Topo Maps US vs MyCloudBase

Download USGS topographic maps of the United States and use them offline, with no account and no subscription. Topo Maps US is built for people who go where cell service doesn't: hikers, backpackers, hunters, anglers, paddlers, mountain bikers, geocachers, and anyone who wants a real topographic map in their pocket. MAPS Choose from three USGS map layers: standard topographic, aerial imagery with a topographic overlay, or plain aerial imagery. OFFLINE Tap the map squares you want and download them before you leave. Downloaded maps work with no Internet connection and use no cell data in the field. TRAILS AND POINTS OF INTEREST BUILT IN Every map download includes the trails, summits, lakes, campsites, and other named places in that area from OpenStreetMap, so you can search them by name while you're offline. TRAIL RECORDING Record where you go. Recorded trails show your path on the map with distance, elapsed time, and average speed. Recording stops automatically when you start driving, and any drive at the start or end of a trail is trimmed off. ELEVATION PROFILES Every recorded or imported trail gets an elevation profile with distance labels and color-coded grade shading. Drag along the chart to see the matching point on the map, its elevation, and the time you passed it. FLAGS Mark your current location or any spot on the map. Flags record coordinates and elevation, and you can add notes and organize them by color: geocaches, trailheads, summits, camps, and so on. NAVIGATION Pick a flag and follow the direction arrow, driven by your compass heading, with the distance remaining. Handy for geocaching and for finding your way back to camp or the car. LOCATION See where you are on the map, your elevation, speed, and the accuracy of the GPS fix. MEASURE Trace a route on the map to measure its distance, then save it as a trail to follow later. IMPORT AND SHARE Import trails and waypoints from GPX files and geocache LOC files. Share your flags and trails by email, Messages, or AirDrop as standard GPX files that work with any GPS unit or mapping software. Back up your maps and data to a computer over Wi-Fi. Designed for iPhone and iPad. Note: Continued use of GPS in the background can noticeably reduce battery life.

Learning to fly cross-country? This tool helps you answer the most important question: "Can I make it to that cloud?" MyCloudBase is a simple rangefinder that helps glider pilots—especially those new to cross-country flying—develop better distance judgment. Point your camera at a cloud base, and instantly see how far it is and how much altitude you'll lose getting there. WHY NEW XC PILOTS LOVE IT When you're starting out in cross-country soaring, estimating distances is hard. Clouds that look close might be 10 miles away. MyCloudBase takes the guesswork out by giving you real numbers you can use to make better decisions. "That cloud is 4.2 miles away" "I'll lose 1,850 feet getting there" "At my glide ratio, I can make it" Over time, you'll start calibrating your own eyes and building the intuition that experienced pilots have. HOW IT WORKS Set your cloudbase altitude (ask a towpilot or check the forecast) Set your glide ratio (start conservative—maybe 25:1 or 30:1) Point your phone at a cloud base Read the distance and altitude loss Decide: go for it, or find something closer? The green "Reachable Terrain" box shows you everything within gliding range. If the cloud base is inside the box, you can theoretically reach it. BEGINNER-FRIENDLY FEATURES Large, Easy Controls - Big picker wheels you can adjust with gloves on or in turbulence No Complex Setup - Just two settings: cloudbase height and your glide ratio Works Offline - No cell signal needed—works anywhere you fly Pre-Calibrated - Accurate right out of the box for most iPhones Visual Horizon Line - See exactly where level is, helping you understand pitch angles TIPS FOR NEW PILOTS Be conservative with your glide ratio. Your glider's best L/D might be 38:1, but in real conditions with headwinds and sink, 25:1-30:1 is more realistic. Use it on the ground first. Practice pointing at clouds from the airfield to get comfortable with the interface. Cross-check with your variometer. MyCloudBase is a planning aid, not a replacement for your instruments. A LEARNING TOOL MyCloudBase won't fly the glider for you, but it will help you learn one of the most important cross-country skills: knowing what you can reach and what you can't. With practice, you'll start making these estimates on your own—and that's when the real fun begins. Built by a glider pilot. Tested by glider pilots. Made for pilots who are ready to leave the pattern and explore.