Related

Multi day navigation

davidmarcoes
over 3 years ago

New to the forum, so first things first: hi all!

I do every year a few multi day wild camping trips. My workflow is like this:

  1. Plan the route on osmaps
  2. Plot the route on physical map/s
  3. Do the hike using the map/s and compass, and use my fenix 6 for daily activity tracking
  4. Use the osmaps mobile app very ocassionally if I'm having troubles finding my way

I think It's time to get an inreach device just in case something goes really wrong. So for my next trip (Lake District, ~9 days, 160 km) I'm thinking on two options:

  1. Buy an inreach mini and let everything else the same
  2. Buy a 66i and leave the physical maps behind this time

The thing is that all four waterproof maps for the area I'll be covering + compass are around 1kg weight, while the 66i is 1/4 of that. As I get older and my knees gets weaker any gram saved is worth it. Not to mention the space I'll save inside my backpack.

So with the 66i my workflow would look like this:

  1. Plan my route on osmaps
  2. Download and transfer the gpx file to the 66i
  3. Do the hike using the 66i, and use my fenix 6 for daily activity tracking

So my questions are:

  • Can I get turn by turn navigation from the imported gpx file?
  • Can I expect the device to route the me right way every single day using a single gpx file?
  • What battery life can I expect in case the answer to the previous questions is yes?

I know the common consensus is to create multiple gpx files for multiple days, but I don't want to be rigid on my daily goals. Some days I walk more, some others less. Sometimes the weather is crap and pitching my tent earlier is the way to go. I just want to click a few buttons every morning and let the device continue guiding me through the planned route. Is this possible?

Thanks in advance!

  • 0 over 3 years ago

    Not sure what you mean by turn by turn routing. There are numerous options for what you can put on the map page dashboard to guide you. In Garmin handheld land, the term turn by turn is usually reserved for automotive routing. 

    I don’t think you’ll have any trouble with a single .gpx file. However, you will likely have to drop it directly onto the 66i file system from your PC. The Garmin web site and conglomeration of mobile apps currently will not sync tracks. And if you turn it into a route, they will thin it down to 200 points. Nobody knows why, but the result will definitely not be useful for a 9 day hike.

    The 66i battery is not removable and will not last 9 days. Actual life is hard to predict. Depends on a lot of variables which are not predictable. You will want either a backup battery from which to charge or a solar panel charging setup. The weight just went up ;)

    I would not leave the maps and compass behind. I could tell you a horror story about a relative who was delayed by seriously bad weather on a multi-day through hike. This was pre-inReach days. GPS batteries including multiple sets or spares did not last. Trail map was also incorrect by several miles. 1:25000 topos, compass, and the skills to use them are the only things that got them out - 6 hours before SAR was going to start running the trail from both ends.

  • 0 over 3 years ago in reply to twolpert

    Thanks for you reply. By turn by turn navigation I mean something similar to turn propmts on the fenix series, which triggers a beep&vibration when you're aproaching a turn. You also get notified if going off track. Used with precaution it's a really nice feature which reduces map-checking time.

    The track-to-route conversion you mentioned is interesting because routes seems to be kind of navigable the way I want (no turn prompts, only off tracks) but 200 points for 160 km is definitely not acceptable.

  • 0 over 3 years ago

    I'm a long time fenix user with recent experience of both the iR Mini and 66i, also in the Lakes :)

    Quick thoughts as follows:

    iR Mini = great little unit, simple, long battery, for the emergency SOS and tracking functionality it just works. If you pair it to your phone it can also be efficiently used for two-way messaging too (if that's useful to you, me less so).

    66i:

    - If you look at it from the perspective of your fenix, ie. like that but with a bigger display and buttons so in theory more usable, you'll be disappointed (or at least I was). Also, it's integration into the Garmin app/web ecosystem seems to be early days.. expect a lot of unexpected limitations.

    + If you look at it from the perspective of an electronic more portable version of your paper maps = a great win (obviously with the usual downsides to paper vs. electronic nav, ie. needs power etc).

    + When comparing to my iPhone + mapping app, which I always have with me anyway as backup, while the 66i seems more "basic" where it wins out is usability in bad weather (especially the wet) - this for me is its value alone - similarly it's more rugged and I'm confident it'll likely survive my adventure.

    (probably should point out the 66i is far from "basic", in fact it has many many features I'll never use, but for my use-cases of navigating the mountains it can sometimes appear this way in direct comparison to either an app or fenix)

    Where I've landed:

    Trail running, when I want to be looking at the map as little as possible = carefully study route before I leave, fenix 6 Pro (nav with alerts), iR Mini (tracking plus emergencies), paper map backup

    Hiking, when navigating the surroundings is part of the day out = 66i clipped to pack strap, regularly looking at it at junctions etc, also with the possibility to do dome basic re-route planning while out and about, iPhone in the pocket as backup and to take photos

  • 0 over 3 years ago in reply to SpikySimonW

    Hey Simon, thanks for your thoughts. I totally agree with you, after some research it looks to me that some navigation features I get with the fenix and I find extremely useful are not possible with the 66i (i.e. "do course").

    Given that I already have topo maps on both fenix and phone, I think I'll stay with paper maps and I'll get the mini for communication. I really liked the idea of using the 66i to let me know where to go with minimal intervention and save some grams and space inside my backpack. Maybe in the future.