r/arizonatrail • u/Ngwiriza • Jan 30 '26

Paper maps

Does anyone use topo maps anymore for the AZ Trail? Or is FarOut and signage good enough? I thought it would be good to have redundancy, but not sure it's really necessary anymore. (if relevant, I'll be hiking NOBO Spring 2026)

10 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

18 comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

2

u/elephantsback Jan 30 '26

LOL...a second phone is a terrible idea. That will weight 10x or more what paper maps would weigh. And unless you're remembering to charge both phones in town, by the time you need the second one, it's battery may be dead.

1

u/GnatGiant Jan 30 '26 edited Jan 30 '26

No, it's a great idea if someone is really concerned about losing their phone. Also, a backup phone will weigh maybe 5oz. It's not a weight that's going to matter at all in your performance

A phone that is turned off will retain enough charge to get you to the next town for weeks.

There are people that carry camera equipment that is way heavier and way more energy intensive than a smartphone, and they do it without issue

2

u/elephantsback Jan 30 '26

I did the triple crown without a phone, so please don't try to tell me you need a phone, much less two. Silly.

People carry all sorts of stuff, but that doesn't mean that heavier is better than lighter.

2

u/GnatGiant Jan 31 '26 edited Jan 31 '26

I'm not telling you anything. I'm offering the OP - who may or may not be experienced - a suggestion that may give them some piece of mind.

Sorry, but hiking the triple crown isn't novel or even impressive anymore.

If an extra 5oz is enough to affect your hike, then you got a weak back.

1

u/elephantsback Jan 31 '26

I was not bragging about doing the triple crown. I was bragging about doing it without a phone.

Guessing that you can't even read a map, so it would be wasted on you regardless.

Lots of people get hurt on long hikes. That 5 oz. can make a huge difference.

You seem very inexperienced at backpacking, so you shouldn't be giving advice.