If you've used multiple route planning tools, you've likely noticed that each platform uses different terminology for marking locations along your route. Komoot calls them "Highlights," Strava uses "Points of Interest," Garmin has "Course Points," and so on. This inconsistency can be confusing, especially when moving routes between platforms.
The Terminology Problem
Different platforms have evolved their own vocabulary:
- Komoot: Highlights, Waypoints
- Strava: Points of Interest, Segments
- Garmin: Course Points, Waypoints
- Ride with GPS: Points of Interest, Control Points
- AllTrails: Waypoints, Photos
While these terms sometimes mean similar things, they often have subtle differences in how they're used and exported.
What Are POIs?
A Point of Interest (POI) is simply a notable location that might be useful to know about. This could be:
- Water sources
- Cafes and restaurants
- Gas stations
- Scenic viewpoints
- Campgrounds
- Emergency services
POIs are typically tied to geographic locations and exist independently of your route.
What Are Waypoints?
Waypoints are specific coordinates that you've marked or selected to appear in your route data. When you export a GPX file, waypoints are included as separate elements that your GPS device can display and navigate to.
The key difference: POIs exist on a map as general information, while waypoints are specific markers you've chosen to include in your route.
How PitStopper Simplifies This
PitStopper takes a straightforward approach:
- Search for POIs along your route using our comprehensive category system
- Review and filter the results to find what's relevant
- Export as waypoints in your GPX file
This means you start with the broad data (all POIs near your route) and narrow down to exactly what you need (specific waypoints for your trip).
Practical Example
Let's say you're planning a bikepacking trip:
- Upload your GPX route to PitStopper
- Search for water sources, cafes, and camping
- Review the 47 POIs found
- Remove the ones that don't fit your schedule
- Export the remaining 12 as waypoints
Your exported GPX now contains your original route plus 12 waypoints for the stops you've planned.
Conclusion
Don't get too caught up in terminology differences. The important thing is understanding what data you need and how to get it into your GPS device. PitStopper bridges the gap between finding information (POIs) and using it on your trip (waypoints).
For more details on exporting routes, check out our Help documentation.