The Best Alternatives To Ride Command For The Polaris RZR?

Polaris’ Ride Command system (as well as its new Ride Command+) offers RZR owners the ability to navigate, communicate, and plan out rides to the smallest detail. But not all machines come with Ride Command, and there are other alternatives to both the Ride Command hardware as well as the Ride Command software that are as good or better than Ride Command. For one, Ride Command is known to crash periodically. And there are some things -- like hybrid satellite / topographic map overlays -- that Ride Command just can't do. So if you’re looking for the best Ride Command alternatives for your Razor, here are some recommendations!

Tablets / iPads

You don’t need a paper map or off-road Atlas to navigate when riding, nor must you rely on your own memory to make it back after a long day on the trail. And while your wife in the passenger seat might always be there to tell you where to go regardless, tablets like the Samsung Galaxy or iPad mini are great alternatives to Ride Command. A tablet alone, however, is insufficient – you’ll also want a Polaris RZR tablet mount, a waterproof tablet cover, and a good GPS app.

The Gaia GPS app is a popular one, as it lets users import whatever GPS files they want. Some GPS files can be found for free online, while others are available for purchase. Aside from Gaia, Lifetime Trail Maps is another good navigation app. But because it only works on the Android operating system, it’s not compatible with iPads or iPhones.

Many touch-screen tablets like the Galaxy  are much larger than the Ride Command control interface, and there are various ways to mount them. The X-Grip Ram mount is a solid choice, and you can even screw the base of Ram tablet mounts to the dash of your rig if you feel so inclined. Even if you have Ride Command, you might still run a tablet next to it for superior mapping!

Smartphones

Using a phone in lieu of Ride Command is similar to using a tablet – only smaller – and many of the same apps can also be used on smartphones. On top of the Gaia app and Lifetime Trail Maps, you can also use the OnX hunting app, the BFG On Trail app, Backcountry Navigator, or Avanza. Additionally, many states have developed their own trail-exploring apps – like the CORTEX app made in collaboration with the Colorado Department of Parks and Wildlife. If you’re still unsatisfied with these options and want nothing but Ride Command, you’re in luck, because the Ride Command app is also available on smartphones! All you'll need is a good Polaris RZR phone mount!

GPS Units

The Garmin Montana i700 with GPS Trailmasters and a monthly subscription to Garmin InReach is sure to bring you peace of mind when you’re deep in the woods, while superior mapping views have led many riders to choose the Garmin Overlander – which also comes with built-in communication tools. Whether it’s to find your friends who went off track, or to organize a pit stop at an overlook up ahead, being able to communicate with your crew is invaluable when riding. So if all your buddies have Ride Command and you do not, the Trail Tech Voyager Pro is compatible with the Groupe Ride feature of Ride Command. It uses the same software as Ride Command, and you can link it to Ride Command as well!

Communication Kits

On the comms side of things, you can also do better than Ride Command with accessories like intercoms and two-way radios. Not only will VHF, UHF, or GMRS radio kits allow you to chat with your group while riding, but they can also be used in the event of an emergency to make contact with the outside world. Rugged Radios makes a good in-vehicle Polaris RZR radio kit, or you can opt for handheld radios to use when you’re at camp or on foot!

In Conclusion

Ride Command is by all means a great product, and if you have it in your UTV, all the better. But Polaris isn’t a GPS company, nor is it a telecommunications company. So if you don’t have Ride Command and want the functionality it brings, or if you want something even better than Ride Command for both navigation and communication, the aforementioned Ride Command alternatives are guaranteed to please!