Garmin Explore™ Reviews

Have a Montana 700i and works well for what I need. Car Nav and use the explore app to see my surroundings in sync with the 700i. Also use it when we get onto trail. Mostly shorter hikes amd does what I need for planning. Maps do need an update, new streets that are on Google maps should be here. But I’ll take a GPS and Explore over a cell phone anyday. Yellowstone would have been rough without my GPS and app with no cell coverage in the park. (Or hardly)

Explore is fantastic for backpacking because of its mapped trails, and when paired with a Garmin watch, you can use it as a turn by turn gps on the trail which I find to be a really cool feature. You can also preplan trips which can be helpful on trails that have multiple route options. Another added bonus is it saves all of your activities as different colored lines on Explore’s map. I find it fun to see the increase in different lines as you “explore” different trails, run different routes, and bike different areas.

User experience and a gradual learning curve are important when using any app or device but ESPECIALLY when GarminExplore is made under the same roof as the physical equipment used with it.

1) the map layers button should let the user quickly toggle between map layers. NOT pull up a bar at the bottom of the screen to scroll thru. It the different map types slid out from the side (longest part of the screen) it would be much easier to toggle between topo, osm, etc.. the current method is very slow and clumsy.

2) creating a route, like in Garmin Connect, should exist in GarminExplore. It is not a good user experience to have to open garmin connect, make a route with the snap-to-road feature (which works very well) and then import into garmin explore.

3) there is no key! This is a basic map requirement.

Would be really helpful to be able to hide collections on the map in GarminExplore like you can on the Garmin Zumo XT. Would make it far easier when creating track or courses to not have a cluttered screen. Help us out and Add this feature Garmin.

I’ve been using Basecamp, for better or worse, for many years now and am currently planning a trip to RMNP. I loaded GarminExplore because I would like to share the itinerary on MacOS with my iOS devices, and I really hoped that would be a feature of this. Alas, not so. App is useless for me because I have a Navi 4.5, and an eTrex 20 neither of which is wireless (or at that I am aware of). Sigh! My Macs are wireless - don’t see there’s a way to shake hands there. Sure wish M$ user guides limiting communications between systems didn’t rule developer world. I’ll give it one star in hopes that GarminExplore can grow up.

I use GarminExplore for everything. I send courses to my Fenix 5x plus and love having it on my Garmin Overlander. It saved my life one time when I was lost in the mountains and thought I was going the right way until I consulted the map and got on track.

So far I love it. Some questions I still have though. Can you save the phone number that a text message from the inreach comes with to your contacts and send messages back to the inreach device from there???

I would give you five stars however you cannot use GarminExplore without Internet. I tried to use my iPad just like a drive track but I do not have Internet on my iPad therefore it would not let me login to the map in GarminExplore . I wish you would give us the ability to use the maps off-line so that it will be compatible with the Alpha 200i dog tracking system.

It’s nice, I have a Fenix 5x sapphire and it has issue syncing my watch to my phone all the trails don’t seem to make it over if my phone isn’t with me.

There is difference in verbiage for way points and routes, and tracks which is needlessly confusing.

It’s good like I said but from a company like Garmin it should be excellent and boarders on crappy when it come to interconnect-ability

I mostly use it to send and receive messages from my inReach. It will would be perfect to have apple carplay integration to check messages without pulling the phone out.

At the end of the day it’s fun to see where I walked and the dog hunted in front of me. Documentation on how to use program is not available. I can’t figure out how to start and stop my position; each hunt always begins at home, but the dog begins in the field.

I have been told I need to download both the connect and explore apps to be able to utilize my 64st. The truth is neither app works with my device. I cannot send a route/course to my 64st from either app, I cannot connect via Bluetooth to the explore app, connect app connects via Bluetooth but says my device is not compatible to send info to... so what’s the point in being able to connect to GarminExplore .

