If anyone is getting ready to buy Topo software, go with Delorme topo 5! Thisprogram rocks. The detail is unbelievable. The maps, profiles and 3D maps are wonderful. This program will be my new best friend for backpacking and so I can see what Im getting myself into for a cache hunt. I got mine this afternoon and have been messing with it all day. Ill post a link to some pictures of maps tomorrow so you can see for yourself.

I've always liked the stuff Allen has done with it. I keep thinking I am going to break down and get it one day.

I just bought the National Geographic Topo! for Georgia. It would be interesting to compare the two.

Here is some links to logs containing maps generated by TOPO 3. One of the best $60 I ever spent. The upgrade to TOPO 4 didn't seem worth it, I am still undecided about the upgrade to TOPO 5.

Second Annual GGA Challenge Event
Chimney Cap
Rocky Mountain
Sep 01 GGA Meeting

I have never used Topo 3 or 4 so I dont know if thereis a difference.However here aresome map images from Topo 5. Just click on one of the three links on the page.
AT Trails

looks like I need to save up for Topo 5.
I been putting it off too long anyway

Kvom, could you post some map images?
Cause I also would like to see the difference between NG TOPO and Delorme TOPO. I went delomre sure thing, because i can put the topo maps on the palm via SA HH.
Johnnie, look in the steals and deals forums, Topo 5is now only $60 for a limited time. (Includes full US topo, plus $50 in aerial and satellite images, and USGS topo quads)

I also have the National Geographic Topo software. It will not render in 3D. The profile and topo maps look good though. Here are some examples taken from Kennesaw Mountain.

I guess one of the distinct differences bt Topo! and Topo 5 would be the topo maps themselves. Ng maps look like real quads (probably are) while Topo 5 is more of a software like topo map (with buildings and such, imagine SA or Streets and Trips with contour lines and shaded relief).
However Topo 5 will do routing both on trails and roads, does NG Topo! do this? Just wondering.

I've been using Topo 4.0 for some time now and am fully satisfied with it. I'm waiting to hear if the SAT 10 CD I bought of satellite photos of Georgia will work with 5.0. If it does, a copy of 4.0 will be up for sale shortly.

One of the big differences between Delorme and National Geographic Topo is that the Deloreme are vector based and the NG are scanned images of the paper map which is called raster based. For a little more info look at groundspeak message. For more information than you might want on the difference between raster and vector you can read Digital Mapping for Distance Hikers.

Got a reply back from Delorme and my SAT10 data will work with 5.0. My copy should arrive in 4 - 5 days. Oh, boy!

I like the split screen 3D maneuvers one can do. I really helps me get a picture of what to expect on the ground. Here's a 330K screen shot of Stone Mountain with the standard topo map on the right, and the SAT10 data on the left. Without SAT10, one gets the topo data in 3D on the left.

If all goes well I'll bring my copy of 4.0 to the May meeting. I've the DVD version so you'll need to have a DVD drive on your personal confuser for it to work. (The DVD version has data for the entire US on one disk. Otherwise you're into 6 disks and have to swap out disks whenever you want to view another region.)