Maps

[REB]

Maps
What kind of maps are thru hikers or section hikers using? What do I need to buy?

[squeezebox]

I have a set of ATC maps.

[4eyedbuzzard]

If thru-hiking AWOL's guide (and maps if desired) or the ALDHA Companion are generally what most thru-hikers carry. Many might also have ALDHA's app for smartphone and/or a set of ATC's maps, though most probably don't carry the maps or bounce the ones they aren't using ahead or home). You can google all of those.
For section hiking I like the guides and maps published by the individual trail clubs for the area (like the AMC's White Mountain Guide for example), but I'm also a big fan of Nat Geo Trails Illustrated maps for the area I'm hiking, as they show all the trails in the area and are really good for planning and navigation.

[Another Kevin]

I'm mostly a weekender, so I can carry detailed maps for where I'm going.

NatGeo's Trails Illustrated are OK, they're what I use in the Adirondacks.

For the NY/NJ/CT part of the trail, the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference maps are terrific for short hikes. (They'd be a lot of paper to carry for a long one.) They have all the side trails, lots of points of interest marked, the georeferencing is good, and they're clear to read.

For electronic maps, I don't like anybody's, so I make my own. It was a Catskill project that got out of hand. This map has grown to encompass from Pine Grove Furnace to Katahdin, so it's about half the Trail. I download the sections I want to my phone before I go so that I won't need a network connection when I'm Out There.