I hope it will be a failure and not a new trend where garmin starts to add new subscribtions for things that could be included in a 1000 euro device :)
i think the paid maps were already a failure as they eventually made them free. i don't really understand why this would warrant an active subscription either. hope they fail hard
To be fair Garmin has been in the business of paid maps for a long time and this Outdoor Maps+ subscription isn't new as it was previously available on the Montana Series / Handhelds. Garmin simply made it available to the wearable market as well. Like I said... most people probably don't need this but for some niche use cases it might be useful!
@@rgmALC well yeah and I can pay for update of these maps as well. Problem is you need to pay 50 USD (not 49 as said in the video which was weird) every year forever and you have no updates guaranteed.
@@rgmALC life time update model do exist for Garmin car GPS for about $50 more. Given that the current or prospective users of Fenix/Epix probably replace their watch every generation or every two generations (3-5) years, the price premium of the top of the line watches could be considered as a "subscription" over 3-5 years.
Yeah, no shit. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a garmin fan boy. I did however just buy a apple watch as a wrist mounted gps. Why garmin watchs don’t even have google or Apple Maps I’ll never know. Even my $100 pebble back in 2016 had maps.
To be fair Garmin has been in the business of paid maps for a long time and this Outdoor Maps+ subscription isn't new as it was previously available on the Montana Series / Handhelds. Garmin simply made it available to the wearable market as well. Like I said... most people probably don't need this but for some niche use cases it might be useful!
Yeah, no thanks. Paid subscription is very cheeky. Maybe they can't let go of the old days of making money off this stuff but these days everything has satellite maps. I'd find it useful for sure but not enough to warrant throwing more money at Garmin. I'm still salty over Golf being everywhere and not being able to remove it. 😁
These monthly/yearly subscriptions just put me off.. If it was 50USD one time fee, I just might consider it. As for this, will skip. What is next, full battery capacity for only 99$ a year..
Keep in mind the high end Garmin watches include FREE maps pre-installed on the watch. These maps are really for very niche use cases. If you're one of the people who can utilize them it's probably worth $50 bucks but for most people the pre-installed free maps are more than enough!
Naw, they should also offer a permanent map ownership option, where you just pay 1 price for region. For example, Florida is 65,795 square miles, and pay $65.79 for a permanent license, or $6.58 per year for a lease option. Fools like me would gladly give Garmin $6.58 for at least one year. On top of my thousand dollar watch purchase (good thing I had a discount code).
Thanks for the overview I'm going to give it a miss I bought the fenix 7 and garmin alpha 10 expecting to be able to track my hunting dogs in detail either on my watch or in the garmin explore app but was left very disappointed the explore app doesn't show any detail ov open land no trees most trails are also missing from the app and watch now dogtra do a much cheaper system and they manage to give you satellite maps in the app as standard but garmin can not nor can they on your watch without paying a premium I can't use the maps for tracking so I just use the arrow and distance indicator less fuss if you already know the area but if you don't then it kind ov means you have to discover your own way around the terrain to catch up to the dogs very disappointing
Thank you so much for showing. Think it could be very helpful for hunting, trailruns and skiing. I just run on usual ways so I'm going to stay with the regular maps.
Yes, Talkytoaster maps are worth every penny (non-UK user here). And you can install the maps on as many devices as you own. If you buy a $130 Garmin map, it's tied to ONE device, no transfer possible. Support Talkytoaster!
Answering your last question - no, this feature is totally not worth the $50 for me. Since I'm in Europe and apparently this covers US only. A fact that in my opinion should have been stated in the video. Or is this a strictly US only channel too?
The reason I purchased the Fenix was due to its preloaded free! Maps. It's a shame this isn't free due to the cost you are paying for the item. I could use it for detail on approach to climbing routes, but will just take a Google map screen shot to save money. Good review.
Agree 1000%. This watch is behind and basically sucks for most things compared to an Apple watch. This and battery were the only two things I downgraded to a 2005 level tech then they charge. I'm really mad.
Finally, Garmin also launched a subscription service. I was wondering for how long they hold on just selling great watches without the yearly-monthly subscription milking...
I doubt they'll start a subscription service for the basics. This is a very niche product. Most people will be perfectly happy with the free maps pre-installed on the watch.
@@ChaseTheSummit Yes, actually a great feature on the Garmin watches that we can install third party maps very easily, and this way we can have high resolution, and specialised maps easily on the watch.
Bad move Garmin. I am one of those loyal Garmin users and early adopters that is unlikely to tolerate a subscription based premium mapping system. Emotionally this is now leading me to disengage and question the value I get from the Garmin eco system - and this is the danger Garmin faces when they disrupt and cannibalise an existing segment like this. For example I feel in an instant that Garmin has devalued my Enduro 2 in that I no longer have access to the best maps on my watch that I paid $1700+ Australian dollars for. Guess who may no longer get the next iteration of this watch? Guess who is re-evaluating their other Garmin products and purchase plans? It is not the $50-$100 cost, it is my allergic (almost anaphylactic) reaction to subscribing to services I may only use occasionally. I bet I am not the only one. So now my backup watch (Apple Ultra) is starting looking like it has more of a future. I was going to get a Marq too.
