Tips on How to Choose the Best Hiking GPS Receiver
You will find a wide selection of GPS (Global Positioning System) receivers being sold today, with Garmin leading the pack. Other manufacturers of GPS receivers include Lowrance and Magellan. If you’re on the lookout for a good GPS receiver to use when camping, it can get a bit challenging to find the best one for you. After all, there are many manufacturers and models of GPS receivers available; how do you choose the right one for you?
The answer is simple: the best GPS receiver for you is the one that fits your needs. What do you intend to do with a GPS receiver? Basically, a GPS unit is a device whose primary purpose is to let the user locate his position at any time. A GPS device is typically hand-held and has a display. It receives signal from a number of satellites simultaneously orbiting around the Earth.
GPS units come in different types. There are GPS devices that are designed specifically for use on a ship. There are the GPS devices made to work in cars. And then there are GPS devices designed specifically for hiking use. All types of GPS device, however, work under the same basic principle, and that is it provides the user’s location.
You don’t need to be a scientist or electrical engineer in order to use a GPS device. Some GPS devices are actually as simple as electronic maps — some are static (pre-loaded maps) and some have the ability to download new maps through wireless Internet or by connecting to a PC. Some GPS devices are more advances, such as those that provide cryptic latitude and longitude readings, which require you to translate your location with the help of a map.
If you intend to use your GPS unit for hiking, long battery life should be a major consideration. It can be rather easy to get loss in the wilderness so you want a GPS device that will remain active for hours so you can find your way back.
Next, you want a GPS device that is waterproof. When you’re camping and hiking, the weather can change quickly and unexpectedly. One minute it’s all sunny and the next it’s raining hard. You want a weatherproof GPS device that won’t stop working at the slightest drop of rain or snow. It goes without saying that the GPS device you buy needs to be sturdy; it needs to be able to withstand the outdoors.
You also want to consider how many routes and maps your GPS device can store. Remember that different GPS receiver models vary in terms of just how much data they can hold. Like your computer, the more memory a GPS device has, the more data it can hold. For hiking and camping purposes, go with a GPS device whose route capacity is no less than 20; a route capacity of 50 or more is preferable. For waypoint capacity, 500 is good. Basically, the more the better.
A good GPS device must also let you adjust the map you see in direction of the compass. All GPS devices will indicate your bearing relative to your next waypoint, but it’s best to check any GPS unit you’re thinking of buying. It’s not enough to know where you are at any given time; what’s more important is knowing which direction you need to go in order to get to the next point.
The GPS device must also be ergonomically sound. It should comfortably fit in your hand. It should also be light enough for you to carry and hold for long periods. Of course, it needs to be the right size. What’s the right size? Small enough that it fits in your pocket and light enough that it doesn’t become a source of annoyance when you have the device there.
As with most things, the better GPS receivers are going to cost more than the standard ones that only have the basic features. You will get years out of a good GPS unit that’s already packed full of features you will ever need when you’re out hiking and camping. This eliminates the need for you to keep buying and upgrading to newer models.