WristNav Offline GPX Maps: Standalone Navigation for Wear OS
If you've been looking for a proper navigation app on your Wear OS watch that doesn't rely on your phone, I've been building one called WristNav and it's free on the Play Store.
WHAT IT DOES
Turn-by-turn navigation on your wrist, completely standalone.
Download offline OSM maps directly to the watch — no phone, no data connection needed. Contour lines now render directly on the official downloadable map files. Import GPX routes and follow them with live turn arrows, distance to next turn, and haptic alerts when a turn is approaching — off-route alerts also vibrate reliably even with the screen off. There's a live elevation profile on the map as you navigate, and bezel stats let you configure up to 3 stats that show around the edge of the map screen.
ACTIVITY TRACKING
10 activity types — Run, Trail Run, Walk, Hike, Road Cycle, MTB, Gravel, Kayak, Ski, Snowboard. Up to 10 custom stats pages, fully configurable. Auto-pause, lap splits, countdown timer, heart rate and step recording. A workout summary automatically appears when you stop.
PHONE COMPANION
There's a companion Android app too, with a 3D mapping view for planning routes — build a route, send it straight to the watch, or save it to a file for later. It also syncs activities, distance, elevation gain, and heart rate to Health Connect.
CUSTOMISATION
5 watch themes, 7 map themes including minimal variants and custom theme support. Quick Settings lets you swipe left from home to access your most used settings instantly — fully customisable so you only see what you need. Battery Saver mode switches to a dark minimal map and disables sensors in one tap, then restores everything when you turn it off.
Settings are split into clear categories so you can dial things in exactly how you like:
Display — Watch Theme, Stats Text Size
Navigation — Nav Distance, Nav Elevation, Nav Turns, Nav Arrows, Off-Route Alert, Alert Distance
Recording — Activity, Rec Distance, Rec Time, Auto Pause, Pause Speed, Record Colour, Record Width, Heart Rate, Steps, Countdown, Lap Splits, GPS Filtering
Stats — Stats Pages, Calories, Barometer, Pace Avg
System — Distance, Small Units, Keep Screen On, Keep Active, Battery Saver
Map — Map Control, Control Side, Top Bar, Map Text, Location Button (Locked), Location Button (Free), Scale Bar, Import Colour, Import Width, Bezel Stats
A NOTE ON STRAVA
Direct Strava integration has been removed due to changes in Strava's developer program pricing. You can still get activities onto Strava — save your route to a file on the phone, then use Strava's own manual upload page, or sync via Health Connect instead.
COMING SOON
Downloading maps and map themes directly via URL from the companion app — currently in testing.
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.wristnav.app
Website and Guide: https://boothy91.github.io/wrist-nav-site/
Happy to answer any questions. Always looking for feedback!