Garmin Explore™

Outdoor mapping with a Garmin link

Garmin Explore is a trip-planning and navigation companion for people heading onto trails or beyond mobile coverage, especially those who already own a compatible Garmin device. It lets you view maps, plan courses, save locations and tracks, and sync trip data between your phone, Garmin hardware and a Garmin account. Some functions depend on a compatible device; cloud storage requires a Garmin account.

Plan before you lose signal

Maps can be streamed while you have Wi-Fi or mobile data, or downloaded for offline use before a trip. You can search for places such as trailheads and summits, set course endpoints, and keep waypoints, tracks, courses and activities organised in saved collections. When connectivity returns, saved data can sync to Garmin’s cloud. LiveTrack can share your location with others while you are moving.

What it asks of the phone

GPS use in the background can substantially reduce battery life, a practical concern on long outings where charging may be limited. The app also requests SMS and call-log access for handling texts and displaying incoming calls on compatible Garmin devices. Offline maps help when there is no signal, but they need to be downloaded in advance and take space on the phone.

Where it fits

Compared with general-purpose mapping apps, Garmin Explore is more focused on outdoor routes and keeping trip information in step with Garmin equipment. It is less compelling if you only need everyday directions or do not use a compatible Garmin device; in that case, a standalone mapping app may be simpler. The listing shows a 3.95 rating from 4,978 reviews and more than 1 million installs, giving some indication of its established audience, though those figures do not say whether it will suit a particular device or trip.