iHikeGPS : Classic Topo Maps

I downloaded this app based on favorable reviews. But so far it’s confusing. I’m a GIS professional and programmer so don’t think it’s just me. I downloaded a few 24K maps near me, then downloaded a few 100K maps surrounding those. Then I wanted to download some 24K maps within the areas of the 100K maps. So far I have not found a way to do so. Tried various taps and buttons but no luck. Maybe once you’ve downloaded a coarser scale map you cannot also download a finer scale map of the same area. I also can’t zoom out very far— pinching out only zooms out to a pretty local scale, so can’t see the context.EDIT: I see the developer wrote a rather snippy reply to my review. Guess I must have touched a nerve. I'll admit that I did not thoroughly read all the Help material before posting the review, though I did consult it more than the average user would have. I mentioned that I hadn't found a way to download a 24K map in an area where I had already downloaded a 100K map. That was based on the instructions to tap the page in order to download a map. Subsequently I did find how to download the 24K map after you have another map for the same area. But it's not obvious: click the "Map List" tab along the bottom, then click the "+" icon at top left, then tap "Satellite Map Locator", then zoom/pan to where you want the new map, then tap the "+" in upper right, then tap the "Add USA 24K USGS Map". Whew. The approach for maps here is completely different (not "a little different") from any of the other GIS/GPS apps I've used (which is quite a few). It's not because it's raster vs. vector based, since other GIS/GPS apps also use raster/tile based maps. I guess my bottom line is that if you're willing to put in some time to learn the quirky interface, the app can be useful for limited areas of travel. I still wonder about zooming out, though--I can't zoom out beyond a radius of about 3 miles with the 24K map view enabled, or around 20 miles with the 250K map view.

This is one of my first apps. I was just beginning to understand the ropes of navigating with a hand held gps. They were fascinating to me. Then I discovered IHikeGPS. Works offline, download and store USGS and USFS maps, create waypoints, no hassles with subscriptions or purchases. One inexpensive payment and actual product support from the author. There is a learning curve. It’s not steep. It is important to read the instructions and not assume to much. Works on the ground, in a plane or car. This app shows me where in at and where I’m going.

I’m passionate the outdoors. I seem to use paper maps and iPhone/iPad apps weekly for hiking, backpacking, bikepacking, backcountry skiing and exploring in my car. I have maintained a paid Gaia subscription for years, I’ve used low cost/free GPS mapping tools, location enabled PDF’s, etc. Still iHike is the simplest, fastest, most intuitive app of them all, with also the lowest power consumption and best map download facility. These days I only use Gaia on my Mac at home for planning. The map choices on iHike are ‘limited’ to USGS and USFS topos, but in real life these are the ones you need for backcountry travel.