Do you like hiking in the mountains, exploring new trails or knowing where you are at all times? If so, you are probably a big fan of GPS units. With all the different options available on the market, sometimes it’s hard to find the best GPS for hiking that suits your preferences and budget.
It’s a complex piece of technology and reading though the specs can make your head spin. So, how do you know what is the best model for you?
That’s where we come in. One of our goals here at The Adventure Junkies is to make your life easier when it comes to choosing hiking gear. In this article we’ll walk you through what to look for while shopping for a handheld GPS and how to find the one that is right for you.
For more of our top hiking gear recommendations, check out these popular articles:
Tents | Hammocks | Bivy Sacks | Tarps
Sleeping Bags | Sleeping Pads | Stoves
Backpacks | GPS | Headlamps | Poles| Watches
Boots | Shoes | Sandals | Pants | Shorts
Base Layers | Fleeces | Down Jackets | Rain Jackets
QUICK ANSWER – THE BEST GPS FOR HIKING
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HIKING GPS REVIEWS
GARMIN E-TREX 30
BEST FOR: Hikers Wanting A Small & Light GPS
TOUCHSCREEN: No
BATTERY: 2 AA Batteries
BUILT-IN MEMORY: 3.7 GB
FEATURES: 3-Axis Compass, Barometric Altimeter, Wireless
PROS: Light, Small, Great Value, Long Battery Life
CONS: Small Screen, Topo Maps Aren’t Preloaded
GARMIN OREGON 650t
BEST FOR: Hikers Who Want A High End GPS
TOUCHSCREEN: Yes
BATTERY: 2 AA or NiMH battery pack
BUILT-IN MEMORY: 4 GB
FEATURES: 3-axis Compass, Accelerometer, Barometric Altimeter, 8MP camera
PROS: Maps Included, Easy To Read, Waterproof
CONS: Poor Battery Life, Pre-Loaded Topo Maps Are Based On 1:100,000 Scale Maps
GARMIN GPSMAP 64ST
BEST FOR: Backcountry & Remote Hiking
TOUCHSCREEN: No
BATTERY: 2 AA Batteries
BUILT-IN MEMORY: 8 GB
FEATURES: Super Bright LCD Display, Helix Antenna
PROS: Accurate, Fast Tracking, Better Reception, Bright Display
CONS: Large, Heavy, Poor Battery Life
GARMIN E-TREX TOUCH 35t
BEST FOR: Lightweight Hiking, Geocaching and Cycling
TOUCHSCREEN: Yes
BATTERY: 2 AA Batteries
BUILT-IN MEMORY: 8 GB
FEATURES: 3 Axis Compass, Barometric Altimeter, Preloaded With Either Topo U.S. 100k or Topo Canada Maps
PROS: Compact, Rugged, Light
CONS: Poor Battery Life, Small Screen
GARMIN MONTANA 680
BEST FOR: Hikers Looking For A Big & Tough Device
TOUCHSCREEN: Yes
BATTERY: 3 AA Batteries & Rechargeable Lithium-ion Pack
BUILT-IN MEMORY: 4 GB
FEATURES: Built-in Camera, Wireless Sharing, 3-Axis Compass with Barometric Altimeter
PROS: Glove Friendly Display, Big Screen, Can Mount Anywhere
CONS: Heavy, Bulky and Expensive
GARMIN ETREX 20X
BEST FOR: Hikers Looking For A Simple & Affordable Device
TOUCHSCREEN: No
BATTERY: 2 AA Batteries
BUILT-IN MEMORY: 3.7 GB
FEATURES: 6 Button Toggle
PROS: Affordable, Excellent Battery Life, Easy To Use, Light
CONS: Small Screen, Less Accurate Than Bigger Units, No Electronic Compass
GARMIN RINO 650t
BEST FOR: Backcountry Hikers Who Want GPS & Radio
TOUCHSCREEN: No
BATTERY: 1 Lithium ion batteries, 2 AA Batteries
BUILT-IN MEMORY: 4.5 Gb
FEATURES: 5w GMRS/FRS radio, Antenna, 3-axis electronic compass, barometric altimeter
PROS: Streamlines GPS & Radio, Can Communicate With Other Hikers In Your Group
CONS: Bulky, Heavy, Not Possible To Charge Batteries Separate From Device
HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST GPS FOR HIKING
BUTTONS OR TOUCHSCREEN?
Touchscreens operate faster because you don’t need to scroll through options. The downside is they use more battery battery than buttoned models, can freeze up in cold conditions, and don’t work as well with thick gloves.
Buttoned models last longer, work in all temperatures, can be used with thick gloves and are more reliable. The downside is they are slower to respond than touchscreen units and it takes longer to type in waypoints.
WEIGHT
As with any piece of gear you use for hiking, being lightweight is paramount. There are many compact models out there but if screen size is an issue for you, you might need to go for a larger one.
DISPLAY
Screen size is important for being able to clearly read the map. For touchscreen models, it is easier to use them with a large screen. The obvious downside to a bigger screen is these models weigh more and are bulky.
BATTERY LIFE
You don’t want to be out in the mountains and find out your GPS just died after a few hours of hiking. A minimum of 15 hours of battery life is recommended.
It’s a big plus if the device can take rechargeable AA or AAA batteries, because you can carry a spare set with you. Some models come with a dual battery system, which gives you the option of using the rechargeable lithium-ion pack or traditional AA batteries.
BUILT-IN MEMORY
GPS units store data internally and/or on a microSD card. This memory is used to store map data, waypoints, routes and, in some models, even audio, pictures and video. More memory lets receivers hold more data.
CONSTRUCTION
Due to the nasty weather you can encounter while in the outdoors, the handheld GPS units should be waterproof, shockproof and robust.
ADVANCED FEATURES TO CONSIDER
WIRELESS SHARING
Wirelessly share your waypoints, tracks, routes and geocaches with other compatible GPS users without using cumbersome cords or cables.
BUILT-IN CAMERA
Some models come with a built in camera to capture locations and memories. Your photos will also be “geo-tagged” so you can see where on the map you snapped the shot.
TWO-WAY RADIO
Some devices have integrated Family Radio Service (FRS) radios for up to 2 miles of range and General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) radios with a range of up to 14 miles (in ideal conditions), plus they get the latest forecast from the NOAA 7-channel weather radio.
HANDHELD GPS UNITS VS SMARTPHONES & GPS WATCHES
The handheld GPS units have several advantages compared to smartphones. They are waterproof, more robust and durable, and can be used with rechargeable AA or AAA batteries (which allows you to bring an extra set with you).
Also, the navigation is a lot easier in a handheld unit than in a GPS watch. The main reason is the screen’s size and resolution. Current GPS watches cannot simply show a good quality map suitable for hard-to-navigate terrain.
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