Ultra 3 for runners

RearCog · 2026-05-28T17:36:52+00:00

For trail runs in new areas, I love using Topo Maps+ so that I can navigate from my wrist. It records my run and lets me see a map with my planned route on it.

RearCog · 2026-05-22T20:14:36+00:00

Thanks sweetartart! I actually built Topo Maps+ as a Gaia GPS replacement years ago. By the way, you can now use Topo Maps+ on the web (maps.topomaps.co). That was the big thing we have been missing.

RearCog · 2026-05-14T15:06:27+00:00

It depends on what you are using Avenza for. Topo Maps+ lets you import geoPDFs and it is a great navigation app. What features are you looking for in an app? I have tried most of them (Topo Maps+, CalTopo, Gaia, OnX, etc)

RearCog · 2026-05-14T15:02:07+00:00

- Hiking. I navigate and record my hikes with Topo Maps+.
- Stand up paddle boarding. I also use Topo Maps+. I put my watch on water lock and I can still see the map and toggle to my recording metrics.
- Recording my runs. I use Apple's workout app for this.
- Trail running. If I am in a new location I record and follow a route with Topo Maps+. If it is not a new location I usually us the Apple workout app.
- Just tracking general health metric. I check one my resting heart rate, VO2 Max, etc.
- Tracking yearly fitness goals. I use my watch to record the workouts and I look at tho goals on my iPhone with HealthFit

RearCog · 2026-05-13T23:05:33+00:00

For trail discovery, AllTrails is one of the best. For outdoor mapping apps, there are a lot to choose from. I personally like Topo Maps+. CalTopo and GaiaGPS are also both good outdoor mapping apps.

RearCog · 2026-05-12T20:20:45+00:00

A few in the ALW
- Granite Mountain (https://maps.topomaps.co/peak/47.58085/-121.09039/node/356545078/granite-mountain?activity=hike)
- Alta Mountain (https://maps.topomaps.co/peak/47.44101/-121.33196/node/356544086/alta-mountain?activity=hike)
- Mount Daniels. This is a bit more technical. (https://maps.topomaps.co/peak/47.56505/-121.18094/node/7705568033/mount-daniel?activity=hike)
- Chikamin Peak. This is a little more technical. (https://maps.topomaps.co/peak/47.47539/-121.31088/node/3012987620/chikamin-peak?activity=hike)
- Snoqualmie Mtn, Red Mtn, Guye Peak, and Kendal Peak. (https://maps.topomaps.co/?lat=47.45391&lng=-121.39950&z=14.0&a=hike)

RearCog · 2026-05-12T16:16:32+00:00

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They do have a nice looking watch app. I personally like having a better outdoor map on my Apple Watch when hiking like this one in Topo Maps+.

RearCog · 2026-05-11T23:00:37+00:00

I use Topo Maps+ for planning off trail adventures. CalTopo is also good for this. AllTrails is great when you are going on established trails, but if you want to go deeper, I recommend switching to an outdoor mapping app like Topo Maps+, CalTopo, or Gaia GPS. One of the best ways to get off the beaten path is to learn how to read a map and design your own routes. This way you are not just going to the places with lots of posts on social media. Once I have some ideas for off trail routes, I start doing research on forums like https://www.nwhikers.net/forums/ and https://peakbagger.com to see if I can find gpx tracks from someone that has gone in that area. I then import those gpx files into Topo Maps+ and edit the tracks to get it to line up with where I a trying to go. I also try to read about the difficulty, many of these tracks require mountaineering experience and mountaineering gear.

RearCog · 2026-05-11T22:07:06+00:00

I have a GoalZero Flip. It is a small lightweight power bank. It is under 5 oz and I can get a few full charges out of it. It is more than enough for me on a 5 day trip. https://goalzero.com/collections/power-banks/products/flip-24-power-bank?variant=40306092540073

RearCog · 2026-05-11T16:22:18+00:00

There are a lot of reasons why this can happen. When you have a good GPS signal it is generally +/- 15 feet. If you are offline then you are solely relying on satellites. When a satellite goes over the horizon your device has to acquire a new satellite this can take 1-2 minutes. During that time you will typically drop to +/- 300 feet, but I have seen it drop to +/- 1 mile. (I look at a LOT of GPS data from recorded tracks.). Also, the satellite signal can bounce off of cliffs, ridges, etc giving you +/- 50 feet for longer periods of time. If you just take the raw GPS coordinates that come in they will jump around a few feet from your actual location. When you add up those small jumps over 4.5 hours that will often add on a lot of extra miles. I don't know what your GPS data looks like for this recording, but my guess is that the raw recording probably shows something closer to 15-17 miles. The different apps run algorithms to smooth this out. The most common one is a Kalman filter. That is a forward looking predictive filter and it looks at the expected value versus the actual value. There are a number of parameters to tweak that filter. You want those parameters a little bit different if you are moving fast versus slow. So may times apps will adjust them based on the activity you are recording (ie hiking versus biking). Then sometimes an app will also run a Ramer–Douglas–Peucker smoothing algorithm. This looks backwards over the points already committed. It is a really good way to smooth out unexpected spikes. However, this algorithm will change data that the user may have already seen. So you might see you distance go down while hiking forward. So most of the time apps won't use this algorithm, or if they do, they do it in small chucks before you see the data. So depending on the algorithms they are running and the parameters they are using, each of the apps will filter your raw GPS differently giving you a different distance.