Was baiting GarminExplore due to not being able to to connect my Garmin 64sx even after connecting it first to the garmin connect app. Just plugged it in to update the handheld and tried to reconnect and it works.

What a great off the grid navigation app easy downloading the essential maps for storing POIs and not only Topos but Opensource Street maps aswell.
Added bonus syncing to your favorite Garmin wearable/GPS device.

GarminExplore has awesome potential, but needs updating. It feels like Garmin made GarminExplore then abandoned it for Garmin connect.

The only problem is Garmin explore can do things that connect can’t. If Garmin will update the maps and features in explore it would be a 5 star rating all day.

Decent app takes a bit of learning curve from using all the features. Preset settings should show what they are instead of numbers. Most people will not remember the preset messages al the time.

Garmin,

I need a visual overlay to quickly see what maps I have downloaded rather than a list.

GarminExplore is easy enough to use. I’m glad I can use it to sync with my Garmin Devices like my Tactix Delta. I just wish GarminExplore would retain full GPS data like notes on waypoints and speed and elevation information on tracks from other GPX sources.

Super detailed trail maps that you can use even if you don’t have a Garmin device. Love this!

Actually I am so disappointed of GarminExplore it’s has so many flaws
1- first you can’t search your waypoints from the map.
2- GarminExplore has trouble syncing large waypoints
3- app doesn’t sync with website if have large collection.
These are the main cons that make my watch navigation near useless because in order to find the way point and select it I need to do so many steps in order to navigate all that would have been solve with single update that make the user search for his waypoints

I hope developers will read that

Thanks

The ability to import waypoints and tracks from gpx files made elsewhere would improve the usability of GarminExplore. Near as I can tell, GarminExplore, or the connect app, are the only ways to load tracks to the Garmin Instinct without a PC (something likely not available if on a long trail). Storing the waypoints/tracks in the explore app, and syncing the necessary ones for the next couple days would be far faster if it were possible to use existing gpx files.

Export of gpx/tcx files from GarminExplore (this one and the connect app) would also be incredibly useful. It is very annoying to be forced to use the web browser version of connect to export a gpx/tcx/fit file when this should be fully possible from GarminExplore . Sharing with other apps or airdrop would allow for adhoc sharing of data without internet connection with other hikers.

I’m pretty happy overall with Garmin Explore and like the simple and clean interface better than GIA gps. The downloadable and free maps are good. The fact that it syncs automatically with my Garmin watch is really cool for river travel, because I can see what lakes and swamps are around the next bend, and the track of where I’ve already been.

However, GarminExplore isn’t really a full-featured app since it doesn’t allow import or export of gpx/tcx files of routes. It would be really nice if Garmin would allow you to load gpx courses onto and off of your watch through GarminExplore instead of having to use Garmin Connect on a computer.

I have the new GPSmap66s, and a inReach mini. It would be great to see the Explore and Earthmate apps combined into one rather than have duplicate map info saved to my phone. They already both use the same website for online management.
Also, add device capability for the 66s to save multiple Bluetooth pairings. I can’t switch between my iPad and iPhone without deleting and then creating a new pairing each time. Lastly, why do I have to use and register with the Garmin Connect app when I’m not using any other functions from it?

GarminExplore seems to be a decent way to send waypoints and routes to a Garmin watch, but there are some big gaps. First, although you can set coordinates to MGRS on the watch, you can’t do it in the explore app. Simply allowing you to change to MGRS would be great. Second, creating a route or track in explore doesn’t seem to populate in the connect app. That should happen, but I haven’t found a way to make it work. I also can’t tell the difference between a “route” and a “track.” It’d be nice if they were just consolidated in one section under one name.

After using GarminExplore for several months and turning my fiends on to the great free mapping and offline use, I’m beginning to appreciate GarminExplore as one of the best free mapping apps period.

