Maps, specialist equipment?

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 CharlieMack 09 Mar 2016
I went to buy a map of the peak district this afternoon to replace a lost one.

I went to four 'outdoor' shops (not specialists) and three out of the four didn't sell maps at all. The fourth didn't have any maps of the peak district, with the nearest branch of their chain that had one in stock, was 190 miles away!

All four shops sold compasses!

And they wonder why we have so many call ours for mountain rescue with people I'll equipped with map and compass. Seems its now become specialist equipment, only to be purchased from specialist shops.
1
 Adam_Turner 09 Mar 2016
In reply to CharlieMack:

Had similar problems recently too! I wanted an OS TUFF map of the Brecon Beacons 1:25k and it was practically impossible to find... Some stores, like you mentioned, didn't stock them at all!

I love my GPS and use it a lot but prefer to use my map and compass primarily. Not the easiest thing when you cant find any maps...
 Welsh Kate 09 Mar 2016
In reply to CharlieMack:

Dashforit. Ok, not bricks and mortar, but they do laminated maps, and very quick turnaround of orders.
OP CharlieMack 09 Mar 2016
In reply to Welsh Kate:

Im going to pop to a specialist shop tomorrow for it. Just baffled that the standard outdoor shops don't stock maps/or have decent stock of the useful ones.
I don't mind going out of my way when I need specialist kit, but would have thought that maps were standard issue. Along with the likes of water bottles and bright orange emergency blankets etc.
Mapman 09 Mar 2016
In reply to Adam_Turner:

Increasingly hard to find maps as the distributors find it hard to make individual maps pay. Far easier to sell something generic like a compass!

I've found this tough from a manufacturers perspective so increasingly you'll find your only option is to buy on line and increasingly you'll find better deals and even more bespoke map options there.

You could try mine at www.splash-maps.com. I'd love to know what you think!
pasbury 10 Mar 2016
In reply to CharlieMack:

I usually manage to find local maps in post offices/gift shops rather than gear shops. Or Stanfords if I need them in advance.
 galpinos 10 Mar 2016
In reply to CharlieMack:

Harvey's/BMC maps. Waterproof paper and a nice 1:40k scale.
 d_b 10 Mar 2016
In reply to CharlieMack:

I find bookshops are a far better bet overall.
 hokkyokusei 10 Mar 2016
In reply to CharlieMack:

What do you consider to be a specialist outdoor shop?

I was intrigued and so just had a quick look and, on a spectrum of non specialist (Decathlon, Go outdoors, Cotswolds) to specialist (Needlesports, Joe Brown, Outside), all but Decathlon sell maps.

 LastBoyScout 10 Mar 2016
In reply to galpinos:

> Harvey's/BMC maps. Waterproof paper and a nice 1:40k scale.

Bought my first one of these earlier this year and have been impressed by it, having been a lifelong OS map user.
 LastBoyScout 10 Mar 2016
In reply to davidbeynon:

> I find bookshops are a far better bet overall.

But no BMC/etc discount...
2
 d_b 10 Mar 2016
In reply to LastBoyScout:

True, but I don't find discounts that useful unless I can actually buy what I want.
In reply to davidbeynon:

Agreed: WH Smiths used to have a very extensive range of OS maps. Not sure if they still do, as they seem to have gone downmarket in recent years. And I have full UK digital mapping...
 girlymonkey 10 Mar 2016
In reply to CharlieMack:

I get most of mine in waterstones. Great selection there
 Nordie_matt 10 Mar 2016
In reply to CharlieMack:
Oddly (or perhaps not?) WH Smith in Buxton carried OS maps for the Peak, and I recall seeing a Harvey's map there alongside some rockfax Peak lime guides
Post edited at 13:28
 graeme jackson 10 Mar 2016
In reply to Nordie_matt:

> Oddly (or perhaps not?) WH Smith in Buxton carried OS maps for the Peak, and I recall seeing a Harvey's map there alongside some rockfax Peak lime guides

WH Smith in Livingston also carries OS maps in the two main ranges for the entire country plus a selection of Harvey's (which I've never used - any good?)
 Nordie_matt 10 Mar 2016
In reply to graeme jackson:

I like the OS 1:25 for micro nav, but would take Harvey's/BMC over an OS 1:50



Moley 10 Mar 2016
In reply to CharlieMack:

If you can read a map and use a compass, you are a specialist these days. Or so I tell myself, as everyone else I know has GPS thingies, not for me thank you.
2
ultrabumbly 10 Mar 2016
In reply to CharlieMack:

most people using gps competently are using the likes of viewranger and printing out their own OS sheets also.

