Feature request: POI import by any .gpx file

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Tim

• January 10, 2020 15:47

Thanks for implementing Points Of Interest hammerhead team 😀! But why is the POI import limited to Ride With GPS at the moment 😞? I would like to import POI from any kind of .gpx source (GMap, GPSies, Basecamp, QMapShack etc.). Is this going to be updated any time soon?

Organizers of events use this function often to embed POI like meeting points, rescue points, or shelters in their routes. So this is a pretty essential feature, especially for a cycling computer with an emphasis on navigation like the Karoo.

Embedded Points of interest are not a proprietary feature of RWGPS, but a general feature of .gpx files. Garmin devices are able to import POI from any sort of .gpx files.

When will the Hammerhead Dashboard be able to import embedded POI over .gpx upload and when will the Karoo be able to display that kind of data? Are there any workarounds available in the meantime?

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  Kacper

  • June 26, 2025 06:28

  Hi, I’m from VeloPlanner.com team. We got few emails from our users asking if they can import our GPX with waypoints into Karoo devices.

  Looks like this feature is still not natively supported.

  Is there any other way to import track with POI without RWGPS?

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  Ross Jantz

  • June 26, 2025 15:52

  Unfortunately, Kacper, it doesn't look like this will ever happen unless a third party writes an add-on app. If it doesn't apply to racers the new owners don't seem to care. Really frustrating for those of us who bought in to the original Kickstarter promise of a user driven device - and is why I won't be purchasing another Karoo when mine eventually dies.

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  Kacper

  • August 26, 2025 08:36

  There was recent update https://www.eu.hammerhead.io/blogs/change-logs/karoo-software-build-version-1-579-2220
  which includes this bit: "We’ve added POI’s along a route to Hammerhead Extensions. View more details of the latest Extension updates here."
  
  What does it mean? :) Are custom POI from GPX supported?

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  Andre Faria

  • April 15, 2026 08:12

  Hello,
  I am slowly switching from Garmin to Hammerhead, have a couple POIs on garmin basecamp (Which can be exported to gpx format) and would love to import to my newly arriving karoo, any hint? 

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  Krzysztof

  • June 22, 2026 01:19

  Hi everyone,

  Despite the common belief that the Hammerhead Dashboard strips all waypoints from imported GPX files, I discovered a way to successfully import them directly—but with a catch.

  The Dashboard will parse and import `<wpt>` tags, but only if both `<type>` and `<sym>` tags are present and match one of 8 specific, case-sensitive POI types, I think. 

  Here is the exact XML structure that works:

  <wpt lat="54.35355729150646" lon="18.67653262883681">
    <name>Your Waypoint Name</name>
    <type>Food</type>
    <sym>Food</sym>
    <desc>Optional Description</desc>
  </wpt>
  
  

  The only 8 supported types (case-sensitive) that will successfully import:
  1. `Food`
  2. `Parking`
  3. `Camping`
  4. `Lodging`
  5. `Geocache`
  6. `Summit`
  7. `Generic`
  8. `Danger`

  If you map your custom GPX waypoints to one of these 8 types using `<type>` and `<sym>`, they will import perfectly directly into the Hammerhead Dashboard, showing up as pins on the map.

  ***

   

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  Krzysztof

  • June 23, 2026 13:54

  I creted alsob webapp/mobile app to fix poo in gpx https://mendalka.github.io/gpx-poi-karoo-app/

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  Adam

  • June 23, 2026 17:30

  I could sync POIs from Strava. Krzysztof – ru sure that only those 8 types working? Maybe there's other issue with gpx import, but "water" syncing from Strava for example  :)

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  Marcin Gryszkalis

  • June 24, 2026 23:00

  I tested myself and Water was the only missing from Krzysztof's list, so there are 9 elements supported. I also tested that the value in sym element doesn't need to match type (can be "Generic").
  
  Btw, based on above info I added --karoo option to Komoot gpx exporter
  https://github.com/timschneeb/KomootGPX/pull/31
  
  

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  Federico Bonato

  • June 29, 2026 14:04
  • Edited

  Hi, 
  I’d like to thank Krzysztof for finding the 8 working tags and Marcin for the ‘Water’ one. 
  I can confirm that these work. It would be good to get any additions to the list directly from Hammerhead. As well as, of course, a permanent solution to this missing feature (which has been missing for 6 years...).

  P.S.: Claude suggests that Karoo is using a non-standard version for GPX import/export and that the import from RWG uses a dedicated API. It would be great to have that too.

  Fede

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  Marcin Gryszkalis

  • June 30, 2026 00:49

  I updated KomootGPX to export custom waypoints (with proper type if it's one the short list supported by Karoo)
  https://github.com/timschneeb/KomootGPX/pull/32
  
  
  
  

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  Krzysztof

  • June 30, 2026 06:43

  I've updated my  tool — it now supports all 9 Karoo POI types (including Water) and maps 65+ common GPX waypoint types from planners like VeloPlanner, Komoot, and RideWithGPS. Web app (offline, installable): https://mendalka.github.io/gpx-poi-karoo-app/

   

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  Yann Soubeyrand

  • July 17, 2026 14:54

  Thanks a LOT for your app Krzysztof!!!

  Hammerhead, please bring this feature natively, I’d really like the routes I sync from OpenRunner to get their POI out of the box.

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