Rite In the Rain Printer Paper for Topo Maps

[Brian Andrews]

I'm torn on this. The cost of the maps is pretty high. But then, I can make custom maps and have them mirrored on my GPS unit.

I have some more to say of "software" but I will save it for tomorrow. Have a fire going and friends are coming over

However, this is my opinionated opinion on GPS's. I would not worry about what capability and mapping they can do. Even if you can get excellent detail on the GPS, the screen is small, and you find yourself zooming in and out all the time. It becomes very time consuming. Next thing you know you are walking through the woods with your head buried in a screen. Not much fun at all.

I would much prefer to look at a map. It gives you a good overall "sense" of the area. Once you get good at terrain recognition and other stuff, you spend minimal time on it. There are no electronics to rely on, batteries to worry about, or satellite reception.

The GPS should always be complimentary to your navigation method. I barely even use mine anymore. At most I use it to mark "just in case" waypoints and for logging trail data to put on my topos.

If that is not what you were thinking, I apologize for rambling My point is make sure you have good quality maps. GPS and what it can do is just bonus.

B

 

[greenwoods]

Thanks for the great info. I have been looking at the map software at EMS lately.
I always preserve my outdoor bound paper, (maps, and pages from my printer...), with a goodly spraying of Krylon clear. It really permeates the paper and I haven't had any ink runs in wet weather yet.

Thanks,

Mark

 

[bulgron]

The GPS should always be complimentary to your navigation method. I barely even use mine anymore. At most I use it to mark "just in case" waypoints and for logging trail data to put on my topos.

This is pretty much all I do with the GPS when I'm out doing even semi-serious hiking. The map and compass always is and always will be my primary navigation tool.

However, there's certain activities (GeoCaching, checking my own navigation) where I think that better maps on the GPS might come in useful.

 

[skammer]

I would not worry about what capability and mapping they can do. Even if you can get excellent detail on the GPS, the screen is small, and you find yourself zooming in and out all the time. It becomes very time consuming. Next thing you know you are walking through the woods with your head buried in a screen. Not much fun at all.

I would much prefer to look at a map. It gives you a good overall "sense" of the area. Once you get good at terrain recognition and other stuff, you spend minimal time on it. There are no electronics to rely on, batteries to worry about, or satellite reception.

The GPS should always be complimentary to your navigation method. I barely even use mine anymore. At most I use it to mark "just in case" waypoints and for logging trail data to put on my topos.

If that is not what you were thinking, I apologize for rambling My point is make sure you have good quality maps. GPS and what it can do is just bonus.

B

Agreed 150% well said:thumbup:

Skam

 

[chopchop]

Great review Joe!

We use rite in the rain paper for our field forms when we do stream/lake surveys.

You can also photocopy on to it. The stuff is gold! We have had clipboards fall overboard and sink to the bottom & covered with mud. Rinse them off, wipe off the water and let dry. No worries.

They don't erase well, though, especially if wet. Shouldn't be a big deal for mapping, but be aware that if you make a bad route line, you're better off crossing it out than trying to erase.

 

[Masteroffajitas]

I don't understand, if it's on this rite in the the rain paper, the ink from the printer becomes water proof too? Does it work the the same way you print pics on that sticky feeling photo paper? But instead, your using RITR printer paper? Sorry if I'm being un clear. I just don't see why the paper is fine yes, but why isn't the printer ink smearing?

 

[bulgron]

I don't understand, if it's on this rite in the the rain paper, the ink from the printer becomes water proof too? Does it work the the same way you print pics on that sticky feeling photo paper? But instead, your using RITR printer paper? Sorry if I'm being un clear. I just don't see why the paper is fine yes, but why isn't the printer ink smearing?

The printer ink dries and is no longer water soluble. It doesn't matter what paper you use, the ink behaves the same way regardless. What matters here is that the Rite In The Rain paper itself can become wet and not fall apart like normal paper will.

 

[storl]

Dang, you totally preempted me on this! I just started working a video showing this and was going to upload it next week. Ah well, great minds think alike, or something like that.

 

[chopchop]

one other thing I just remembered...

I sometimes use the little folded over notebooks to keep field notes. I write in pencil, and keep it in the chest pocket of my shirt. This past summer, I got into some poison ivy, so I wanted to wash my shirt right away to make sure the oils didn't get all over everything. In my haste, I forgot to take the notebook out of my pocket.

The rite in the rain notebook went through the washer. When I realized this, I laid the notebook out to dry. Once it was dry, the pages were a bit stiff, but I could get them apart, & all of my notes were still there!!

