Preserving Paper Maps

[jayjay]

Just wanting to pick the brains trust here.......
Had a wonderful weekend away exploring some of the high country around Bright. Was using the Rooftop paper maps- brand new. After lots of use over the weekend the fold lines are starting to deteriorate and split already.
Anyone here with ideas of how to best preserve them for future use? I had thought of using some contact book covering on them, but I don't think they would fold up too well if I did this, What have other members found that works?

[alnjan]

Laminate them and roll them up into a poster holder

[ivan]

Map Seal. been using it for 20yrs . Maps are still in good condition without yellowing.Laminating will fail fairly quickly.I rolll all maps and keep them in Hilti drill bit tubes.

[Traveller]

Disagree about laminating failing quickly, I have some maps that are years old, they get folded, and they are still going strong.

I must admit though that there seems to be a difference in the laminating they use, as I had one that I just about had to stand on to get it to fold, and then it keeps trying to spring out. Others though are that good that you would hardly notice the laminating.

 

[Bird]

Laminate them and roll them up into a poster holder

x2

[swanny]

Laminating them is a very good way to preserve them, ive been doing this to maps for 25 years, in some of the harshest of environments you could imagine, thru all types of weather and they stand up fine...

[macca]

Use Oziexplorer

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[tk421]

Use Oziexplorer

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Always good to have an analogue back up just in case...

I take a paper copy of the area I am out in when I am MTB'g and don't know the area. Not sure laminated maps in poster tubes will fit in the camelback.   

[macca]

Always good to have an analogue back up just in case...

I take a paper copy of the area I am out in when I am MTB'g and don't know the area. Not sure laminated maps in poster tubes will fit in the camelback.   

Yeah I should have said that, been a long day. I always carry paper maps but hardly ever use them anymore

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[Tim - Stratford]

Not sure laminated maps in poster tubes will fit in the camelback.   

Roll really, really tight and put it in the seat post! 

[GROB]

Get some 2" wide clear tape and cover both sides ,easy  and cheap ,and you can still fold your map also make them water proof

[swanny]

Get some 2" wide clear tape and cover both sides ,easy  and cheap ,and you can still fold your map also make them water proof

Good advise, I do this with laminate, and to go a step further, if you know your not going to need the entire map, then I will cut it down to the size I need for the area I intend to go in/work in, this way your reducing the need to fumble with the map, another trick is cut the legend of the bottom and laminate to the back so you can refer to it when ever needed....

[Bird]

if you fold the map at the time you have it lamintated they actually fold perfectly.

melb map center will do it for u..

[Kangaron]

if you fold the map at the time you have it lamintated they actually fold perfectly.

melb map center will do it for u..

X 2
the only way to go, they last a lifetime.

[jayjay]

Thanks guys- some good ideas here.
Should get more techno, but I still think nothing beats a good paper map.
I like being still able to fold them, so you can work with what you need, esp in the car, when I am the chief navigator, while his nibs is doing the driving!!