Paper Atlas: Delorme Vs. Benchmark

[ETAV8R]

Not sure what area to post this in so even though I'm not talking about software this seemed the most appropriate place to pose the question: Delorme or Benchmark Atlas'?

So I've been trying to decide one or the other. I have several NatGeo maps and a couple books for certain areas I've gone to already or plan to visit. Problem is I'd like to have a good atlas in the truck for all those areas outside of the other maps/books. I've done some searching here but didn't find a dedicated thread on either.

This evening I visited the local REI to compare them both. This was the second time I've checked them out in person. My observations:

California Atlas & Gazetteer (Delorme Atlas & Gazetteer Series)-http://www.amazon.com/California-Atlas-Gazetteer-Delorme/dp/0899333834/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1284446494&sr=1-1
Pros:
Slightly larger scale
Campground listing at the beginning of the book(incomplete-did not have campgrounds I recently visited)
Better topography
Metro areas in larger scale, not really necessary since I have a lot of maps from AAA in my truck

Cons:
Poor road description-i.e. 4x4 high clearance


California Road & Recreation Atlas: Landscape Maps, Recreation Guides, Detailed Roads, GPS Grids (Benchmark Maps)-http://www.amazon.com/Benchmark-California-Road-Recreation-Atlas/dp/0929591496/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1284446526&sr=1-7
Pros:
Good road description
Lots of information regarding the state of interest-counties, temperature variances, national park listing, recreation, etc.

Cons:
Smaller scale
Topography less detailed


Thats all I can think of right now since no notes were taken in store. I'm really after user opinions rather than weighing pros/cons. I was going back and forth from one to the other in the store for different areas. Some had pros in one area vs the other and vice versa.

[ntsqd]

I have plenty of DeLorme's for different states, but when one gets derelict enough to need replacement I go looking for the Benchmark's. I'm happy with either one, I just prefer the Benchmark's shading. I've also found that their roads shown do tend to actually exist, where that isn't always the case with the DeLorme's.

IMO you won't know which you prefer until you've used them both.

[cruiseroutfit]

I'd suspect it may vary from state to state but for the western states I prefer Benchmark hands down. UT, NV, ID, WY, CO, CA, etc all excel in the Benchmark version imo.

[dzzz]

.....I've also found that their roads shown do tend to actually exist, where that isn't always the case with the DeLorme's.

.

You say that like it's a bad thing.. :) I like the challenge with Delorme of figuring out what's real.

[paulj]

While I have more DeLorme volumes (some 20 years old), Benchmarks are easier to use. The obvious difference is contour lines v. shaded topography. Sometimes I have difficulty distinguishing roads from contour lines. Due to my colorblindness, the colors that DeLorme uses are too similar. Even minor roads standout on Benchmark's maps.

I don't make much use of the text parts of either brand. The Canadian Backroads Mapbooks have better descriptions of parks, campgrounds and trails.

[deserteagle56]

I have and use both for Nevada and Utah since each provides slightly different information. But if I were forced to chose it would be the Benchmark. All too often I have found the DeLorme road information out of date (such as having a road marked as primitive 4wd when in fact it was smooth and graded), and that's with the 2010 edition. What's even weirder is that I've been using a Delorme PN-40 GPS on my dirt bike for the last year and the road information in some cases is not identical between the GPS unit and the paper atlas, with the GPS information being more accurate. And it is a help to my ancient eyeballs to have the roads marked in a bright contrasty red color on the Benchmark compared to the black lines on the Delorme. (My old Delorme atlases did use red lines for the roads and trails but the new editions are different.)

[ETAV8R]

Well I decided to give the Benchmark California map a try.

[HenryJ]

Well I decided to give the Benchmark California map a try.
Good move! I agree with all the above. The Benchmark maps have a nice home in my truck. The Delorme maps are gathering dust on the shelf in my closet.
Benchmark is an Oregon company. I like that too.

[o0synge0o]

Mine are all Benchmark's here... I never actually purchased or attempted to use the other brand, however looking at them side by side in the bookstore I liked the Benchmark ones better.

[frgtwn]

Are the Benchmark contour lines in meters like the DeLorme? I certainly hope not. I kinda wanna know where 10,000 feet is. And so forth.

[deserteagle56]

Are the Benchmark contour lines in meters like the DeLorme? I certainly hope not. I kinda wanna know where 10,000 feet is. And so forth.

The Benchmark atlases I have do not show contour lines. They use shading and color gradations to show elevation. It is very effective - a quick glance at a page shows you the topography. And it reduces clutter so that roads and trails, etc., stand out better. (But then my newest Benchmark is a 2004 edition - perhaps the new ones have contour lines?) So if you have to have pretty exact elevation data for any particular point you are out of luck with the Benchmark.