Keep in mind the Fenix 7X includes free maps pre-installed when you buy it. This mapping subscription is only for additional map layers that most people likely don't even need. It's really for specific niche use cases.
@@ChaseTheSummit Oh I misunderstood that, thank you for clarifying. I re-watched your video and I see you clearly explained this but I missed it. Thank you for the nice note and I kept binging your videos and ended up buying the Garmin Fenix 7x Sapphire after all. Excited to see more of your videos.
Do these detailed, downloaded maps show up on regular activities (eg tracking backcountry skiing/snowboarding)? I use the map view quite frequently when in the backcountry, just to check my positioning, so this is the situation in which I would find this most useful. Thanks for the video!
Huh … no mention of the 965’s potential ability to use this …. And in your podcast you didn’t mention the 965 as something you’re looking forward to … methinks someone is testing the new 965 and 265.
Yep, but you do need a cellular connection to use those maps and they do not include certain layers (like hunting) like with Garmin. Different tools for different jobs!
Any way to get bigger area? I have an offroad atv area thats 30 miles long I am wanting to do, but the max zoom would not capture all of it….need the satellite view…
I’ve just bought the Fenix 7 pro. It says I can download the topo maps for free with no subscription. Is that correct? Also can you add the layers to the topographical maps. Thanks dude.
that private land boundries feature sounds like it might be interesting for wildcampers But paying a subscription service on top of an overpriced watch is not something i can or want to shill out for
Good overview and information. When I got the email from Garmin, I thought the better maps sounded great. But after watching this, I think they'll be too much of a hassle to download, and then eventually delete to free up space for new areas. I'll stick with the pre-loaded for now.
Garmin daring to charge for this, map quality that Apple Watch has has for about 8 years, while charging MORE for their Atari-level tech is ridiculous. It's virtually impossible and VERY frustrating to use the maps on the Garmin watch, ironically. LAG-FEST! But having come from an Apple watch, there is NO WAY that my Fenix 7x Sapphire Solar should cost MORE than my Apple watch Ultra, even charging HALF the Apple watch is really bold. THEN CHARGING to bring the absolute trash level map experience circa 1998 to a 2005 maps experience in a laggy, choppy and frustrating way, slightly closer to Apple maps is INSANE of Garmin to do. Do they lack all self-awareness of how obsolete their product was that they can charge to fix it?. This Maps subscription is the last insult for me. It's not even like the Apple watch that just updates it on the fly. You have to connect it to the ancient Garmin computer app. This is literally the dumbest smart watch on the market. I'll just go back to my Ultra. This is my first and last Garmin anything. Expensive mistake. .
The Fenix 7 comes pre-installed with free maps that are highly detailed and more than most people need. They're also routeable and carry a POI database. The watch can create turn by turn directions on the fly, back to start course navigation, and drop waypoints... all without a cellular connection. The Apple Watch comes pre-installed with Apple Maps which are great but do require a cellular connection. Apple Maps are also not designed for use on trails or in the wildnerness where contour lines on a TOPO map are far more useful. Different tools for different jobs.
Keep in mind the Fenix 7X includes free maps pre-installed when you buy it. This mapping subscription is only for additional map layers that most people likely don't even need. It's really for specific niche use cases.
Excellent into/overview Dave and I definitely jumped in myself after watching your video. I'm primarily interested in hiking/backpacking and probably like you, more interested in the satellite view, so we can reduce the default file size from 2GB to under 1GB by deselecting the Parcel boundary layer. For my first download, the Tile size seems about 8 x 12 square miles so on a Epix 2 Sapphire with half the 32GB available, I'd estimate we'd have enough free space for around a 10-15 standard size tiles at a time. How about you - have you had a chance to do any real world testing? Happy trails, Michael
Do you know if this $50 map+ membership transfers to a Garmin inreach 67i? I also just bought the Epix. Was just curious if I could use the membership on both devices.
Hi I live in the UK. I have a Fenix 6X pro so it is incompatible with this. I would be interested in this extra mapping if it gave me the UK ordnance survey map layer. Because that is THE most useful map for contours,boundaries and public footpaths…best map in the world albeit only applicable to the UK! Instead I will use my smart phone for detailed mapping on a larger screen should I need it. However I would still pay for this extra mapping if I had a compatible Garmin, because I plan my long distance hikes a lot. (Other info: I have the Garmin InReach Mini 2 and currently pay for the basic SOS subscription service. Ideally it would be compatible with basic and this detailed Garmin maps. I can use it for following GPX breadcrumb routes and trackback in an emergency though)
Could u download multiple square miles? Like ...if it only allows you a maximum of 5 square miles per download......could i download multiple 5 square mile downloads to cover an entire are larger then the max allowed for one single download?
