Garmin mapping options for outdoor GPS
In this short video we look at each of them in Garmin BaseCamp so you can see what each of them looks like and the differences between the different map sets for a Garmin GPS unit.
1. A look at the map options in Garmin BaseCamp
2. What map option is best for a Garmin GPS Unit?
The Garmin map options for a Garmin GPS Unit
1. Topo Active – covers 47 European mapping
Compiled using the community-generated OpenStreetMap (OSM) database.
Includes routable street and off-road networks, international boundaries, waterways, natural features, land use areas, historical sites, airport structures, buildings and more.
Garmin Topo Active mapping displays thousands of points of interest, including shops; restaurants and bars; car parks; schools and universities and accommodations
Garmin TopoActive Western / Eastern Europe covers the following 47 countries: Albania, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Russia / Kaliningrad, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Turkey, Ukraine, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Vatican City.
- We find this TopoActive mapping on Garmin Fenix 5 plus and Fenix 6 watches.
- In the handheld world it’s pre-loaded on the 22x, 32x, Touch 25 and 35, Oregon 750t, GPSMAP66st, GPSMAP66i and Montana 700, 700i and 750i. This you can use on it's own (GPS units that come with Topo Active maps) or use it alongside some Ordnance Survey mapping (both 1:50k and 1:25k Ordnance Survey maps).
2. Garmin TOPO Great Britain PRO 1:50k – Full GB
This is Ordnance Survey mapping at 1:50k, equivalent to the Landranger Ordnance Survey maps, but these can be viewed on both your Outdoor GPS and your PC/ Mac, no need to buy the maps twice or pay a subscription. They are yours for life.
This mapping also has turn my turn routing within National Parks, don’t worry we set your new GPS unit up to utlise this feature and therefore it makes it nice and easy to use the turn by turn functionality that comes with the Garmin TOPO Great Britain PRO 1:50k
A real key feature on this map option from Garmin.
3. Garmin TOPO Great Britain PRO 1:25k – full GB
This is Ordnance Survey mapping at 1:25k, equivalent to the Explorer Ordnance Survey maps, but these can be viewed on both your Outdoor GPS and your PC/ Mac, no need to buy the maps twice or pay a subscription. They are yours for life.
The 1:25k Ordnance Survey maps on a Garmin GPS are more accurate than the 1:50k maps, they also show open access areas (right to roam) and permissive paths, which are not shown on the 1:50k Ordnance Survey maps.
This mapping also has turn my turn routing within National Parks, don’t worry we set your new GPS unit up to utlise this feature and therefore it makes it nice and easy to use the turn by turn functionality that comes with the Garmin TOPO Great Britain PRO 1:25k.
FAQ - How often do Garmin update their Ordnance Survey Maps?
The most common question we get asked is how often the Garmin Ordnance survey map cards get updated.
As you may know Ordnance Survey release 1/4 of the UK every year as a map update, therefore Garmin update their Ordnance Survey map cards every four years.
Where are we in the Garmin Ordnance survey map card cycle?
1:25k TOPO PRO map card - this Garmin 1:25k Ordnance survey map card was last updated at the start of 2021, so the next map card update will be 2025.
1:50k TOPO PRO map card - this Garmin 1:50k Ordnance survey map card was last updated at the start of 2018, so the next map card update will be 2022.
Garmin receive the Ordnance survey map updates in January each year, but it does take them a couple of months to update the physical Garmin map card and for these to filter through to retailers.
Thankfully here at GPS Training we sell through our stock every week so once the new map card is released we will have it, I am aware that some other retailers do hold massive stock in warehouses and it means that they are selling the old map card with GPS units for many months after when they should have been.
Other articles about Garmin GPS mapping you may find interesting
1. Raster v Vector maps for the UK GPS user
2.Garmin Ordnance Survey mapping now with Routable Trail Data within the National Parks
3. Do I need OS maps on an Outdoor GPS unit?