What To Look For
Digital maps can help you determine where to go on your next expedition without worrying about not knowing where you're going. Some even allow you to print them onto paper. You need to find the best digital maps that are easy to download and have the level of detail you need when zoomed in. Look for a maker of digital maps that will allow you to look at multiple maps to ensure that all are updated and concur with each other.
Common Pitfalls
Even though digital maps are available online, they sometimes aren't updated very often. Make sure you check the date a map was last updated before you rely on it for your excursion. If a map was last updated two or three years ago, you would be well-served to look for another option to ensure that you have the most accurate information possible. If you know the area is rapidly changing, a digital map older than one year should be viewed with skepticism.
Where To Buy
Yahoo, Google and Bing all offer digital maps that cover much of the world. Topographical digital maps can be of most use to hikers and bikers looking to get a lay of the land, and those are usually only available from specialty online retailers. You can purchase specific digital maps including topographical maps from companies such as Map Resources and Digital-Topo-Maps.com.
Cost
Many of the sources of the best digital maps make them available at low or no cost. Yahoo, Google and Bing all offer their digital maps free to the general public. Map Resources has maps in graphic-design formats that can be purchased royalty-free or on a per-use basis. Digital-Topo-Maps.com offers per-use maps, digital map books and digital map software. Per-use maps in 2010 start at $10, while software and map books start around $100.
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