

umaknight1mo ago

Seriously, read a story last week about a search and rescue team in my state. They said most of the calls they get are from people who only had a phone that failed. Their basic advice was to always have a paper map as a backup, full stop. It isn't about weight, it's about having a plan that doesn't need batteries or a signal. That few ounces of paper is the one piece of gear that literally cannot fail on you.

grace_schmidt1mo ago

Used to laugh at my dad for always packing paper maps, called him old school. Then my phone completely died during a storm in the mountains, battery drained from the cold. That folded up map in my bag felt like a golden ticket when the trail disappeared under fog. Guess who texts dad for trail suggestions now? The extra few ounces in my pack means I never have that panicked feeling again.

nathanl361mo ago

Calling a paper map a 'golden ticket' is a bit much when you could just carry a power bank. Phones with offline maps and a backup battery are way more useful and current. I'd rather save the weight and not pretend I'm in a scout manual.