Essential for backcountry folks

By Oregonguy Ranked #493 - Trail Running Accessories January 9, 2008

Take the 20% off offer because this item is rarely on sale at the walk-in stores. You can see how it works at most outdoor stores that have a National Geo Map Machine. (REI, Joe's Outdoor, Dick's, Sportsman's Warehouse--why spend money at those money-grubbing employee abusing retailers?) Keep in mind that the home version does much more than the in-store Map Machine. With the home version you can highlight your trails, etc. and use a 3-D Fly over effect that in reality is more entertaining than useful but it's fun to play with. Your maps at home will print smaller than the Map Machine version unless you have a printer and paper capable of printing the Map Machine version. Warning: if you have an ink-hog printer, you will use up your ink cartridges quickly after you become addicted to printing out all the maps you want. You will first download the install disc and then use separate discs for different regions of your state. My Idaho state version has five separate discs, so I have to load another separate disc when I venture outside a given area. No big deal. You could download the whole works if you have a terabyte to play with, but it still would not be practical. Go play with the Map Machine at an outdoor store and you'll love it. Just remember that the home version does more.

View Details: National Geographic TOPO! State Series CD-ROM

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