While trekking through the wilderness, a GPS (Global Positioning System) can come in handy. It can point you in the right direction toward a road, a mountain, a stream, etc. The GPS market is competitive, and you will need to know the basics before you head out to purchase a hiking GPS unit.
Instructions
Compare GPS Systems
1. Compare brand by brand. Some of the top-rated GPS system brands include: Garmin, Magellan, Lowrance, and Bushnell. All of these brands offers a variety of GPS units, but generally, Garmin offers the most extensive collection of GPS systems for hikers and backpackers. (See Resources for a link to its website for hiking GPS units.)
2. Decide between the mapping and the simple longitude and latitude function. The mapping function will provide context while you're out in the wilderness--it will show nearby roads, landmarks and possibly other trails. While the longitude and latitude function works well for turn-by-turn directions in a car, the mapping function has more practical applicability in the back country. Bushnell offers a proprietary "TruView" mapping system that seems quite effective at locating areas on the map. (See Resources for more information on this.)
3. Consider how the GPS will be recharged. Some units offer proprietary batteries that come with their own charging stations, which requires a plug-in outlet. If you're considering a multi-day (or multi-week) trip in the backcountry, consider purchasing a GPS that takes AAA or AA batteries. Extras can be carried on longer trips so that you don't lose the functionality of your GPS mid-trip.
4. Consider the cost of the GPS. Units can be as cheap at $100 (often for used models) and as expensive as $1,500. Depending on your budget, you should shoot for a model that meets most of your needs and fits within your budget. Some considerations should be: screen size, screen clarity and weight. It's more important that the functions and the maps loaded on the unit will be beneficial in the wilderness.
5. Consider a waterproof variety. While this may cost you a bit extra, the feature will come in handy if you plan on doing any exploring not in the desert. Precipitation is a part of hiking and backpacking, and worrying about a fragile, non-waterproof electronic device will cause you unnecessary stress.
Tags: come handy, latitude function, longitude latitude, longitude latitude function, mapping function, your budget