Thread: Smartphones for GPS navigation.

I currently use an iPhone 7,previously used iPhone 5 and before that a telecom R83. Have phone in airplane mode if wanting to extend battery life. I have tried Map toaster, iHike, Memory-Map and NZ Topo50. Topo50 is the one I use most, it has better map resolution on screen. GPS receivers in phones are pretty good these days, as accurate ( around Marlborough/Nelson ) as my E-Trex 30 most times and it's set to track US and Russian sattelites. Still carry E-Trex as back-up occasionally on longer trips. iPhone is IP67 rated so fairly good, it's been soaked in rain on more than one occasion and fell in water once and still going. I'm pretty hard on phones. I dont use waterproof covers, just cheap covers and they live in my pocket all day most days.
Long story, short. Phone loaded with NZ Topo50 is more than adequate for most situations. I do however always carry an e-pirb. And when in a new area a map and compass, the compass is always in my hunting kit.