The Best Handheld GPS SystemsHand-Held DevicesEither you're a travel guide, a full-time hiker, an ex...

1. The 5 Best Handheld GPS Systems
The Best Handheld GPS Systems
Hand-Held Devices
Either you're a travel guide, a full-time hiker, an explorer, a foreign spy or a new fan of Geocaching,
you are here looking for the best handheld GPS system available on the market. First of all, you have
to know that the choice is very hard. With the raising popularity of geocaching, and more generally
using GPS devices instead of good old maps, came a huge boost to the entire market. There are now
dozens of manufacturers with hundreds of models, and simply the sheer number of devices can make
the choice very hard for the first time GPS buyer. Additionally, there are dozens of new features and
mysterious abbreviations that show up in sales letters and catalogues. When I was going to buy my
first handheld GPS, after reading a few tech sheets I was standing there even more confused than
before. I had no idea what XMR, Dead Reckoning or WAAS meant. Okay, it's time to retreat and do
some research - I said to myself. I'm the kind of person who's not fooled by sales pitches like
'Insanely accurate, high sensitivity GPS receiver!'. I won't pay 500 dollars for three extra features
that I don't and won't ever need. 'Blazing fast USB 2.0 transfer!' - for $599.99? Come on...
So unless you're the spoilt child of a billionaire (in which
case you should just buy the 10 most expensive GPS
systems and pick the one you like the most - just don't
forget to send me the other nine), I highly recommend
you read this article before buying a handheld GPS.
I'll start with explaining some key features, and then
move on to the five best handheld GPS models I've ever
tried. Yes, I have tried MANY. I'm the annoying
customer who asks a million questions before paying a
single dollar. I'll mention both the pros and cons of the five systems I've selected.
A final note before we start: I'm not a salesmen, nor the representative of Garmin. However, I've
found that Garmin is the ONE when it comes to handheld GPS. They produce the highest quality,
sturdiest and most reliable systems.
Best Handheld GPS Systems - Key Features
Battery life
This one's simple. You don't want your GPS to die in the middle of nowhere. As a guideline, don't buy
anything that has a battery life of less than 12-15 hours.
Map coverage
Some handheld GPS models don't show an actual map, but only coordinates and maybe the distance

2. and direction of a waypoint. Geocaching might be a bit more exciting with these models, but I
personally don't like them. I want to buy a handheld GPS so that I don't have to take a paper map
with me. I want to see where am I, not just a mysterious number like 27°10'0N;78°2'60E. The
maps usually come on SD or xD cards, but some models have built-in memory.
Number of channels
This number (usually 12-24) represents the number of satellite signals the handheld GPS system can
track simultaneously. It's important in difficult conditions like under tall trees, or in a deep valley
where you're surrounded by high cliffs. The more satellite signals you receive, the more precisely
your position is tracked.
Tracks feature
Most GPS systems store the trail you've walked. More expensive devices can usually store multiple
very long trails, which you can download to your PC as well. I like this feature, looking at a 30 km
long trail at the end of the day gives satisfaction.
Weight and size
Since we are talking about handheld systems, weight and size is an important factor. Unfortunately,
most of the weight is made up by the batteries. So a higher battery life means a higher weight as
well. You have to consider these before buying. I actually don't really care about the weight. Even
the heaviest handheld GPS system doesn't weigh more than a few hundred grams. Attached to your
belt or your backpack, you can't feel that at all. As for size, my only criteria is that the device could
be held in one hand comfortably. Just make sure the screen size is good for you, and you can read
the screen easily.
High battery life, extendable map coverage, great trail storage capacity and small weight - these are
the most important attributes and features of the best handheld GPS systems.
Keeping these factors in mind I've selected the following devices as the five best handheld GPS
systems.
Wearable Technology
Best Handheld GPS Systems - The Top 5
I won't bother you with the technical details, since you can read about those in catalogues. I'll tell
you what's not in the sales letters - both the good and the bad. As you will notice, all five models are
from the same manufacturer - Garmin. The reason is, this manufacturer receives the best reviews
and has really good prices. Also, all models store tracks and waypoints in the same format, and the
files saved with older Garmin models are compatible with the newer ones.

3. http://mhajnal.hubpages.com/hub/The-5-
Best-Handheld-GPS-Systems
http://triathlon.competitor.com/2014/08/
gear-tech/review-gazelle-weara-le-
technology-system_104785