I also have a GPSMAP 66 and the apps true potential isn’t realized until using it with a compatible Garmin unit. I can store, edit, organize, and sync all my GPS data inside GarminExplore. It will also allow me to create waypoints and send them to my 66.

Overall a great free app that keeps getting better! Thanks Garmin!

As others have eluded to, Garmin makes nice hardware, but their software is getting worse by the update. Platforms like GAIA are years ahead when. It comes to functional software. Routing on this is terrible, compared to even own Basecamp, which they have stopped developing. Website use from a browser is inconsistent, and plagued with bugs.

Their support folks are terrible at responding as well. Sometimes for weeks or even months. If
You don’t believe me, just Google. You’ll find plenty of unhappy customers. And that’s a shame, because there was a time when Garmin was top of the food chain with their tech.

I have bought many Garmins, including the newest 5X Plus and mini. Those possibly will be my last, as I revert to my iPhone and GAIA, or even Suunto.

Sincerely,

Frustrated!!

eTrex, 60CSx, eTrex20, eTrex30+, Virb, Fenix 3 Saphire, inReach Explorer+, Fenix 5X Plus, Mini, and I don’t know how many maps.

Cool app to upload waypoints to other units but needs offline upload!!
Edit: to the response: dev you are half correct and that would be amazing. I can be in the woods with a preloaded map on the phone, drop a way point on the map (phone) and want to hike to that way point with watch. Currently I can not sync watch from phone without data connection. Needs local option, not from cloud servers. Thanks for the response.

I use this with my Fenix 5X and love it. It replaces an earth mate gps I have used for years. The maps that you can download for offline use are excellent. I plan many fishing trips with GarminExplore. My one complaint is that I wish they would make the courses routable. It would be nice to plan a hike and have it snap to the trail. Would also be nice for roads as well. Otherwise this is great.

The interface with the GPSmap 66 is horrible it doesn’t Work proper it resets all the functions that you personally make on the GPS back to factory settings worked with GarminExplore and GPSmap for nine days had to reestablish Bluetooth over 15 times erased way points off my GPS left them in GarminExplore and I could not get them back on the GPS as of right now this is a failure with the interface between this and it’s GPS

The maps on GarminExplore are so old I would not trust them for navigation. They still show Alameda Naval Station, NAS Moffet field, and many more that have been closed for almost 20 years. For a company that sells navigation equipment you would think they would keep all of their maps up to date. Other than that it’s ok as a base map but not much else.

But needs more capabilities. As another reviewer says import of gpx/fit files is a gaping hole. Like many I have a library of routes. I don't see why I can't load and organize them in GarminExplore . It is possible to load them to the new files DIR on the Instinct and from there sync them to GarminExplore but it's awkward.

GarminExplore does not sync or pair to the Overlander you just spent 700 bucks on. Even though it says it can be used with it in the Garmin website. After installing GarminExplore you’ll see this. Such BS. Why say it does something when it doesn’t.
Overlander comes pre-installed with Garmin Explore app, it is not compatible with pairing to the Garmin Explore smartphone app. It’s useless if you have no connection to the internet.

Garmin dropped Basecamp mobile for the GPSMAP 64s & 64st, and now introduces this new Garmin Explore app but only for their newest device. Why buy any Garmin device if it’s just going to be stripped of its features when the apps stop supporting? The devices sure aren’t priced like disposables. If you want a dedicated GPS device that will be supported you might as well just buy another iPhone.

App says “check your connection and try again” every time I input my info. Logs in just fine online... but online when I try to activate my inReach, it also says PAGE NOT FOUND... it took 5 business days before they even shipped my device. (On 2-day shipping)

Disappointed with entire Garmin Experience

Brand new GPSMAP 66i

I just purchased the TomTom 550 but after many tries I couldn’t get it to work with their app, so I sent it back.
Now I see Garmin has a new Zumo XT, great, but I thought I would try their app first; I couldn’t (after trying five different passwords) open a new account.
No wonder everyone is using their phones.