[mro_name]

> route downloaded on their phone to work offline

I do it all the time and never met anybody else do it. Rather everybody happily relies on online maps.

Do you think widespread offline use is the case?

I agree that to most map and compass are rather useless, but still slightly more useful compared to a phone with drained battery or no network coverage.

[acidburnNSA]

Somewhat related, I've started using osmand+ for offline maps and track recording and it is truly awesome. On fdroid too.

https://osmand.net/

[mro_name]

for iOS I like MapOut quite a bit.

https://mapout.app/

[daleharvey]

Specifically for Munros which is what I do network coverage can be pretty bad and at least a few people I have talked to have done the same as me and got caught out depending on the internet then in future downloaded the route. The main website everyone uses here has a .gpx for every walk (https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/fortwilliam/buachailleetivem... for example)

I think drained batteries and no network coverages are problems that can and should be addressed by advising people properly. Instead I think some people end up over prepared and most people go in with a map and a compass but still completely underprepared.

[ghaff]

>I do it all the time and never met anybody else do it. Rather everybody happily relies on online maps.

That's a good example of one way to reduce a pretty common failure mode.Lack of cell phone service is probably a lot more common than a dead phone especially if you carry a backup external battery. (Outside of extreme conditions but that's a separate matter.)