Have you ever tried to read a map in the rain? Or a map that got wet when a canoe tipped over? Or a map that accidentally got dropped in creek that you were crossing? If you have, you know that water and maps are not on very friendly terms with each other.
MyTopo Waterproof Topographical Maps offer outdoorsmen a more weather-resistant navigational aid than traditional paper maps. MyTopo maps are waterproof, frostproof, and stand up to repeated folding better than traditional paper maps.
They are available in the newest post-2009 USGS quads, the classic pre-2009 USGS quads, game management unit hunting maps, historic topo maps, national park maps, gazetteers, custom maps, and more. They come in various sizes, and can be purchased either rolled or folded.
These excellent maps are printed in the USA in Billings, Montana.
At the time of this writing, a 24 by 29 inch map cost $16.95 at https://mapstore.mytopo.com.
Background
Maps are an outstanding resource while in the field. They can help you find the best route from point A to point B. They can help keep you from getting lost. And if you waited to look at a map until after you were already lost, they may even help you figure out where you are.
The problem is that paper maps and field conditions are not always compatible with each other. Water, mud, and heavy use have reduced many maps to scraps of illegible pulp. So when I ran across MyTopo waterproof topographical maps online, I was very interested. I contacted MyTopo and asked if they could provide me with some samples for testing and evaluation. They were kind enough to agree. They suggested that I start out by ordering some maps online to get a sense of how the process worked.
Ordering
There are how-to videos on the MyTopo website that can take the viewer through the ordering process. If that is not enough, you can even make an appointment with an expert cartographer to assist you with your order.
But as I looked at the site, the process seemed so intuitive that I decided to strike out on my own and give the ordering process a try. It was kind of like setting out on a marked trail without a map. In this case, the trail was well enough marked that a map was not necessary. I successfully ordered the maps I wanted using the following process:
On their home page, I clicked on the “Find Maps in Your Area” button.
I was interested in maps for the area surrounding my home, so I entered my address in the search window on the “Start here to see maps available in your area” page.
I verified my address from a drop-down menu of similar addresses.
I had the choice of a custom map, a US Topo Series Quad Map, or a Classic USGS Quad Map. I chose the US Topo Series Quad Map. This is the current series of USGS quad maps.
The map I wanted appeared on the screen. It was 24×29 inches, in rolled waterproof format, and cost $16.95. I added it to my cart.
A pop-up window offered me the opportunity to view my cart, check out, or continue shopping. I chose to continue shopping. The page with my quad also had links to the adjacent quads, and I wished to order a number of them.
I clicked on the link for the quad immediately south of mine, and added that map to the cart.
I continued shopping, returned to the page for my quad, and continued to add other adjacent quads to my cart.
When I had all of the quads that I wished to order in my cart, I clicked on the “check out” button.
I filled out my contact, delivery and payment information on the checkout page. Shipping was $13.57 for USPS Priority Mail. There were also options for Second Day or Next Day Air for $38.84 and $49.80 respectively. All maps are shipped the next business day following the order. In my case, the maps were shipped the same day that I ordered them, and they arrived on the next business day.
By the way, in addition to ordering information, MyTopo offers a host of other videos about various aspects of map reading and map use.
First Impressions
The maps arrived in a prism-shaped box that was 25.5 inches long, with each of the three sides of the prism being 5.13 inches wide. The box was shipped from MyTopo, 1 S. Broadway, Ste 102, Billings, MT 59101. The maps were rolled together and held by two rubber bands. I removed the rubber bands and unrolled the maps. A packing list and two MyTopo stickers were rolled up inside of the maps.
I first examined the quad for the area around our home. The immediate vicinity of our home was correctly identified on the map as wooded marsh or swamp. The contour lines were detailed enough to include the sand mound behind our pole barn that serves as a secondary berm behind the primary backstop on my improvised range.
The waterproof paper unrolled nicely and laid flat better than standard paper.
The United States Geological Survey is continually updating various quads. The ones I purchased were all updated in 2019. There were some symbols on the map with which I was unfamiliar. So I went to the USGS Publications Warehouse and downloaded the PDF of the publication “USGS Topographic Map Symbols“. This four-page guide enabled me to interpret all of the symbols on the map.
MyTopo also has a link to that pdf on their website. I suspect that if they offered that document printed out on waterproof paper, they might have many buyers.
The Water Test
I wanted to see whether the maps were truly waterproof, or only “waterproof” from a market-speak perspective. I took one of the maps, put it in the bottom of our bath tub, closed the drain, filled the tub with several inches of cold water, and allowed the map to soak overnight. In the morning the map was totally unharmed by its long bath. I was able to take it out of the tub, shake off the excess water, and read it just as clearly as if it was hot off the press.
The Deepfreeze Test
I also wanted to see if the waterproof paper would become brittle when cold. I took another of the MyTopo maps, put it in our chest freezer (which is set to zero degrees Fahrenheit) and left it there overnight. In the morning, I took the rolled-up map out of the freezer and began beating it against various solid objects in the immediate vicinity. The map remained flexible, with no signs of cracking or wear of any type resulting from this abuse. I am happy to report that I did not damage any of the solid objects either.
The Folding Test
It is much more convenient to use a map in the field when the map is folded rather than rolled. A rolled map is great if you have a large, flat, empty surface like a table available. Then you can unroll the map, lean over the table, and study the whole map. But if you want to pull a map out of a pack and look at the immediate area through which you are moving, a folded map is much easier to use. With this in mind, MyTopo has a video with tips for folding a map.
The problem with many folded maps is that they wear out quickly along the creases, often separating eventually into a bunch of smaller map fragments.
To test the resilience of the MyTopo maps under folding, I took one of the maps, folded it, and then stuck it in my briefcase. Each morning when I got to work I took out the map, refolded it so that a new section of the map was visible, and stuck it back in my briefcase.
By way of background, I should explain that my briefcase is not a friendly environment. I am jamming stuff into it and pulling stuff out of it all day long. It is kind of like a pack in that way.
I continued this folding and refolding treatment over the course of a couple of weeks. The map endured the treatment much better than a standard paper map, with no sign of cracking or other symptoms of material fatigue along the edges of the folds throughout the testing period.
Conclusions
I found MyTopo maps to be easy to order, accurate, weather-resistant for both temperature and humidity, and durable under hard use.
I am fully satisfied with the samples that I tested. I plan to purchase all of my topographical maps from MyTopo from now on.
If you are looking for maps that will stand up to rugged outdoor use, look no further. Just go to https://mapstore.mytopo.com.
Disclaimer
MyTopo provided me with a number of their waterproof maps for testing and evaluation. I tried not to allow their kindness to interfere with my objectivity, and I believe that I have succeeded. I did not receive any other financial or other inducement to mention any vendor, product, or service in this article.