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I have a back up android phone (no sim) that I like too use as an off line map on gravel rides.

I used to have my downloaded routes (using wifi) with global heatmap and the back-to-facing-north compass-button. I would combine it with a “real compass to check if I was on the path, that I thought, and if I lost my way or got uncertain the heatmap helped a lot to read the layout of paths in forests so that I could identify my location and get back on track. Same features were useful if I changed plans and wanted to ride an improvised route.

This doesn't appear to work as well as it did some time ago:

one thing: The compass-button has disappeared (there's a separate topic that goes two months back). It's critical” to know north on the map, and since it rotates quite easily...I don't have to explain.

another thing: a week ago or so when I accessed my downloaded maps off line the heatmap wasn't with it any longer. That was dissapointing. I found a workaround, still, though, with the compass function missing.

a third: The woraround still works, but whether or not the heatmap is still not with the downloaded maps off line is not easy to tell because it doesn't seem possible to access them any longer(???}. Before, when I opened Strava off line, I opened the Maps tab and if I then pressed on the map I was presented with a button to go to my list of downloaded routes (and when I pressed it the list was there). Now I don't get the suggestion, but the bookmark symbol by the search field is there (not sure if it was before), but  when I tap it I get an empty Saved Routes page telling me that there's no results

Unless, of course, I've missed something that is obvious to most then the third issue is by far the most surprising detoriation. And – again with the caveat form before – not only annoying, but potentially dangerous, if only discovered after. loosing connection in otherwise unknown terrain.

I’d like to learn that Im mistaken here, but if not I very much hope you'll be able to restore the disappeares functions.

Ciao ​@bjoernen_hj. You're right. Strava maps and heatmaps have a great value that could be surely be improved and step by step I'm sure they will become perfect. Anyway you can find the idea below about the offline maps with an interesting article to read. Feel free to add your vote.

https://communityhub.strava.com/ideas/offline-full-maps-9537


Update about the issues mentioned in the topic post:

For some time now the back to facing North button has been back on the saved maps. Good.

Downloaded routes are again possible to access through the application while being offline. Good.

Heatmap for a relevant area still doesn't download with the routes. This would make such a huge difference for offline usefulness of the maps – especially in forests where the smaller paths are sometimes not drawn in the underlying map.

And just to try to make it clear why: if  I'm offline and for some reason I get away from the route the details supplied by the heatmap makes a big difference in being able to find my way back to the route. And also, if I want to improvise a ride or a run the details of the hearmap and it's visibility is such a grate plus.