They are cheap, have decent lifespans, and can be swapped out when they are drained. On the downside, if you are heading out for an extended stretch, you'll need to bring a number of backup batteries. So while AA batteries remain an option for many GPS devices, Garmin and others have turned to rechargeable battery packs as a compelling alternative.
The main advantage to rechargeable batteries is the ability to reduce weight and bulk from your pack—and over time the cost-savings can really add up. Standard compasses must be held horizontally to orient properly or be moving if it's GPS-based. Getting a read on barometric pressure is helpful in determining elevation because the higher you go, the lower the pressure.
That said, a barometric altimeter remains the best option for mountainous and backcountry use and can provide a helpful approximation of your current elevation. In most cases, dimensions and weight correspond with screen size.
The smallest and lightest handheld options on our list, the Garmin eTrex 22x and Magellan eXplorist , have equally small 2. Those that opt for high-end devices like the Montana are not typically carrying them in their hand or hiking with a pack, instead placing them on a handlebar mount for ATVing or snowmobiling.
Smartphones have been eroding the handheld GPS market for years. And the reasons are fairly obvious: most hikers and backcountry explorers already have their phones along for capturing photos or referencing route information, and the simplicity of keeping everything on one device is a big plus. In addition, prior concerns with durability have been partially addressed with burlier carrying cases and increased water and drop protection.
In terms of mapping and accuracy, handheld devices have the upper hand with greater compatibility with a wider array of satellite systems smartphones use cell towers and GPS , which can be valuable in deep backcountry areas with challenging coverage.
That said, most hikers, backpackers, and climbers will be happy with the performance of a smartphone, and there are a number of quality mapping apps available for free or a small charge. The main hang-up with going the smartphone route, however, is battery life. As things currently stand, this is the main reason to opt for a handheld GPS over a smartphone.
Like a standard GPS device, these watches allow you to find your location on preloaded maps, upload and follow. At best, you get most of the features of a handheld GPS device packed into a streamlined wrist watch.
But while the technology is impressive, we have a hard time recommending a GPS watch as a full-blown substitute for a GPS device. But for those who value the streamlined package and only use GPS occasionally, a high-end GPS watch other options include the Coros Vertix and Garmin Forerunner is certainly an intriguing option.
Photo Credit. Switchback Travel. See the Garmin Oregon Best of the Rest 5. See the Garmin Montana i 7. See the Garmin Foretrex 9. Buttons As with smartphones, touchscreens are becoming more prevalent in the handheld GPS market. A standard smartphone connects only to GPS and not other GNSS networks Mapping and Memory All handheld devices come with some form of basemap—essentially a blank screen that will include some major local features—while many include additional preloaded maps or the option to upload more later on.
Dimensions and Weight In most cases, dimensions and weight correspond with screen size. Powered by Drupal. Learn More About Outdoor Gear. We take a great deal of pride in researching, testing, and presenting the best gear on the market across a wide range of activities like hiking, camping, skiing Despite their diminutive size, GPS watches can really pack a punch.
These modern timepieces put the power of a GPS device onto your wrist, allowing you to track your movements, follow a preloaded route, or even navigate complex terrain—hands-free For organizing a pick up, initiating a rescue, or just checking in, a satellite messenger has become our go-to means of staying Hiking boots are critical to your comfort and performance on the trail, but this no longer means a stiff and burly model that will weigh you down. The trend is toward lighter materials that still offer decent support, and waterproof boots Serious hikers have known the great benefits of trekking poles for decades.
Aside from providing stability while hauling a heavy load or moving over technical terrain, trekking poles have distinct advantages even on easy trails. No piece of gear is more critical to summiting high peaks than footwear. A great mountaineering boot fills countless roles: it must offer support while carrying heavy loads At the very top of their lineup is the Alpha SV "severe weather" , which is designed for use in the most serious of For hikers and mountaineers alike, a quality altimeter watch is a worthy addition to your gear collection.
Running on varied and challenging trails is a welcome break from the monotony of pounding pavement or even worse, the belt of a treadmill. View: Gallery View. Screen Size. Buying Format. Only 3 left. Only 2 left. Benefits charity. Results Pagination - Page 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 How can you find specific locations on the handheld GPS?
How are the GPS devices powered? How do you operate a handheld GPS device? Do you have to carry the GPS the entire time? In contrast to smartphones, handheld GPS units are burlier, with much better GPS satellite reception, more powerful navigation features, and supply better battery life in cold climates. A few questions will help narrow your search for the perfect handheld.
After you figure that out, you can start thinking about all the bells and whistles — i. Most modern GPS units are incredibly accurate and can pinpoint the device's location to a resolution of meters. All the devices we tested use WAAS. Modern smartphones, in contrast, offer GPS accuracy of around 4.
Tall buildings, canyons, and trees can interrupt satellite signals, slowing them down and reducing your device's accuracy. Clouds and weather, however, shouldn't affect reception.
To get the best signal with the satellites, it's best to carry your device outside your pack or in a light waterproof layer. We found that the highest performing — but unfortunately, also often the most expensive — models tend to achieve the best satellite reception. Electronic compasses — as opposed to a mechanical, differential compass — also improve accuracy when on the move and are included in expensive units like the Montana , but surprisingly in more affordable units like the eTrex 32x.
Even without these additions, however, all of the Garmin units we tested provided quality reception. GPS units usually come with a very rudimentary basic base map that distinguishes roads but not much else. As we mentioned above, you can buy a GPS unit preloaded with topo maps or buy them separately after the fact.
