Do You Still Use Physical Maps? When Was The Most Recent Time You Used One?
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     19 years
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I ran across an article today about VHS, DVS and Blu-ray discs. Many people have switched tos streaming and don't have physical media.
Similarly, with navigation, we use smartphones/tablets/GNSS navigators, which have largely replaced paper maps, atlases, plat books, sectional charts and mapbooks.
However, when I Google this, I get this response:
Paper maps are not entirely vanishing; in fact, they are experiencing a niche resurgence. While digital GPS has replaced them for daily navigation, paper maps are increasingly popular for road trips, hiking, and as reliable, battery-free backups, with some reports showing sales growth in recent years.
Reasons for Resurgence: Increased travel, the need for a "big picture" perspective, and reliability in areas without cell service or power are key factors keeping paper maps relevant.
Continued Use: They are highly favored for backpacking, hiking, and in emergencies, often recommended by park officials and rescue teams.
Market Trends: Despite the rise of digital tools, some, like this source suggest a "revival" in popularity. However, sales generally remain lower than their peak pre-GPS era, note this article.
Where to Find Them: They remain available at tourist centers, national parks, bookstores (like Barnes & Noble), and specialty retailers.
While they are no longer the primary tool for daily, turn-by-turn navigation, paper maps persist as an essential tool for navigation, exploration, and, for many, a preference over screen-based directions.
Two of the hobbies that my wife and I enjoy are biking and ATV/UTVing. Both hobbies have their own navigational challenges. Some ATV/UTVers, who are experienced driving a conventional motor vehicle on traditional streets and highways, find off-road navigating a bit more challenging. The $1,000 iPhone, that does a great job getting them to Starbucks, doesn't always do so well on trails. Cell phone coverage and be spotty, or non-existent, and not all trails are well marked.
There can be similar challenges with biking, too. However, Google Maps does have a biking layer. (I have never seen an ATV/UTV layer.)
So, back to the subject line, do you still use paper maps/charts? When or why do you use them instead of a computer/tablet/smartphone/GPS?
Paper Maps
Most states have paper maps in their information centers, and many hotels will have a map of the city. I use the city maps for street intersections to load into my GPS.
Paper maps!
After I bought my first unit, an old monochrome Street Pilot back in the late 90s, I carried at least an atlas with us for at least five or six years when traveling. I never did need the paper map in those five or six years, so I stopped taking it with me, probably stopped around 2005-2006.
To this day I keep an atlas
To this day I keep an atlas in the car. Batteries have a finite lifespan, even a smartphone battery.
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