A navigator so you don't get lost in the forest. Hiking GPS from a smartphone: sharing personal experience. Let's start with the basics

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In the last decade, hardly anyone could imagine a tourist without a guitar and stew, but today such people mostly take specialized equipment on hikes. It became an obligatory companion for them. This device is capable of handling a number of complex tasks and can exchange data with other mobile devices. Everyone's needs are individual, so navigator manufacturers have to constantly improve the products they provide. Trying to make the device the most efficient and reliable, developers introduce many useful functions, which is appreciated by mushroom pickers, hunters and fishermen.

Buyers of tourism accessories are distinguished by their scrupulousness. They order mostly time-tested devices that have a sufficient number of positive reviews. However, the need for a new device arises much more often than we would like. The reasons for this may be the following: the device was damaged after a fall, was lost, drowned in a swamp, or forgotten in a parking lot. The specificity of the products presented is that it is unlikely that it will be possible to purchase the same option that the tourist had before. Therefore, you have to delve into the essence of new products and understand the operating features of modern flagships. The presented rating, obtained on the basis of analytical data and user reviews, will make the purchasing process much more conscious.

ModelBest FeaturesPermissionWorking hoursScreen diagonalPrice from (RUB):
according to reviews128x24025 hblack and white 2.2"7 100
simple, cheap160x24020 hcolor 2.6"5 700
for hunting160x24016 hourscolor 2.6"22 500
for hiking in the forest240x32025 hcolor 2.2"11 400
for mushroom pickers160x24020 hcolor 2.6"10 900
portable160x24016 hourscolor 2.6"13 400

1. - the best GPS navigator for orienteering in the forest, according to reviews

Memory and processor

The number of maps that can be loaded depends on the size of the memory, as well as the possibility of expanding it using external sources. Equally important is the scaling function, which depends on the speed of the hardware.

Case and battery

The best option for a device would be a navigator equipped with a large battery capacity. The ability to use batteries instead of batteries is convenient during long treks.

When choosing a case, pay attention to the following: compactness, weight, shock resistance and moisture resistance. These parameters are important for lovers of extreme walking. Most prefer compact devices that fit confidently in the palm of your hand or fit into your pocket.

Additional functions and modes of the device

Navigator is complex electronic device, which is equipped with a processor of a certain power, a small screen and operating system. By and large, it resembles a small tablet or communicator that can be used for more than just navigation. In his additional features includes the following:

  • obtaining information about fishing objects, lunar phases;
  • autosave last route;
  • entering into the device’s memory catching points on the reservoir;
  • determination of altitude above sea level;
  • Using the built-in barometer to forecast the weather.

This program will be very useful for mushroom pickers, hunters and fishermen, as well as for those who are afraid of getting lost while hiking. Precise instructions voiced in a pleasant voice will add a pleasant feeling when using this program.

Brief essence of the game

The user must get from one place to another, and the task of the “I'm going home” program is to simplify this task for him as much as possible. Many users believe that there are many such programs, but they are completely mistaken.

Nowadays there are a lot of different navigators, but they will only guide the user along paved roads. If you go mushroom picking, they will be of little use. A compass can also be an excellent assistant in such cases, but they are not entirely convenient to use.

The mushroom picker has to take out a compass, highlight it with his phone, check it, and put everything back in his pocket. But if he goes off course, the road may turn out to be much longer.

Game Features

It is worth noting that the “I’m going home” program will be very useful when going for a walk in the forest. A person needs to mark a point on the edge of the forest, after which his return home will be commanded by a program that will lead him back to the marked place.

When mushroom pickers have found a beautiful clearing and want to return here next weekend, “I’m going home” will do them a huge service. This is especially true when mushroom pickers are in this area for the first time. To return here again, you need to mark the coordinates of the clearing in the program.

Going to the forest to pick mushrooms is a traditional Russian pastime, in which knowledge and experience have always played an almost decisive role. About mushroom places big secret reported by word of mouth, newcomers learned to identify mushrooms and walk through the forest under the guidance of “experienced” ones, and cooking recipes were passed down from generation to generation. Now, along with a knife, a basket and mosquito repellent, a smartphone has become one of the main attributes of lovers of quiet hunting. Non-greedy mushroom pickers post information about fertile clearings on social networks, and apps help them find, recognize, avoid getting lost, and preserve them. We have reviewed online services to make summer 2019 a mushroom ride for you.

Let's start with the basics

The application will help you study the theory of mushroom science "Mushroom Picker's Guide". The “Articles about Mushrooms” section contains everything from advice for novice mushroom pickers to recommendations on how to recognize mushroom poisoning and provide first aid.

Each mushroom is classified according to edibility and described in great detail - appearance, features, habitat.

In addition, a mushroom calendar is available in the application - the developers have included the ripening dates of each mushroom in a separate table, which is quick and easy to navigate.

