SIMPLE HIKING GPS ?
There are so many hald held GPS units on the market. I am not really a tech person. Can anyone help me find a hand held unit that will show trail maps and where I am at any given time? I have a non...
Forum Discussion
Oasisbob,
Over the years, I have had the following handheld GPS receivers in this order:
- Magellan
- DeLorm
- Garmin
My use has been for hiking/backpacking, backcountry skiing/snowshoeing, and canoeing/kayaking/rafting....sometimes at night (except the boating activities).
I have concluded that the smaller Garmin is the best choice for me because:
- Small and light weight
- Best battery life (spare battery are not only heavy, but a pain to find if you drop them in the snow while changing).
- Adequate map (if you purchase the separate Topo map)
- Good service (I lost a battery compartment once and Garmin promptly replaced it for me at no charge).
No, the screen isn't huge, but I guarantee you, you will pay a price in $$$, battery life, and extra weight for that big fancy screen.
All that said, no one should rely solely on a GPS receiver. Bring along a real map (topo) and compass and learn how to plot your location (as measured by the GPS) on your map. Also learn how to navigate with your compass and map. For where I go and what I do, these skills are, quite frankly, lifesaving.
Short story. Last spring while hiking a remote canyon in S. Utah, we ran into a couple that had a working GPS, but was totally lost. Pulled out my GPS and got the coordinates (canyon happened to be wide enough to get our location), plotted them on the map, and showed them exactly where they were. They had missed their turn several side canyons back. That's awfully big, and harsh, country to be lost in.
Have fun with your new toy...whatever you may get,
Steve
Over the years, I have had the following handheld GPS receivers in this order:
- Magellan
- DeLorm
- Garmin
My use has been for hiking/backpacking, backcountry skiing/snowshoeing, and canoeing/kayaking/rafting....sometimes at night (except the boating activities).
I have concluded that the smaller Garmin is the best choice for me because:
- Small and light weight
- Best battery life (spare battery are not only heavy, but a pain to find if you drop them in the snow while changing).
- Adequate map (if you purchase the separate Topo map)
- Good service (I lost a battery compartment once and Garmin promptly replaced it for me at no charge).
No, the screen isn't huge, but I guarantee you, you will pay a price in $$$, battery life, and extra weight for that big fancy screen.
All that said, no one should rely solely on a GPS receiver. Bring along a real map (topo) and compass and learn how to plot your location (as measured by the GPS) on your map. Also learn how to navigate with your compass and map. For where I go and what I do, these skills are, quite frankly, lifesaving.
Short story. Last spring while hiking a remote canyon in S. Utah, we ran into a couple that had a working GPS, but was totally lost. Pulled out my GPS and got the coordinates (canyon happened to be wide enough to get our location), plotted them on the map, and showed them exactly where they were. They had missed their turn several side canyons back. That's awfully big, and harsh, country to be lost in.
Have fun with your new toy...whatever you may get,
Steve