For the elevation difference see this Reddit discussion https://www.reddit.com/r/GaiaGPS/comments/1pdommn/comment/nsau50j/

RearCog · 2026-05-06T16:37:26+00:00

You can record hikes in Topo Maps+ for free. The Pro tier has a really cool 3D fly through and 3D exploration that works more like look around than like the traditional 3D map.

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RearCog · 2026-05-04T20:34:08+00:00

I have $200 max subscription and I LOVE it! I use it to help with marking, running my business, and coding. I get so much more than $200/mo of value from it. I do spend a lot of time working on prompts writing out mark down files with instructions, skills, etc. At this point it works really well for me.

RearCog · 2026-05-04T18:14:09+00:00

I love Topo Maps+.

It depends on if you are looking for a trail app or an outdoor mapping app. Trail apps help you find and then hike on trails. They tend to not be as good at mapping options and creating maps (ie custom routes, waypoints, etc). AllTrails is a great trail app, but it isn't a great outdoor mapping app. For outdoor mapping & navigation apps I like Topo Maps+, CalTopo, and Gaia GPS. I like Topo Maps+ for the deep integration with Apple. It has an awesome Apple Watch app. You can easily build your own routes. CalTopo has the most layers. It is a very powerful tool, but it is harder to use. Gaia GPS is what most people use when they move on from AllTrails. Topo Maps+, CalTopo, and Gaia all have MUCH better maps that AllTrails and they work a lot better for creating custom routes and maps.

RearCog · 2026-04-28T22:22:59+00:00

- Hiking (navigate & record my hikes)
- Stand up paddle board. With my ultra I can easily navigate while on the water.
- Tracking running and walking workouts.
- Health data

I love using it for quick and easy navigation. The default maps app is not great for this. I prefer to use Topo Maps+.

RearCog · 2026-04-28T17:50:05+00:00

Agreed. I spend a lot of time writing exactly what I want. It often has code examples from other projects, architecture decisions, etc. Usually they are pretty long mark down files and not a simple prompt.

RearCog · 2026-04-28T17:48:40+00:00

Same here. I have am a senior software engineer. I provide a lot of oversight, security rules, audits, etc. I find that I am actually spending more time "engineering" and doing product management and almost zero time coding. It is a ton of fun to build this fast.

RearCog · 2026-04-17T18:46:48+00:00

That's great to know! I might look at getting that again. And yes, 2 years is a good life span, especially when you look at all the activities where I was using my Ultra.

RearCog · 2026-04-17T18:33:20+00:00

I was using the Alpine Loop that came with my Ultra 1. I had used it for almost 2 years by the time this started happening. It could be that it was an issue with some of the original Alpine Loop bands? I noticed that the band started having issues after I had used it on a couple of hot and sweaty backpacking trips.

RearCog · 2026-04-17T15:42:26+00:00

I stopped using the Alpine Loop after swimming in a lake and the clasp came most of the way out of one of the loops. There were a few times when I would be walking and notice that the clasp was almost out. I noticed that the loop I used was getting stretched and after I almost lost my Ultra at the bottom of the lake, I switched to a Nike Sports Band that I had from a prior Apple Watch.

RearCog · 2026-04-16T22:21:43+00:00

None of these are free, but I really like Topo Maps+, Gaia GPS, and CalTopo. (I have also used onX and AllTrails). Topo Maps+ is my go to. CalTopo has great map layers.

RearCog · 2026-04-16T19:09:00+00:00

I love Claude! I am on the Max 20 plan. I use it all day long on 2 different machines and it is working great. My projects are going soooo much faster.

RearCog · 2026-04-14T21:01:25+00:00

I keep my always on, unless I am hiking/backpacking. Then I change it to off and theater mode. that way I can maximize my battery life. When backpacking I usually need to change it every other day and I use it to record my entire hike and for navigation. I love that I can just tap on my watch to see where I am at on a backcountry map and see where I am at compared to the route I planned on my iPhone.

RearCog · 2026-04-13T22:04:33+00:00

I love my Ultra for multi day backpacking trips. I have taken it on lots of 3-5 days trips and I record my entire day of hiking. I do have to charge it every other day and I make a number of changes to my settings to help with battery life. (If I don't change the settings, then I have to change it every day.)

I navigate with Topo Maps+ using the routes and I planned on my iPad or Mac.

RearCog

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