In recent years it has became apparent to us that there appear to be two camps regarding navigation. There is the pro - GPS camp that would not contemplate to ride even to the local shops without it, and on the opposite side there is the pro - Maps camp that could not care less. However, as with anything in life there are pros and cons for everything. The benefits of the GPS are that you will have plenty of information available to you in an instant (might not be the most accurate but it’s there). If you need routes, accommodation, fuel, service, tyres, restaurants, tourist attractions you name it it’s all there at the press of a button. In our opinion the main benefits of using the GPS are that if you make a wrong turn or you are diverted due to the road works it will quickly recalculate and take you back to the original route. Also when you've had a long day of riding, you arrive to the town/city/area and you are not sure where the hotel is the GPS will take you there (it might not be the shortest route but you will get there). The down side of the GPS is that it can annoy the pants off you and adds an extra cost to your touring kit.

So, if you belong to the pro - Map camp all this does not concern you that much. Many people like to read maps and prefer manual navigation. In their opinion there is a greater sense of adventure and self-reliance. There is nothing to break down, it is you, your map reading skills and the road in front of you. However, the down side of manual navigation is that, for a long tour, you need several detailed maps covering all the regions you would like to visit, they are quite large in size, might get wet, you need a petrol tank bag and you have to frequently stop to turn the map over or to check directions.

We personally use both. GPS for reference and a backup and maps with our route notes combined with common sense as our main navigational tools. The bottom line is you use whatever you are most comfortable with as long as you get to your destination safely.