Frequently Asked Questions // Never Astray

Why do some of the labels look funny?

Sometimes you will see road and trail labels that have sideways letters. Because our maps are exact representations of the shape of roads and trails, they’ve sometimes got curves and bends in them. We optimize for the greatest amount of information density and this means that sometimes labels also bend with the roads. Better to have a label than not, we think.

How long does shipping take?

10 business days. All maps are printed new, just for your order so that you have the latest satellite and street data. We use USPS Priority Mail or UPS for orders.

How durable and waterproof are these? / Caring for your map

All of our maps are tear-resistant, scratch-resistant, and waterproof. We use the same printing technique that architects and builders use to create a “master set” of plans on a jobsite for safekeeping. Underwater salvage companies use these types of prints to give to divers so they can carry and use them underwater.

The only element our maps are not immune to is extreme heat. Do not laminate your map. Lamination machines use high levels of heat and will damage the ink on your map. Also, it’s completely unnecessary since your map is already waterproof! Our maps in durability testing have stored without issue in hot cars for months. However, we don’t recommend leaving them directly on the dash in full sunlight.

Do I have to be a prepper to use your maps?

Nope! Some people just want a map and we have some of the best ones you can find. Because our maps are built with emergency preparedness in mind, rest assured that a lot of care has been taken to add in features that everyone can find useful.

Do I have to know how to read contour lines?

Nope, all of our maps have 3D Topo so you can see at a glance if you’re looking at a mountain or valley. City maps at this time do not include contours because of their zoom level (too high up for contours to be useful). Custom maps at a high enough zoom level (smaller radius, more detail) have contour lines when applicable.

What’s that font you use?

Typography is a cornerstone of great cartography. All of our maps and our website use a modernized version of DIN 1451, a German font commonly found on road signs and in industrial applications known for its legibility and versatility.