[Team DeLorme]

For a short time back in the '80s DeLorme started using meters because the US government had the goal of converting everyone and everything to metric...
Today all Gazetteers have contours in feet.

[Wyowanderer]

I use both, in addition to NGeo and BLM 1:100,000 maps.
As others have stated, the Benchmark maps have much better clarity and road description. The DL is better for land status (still lousy, though) and trail locations. I've noticed that though BM names the roads, they don't give the BLM road numbers like DL does, and in the West where there is a lot of BLM land this is key.
In my personal offroading I've found that having just one map is rarely sufficient, but when I first started, I used just the BLM maps and did fine.
I'd recommend the Benchmark maps as a starting point.
BTW- the BM and DL maps fit perfectly in 2 gallon Ziplock freezer/storage bags.:)

[Overland Hadley]

I have stacks of DeLorme, but when I can I use Benchmark. Much better map in my opinion.

On the Utah atlas I have noted some of the good roads are missing from the DeLorme.

[Desert Dan]

I prefer the state Benchmark Atlas for my use.
I just picked up a new Nevada Atlas today!

[CanuckMariner]

I too am getting ready to get a set of quality state road maps and BM/DL seem to be the top contenders. However I did look at Rand McNally and NGS but they seem to be more into folded maps. I tried to find a local store with both DL and BM available and if so, same states, to do an actual comparison of the same map area. Unfortunately, BM is not locally available unless special ordered. Perhaps someone here can do this for us and give us a unbiased opinion of the two?

In summary then from the above postings:

Delorme (DL)

PROS

larger scale
campground listing
better topography - actual contour lines
metro larger scale
labels BLM roads

CONS

poor road description - some missing data
road don't always exist
colours for topography and other features are difficult to discern
road info is sometimes out of date
GPS data accuracy/quality tends to be better than the hard copy



Benchmark (BM)

PROS

good road descriptions
good additional descriptional info
good contrast in colours used for features - good clarity
shading is preferred by some
road usually are there
easier to use by some
seems to be the preferred ones to use

CONS

smaller scale
topography less detailed - uses shading instead of contours


Other factors to keep in mind:

What year the maps were published in (or how current the data/info on the maps)?
BMs tend to be about 50% more in MSRP and are not as widely available as DL (been around a bit longer).


It would seem from just this thread thus far and from discussions I have had from some of my trailing friends, that BM seems to be the way to go.

Having said that, and as Kurt points out, some BMs maybe better over certain states/areas than DLs and visa versa. Bottom line - is a user choice of presentation and accuracy/quality over the state or area of interest.:costumed-smiley-007

[deserteagle56]

[QUOTE=CanuckMariner;
What year the maps were published in (or how current are the maps)?
BMs tend to be about 50% more in MSRP and are not as widely available as DL (been around a bit longer). QUOTE)

In the last month I have picked up new copies of both Delorme (2010 edition) and Benchmark (2011 edition) map atlases of the State of Nevada. I much prefer the Benchmark; I even prefer the older edition I have of the Delorme to the new one. Again I am finding that even with the new editions the Benchmark road information is more accurate. As far as price, both atlases cost the same here - $20. Yet - I use both Garmin and Delorme GPS units and the Delorme topo maps are much superior to what Garmin puts out, and I have found a few situations where the GPS map on the Delorme has more accurate information than the new Delorme paper atlas. Now, why would that be??

[CanuckMariner]

In the last month I have picked up new copies of both Delorme (2010 edition) and Benchmark (2011 edition) map atlases of the State of Nevada. I much prefer the Benchmark; I even prefer the older edition I have of the Delorme to the new one. Again I am finding that even with the new editions the Benchmark road information is more accurate. As far as price, both atlases cost the same here - $20. Yet - I use both Garmin and Delorme GPS units and the Delorme topo maps are much superior to what Garmin puts out, and I have found a few situations where the GPS map on the Delorme has more accurate information than the new Delorme paper atlas. Now, why would that be??

Excellent! If I may impose on you, please look at the two volumes side by side over the same area/region and see what the difference is in presentation (colour, line quality, shading, etc.). Perhaps you can scan or photo a page from each over the same area/region and post these up here for comparison. Much appreciated!

As for road information accuracy, is your conclusion based on roads that you have actually driven or ?

As for price - I found my price info based on internet research from their sites, eBay, Amazon, etc. and DL having been around a bit longer seems to be a bit less expensive ($10.99 and up) whereas BM being a newer kid on the block is around $20 plus. This price variation may also be due to vintage of each copy. When listing DL for sale, the year of publication is not always quoted.

