I have the Magellan Sportrak Pro and use it regularly for both driving, hiking, and geocaching. I wanted maps that would give me the best choice for all those needs. Mapsend Topo is the best choice regardless of your needs.

The program was easy to install and use. It does take a fair amount of time to load the data on to your unit. However, within a short time I had my entire state loaded onto the GPS unit.

The nice thing about the program is that in addition to TOPO information you also have streets and street names. Many people fear that the program will only provide the topographic database, but that is not the case. The program does provide street maps and many locations of shopping centers that are offered on the other map programs by Magellan.

In fact the maps will show major roads when zoomed out for traveling on the highway. Major roads minor topo lines will only appear as you need them by zooming in on the map for city driving. Zoom in more and you have street detail and detailed topo lines for getting around a neighborhood or hiking. The detail lines will be greater as you go. The data includes cities, campgrounds, airports, parks, caves, dams, mines, wells, summits, towers, trails, lakes, streams, falls, and much more. There are at least 30 categories like these I just listed.

If you like the feel of a paper map you can use the program to upload your waypoints and print a paper map. You can also upload and print your tracks after a hike or drive to create your own custom trail map.

In addition loading this program will give your GPS the ability to provide elevation detail. You can use the program or your GPS to show elevation changes along your intended route. The data is much better than the data your GPS would give by estimating elevations using the satellites. Moving your cursor on the GPS will indicate the elevation on the map as you move it.

The only drawback is that the data is sometimes old. New roads are built and old roads destroyed all the time. You may find that many old roads on your GPS are not there. Other roads don't exist on the GPS because they are too new. The GPS can't tell you a road is gravel, dirt, or pavement either. Although major roads are usually given thicker lines. In addition you may find that the location arrow floats off of a road in higher detail. The GPS does not know if it is following a road or not. It can only show you where it thinks it is. Therefore the track line may appear to drive between roads or it may cut corners on a highway that has been widened or had additional lanes built.

In summary, if you want maps on your Magellan GPS you have to use a Mapsend product. If you are going to use any Mapsend product buy this one. It may cost more but you are going to get a whole lot more out of TOPO than the other choices.

If I was rating this product on other mapping software and products it would not get an above average rating. But you can't compare this software since it's primary goal is to provide your GPS with maps and topo lines. If you don't need maps on your GPS there are much better mapping programs for printing paper maps.

Recommended: Yes