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Choosing and Purchasing a Map for Your Outdoor Handheld
Garmin offers a wide variety of mapping products. Choosing the correct map depends on the type of activity being done, and what features the map needs to support. While this article contains a great deal of information, it is best to be fully informed before making a purchase to avoid issues later.
Select an option below to be taken directly to that section.
When choosing a map to purchase, identify important features and the type of map that would be needed. If unsure of what kind of features to look for, select Important Map Features below for information on features found in Garmin maps.
Important Map Features
The first step to choosing a map that will work best is understanding the different features available, such as:
Turn-by-Turn Directions - Maps that support turn-by-turn directions are also known as routable maps. This feature is found on most maps that contain detailed road and trail information. These types of maps provide directions to a location without planning a path to take in advance. Maps that do turn-by-turn directions are good for activities where planning a route in advance may not be feasible.
Searchable Points of Interest - Points of Interest (POIs) are locations that are stored within the map data. These can include businesses, land features (lakes, mountains, rivers, etc.), utilities, and many more.
Terrain Contours - Maps with terrain contours are also referred to as topographical maps. They show striations representing the topography of the land. Garmin maps are typically 100K (1:100,000 scale) or 24K (1:24,000 scale) for contour intervals. These types of maps are good for outdoor activities where knowing the lay of the land is crucial.
Satellite Imagery - Satellite imagery is included in Garmin HuntView™ maps. Satellite images are pictures taken of the Earth from a satellite. These allow to view land features as they are seen from space.
Public and Private Land Boundaries - Maps that contain public and private land boundaries will shows you property lines, and will use different colors to differentiate between land ownership types.
Detailed Trails and Roads - Maps with detailed roads and trails will show almost all roads and trails in the area that the map covers. These are great for finding a way through and around a city, or out in the back country.
After reading Important Map Features, or if the features needed are known, select Map Types below for a breakdown on the different maps offered by Garmin.
Map Types
Now that the features of Garmin maps are known, start deciding on which map type is best suited for the activity being done.
NOTE: The list below is not a comprehensive list of maps Garmin has to offer. In some countries there may be more, or less, map options. Generally, maps that have "Pro" in the name have more information than maps with "Light" in the name. Go to Garmin.com to find what maps are available in a specified region, and review the Overview information to see the available features.
Features: 1:100,000 scale for topographic details, roads and trails, water ways, points of interest (parks, campgrounds, scenic lookouts, etc.), national, state and local parks.
Best Used For: Since these maps do not contain routable roads and trails, these maps are best used for the type of adventurer that likes to plan ahead or for getting a general idea of the lay of the land. These maps also have larger coverage areas than TOPO 24K maps, which is helpful for not having to be switching maps on a Garmin.
Example
Example image is taken from BaseCamp™ software and may have a slightly different appearance on a device.
Features: Routable, 1:24,000 scale for topographical details, routable roads and trails, water ways, points of interest (parks, campgrounds, scenic lookouts, etc.), national, state and local parks.
Best Used For: These maps are great for being guided around town or out in the woods. The lower scale for topography means more detail when determining if wanting to head straight up the side of the mountain. The added detail means these maps cover smaller regions than TOPO U.S. 100K maps.
Example
Example image is taken from BaseCamp™ software and may have a slightly different appearance on a device.
Features: Public and private land boundaries, land ownership information, high-resolution satellite imagery, routable, 1:24,000 scale for topographical details, roads and trails, water ways, points of interest (parks, campgrounds, scenic lookouts, etc.), national, state and local parks.
Best Used For: As the name says, these maps are best for hunting. Knowing if in a public or private land as a hunter is invaluable. The satellite imagery allows for seeing the tree canopy with a birds eye view, seeing where clearings are at. These maps give the confidence to know that the location for hunting is in the right spot.
Example
Example image is taken from BaseCamp™ software and may have a slightly different appearance on a device.
Features: Mapping focused on major trails such as the Appalachian and Pacific Crest trails, routable, 1:24,000 scale for topographical details, water ways, points of interest (parks, campgrounds, scenic lookouts, etc.).
Best Used For: If planning on hiking the PCT (Pacific Crest Trail), Appalachian Trail or the Arizona National Scenic Trail, these maps will meet those needs.
Example
Example image is taken from BaseCamp™ and may have a slightly different appearance on a device.
