Paper maps

[Mrs H]

Is the writing on the wall for paper maps? https://www.msn.com/en-gb/travel/news/a ... li=BBoPWjQ

Most people I see setting off for walks in Hathersage are following the route on their phones now (and holding paper coffee cups - have thermos flasks also gone out of fashion?)

Will paper maps become niche? I know they can be a bit of a handful in a stiff breeze but personally I usually print out an A4 extract off Streetmap for my walks.

[Atomic]

The writing has been on the wall for marine charts for some time. Very few vessels now don't have an electronic chartplotter, and those that don't are likely to be so small that using paper charts is problematic anyway. However there is no doubt that its much easier to plan and see the bigger picture on large format paper charts or maps so I expect the niche will continue, even if not printed by the Admiralty directly. There are already several other publishers. If OS decided to stop making paper maps, it would presumably not be the end of paper maps - rather it would be a massive boost for Harvey's etc. Indeed perhaps that would actually be good for innovation - formats which actually suit the activity might be better and more viable without the competitive confusion of a government-backed institution behind it. There's some simple things that make Harvey's maps and Imray charts better in some regards than their OS and Admiralty defacto alternatives. Whilst I'm sure phone based mapping is not going to vanish I'm pretty sure that some of the reasons it is popular are a giant A1 (?) map is not that practical in the wild, often you find you cross boundaries and need two maps - now taking up maybe 4 x the weight and 6 x the space of my phone etc.

The thing which kept printed marine charts alive was a regulatory requirement to carry them. Gradually that requirement has been phased out and just like airlines, most large ships no longer have to carry paper charts.

thermos flasks are still being used by sailors - going below deck to make a brew in a swell is an activity to minimise!

[Gnitworp]

I'm renowned for crumpling up paper maps so that I can constantly thumb and orientate them. Thumbing and orientating a stiff smart phone is a mind-boggling concept for me, and I'll almost certainly (after 52 fantastic years) give up the sport if it's the only option. I don't own a smart phone BTW. (JEP M75)

[drobin]

Over here in O-Ringen land, I was surprised to be using paper maps in unsealed plastic bags.

[Gnitworp]

I'm so heavy-handed, drobin, with paper maps that I often slip it in a map bag especially if I'm likely to get it muddy, rendering it unreadable if not so protected (you just wipe the mud off). I fared better in the halcyon days of litho printed maps in decent gauge map cases.