Most detailed folded maps
 

Hi, I’m am currently planning a multi country trip and I would like to bring a set of folded maps for each country I am passing through as a back up. I have a few Nat Geo Adventure folded maps from a previous trip and they are ok however I was wondering if there is a gold standard for folded maps that are well detailed, accurate and shows all types of roads and trails and not just main or sealed roads? ITMB, Rand McNally etc.

Hello and welcome to the forum,
You will need to tell us what part of the world you are travelling to as few if any map makers do a full set.
I prefer Michelin when available as they show scenic routes which I try to follow, they have made them covering Europe, Africa and North America, I have found Nelles to be pretty good for maps of Asian countries.
I have never used them but have seen Butler map spoken highly of for the US.
https://butlermaps.com/

It’s really just a broad question about map makers… I have 4-5 Nat Geo Adventure maps and they are quite good but my ITMB has different route options on it which I like. I have FOMO of missing a trail opportunity. Just want the general consensus of the most preferred folded map maker.

Consider the unlikelihood of anyone writing up a country-by-country, or even continent-by-continent, list of the best paper maps. Then consider that people's interests and needs differ greatly, even from one trip to the next--I like the Butler maps for motorcycling in my general area of the US, but Rand McNally for general touring in my car, the Backroads Mapbooks for dirt and gravel adventure across the border in Canada, but the British Columbia government roadmaps for main roads in the same area, an old one called "Indian Country" for the Four Corners region of the US Southwest....

I could go on for paragraphs and pages about this. But your OP question doesn't give specifics about your mode of travel, your interests, your intended location(s), or anything else. Under the circumstances, Mark Manley's answer is as good as anyone could offer.

For context, I've got a huge filing cabinet full of accumulated maps from all over the world, along with random unsorted piles stuffed into closets "until I get around to them." I'd be pressed to come up with any generalities, much less a "general consensus," except that like many I do prefer Michelin when they're available. But if you want useful results, try asking about a particular country or coherent group of countries--West Africa, say, or South Asia.

Hope that's helpful, and good luck in your search!

Mark

Yes indeed - it's impossible to generalise; ITMB do good maps for more or less everywhere however they have some gaps, T4A may be the best for Southern Africa, HEMA have good maps for Australia. At a local level of detail National Parks maps are generally good for the trails and campsites. Michelin are good and I like the fact that they shows roads as they are and not as local politicians would like them to be...

If you come to Switzerland, you can print them yourself:
https://map.geo.admin.ch/?lang=en&to...1105.80&zoom=4

Tip for a double whammy
 

you can take Sushis' excellent link, geo reference the image and not only can you print the map out
but also use it in your Garmin :smartass:
and all that without having to go to La Suisse:blushing:
Ain't life (still!) grand!