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Bushwalking gear and paraphernalia. Electronic gadget topics (inc. GPS, PLB, chargers) belong in the 'Techno Babble' sub-forum.

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TIP: The online Bushwalk Inventory System can help bushwalkers with a variety of bushwalk planning tasks, including: Manage which items they take bushwalking so that they do not forget anything they might need, plan meals for their walks, and automatically compile food/fuel shopping lists (lists of consumables) required to make and cook the meals for each walk. It is particularly useful for planning for groups who share food or other items, but is also useful for individual walkers.
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Map measurer?

Thu 11 Apr, 2019 10:05 pm

Wondering if anyone can recommend a mechanical map measurer that is currently available to purchase. ( I have a new found need for this arcane practise. :wink: )

The device Im after is a hand held unit which has a small trundle wheel than you run around your map route, and the distance is given on a dial. The dial generally has scales to suit the map. I did have a plastic Silva one 20 years ago which i was not that keen on. (seemed cheap with a somewhat wonky trundle wheel) .

ive seen metal ones which were more precisely made which i would prefer. Any ideas?

Re: Map measurer?

Thu 11 Apr, 2019 10:28 pm

A piece of string?

Seriously, I've used both (back with the dinosaurs) and the string worked better for me

Re: Map measurer?

Fri 12 Apr, 2019 4:27 am

Scientific Instruments in Kelvin Grove Brisbane.
www.sios.net.au
cheers

Re: Map measurer?

Fri 12 Apr, 2019 8:30 am

A piece of string...
That is what I used the other day when my wife wanted to know how long was our morning walk. (13 KM)
But it would not be all that accurate.

Re: Map measurer?

Fri 12 Apr, 2019 12:18 pm

Search for "Silva Map Measurer Plus site:au". Make sure you're sitting down when you see the price.

Note that I often use Google Maps for this purpose (moving the suggested route to match the actual route I plan on taking).

Re: Map measurer?

Fri 12 Apr, 2019 12:48 pm

You could use a compass, the circle drawing kind, just measure out the cms.
John

Re: Map measurer?

Sat 13 Apr, 2019 9:24 am

Create a GPX route on a website like gpsies.com, and see how many km it is. Sites like gpsies.com can follow mapped tracks so you don't need to click on every wiggle.

Re: Map measurer?

Tue 16 Apr, 2019 5:00 pm

Thanks for all the suggestions. I have found a nice vintage Swiss made unit . Apparently they're called Opisometers. I do like Google Earth for this kind of work- especially as you can get an elevation profile- but in this case I am working off paper maps.
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Re: Map measurer?

Tue 16 Apr, 2019 9:25 pm

I have a piece of string on my compass, its 3km long.
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