Great stuff! :thumbup:

 

[dougo83]

Good stuff, one thing I would like to see if you can is some way to simulate hard rain. When Im in the field, I like the rite in the rain stuff, but have found that on normal paper, when its raining hard, it smudges much more, can you do some type of test to check that?

I tested mine before leaving for Portland by writing under the spray in the shower. It simulated rain well enough I guess. It will smudge ever so slightly.

And Brian, once ink bonds, even on regular paper, it rarely will bleed. The exception, fo course, is if you are using a gel-type pen. I have yet to be able to make a Space Pen bleed much.

 

[kgd]

one other thing I just remembered...

I sometimes use the little folded over notebooks to keep field notes. I write in pencil, and keep it in the chest pocket of my shirt. This past summer, I got into some poison ivy, so I wanted to wash my shirt right away to make sure the oils didn't get all over everything. In my haste, I forgot to take the notebook out of my pocket.

The rite in the rain notebook went through the washer. When I realized this, I laid the notebook out to dry. Once it was dry, the pages were a bit stiff, but I could get them apart, & all of my notes were still there!!

Great stuff! :thumbup:

Great story, now if RITR can only start making thumbdrives to do that, I'd be all set.....

 

[dougo83]

This thread reminded methat I am going to need to do some serious "brush up" on map usage. WE almost expressly use GPS in my field courses, so I have all but forgotten how to utilize paper guides...:thumbdn:

 

[Shotgun]

Here's a good mapping site that's free although I haven't actually used these to navigate. I mainly stick to trails.
http://jdmcox.com/
Another one.
http://terraserver-usa.com/image.aspx?T=2&S=16&Z=10&X=42&Y=393&W=3

 

[dougo83]

I have some more to say of "software" but I will save it for tomorrow. Have a fire going and friends are coming over

However, this is my opinionated opinion on GPS's. I would not worry about what capability and mapping they can do. Even if you can get excellent detail on the GPS, the screen is small, and you find yourself zooming in and out all the time. It becomes very time consuming. Next thing you know you are walking through the woods with your head buried in a screen. Not much fun at all.

I would much prefer to look at a map. It gives you a good overall "sense" of the area. Once you get good at terrain recognition and other stuff, you spend minimal time on it. There are no electronics to rely on, batteries to worry about, or satellite reception.

The GPS should always be complimentary to your navigation method. I barely even use mine anymore. At most I use it to mark "just in case" waypoints and for logging trail data to put on my topos.

If that is not what you were thinking, I apologize for rambling My point is make sure you have good quality maps. GPS and what it can do is just bonus.

B

I can't agree with you more about having your face stuck in the GPS ruining a trail experience. However, GPS works great with how I prefer to hike about. I mark my truck as a waypoint. Then I give myself a rough kind of waypoint to hike to based on a map and coordinates, usually picked up from teh interwebz. Then I meander around, taking pictures, picking up plants samples, and otherwise enjoying nature. I will stop and lok at the GPS only to see if I have even approached my "goal."

I don't understand, if it's on this rite in the the rain paper, the ink from the printer becomes water proof too? Does it work the the same way you print pics on that sticky feeling photo paper? But instead, your using RITR printer paper? Sorry if I'm being un clear. I just don't see why the paper is fine yes, but why isn't the printer ink smearing?

The ink shouldn't smear much either way. Brian was using a laser printer, so the toner won't smear anyway. Basically, RIR paper is water-resistant. The ink is irrelevant, it is simply a tougher paper that won't fall apart. IF you use a gel-type pen on RIR, it will bleed no matter what you do.

 

[65535]

Just something I was thinking about while reading this.

First off, that's some seriously awesome paper.

Secondly, I think the best bet is to use a laser printer or possibly a wax type (I believe they're still considered laser but use wax rather than toner).

At any rate, although the ink test done with a pen showed no bleeding I would be weary of normal ink from an inkjet it is notoriously water friendly and bleeds like a stuck pig.

So I'd say you want them to last as long as possible go for a Laser printer with this paper.

It might be super bulky comparitively, but what about laminated and bound 4x6 or so maps in a folding booklet, not as practical if you wanted to unfold, but maybe a possibility.

Just some idle thought to you true trekkers.

 

[Stormstaff]

Ok, if I stay in my state and I want to learn compass/map skills, which software do you suggest? Are there any books or vids you'd recommend to help the learning process?

Thanks for your time,
Kirk

 

[dartanyon]

kirk, just do a search on mapreading and orienteering. The army tutorials are excellent. As for using the software, learn mapreading first.

 

[dartanyon]

Brian, great review thanks. I confess to being a map geek also and have a habbit of scanning A4 portions of my toppo's 1:24k and now teaching myself sextant to boot.

 

[dartanyon]

Sorry about short posts, a pitfall of using my phone to surf net.