Which hiking gps

Satmap Active 20 has the IP68 water-resistance rating which means that it can be submerged up to 1. It also has the IK7 impact rating and utilizes the robust Gorilla glass. The Satmap gps device is equipped with Bluetooth Smart which allows you to share routes wirelessly and connect additional equipment, like a heart rate belt, to it.

It is also equipped with a barometric altimeter for precise readings. Altitude information is available even if the GPS signal is lost — exactly due to the barometric altimeter. The included rechargeable battery lasts for up to 16 hours but can be replaced with 3 AA batteries. The Satmap Active 20 is a great device for every hiker or mountaineer. The main advantages of the Satmap Active 20 in comparison to the competition are the convenient buttons and the large high-resolution display.

Average rating 4. Outdoor enthusiast with experience in all types of hiking and mountaineering. Hiked in the Alps, Iceland and other countries. In love with via ferrata trails and snow-covered slopes.

Check out my hikes. The Best Hydration Bladders for Hiking in Best Water Bottles for Hiking and Backpacking in We regularly update our reviews and selections to always recommend you the best products on the market. Expert Selections We only list top-tier products. Read how our selections of best hiking products differ from others here.

Links We use affiliate links and may receive a small commission on purchases at no extra cost to you. Best Hiking GPS. Garmin eTrex Where to buy? Buy from Amazon. Garmin Oregon t. Hard to use with gloves on. Garmin Montana t. Hard to use with gloves on Weight. Satmap Active Even without backup AA batteries, the included rechargeable NiMH battery pack lasts up to 25 hours, longer than most of the other rechargeable products on their own.

With preloaded maps and impressive storage capacity, this GPS unit will give you all the terrain details you could want for your upcoming journey. This improves the detail and helps identify more complex location information such as height and speed with higher resolution than your average handheld GPS units.

Offering vivid color displays that present TOPO maps and routes that are easily followed and traced on the touch screen. The easy-to-use system makes for a comfortable user experience that needs no setup. Although it is hard to beat a traditional compass and maps, hiking GPS units do the majority of the heavy lifting for you.

A map can tell you where to go, and a skilled outdoorsman can make their way to any destination with just a compass, but GPS hiking devices can help you avoid problems along the way and make your trip much more comfortable and more enjoyable. These products are handheld and lightweight, which is vital when backpacking or hiking long distances. Additionally, many of them can act strictly as a digital compass or work with traditional maps, allowing you to navigate; however, you choose.

If you have not previously considered purchasing a GPS device, the benefits are hard to ignore. They improve guidance and will make your journey significantly smoother, only by virtue of knowing routes before you have to take them. These devices will also alleviate worries and fears by offering options for retracing steps or communicating location information to rescue teams if needed.

Hopefully, these functions will never be necessary for the majority of users, but the additional safety is comforting to have just in case. Many of them will also display elevation and other pertinent data, helping you to pinpoint your exact location, and also allowing you to track useful data during your hike. There are many things to consider when choosing from the many GPS devices on the market.

Some of these options are vital to performance, and some are a simple preference. Take a look at the different options available and see what the most important considerations are. The primary purpose of a GPS. If these products do not connect properly, they are not a good option for use in the wilderness.

This is why hiking GPS position accuracy is the first and most important consideration in choosing a handheld GPS navigator.

Battery life is an important characteristic of these products. Different handheld GPS devices use different battery types — either replaceable or rechargeable. Neither is necessarily better, but you have to weigh the options. If you are going to be relying on a GPS for an extended period of time such as multiple days without being able to charge it, then the battery life of the product becomes crucially important. Handheld GPS devices are rarely going to be used in a cushioned environment.

These products are all designed to get wet and dirty and will survive minor scrapes and bruises. But if you are a rugged climber or avid cyclist, you should consider something that will be sturdier and more substantial. Find one that is rugged enough to endure your active lifestyle while balancing the cost and other features.

Specifications Battery: rechargeable. Touchscreen: yes. Memory: none. Waterproof rating: water resistant to m. Reasons to avoid - Needs a power source to recharge - Small screen.

Garmin eTrex Specifications Battery: 2 x AA. Memory: 8MB. Reasons to avoid - Very basic feature set - No rechargeable option. Garmin eTrex 32x.

Memory: 8GB. Waterproof rating:. Reasons to avoid - Not the best version of this range - No rechargeable option. Garmin Oregon Specifications Battery: 2xAA batteries or rechargeable pack. Touchscreen: Yes. Memory: 1. Garmin Montana The mid-range montana impresses with its large, easy-to-use screen. Specifications Battery: 3xAA batteries or rechargeable pack. Memory: 4GB. Reasons to avoid - Quite large and heavy. Stay in touch via satellite with this communication-promoting GPS.

Specifications Battery: rechargeable lithium battery. Memory: 2GB. The device is simple to use, comes with 8 GB of internal memory, 25 hours of battery life, and a tough, water-resistant construction. The two models are identical in the basic design and size, but the 32 includes a compass and barometric altimeter. Our take is that if you can do without the added sensors, the eTrex 22 is the better all-around value. See the Garmin eTrex 22x. Weight: 7. Battery life: 16 hours Memory: 3.

One of the common sacrifices in swapping your smartphone for a handheld GPS is user experience. And the model is a breeze to use relatively speaking with accurate touchscreen functionality, including simple menus and dedicated profiles for various sports hiking, cycling, paddling, and more.

In comparing the Oregon to a device like the GPSMAP 64sx below, the decision largely comes down to preference between buttons or a touchscreen. See the Garmin Oregon This device is feature-packed, has a clear and easy-to-read 2. In the end, the GPSMAP 64sx is a durable and reliable option for everything from backcountry hiking and cycling to geocaching.

Weight: Screen: 5 in. Battery life: 18 hours in expedition mode Memory: 16 GB accepts microSD What we like: Massive, high-resolution display and tank-like durability. A big hit with hunters and moto adventurers, the Montana recently received a major revamp with the new series.

Overall, its defining features still remain: a large touchscreen, tough build with a raised bezel, and advanced navigation capabilities. But the is significantly modernized compared to its predecessor the , with a larger and higher resolution display 5 in. See the Garmin Montana i. Unlike the Mini above, the Explorer is a real-deal GPS device, featuring a color display, on-screen navigation, and the added accuracy of a barometric altimeter and 3-axis compass.

To top it off, it comes equipped with 24K maps of the U. Screen: 2 in. Battery life: 48 hours What we like: Great battery life and hands-free convenience. Battery life is impressive at 48 hours in navigation mode, and the is as tough as ever with military-grade construction. Taken together, the Foretrex is all of the bones of a handheld unit but none of the bulk, and a highly functional tool for the right user.

Where does the Foretrex fall short? Instead, you have to use the old-fashioned breadcrumb trail and 3-axis compass for navigation. See the Garmin Foretrex Weight: 5. The eXplorist does everything a basic GPS should: create and follow routes, mark waypoints and show your trip progress with tracks.

Geocache-ready, the eXplorist comes with a decent base map that includes roads and some geographic features. A summary page details your exploits, with key bits like how long it took you to uncover each cache. What pushes the eXplorist towards the bottom of our rankings?