Features: Routable roads with the most up to date information Garmin has available. Points of interest that motorists need most (gas stations, restaurants, lodging, etc.).
Best Used For: These maps are best used for getting around the town, or taking road trips.
Example
Example image is taken from BaseCamp™ software and may have a slightly different appearance on a device.
Features: Routable roads, trails, and walking paths. Points of interest that include restaurants, shops, schools and more. Does not include searchable addresses. Contour line information varies based on location and the detailed information that OpenStreetMap has for that area. For example, contour or elevation lines are at roughly 100ft intervals for the North America TopoActive map. Other regions may use a shaded relief map and contain no contour lines.
Best Used For: TopoActive is a good map to use for outdoor activities. If running, cycling, or hiking outdoors, TopoActive would be a good choice.
Example
Example image is taken from BaseCamp™ software and may have a slightly different appearance on a device.
Download or Preprogrammed Card?
Before selecting a purchase option:
Some maps do not have both formats of download or card available. The available formats for the specific map are listed under Version or Format on the map product page of Garmin.com.
With both preprogrammed data cards and Downloadable Content (DLC), the map cannot be updated. If needing to have updated map content, a new map must be purchased.
Differences Between Downloads and Cards
Cards VS. DLC
Pre-Programmed Data Cards
Downloadable Conten (DLC)
The recommended method to purchase and use additional maps
Ready for use, no setup required
The card can be moved between compatible Garmin devices
The order takes an additional 1 to 3 business days to process before shipping
Must be downloaded using Garmin Express™ software and a high-speed internet connection
Can be downloaded immediately after purchase
May be downloaded to the device, or to your own microSD card if the device has insufficient space (requires a microSD card slot in the device)
The required size of the card may vary depending on the size of the map and the device's card requirements. Refer to the IMPORTANT section below.
Available for download in Garmin Express software until the expiration date of the mapping product, one year from the date of activation of the map
The map may only be used with one Garmin device and cannot be transferred between devices, even if installed to a microSD card
We recommend purchasing a second memory card and downloading the mapping again to create a backup before the expiration of the download purchase
Purchasing a Map
Before purchasing a map, it is important to make sure the Garmin device is compatible. For downloadable maps, confirm how much space the map takes up, and how much memory the Garmin device has. Select an option below for information on how to check these items.
Checking Compatibility
Select Compatible Devices on the map product page.
Locate the Garmin device in the list of compatible devices.
If the device is not in the list of compatible devices, the device is not compatible with the map and a different map would need to be located that is compatible.
Checking Space Requirements of the Map
NOTE: Garmin mapping products are made up of sections called map segments. Each device can only hold a certain number of mapping segments which can cause issues if installing multiple mapping products. To see how many map segments the device can store, refer to the specs page for the device on Garmin.com. To see how many map segments are in some of our most popular topographic maps, see Topo 24K Map Segments and TopoActive Map Segments.
Select Requirements on the map product page.
Locate the space needed to download the map.
Make sure the device has the required space needed.
Checking Available Space of the Device
Before purchasing a downloadable map, make sure that the Garmin device has the room needed to download the map.
Plug the Garmin in to a computer.
Locate the drive for the device.
NOTE: The drive will be labeled Garmin, or the name of the device.
Mac:
Open Finder.
Select Devices.
Locate the drive for the Garmin.
Windows 10:
Open the Start menu.
Select This PC.
Locate the drive for the Garmin.
Highlight the drive.
Examine the drive's properties.
Mac: Press the space bar on the keyboard after highlighting the drive.
Windows 10: Right-click on the drive, and select Properties.
The free or available space should now be displayed.
Finding a Compatible Map for Your Garmin Outdoor Handheld
If looking for an area outside the U.S., the country may have to change at the very bottom left of the page.
Scroll down the page and select a category from the left panel (TOPO, City Navigator, etc.).
Only options for that category will display. Clicking on a specific product will pull up its product page.
Select how to get the map.
NOTE: Some maps are only available as a download.
For the downloadable map, select Download from the Version drop-down.
For the preprogrammed card, click SD card under Format.
Select Add To Cart.
Select Check Out.
Follow the onscreen prompts to complete the order. Verify the order and information in the order is correct at each step of the checkout process.
A confirmation screen will display when the order is complete, and an email confirmation will be received shortly thereafter. If a download was bought, see Related for steps on downloading the map. If a card was bought, a second email will be received when the order ships (usually in 1-3 business days).
