Reviews for BackCountry Navigator XE: Topo

The developer is responsive and currently looking into map download problems. The app has been my favorite go-to for my off-road adventures for years. I like the simplicity and being able to create and edit trips both on the web and on my phone. Having access to all the different kinds of maps is a huge plus. I have hopes the download issues will be fixed soon.

Didn t work for me. I could not import .gpx, app only wanted mytrips folder which I couldn't find on the phone so I could not copy downloaded tracks there. Point tot Point navigation let me set several Points once but didn't connect them. After that it would only put one point. Maps look good, pity the app does not work otherwise

I've used this app (and earlier versions) for many years. Not the easiest user interface to learn but the app capabilities and access to map collections are awesome. I've downloaded and used topo maps while hiking in Spain, nautical charts for sailing in the San Juan Islands, and various maps for exploring closer to home. Developer is very responsive.

I was introduced to BackCountry Navigator 5 years ago I purchased Pro and even though a few bugs the program served me well. When offered to get on XE early I jumped on the opportunity. I could see the potential but became doubtful as the development took way long then I had anticipated. Eventually I found myself able to use XE favorably over PRO. There is a learning curve but many great features are available that were not possible before. I have now gone 100% with XE after importing all my tracks from Pro. The online or cloud feature has been handy fro marking out trails before an adventure. Overall very pleased and look forward to many more great improvements.

It's not terrible, I wish it would show the hwy, maybe even just the number in the highlighted line, not all of our places we go too, do we know all that well, would sure help in navigetion. I see the smaller roads, which is awesome! Thank you for that. I just don't want to have to use several maps

I'm here to edit my previous review. The folks here are quite responsive and feel like they are pretty straight forward. The forest service maps aren't as good as they used to be but sounds like they're working on it as a third party withdrew. Found another app for my Forest service maps. I think given this a shot for the cloud connectivity on my info when I change phones is the move.

I've successfully used the app for years to navigate in the forest. I recently bought a lake depth overlay and cannot get it to work. I put in a help ticket and was asked for screen shots. I provided all that they asked for. After a couple months of waiting they said they debugged and tested the overlay and it works for them. I still didn't see it. They finally gave me names of some small lakes. It worked on those. So it only works on some tiny lakes that I would not have found on my own.

The process for adding waypoints is poor, as it's very hard to place them correctly unless you are stood on the spot you wish to pin. You also can't add them without creating a "trip", which I can do easily on other apps. I was considering switching to this from Offline Maps, but it's poor by comparison. *Response to dev - you can tap anywhere but it's hard to place points accurately in your app. Also I know a trip can be created with the first waypoint, but I shouldn't need to.

Update: thanks for the response from support team! I've paid for and downloaded (multiple times) an overlay, but it will not load. Every time I try to download it, it literally takes over an hour despite my high end phone and fast internet. I've even tried saving it to different locations.

I used to love this app. But now it doesn't even work..... Everytime I try to download a map it closes the app. What am I paying for!? If you can't even download a map and can only use the app if there is signal, well that makes it a useless "Backcountry Navigation" app and a giant pile of poop that makes you pay for it and not delivere on anything but charging you money.

Loved Backcountry Navigator Pro but with current Android updates it doesn't really work anymore. So I thought I would try the new version but I keep getting an error message when attempting to download maps that the app doesn't have permissions to write to external memory, which my phone doesn't have. Looks like new overly stringent Android write to memory restrictions are messing up a lot of what used to be good apps.

Paid account renewal did not get applied to my account. After over one month and several stalling messages from the developer but no fix they stopped responding forcing me to get a refund from Google. Do not risk your money by paying for a subscription that you may not get.

This app is great for navigation outdoors. Wide variety of excellent map sources, including a vector topo map that's very efficient in terms of file size. Powerful tools for drawing and measuring on maps (for when you want to know how much farther it is). Good integration with a website for trip planning if that's your preference. I've tried several outdoor navigation apps and this is the best I've used.

I've tried various GPS mapping apps and Backcountry Navigator is the best. I'm a walker/hiker in the UK and have using the old "Backcountry Navigator Pro" version for years, and it's been super. The huge plus for us in the UK is that it includes (free) OS 25000k scale mapping, which is the best map source in the UK, but also provides the option of using the free 4U topographic maps, aerial view maps and lots more, and switching between maps is really easy and useful when I'm out awlking. But vector graphics, which is one of the things this new XE version is bringing, must be the way forward. So I've already subscribed to this XE version and tried it, and although it's still being developed it's already a very good app. And I'm confident these people know what they're doing and it will soon be my preferred version.

But wait, it gets worse. A new phone, login and the stuff I have paid for is not accessible. No support (see below). basically double the annual subscription from the quoted price as every other year you pay and get nothing. Dire, money deducted for a subscription renewal but the renewal has not worked. Google pay have taken my money and refuse to refund. I have raised a support ticket but after 22 days there is no resolution. When there are problems there is no support to get them resolved.

I have been using the Pro version for many years and found it to be very useful. I have had XE from its beginning and finally started to use it this past year. It seems to work well although not always extremely intuitive, especially in getting maps downloaded for off-line use. You also need to be careful to explicitly save a track since that seems not to happen as it is recorded but only when explicitly saved. But otherwise I have enjoyed the app and will continue to use it when out in the back country.

This app helped us find our way many times. It takes a bit to learn (because it does so much.) Offline mode is a must and it comes through. There are TOPO maps and they really help navigate. Many maps to choose from. The developer works his tail off to make it more useful. There are trails we would never have found without it.Kudos to the developers.

Been using this app for years as a paying member. When it works, it is awesome, but there have been many bugs and glitches over the years. Now i can no longer import gpx files, it says permission denied. And even more of an issue, is no longer being able to record tracks. It instantly crashed the app every time. Everything is up to date and been restarted, but tracks no longer work. The functionality of this app just seems to get worse with time. Ready to find a different app that works.

I love this app, been using it for 2 years for backpacking. In this app u can save your track and view your track without an internet connection. In AllTrails you can't view any of your tracks until u get connected to the internet next, making it impossible to follow your track home the next day. Ireally like being able to view and plan trips on my PC at home and see them on my phone. Easy to use off-line when there is no reception. Plenty of free maps to download. Well worth the subscription.

It doesn't have all of the bells and whistles as some other trail map apps, but for serious backcountry navigation I think it's the best one out there, and I've tried them all actually out in the field. It does still have some bugs, but they are actively improving it. One important note: if you are using it to record tracks on a modern version if Android, then you must exempt the application from battery optimization, or it will get killed in the background.