Which GPS to record Camino?

[SYates]

Hi, one question to the GPS wise:

As stated in an earlier thread I will walk the Via Regia/Ecumenical Pilgrims Way in Germany next month again. This time to collect as much information as possible to create an English language guide (not planning to make a fortune on that project btw ;-). The way is well marked, so I do not need GPS to find it, but I do want to record GPS data to create a track and height profiles.

I do have an IPhone 4s - what is the most simple app to use to just record my steps? Basically I am looking for something that I turn on in the morning, that records my way and that I turn off after a days walk.

Is it worth to invest in an extra GPS device just for this? The Garmin ones I looked at so far all use AA batteries and have a battery life of ~26 hours. Environmental impact is important to me and I hesitate using something that needs new batteries every 3-4 days.

Suggestions? Ideas? Thanks! SY

 

[Introibo]

Suunto watches are good, if a little expensive. They can be charged from a USB. I easily get two days walking
out of mine before it needs a recharge.

 

[Peter Fransiscus]

Hi SY, I have a Samsung S5 and I use the app S Health it's very complete.
I don't know if it's in the app store.
It works for me.
Wish you well, Peter.

 

[beiramar]

I do recommend runkeeper or wikiloc.
A big plus on wikiloc is that you can download hiking specific maps, which do have a high quality.
Wikiloc is not so popular in English speaking countries (?) but definitely most hikers first choice in Spain and Portugal.

 

[kmrice]

I've used the app Motion-X GPS on an iPhone 4s for several years on three caminos and I love it.

If all you want to do is record your track, it's ready to go "out of the box." You just install the app, and each morning you click on the app and then Menu, Record Track, and Start. Each night you click on Menu, Record Track and Pause.

If you want a separate track for each day you then click Save and the track saves. You can change the name of the saved track if you wish, but it will be dated so you don't really need to. You then click on Reset, and you are ready to go the next morning.

If you are ok with one continuous track, you don't need to save, you just hit Resume each morning.

It's even simpler than it sounds.

You can do other things - if you have data you will see your track on a map; if you don't you can download whatever maps you want ahead of time so they will be there when you have no data. You can import and export tracks, etc. But, for what you want, it is very simple and easy to use.

I've really found it to be a great app.