You can also download maps and satellite imagery for free and transfer them to your unit. The United States Geological Survey offers a wealth of free spatial data. Most states in the US also have a website that distributes spatial data. If you want the best maps, often for free, spend some time tinkering with this data. If you want more convenient, straightforward map access, you can get them for around a hundred bucks from your GPS manufacturer.
You can also buy satellite imagery. Often this is unnecessary because you can plan your routes in Google Earth and then send files to your mapping software and device. Satellite imagery is hard to see on most GPS units and is rarely necessary for the backcountry. Each GPS manufacture offers software designed to organize, analyze, and display the waypoints and tracks you collect with your GPS. Garmin's Basecamp is our favorite.
It's simple, intuitive, cross-platform, and provides everything a basic GPS user needs. For example, you can easily see waypoints or tracks in Google Earth. It is also an essential feature on really basic models like the eTrex 10 , which due to its lack of mapping capability, would otherwise be rendered useless.
Do you want a compact version like an eTrex 32x , or are you willing to haul extra weight — like the Montana — for perks like a larger screen? Is a big GPS screen more important because you would like to be able to quickly see information at a glance while driving? Or are you willing to squint for a more portable unit? Since all of the units in this review are handheld, none are huge — but there is definitely a difference in screen size and display quality between them.
The Montana , with a 5-inch diagonal screen, offers the largest screen and also the highest quality resolution. Its smartphone-like touchscreen makes navigation easy, particularly in a car. So then, buttons or touchscreen? Touchscreens respond faster than button units, but they also consume more battery life, can freeze up in cold conditions, and don't work well with thick gloves.
Most touchscreen GPS units we tested are also years behind most smartphones. Buttoned units work with thick gloves, their batteries last longer, and they are more reliable in extreme temperatures. But they're slower, and it takes longer to type in waypoints. It comes down to preference. Do you prefer a unit that feels modern and operates quickly? Or do you value reliability above all else? GPS units work by communicating with satellites orbiting the earth designed to read and triangulate signals sent from the unit.
In the United States, the Department of Defense manages the GPS network, a series of 33 satellites that transmit both positional and timing data. When a GPS unit contacts at least four satellites, it can pinpoint your position with a decent degree of accuracy, although terrain and conditions can affect this. The more satellites, the faster and more accurately you can identify your position.
Satellites send signals to WAAS master stations on the ground. This message is then relayed to compatible receivers like GPS units to provide a much more accurate location estimate. However, many of the other units we tested were able to achieve accuracy within 10 feet very quickly. We tested handheld GPS units. These units are very capable, able to mark waypoints, track your route, make notes, geocache, pull up altitude profiles, and often much more.
But they are also small enough to wear around your neck or stash in your backpack. But the more features you add to a portable GPS unit, the larger and heavier they become. Handheld devices are popular for backcountry navigation, particularly because they are so portable. However, not all units are created equally regarding portability, so it is important to consider if you want to carry a GPS in your pocket or will most likely only take one of these devices when you are also carrying a backpack.
The Montana is by far the largest and heaviest unit in our review but still weighs only 14 ounces and is only slightly bulkier than a modern smartphone. The eTrex line falls at the other end of the spectrum — both the eTrex 10 and more capable eTrex 32x are small enough to fit into a pant's pocket. Just as a point of comparison, there are also a variety of GPS Watches that can log backcountry travel information. These are popular among trail runners, mountain guides, hikers, and backpackers.
They are a great alternative to handheld units if you're looking to go light but have a much shorter battery life, a significantly smaller display, and may not offer the same capabilities as the handheld units featured here. Most of the units featured in this review are surprisingly versatile; sporting functions well outside the realm of navigation, ranging from flashlight to calculator to texting. We won't dive too deeply into each function of each model we tested but rather will discuss a few important ones.
You don't need that many waypoints to get you through a trip, even a pretty long one. They're also very easy to save on a computer and then delete after you're back home. If, however, you plan on holding on to waypoints from multiple trips, conducting involved science surveys, or embarking on a mapping mission — you might want to aim high. The eTrex Touch 35 offers the best capability in the smallest package.
Geocaching is a relatively new outdoor activity, essentially using a GPS unit or GPS software for a scavenger hunt of sorts, looking for hidden treasures all over the world. Most GPS units are set up for this somehow, and some of the ones we tested have preloaded geocaches so you can unpack and play.
A huge draw for the geocaching crowd is that a modern GPS unit — with text display — allows them to go paperless. For easy entry to this worldwide phenomenon, the Garmin eTrex 10 , thanks to its accuracy balanced with affordability. The cut-off point between basic units and more sophisticated ones is usually an electronic compass. This allows a unit to display your heading while held in place.
In contrast, you have to be moving for a differential compass to work properly. For some, this is a great advantage — say during a whiteout next to a cliff edge. Many mountain guides prefer an electronic compass because it makes navigating faster and easier. Only the eTrex 10 doesn't offer an electronic compass. Another feature that separates high-performing devices from base models is a barometric altimeter, which uses a small sensor to detect air pressure and calculate altitude instead of relying on positional data alone.
Barometric altimeters also allow you to track weather patterns and trends, which can be really useful in the mountains when knowledge of a coming storm is crucial. Only the baseline-level eTrex 10 doesn't come with a barometric altimeter. A camera, microphone, and voice recorder can be nice add-ons to fully document adventures or field data. You can use these media options to mark a waypoint instead of typing one.
We loved this option when looking back at our past adventures. Photos also help keep you on the trail when following a track. This is especially helpful for outdoor guides or scientific surveys. While many options boast a photo viewer, the Oregon t is the only GPS in our review to include a camera.
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