I am not technologically illiterate, but I have thus far stubbornly refused to get a smartphone. I'm wondering how essential it is to UE practices (navigation, photography, safety, etc.) Do any of you all also not use a smartphone? If so, what are some of your methods for good general UE practices? (besides common sense of course)

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"Old School" (but I only have to charge it every 5-7 days!)

Flashlight, good camera, and the compass and GPS frequently come in handy. I frequently pull up the satellite maps on Google Maps when I'm clambering through dense woods trying to find a building without getting myself lost.

Also useful for figuring out where you are in a drain (you have to climb up to a catchbasin to get any GPS signal though), and to keep an eye on the weather forecast, which is obviously very important for draining.

And, of course, just the general convenient of being able to Google things / look things up easily whenever you want.

I wouldn't say it's "essential", but a smartphone is definitely very frequently useful for me! If you do get one that you take with you exploring, I highly recommend a Lifeproof case!

I didn't have one for close to fifty years and I did fine. They are a distraction; distractions cause injuries. My smartphone stays in my pocket unless I'm taking a pic.
Most users have no discipline, it's pitiful.

Cell phones don't always work especially underground; never count on it saving you!

If you get busted or come under investigation it can provide evidence against you as can your carrier.

since a lot of us been doing this many years before smart phones, Im not ready to call it essential

nice to have? sure, just not essential

I do most of my exploring alone. The "share my location" goes on everytime I go into an abandonment. It's a good safety feature to have and it's not an inconvenience to carry. I WOULD suggest however that if you carry one to put it on vibrate before you go in.

Posted by DJ Craig Flashlight, good camera, and the compass and GPS frequently come in handy. I frequently pull up the satellite maps on Google Maps when I'm clambering through dense woods trying to find a building without getting myself lost. Also useful for figuring out where you are in a drain (you have to climb up to a catchbasin to get any GPS signal though), and to keep an eye on the weather forecast, which is obviously very important for draining. And, of course, just the general convenient of being able to Google things / look things up easily whenever you want. I wouldn't say it's "essential", but a smartphone is definitely very frequently useful for me! If you do get one that you take with you exploring, I highly recommend a Lifeproof case!

A dedicated GPS unit is much better than a smartphone for navigation. Even though I could use Google Earth when out I rarely do. I try to memorize landmarks in the area I'm going to beforehand.
Water, flashlights, a knife and a good walking stick are essentials depending on location.

I've used mine with google maps to figure out after almost getting seen by security patrol that the road he'll be passing by next is on the side of the building in which we moved to and were currently hiding.

I also try to mark a few places I'd like to check out while in an area so I mark those for myself.

I use mine to navigate to a site, and sometimes when I'm moving through a larger, wooded area I'm not familiar with (I've been exploring a bunch of mostly-wooded islands lately, so having the phone's GPS is useful for moving from landmark to landmark).

Outside of that, I rarely use mine. It goes on silent and goes into my pocket or gear bag. I use a DSLR for my photography, and I like to keep my eyes and ears open except when I'm stopped to actually take photos. Alert senses have helped me avoid encounters with the locals more than once, so I try to avoid distractions.

Plus, when I started taking this seriously back in '09 and '10, I just had a flip-phone with no GPS or anything fancy. I used printed out maps of the sites and navigated by landmarks.

So, TL;DR - I'd say it's useful to an extent, but certainly not essential and it can be liability if you're strolling around going through your phone instead of paying attention to what's around you.

Never owned a smartphone in my life, and somehow I have managed to successfully explore and return alive. So, how ESSENTIAL is a smartphone? It isn't.

Posted by Jonsered Never owned a smartphone in my life, and somehow I have managed to successfully explore and return alive. So, how ESSENTIAL is a smartphone? It isn't.

me too brother, don't know how we survived

The best reason to bring your smartphone?
So it doesn't get stolen out of your car

Definitely not essential, but it definitely comes in handy for all the forementioned reasons.
Take DJ Craig's advice if you get one, and purchase a Lifeproof case. Earlier this year, i took a spill in a drain and my $500 smart phone was ruined. I bought a case as soon as i bought a new phone.

I enjoy planning a trip almost as much as the trip itself.

I print out maps, find and mark features, estimate distance, elevation, etc and then go do my best. It's been a great learning experience, and a skill I hope to hone over time.

It doesn't always work out, but it's a great feeling to have a theoretical plan work out exactly the way you predicted it, without relying on technology.

One thing I did learn the hard way is to make sure your maps are stored in a waterproof container. All it takes is one damp spot. Waterproof iPad sleeves work great; they're the perfect size and let you read a map even in heavy rain.

I do keep a compass on me, but I've only used it to get myself orientated in thick woods, and I keep a radio on me for emergencies.

Thanks everyone! These are the kind of common sense answers I was expecting, but it's nice to hear that most people are agreeing that it shouldn't be used as a crutch, (which is why I have avoided having one in general). Though I will say my friends are probably getting starting to get annoyed when I ask them to look things up.

I'm by no stretch of the imagination anti-technology or anything--it's just the smartphone hasn't stuck with me as an essential life-tool. I do love using a GPS in my car, since I loathe highways. And my camera is my baby.

--SDK

It can be very useful if you go to explore in another country. If you miss the bus in stops where are no bus schedules - only way how to find out is to look it on internet or ask somebody around which can be quite an adventure(especially in some Europe parts where elderly people doesn't know English at all). More or less, navigation and your own knowledge is all that matters.
I used to have a cheap smartphone but for a very little time - coworker managed to stole it when i left it unattended for 2minutes in dressing room. Then i realized i don't need to carry around things that someone would like to steal. So yeah, f**k smartphones, less problems. Before smartphone era i used phones that could connect social media to exchange fresh information about places.
Traditional maps can't go out of batteries, anyway...

I own a smartphone, but that's less to do with UE and more to do with the fact that I'm simply keeping up with the times.

Apple iPhone 5s. It obviously has the ability to take pictures and record video and audio, so that comes in handy. It's also a lifeline in case The Sacred Murderes Of Lord CowPig The Third happen upon you, because I have the Star Wars lightsaber app and can defend myself like a true Sith lord Jedi padawan.


But seriously, a "smart" phone isn't necessarily vital. Having the ability to call for help is.

My 75 cents worth, which is 73 more than someone else will likely pitch in.