Got my Epix pro sapphire (gen 2)today. Also got my subscription and what a waste of money. I can’t seem to download and maps. Always showing 0% even over night. Anybody here have that issue?
Thanks! Sort of depends on your use case. Most people don't need this level of detail or the added hunting/water maps. But if you do... This is probably something you'd be interested in. The standard basemap that's included on the Fenix/Epix is still more detail than most people need.
I just installed this on my Epix Pro, at this point I have yet to figure out how to download a map for a course I've already loaded onto my watch. Gotta be a way...Wish it was possible to use Connect on the laptop to do it.
This is great, I just ordered my first Garmin Smartwatch (Fenix 8) but already have a Montana 750i. Can I order this outdoor map subscription to use for both devices (since they will both be under my account). Would love to have satellite imagery and detailed topo maps on both.
New to this channel…thx for the vid. I am shocked that there is no way to manage these on the phone/app? I just bought the sub last night and am playing with them (hiker/backpacker/camper). 1. Wish you could add larger areas. 2. Wish it could be managed in the phone. My initial impressions so far.
Public lands and property layers are also hunter-focused features, I would think. Really don’t get all the wingeing in the comments about a subscription for an optional add-on feature.
I’m a hunter and just purchased a Fenix 7x solar. You said in another comment that this would most benefit hunters. But I’ve read a lot of comments saying it’s useless. It’s $50 the money isn’t a problem the problem I’m having is deciding whether or not to get it. Is there other mapping I can get for hunting and hiking off grid where there’s no trails?
The fenix comes with free maps that are excellent. These maps are only for super niche situations. You can also download free OSM maps that may be useful for your use case.
It's not for everyone. If you have VERY specific use cases like for hunting it could be useful. For 99% of the users the free topo maps are more than enough.
I am going to Zion National park but I cant seem to find out how to download the park to my Gen 2 epics. I have Outdoor maps + sub, but whenever I search, it just times out. Any tips? I find this system very unintuitive and frustrating!
Great video as allways. But 50 Bucks a year for something that google maps on my phone can cover for 90% and is free... without all the effort to delete files and slowly downloading it etc... still dont know why you cant just connect it to your laptop via usb and transphere the files quickly that way. I think it would be worth it if you could "stream" the map from your phone on the watch but still I wouldnt pay 50 bucks for that.
The ownership stuff is useful if you're exploring rather than going on established trails. For people trying to find 4x4 trails it can be helpful because its not always clear whether some dirt path that disappears into the woods is somewhere you're allowed to drive or someone's driveway. You can also use it to contact the land owner if you're looking for permission. Probably best for 4x4s and hunters.
Difference in maps? GARMIN says the Fenix has maps downloaded and epix does not. What does this mean in usage? Any other differences not generally shown or known? When using the maps is the fenix better due to the screen staying on vs the epix always turning off while trying to figure out what you want to do? Thank you.
Difference in maps? GARMIN says the Fenix has maps downloaded and epix does not. What does this mean in usage? Any other differences not generally shown or known? When using the maps is the fenix better due to the screen staying on vs the epix always turning off while trying to figure out what you want to do? Thank you.
I feel what others are saying about paying for map data. However I’ll take paying for updated maps if it means my watch isn’t harvesting all my data and using it for financial gain (Apple/google).
I have a iPhone14 Pro Max always with me, together with a Fenix 7x solar sapphire, i think only 8% people would look at a map in a soooo small screen…it’s almost stupid…
Would be nice if I could pay for only the maps I would use. They should have different subscription levels instead of just a flat fee for all of them. I would totally pay $20 a year for the raster, enhanced topo and water features.
I know but I give it a try! I Paid for this year to test, But the resolution of Garmin tactix 7 edition and Garmin Alpha 300 has poor resolution screen... Garmin should use Amoled screen in all produce! Do you know if Garmin outdoor maps is usable on Garmin apps on Android or iPhone?
I can't believe the cost of maps for these things. Thank god I got my Fenix at 30% off, I'm not paying full price for a thousand dollar watch and paying for maps on top of that! Such BS.
I decided to give it a try, but one thing I found was that I have to plug in the watch while the "Map will download when your device is plugged in" is still on the screen. If I select the check mark and later plug in the device, the status shows "queued" but the download never starts. I have an Epix Gen 2.
Okay, figured out how to scroll 50 miles on the Epix and download a map for a hike yesterday. Didn't care for it, harder to read and really prefer the regular topo map already on my watch. Gave it a chance, no go for my useage.