I have heard more praises for the new kid BM than for DL so far.:costumed-smiley-007

EDIT: I called DL and spoke with a publishing representative (to get their insight of the pros/cons of the respective products) who didn't know about BM, surprisingly. He said "...we've enough to do without looking for competition, map makers come and go but we've been around the longest".

I went to BM's site and found an email directly to their editor and am awaiting their response. Let you know when I hear back.

[soonenough]

EDIT: I called DL and spoke with a publishing representative (to get their insight of the pros/cons of the respective products) who didn't know about BM, surprisingly. He said "...we've enough to do without looking for competition, map makers come and go but we've been around the longest".
Sounds like a pretty arrogant business attitude; that will eventually catch up with them if that's representative of the company leadership as a whole. Makes me kinda regret buying a product from them.

[ETAV8R]

Nice to see that this thread is benefiting people. I just received two more Benchmark Atlases.
Utah and Arizona. Kinda strange looking around a state you arent as familiar with as your home state. I have visited both in the past but am looking forward to some expeditions to each in the future.

[fishbum]

Sounds like a pretty arrogant business attitude; that will eventually catch up with them if that's representative of the company leadership as a whole. Makes me kinda regret buying a product from them.

Perhaps the comment was meant to say that they don't know every single competitor of their paper products so they don't have any specific comments about the pro/cons of all of them. Meanwhile they will keep pumping out the atlases as they have been for almost 30 years. I don't see any arrogance there. I'm sure they are more focused on growth markets (not paper).

[soonenough]

Perhaps the comment was meant to say that they don't know every single competitor of their paper products so they don't have any specific comments about the pro/cons of all of them. Meanwhile they will keep pumping out the atlases as they have been for almost 30 years. I don't see any arrogance there. I'm sure they are more focused on growth markets (not paper).
You could be right. If so, I retract my previous statements.

[CanuckMariner]

I have found no other competitors that make similar Atlas/Gazetteer like booklets. The competition isn't really that large nor the market - for those atlas/gazetteer booklets. Even NGS doesn't make a similar booklet by state. Both are good products, simply a personal perspective/preference, I guess.

I would have thought DL (1976) would know about BM (1995) (BM definitely knows about DL/NGS and NGS knows of them both), for sure. Perhaps he just didn't want to make any comments at all.:costumed-smiley-007

[deserteagle56]

Excellent! If I may impose on you, please look at the two volumes side by side over the same area/region and see what the difference is in presentation (colour, line quality, shading, etc.). Perhaps you can scan or photo a page from each over the same area/region and post these up here for comparison. Much appreciated!

As for road information accuracy, is your conclusion based on roads that you have actually driven or ?

As for price - I found my price info based on internet research from their sites, eBay, Amazon, etc. and DL having been around a bit longer seems to be a bit less expensive ($10.99 and up) whereas BM being a newer kid on the block is around $20 plus. This price variation may also be due to vintage of each copy. When listing DL for sale, the year of publication is not always quoted.

I have heard more praises for the new kid BM than for DL so far.:costumed-smiley-007

EDIT: I called DL and spoke with a publishing representative (to get their insight of the pros/cons of the respective products) who didn't know about BM, surprisingly. He said "...we've enough to do without looking for competition, map makers come and go but we've been around the longest".

I went to BM's site and found an email directly to their editor and am awaiting their response. Let you know when I hear back.

Ask and ye shall receive! Below is a scan of an area I spent a weekend in this past summer, the Wilson Creek Range in eastern Nevada.

First, the Delorme 2010 map:
http://i713.photobucket.com/albums/ww136/deserteagle56/Maps/Picture0005.jpg

And the same approximate area from the Benchmark 2011 map:
http://i713.photobucket.com/albums/ww136/deserteagle56/Maps/Picture0001.jpg

Note how much more detail there is in the Benchmark map - all the springs, peaks, passes and man-made features named that don't appear on the Delorme map. Even the giant antenna farm and VORTAC facility on Mt. Wilson is not noted on the Delorme. The roads and trails on the Benchmark are in a nice contrasty red color, much easier to see to my old eyes than the faint traces of the same on the Delorme. What the Benchmark map calls the Buckhorn Ranch Road, that goes over Pioneer Pass to the Fry Ranch Retreat center, is marked as a good, major road. But on the Delorme map that same road is an "unimproved road". Yet it is an excellent, graded, smooth road that is designated by the state of Nevada as a scenic byway, although because there are some switchbacks they don't recomment large travel trailers!
http://i713.photobucket.com/albums/ww136/deserteagle56/Abajo%20Peak21Aug10/AtlantaHydeWell23Aug10/MtWilsonSpringValley24Aug10/IMG_2938.jpg

The road going over Pioneer Pass:
http://i713.photobucket.com/albums/ww136/deserteagle56/Abajo%20Peak21Aug10/AtlantaHydeWell23Aug10/MtWilsonSpringValley24Aug10/IMG_2876.jpg

I live here in the middle of Nevada and spend all my free time exploring the outback (and have done so for the past 40+years) . So yes, I have driven or ridden a great many of the roads on these maps and verified the map's accuracy. Don't get me wrong - both atlases contain information that is a little different and that's why I buy and use both. Both atlases are eminently useable. But for the type of exploring I do, if I were forced to choose but one of the maps it would be the Benchmark.

