Introduction.

Time was and going anywhere on a walking trip or adventure and you’d have to take with you scores of maps and navigational equipment, none of which was particularly suited to being used in bad weather, if you wanted to avoid the possibility of getting lost within the first few miles. The advent of satellite navigation, or GPS for walkers and adventurers, has changed all that, so that you can now set off on your journey with just one hand-held device to direct you safely from place to place. However, just what should you be looking for in a hand-held GPS device if you’re a walker or adventurer and how can you get the most out of it?

A typical hand-held GPS device

Hand-held GPS cases.

Having a sturdy and waterproof case is an absolutely essential criteria to consider when choosing to buy a hand-held GPS device. A plastic case is fine, but check that it has a rubber gasket where the front and back casings meet. You’ll also find a rubber gasket to be useful when you’re operating the GPS device and its wet, it will give you a much better grip on the device and let you hold and operate it, pressing the buttons with just one hand. The durability of a hand-held case is where they will always score well over using your cell phone with a GPS app. Most hand-held GPS are powered by two AA batteries, which may or may not be rechargeable ones, so make sure the back casing is reasonably easy to remove in order to change the batteries whilst you’re out. I would avoid a hand-held GPS device that has a bespoke battery that has to be charged inside the unit, or worse from a USB port. After all, how are you going to do that in the middle of nowhere? The front case will incorporate the screen which needs to be bright and a high-definition one, so that it is clearly viewable even in strong sunlight. Obviously a color screen should be preferred to a black and white one, but remember this will drain the batteries more quickly.

We thought it is best not to get to technical here!

The circuit board.

Without getting into too much technical detail there are a few things to think about regarding the circuit board in a hand-held GPS device. The circuit board is the heart and brains of the unit. 24 satellites orbiting the earth twice a day at 11000 km an hour create the GPS data, which is accurate to at worst 15m. However, having a WAAS-enabled circuit board, that’s Wide Area Augmentation System a US based satellite network; and EGNOS, the European system which is now operational – means your level of accuracy will increase tremendously to within 5m at worst. There will be some memory stored on the circuit board, but the latest models also allow you to add a memory card, such as an SD card, which is useful if you want to store lots of routes or will be away for sometime.

Detail on hand-held GPS maps.

Other hand-held GPS features.

You’ll be able to decide between devices with full national mapping services pre-loaded and ones that have built-in databases of maps to access on the move. Fully topographic maps can be bought for some models, but these maps are still quite expensive and, if you’re good at interpreting the ordinary maps anyway – might not give an awful lot of detail. Personally I wouldn’t buy a hand-held GPS unless it incorporated an electronic compass and barometric altimeter, which simply saves having to carry yet more gear around with me. I’d also want one that can navigate around a route/walk using waypoints and can record my journey with a track-log, giving me information such as journey distance and speed etc.

GPS on a Smartphone.

GPS device or Smartphone with a GPS app?

Every time the GPS device will win for a serious walker or adventurer. First off regarding the case, quite simply you won’t be able to rely on a Smartphone to be waterproof or not crack the first time it is dropped! Another plus for hand-held GPS devices over Smartphones is with the battery life. With a Smartphone you won’t have the choice of buying one that you can easily insert new/charged batteries into and have to be able to recharge its bespoke battery, which means accessing a power outlet somewhere. If you’re out in the wilderness with a purposely made GPS device you can simply insert some new batteries that you’re carrying with you.

Safety first - but have fun walking with your GPS satellite navigation.

Safety first using hand-held GPS.

OK, so you’ve got a sophisticated piece of equipment in your hand – but that’s no reason to leave common sense at home. If the straight line it gives you between two points is perilously close to a cliff edge or other potentially dangerous area, you just might want to think twice about how closely you’re going to follow its suggestion. You still have to interpret and understand what the device is telling you, so you could still get lost using a GPS. In which case you still need to make sure you take all the appropriate life saving gear, that’s recommended by all of the experts. But, for all the need to be careful, most of all – have fun and enjoy yourself.