Navigation options

[seanpk]

OK, giving up paper maps(hooray!?), trying to decide on the best navigation option.......on a tight budget
Any decent dedicated GPS option is too expensive and it it means another device to manage when i shall definitely have a phone with me.
So leaning towards an android option - am happy with my phones suitability to be handlebar mounted and weather protected.
Can anyone suggest; route app + maps - hopefully OS
Route creation, gpx files seems to have a few options but obviously would be good incorporated.
I'm good on the tech side but want to keep it tidy/minimal
£100-150 - what are my options?
Cheers, Sean

[MrsHJ]

On my iPhone (XR so the battery isn’t too bad) I use a combination of cycle.travel to plan the route and google maps to see where I am on it. I export the cycle.travel route to my garmin but I really don’t get in with the garmin and really keep it for backup. Suggest you take a power bank for your phone if you’re going to use it this way although I only turn my phone on for navigation at turns/ route points.

[Jdsk]

Which countries will you be enjoying, and do you want turn by turn navigation?

Jonathan

[mjr]

Redmi 7A + OSMand (if you want on-phone route creation navigation prompts) or AAT or Trekarta (lighter apps for tracking and occasional map checks) + TRIBAN 900 M Waterproof Bike Smartphone Holder. Probably cost about £120 total.

As you probably know, the drawback of using a phone is that the screen will eat battery if left on, which is why OSMand shouting and turning the screen on near turns and off otherwise are very useful features worth the sometimes-clunky user interface.

If money is really tight, there's always printing paper maps or cue cards in a clear waterproof pocket on top of a bar bag.

[seanpk]

UK travel, yes to turn by turn navigation

[Woodtourer]

I love paper maps! I carry all the maps and my wife carries the Garmin!

[Oldjohnw]

Love my huge collection of paper maps. Collected over a life time of hillwalking.

I have an annual sub for OS and print off sections as required or photocopy existing paper maps.

[Pendodave]

My current solution costs about £75.
Second hand as new galaxy a3 2017 (waterproof & dustproof so obviates the need for expensive mounting)
Rubber spider style handlebar mount
Cycle.travel for planning (i love this)
Osmand (see below)

I'm very happy with all these except that the inport/export of gpx files is a bit clunky.
And I'm still not sure about osmand. The screen on/off feature doesn't seem particularly reliable, and if you miss a turn while following a gpx route if doesn't seem to handle it very well. These may both be user incompetence, I'm still pretty new to all this.

[seanpk]

I also use a Galaxy A3 2017 (320) - last of the reasonable/smaller smart phones and excellent weather resistance. Currently looking at OSMand as suggested by replies and looks good but doesn't seem to have a PC based route creation in itself so presuming use of 3rd party like cycle.travel and then import gpx.

[nirakaro]

Love my huge collection of paper maps. Collected over a life time of hillwalking.

Me too, but I never use them for cycling.
Personally I prefer MapsMe to Osmand, having tried both. Uses .kml files.