[CanuckMariner]

Many thanks deserteagle56 for your efforts/time to scan/photo the two areas. I must admit initially I am in agreement with your comments about both and that BM looks much easier to read. I will take a closer look at both now that I have a copy of each. Thanks again for your comparison.:costumed-smiley-007

EDIT: I have to admit, after looking at both in more detail the BM is easier to read. Having said this, I am wondering if this comparison is valid over all regions/states for the two mapping companies? However, having heard various comments from numerous users as well as members of this forum that favour BM, I too am inclined to go that way as well.

[deserteagle56]

Many thanks deserteagle56 for your efforts/time to scan/photo the two areas. I must admit initially I am in agreement with your comments about both and that BM looks much easier to read. I will take a closer look at both now that I have a copy of each. Thanks again for your comparison.:costumed-smiley-007

EDIT: I have to admit, after looking at both in more detail the BM is easier to read. Having said this, I am wondering if this comparison is valid over all regions/states for the two mapping companies? However. Having heard various comments from numerous users as well as members of this forum that favour BM, I too am inclined to go that way as well.

I have the atlases for Oregon, Nevada and Utah only, so I can't comment with any authority on any other regions of the country. I suppose since Delorme is based in Maine they might have better, more accurate maps of the eastern states. I've not seen any atlases of the eastern states from either provider so I have no idea.

[HenryJ]

...Note how much more detail there is in the Benchmark map - all the springs, peaks, passes and man-made features ... The roads and trails on the Benchmark are in a nice contrasty red color, much easier to see to my old eyes than the faint traces of the same on the Delorme.
My thoughts and words exactly :26_7_2:

Benchmark Maps (http://benchmarkmaps.com/) does not cover the eastern half of the US. I have CA, ID, OR, UT and WA. I'll be sure to add others as the need arises.

[CanuckMariner]

Another item I like about BM, is that the naming of geographical/topographical features. Names are offset somewhat so that they do not overlap each other nor anything else. Colours have been picked to allow for good contrast. Both (BM/DL) seem to have the same roads depicted in the same locations, whether they exist or are as good or bad as the symbol indicates must be collaborated on the ground.

I believe that they both focus these booklets more on the western states as there is more open land to explore, whereas eastern states most land has been taken up by agriculture or parks or is private.:costumed-smiley-007

[mk216v]

Thanks for the great topic ETAV8R! I was sitting in an REI trying to discern the differences as well. Great feedback here!

I suppose the only benefit to the DeLorme on the above example is if you were flying a plane west of Mt. Wilson and needed a place to land. ;)

I'll be purchasing the Benchmark's. Oregon business FTW!

[Ludedude]

One more vote for Benchmark. I looked at both NV atlases awhile back and went the BM route as well.

[Terrainist]

Since so many espouse the Benchmark brand, I'll have to look at getting some. I just recently went with some Delorme's because they had bigger maps, and they upgraded to making the roads black instead of red. When they were doing the roads in red previously, you literally could not read the maps -- they were useless. Which, with the previous post pointing to their business attitude and the fact that they didn't care if their maps could actually be used leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Happiness is good maps.

And thanks for posting up the pics comparing the two maps, that's a huge help. BM has their roads in red, but it works if the back ground isn't dark.

[deserteagle56]

I suppose the only benefit to the DeLorme on the above example is if you were flying a plane west of Mt. Wilson and needed a place to land. ;)


Precisely why I buy and carry both atlases. Each generally has little tidbits of information that the other one doesn't. Still, if I could carry only one it would be the Benchmark.

But here in the outback of Nevada landing a plane just about anywhere isn't much of a problem. Most of the dirt roads will have long straight sections on them and there is generally no traffic to worry about. People land planes on them all the time....from what I read in the papers, drug smugglers use them all the time too!

[Sawyer]

Where are you guys picking up the newest Benchmark? Thanks!

[CanuckMariner]

all Benchmark map books by state (NEW) are on sale at Amazon and free shipping if order is over $25....:costumed-smiley-007