Let's move on to practice

So, the theory has been studied, and now you can go into the forest, where getting lost is as easy as shelling pears. Moreover, not only beginners, but also experienced mushroom pickers are guilty of this. Every year, rescuers bring thousands of hapless, quiet hunters out of the forests of Russia. You can even lose your car in the forest - such cases happen quite often.

If you don’t have a navigator and your mushroom picking trip is not expected to be very far, try using the program "I'm Going Home Lite". The application starts connecting to GPS immediately after opening, and if a map of the area you plan to move through has already been downloaded, Mobile Internet You can safely turn it off, thereby significantly reducing your smartphone’s battery consumption.

First you need to put a point where you enter the forest or, for example, where you leave your car. The application will give you the coordinates of this place and offer to rename the target for convenience.

Are you going to pick mushrooms with your family, but are you afraid of losing each other? You can find out the location of your loved ones and let them see where you are using the MTS Search service: everything is under control in your smartphones.

The track will begin to be written independently, and whether the smartphone screen is turned off does not matter. If you find a clearing with mushrooms, you can also mark this goal to return at any time (the points are stored in the program’s memory).

To get to the starting point, you just need to click on the corresponding point and follow the voice prompts. Well, or just watch on the screen so as not to deviate too much from the path laid out by the navigator. At the same time, at any moment you can see how much distance is left to the target and at what speed you are moving.

Expert in your pocket

If you are a beginner mushroom picker, then it is, of course, better to go with an experienced friend at first, who will tell you which mushrooms are edible and which ones you shouldn’t even touch. But if there is no such comrade, the smartphone will again come to the rescue. Application "Pick mushrooms" determines quite accurately which mushroom is in front of you. To do this you can use like mechanically(by independently selecting the parameters of the mushroom), and by automatic detection - based on photos from the scene of events.



“I’m going home” is a wonderful navigator for all those who prefer to listen to directions rather than try to figure it out by looking at mobile phone where to turn. The “I'm Going Home” app is perfect for hunters, mushroom pickers, fishermen, and just anyone who loves hiking but is afraid of getting lost. Excellent accuracy and a pleasant voice interface make this program simply irreplaceable.

Developer: rausNT
Interface language: English Russian
Compatibility: Minimal: 4.0.3 (Ice Cream Sandwich MR1)
Target: 8.0 (Oreo)

State: Ad-Free for site Dymonyxx
State: Professional version
Screenshot: Original by Dymonyxx

Hundreds of navigation programs that focus on route guidance and a visual interface are written for Android. This program focuses on sound prompts and distance guidance. You can simply put your phone in your pocket and listen to what your phone is telling you. The advantage is that your hands will not be occupied with the phone, and your eyes will be free, because this is very important in the forest, and it is unlikely that you will lose or drop your phone.

You must get from point A to point B - this is the main task of the program. If you think that there are a huge number of such programs, then you are very mistaken. The paths along the roads on the map and along which you are led are laid by navigators. What if there is only a direction, but no road (forest, desert, etc.). Compasses, which you can also use, also show direction perfectly. But you use them, holding them in your hand, and see what direction the arrows show you, then hide the phone and move on. If you go off course, you will need to repeat everything again. But it seems that it will be much more convenient if your phone, while in your pocket, corrects your path and tells you where to go. That is why the “I'm going home” application is considered very convenient.

In some cases the program can be used:
1. When you are going to the forest for a walk, you need to set a point at the edge of the forest, and when you return home, this program will, using voice prompts, guide you to the place from which you came.
2. If you have already picked mushrooms in a clearing that is unknown to you, and you want to come here again next weekend, you just need to enter a point in the database called “There are mushrooms here!” And on the weekend you can get there again.
3. If you do not want to open the map, checking the azimuth, and the rough terrain is not known to you, you can also use this application.

Paid version (PRO) It is distinguished by the absence of advertising and the presence of Google Maps (guaranteed to work when installing Google Maps - version 6.14.4, Google Play Market version 4.1.6, Google Play services version 3.1.36. Thanks to the user keta22).

Present to your attention the best navigator program in order not to get lost in the forest - I'm going home. It's ideal for anyone who loves hiking, so if you're traveling by car, consider apps like Igo Primo. Be sure to download all the latest maps and install them before use. You will not get lost anywhere - neither in the forest while hunting for mushrooms, nor in the desert, swamp and other dangerous places.

The PRO version has a convenient voice prompt and navigator so you can stay focused and keep your eyes on the road. For stable operation you do not need the Internet, you only need a GPS signal. The main thing is to make sure you have 100% battery charge, as it will drain quickly and you could end up stranded somewhere on the way home.

Download I'm going home for android

How to use

It's very simple. Before starting the journey, set a waypoint and go where you need to go. Make sure that the application tracks your route and does not freeze.

Here's a good example in the video below (a must-watch!):



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