I use that in the UK and also have a subscription to OS maps online. It was about 17 quid for the year and I can print what I need from it.
OP CharlieMack 12 Mar 2016
In reply to Nordie_matt:

Interesting to hear that whsmith seems to be the place to go for maps these days. Guess its quite logical.
Also interesting that people are just printing their own maps off. I guess the only issue is if you've got lost and gone off the edge of your a4 section, or whatever you've printed.
Obviously nothing stopping you do that on an OS, but it will be less likely as they're bigger.

Though do always find the route you want is close to one edge of the map annoyingly, that'll be where print your own come into their own.
 d_b 12 Mar 2016
In reply to CharlieMack:

One thing to bear in mind if you print your own is that most printer ink will run if it gets wet, so don't forget the map case.
 Brass Nipples 12 Mar 2016
In reply to CharlieMack:


You can get the OS 1:50,000 entire country digitally for £65. That includes having them on your phone. Print what you need, laminate if somewhere you go often or rain forecast. Have the entire OS 1:50,000 on your phone as backup. I've also added Harvey and 1:25,000 for some areas as well, and French 1:25,000 IGN for Alps. Had this setup 14 years now. Just further afield I buy naps for now.
 TobyA 13 Mar 2016
In reply to hokkyokusei:

Decathlon used to, although I think I bought one on sale in there last, so perhaps that's was getting rid of stock.
 galpinos 13 Mar 2016
In reply to graeme jackson:

The Harvey's are my map of preference now, I've got the BMC ones for the Lakes, Wales, Peak and Scotland.

 Only a hill 13 Mar 2016
In reply to galpinos:

Harvey maps are brilliant. I've been using them for long-distance trails and I wouldn't go back.

It's also worth considering the new OS subscription service, which lets you print off unlimited OS maps at 50k or 25k scale. Excellent value.
ultrabumbly 14 Mar 2016
In reply to davidbeynon:

> One thing to bear in mind if you print your own is that most printer ink will run if it gets wet, so don't forget the map case.

This can be true though allegedly some of the waterproof papers give excellent results if needed. However, the major boon to printing your own is that you aren't on a standards sheet's fold, as invariably you are with the traditional ones.

If you can get away with with 4 sheets of A4 in two A4 dry cases then that is still lighter than a full OS map with no need to thumb them with wet hands. I usually use one case and print to scale for even up to two days(caution here and I wouldn't recommend it for a novice to use other than native/genuine scale). That and I laminate sections I reuse often.
In reply to davidbeynon:

> One thing to bear in mind if you print your own is that most printer ink will run if it gets wet,

Not if you have a laser printer...

... although if you print on normal paper, you still need a case...
 d_b 14 Mar 2016
In reply to captain paranoia:

I said most, not all. Colour ink jets are still a lot more common in homes.

It wasn't intended as a strike against printing maps, just something to remember so you don't have that "oh arse!" moment when you inevitably get rained on.

I tend to use a map case even with those BMC plastic maps bacause it stops them from getting blown about so much.
In reply to davidbeynon:

I was being smug, having access to a double-sided A3 colour laser printer...

I use cases, too. I'm investigating a very low-cost option, too, for my DofE groups.
 Kassius 14 Mar 2016
In reply to CharlieMack:

Decathlon normally has a good selection
 d_b 14 Mar 2016
In reply to captain paranoia:

Ziploc freezer bags?
In reply to davidbeynon:

Sturdy ones, yes; not the pathetic 'sandwich bags'.

I have been using "Pour'n'Store" bags, but they seem to have fallen off the market.
 d_b 14 Mar 2016
In reply to captain paranoia:

Morrisons used to do some reasonably good ones. I used them a lot for dried meals and spare socks. I haven't bought them for a while as I haven't managed to do any backpacking this year unfortunately.
sputnik3383 23 Mar 2016
In reply to CharlieMack:

I usually get my maps from Waterstones , easy . Go Outdoors have a good stock . or online then you don't have to waste time trecking round the shops
ceri 23 Mar 2016
In reply to hokkyokusei:

> I was intrigued and so just had a quick look and, on a spectrum of non specialist (Decathlon, Go outdoors, Cotswolds) to specialist (Needlesports, Joe Brown, Outside), all but Decathlon sell maps.
Decathlon used to sell maps a couple of years ago, I'm sure I remember them having a good range of OS maps. Maybe they're going out of fashion?
 Andypeak 23 Mar 2016
In reply to ceri:

My local decathlon stocks maps
 icnoble 27 Mar 2016
In reply to galpinos:

> Harvey's/BMC maps. Waterproof paper and a nice 1:40k scale.

Harvey's maps are the business, much easier to read than OS maps.

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