![]() The more satellite networks a GPS device can connect with, the more accurate its readings should be which is especially important in places where it's challenging to get a signal like canyons and heavily forested areas. Other important features are having waypoints and geocaching abilities, durability and water resistance/waterproofness, large enough screen size and detail, barometer, altimeter, compass, app integration, and, for some, SOS features and satellite messaging abilities. What you want in a dedicated GPS device or satellite messenger is to be able to connect to multiple satellite networks. On top of that, a phone's batteries and chips are designed for shorter periods of time between charges than a dedicated GPS device, some of which can go for a week or more without a charge depending on the settings used. Grab These Gadgets, Too: Best Trekking Poles Ī cellphone with GPS apps is suitable for a day or even a weekend-long adventure, but keep in mind that a smartphone has a less powerful GPS antenna than a dedicated GPS unit. ![]() If you’re out for a day hike and trail runs, your needs will be different than someone out for a weeks-long or months-long through-hike or someone who’s in the backcountry skiing or mountaineering. What to Consider in a Hiking GPSĭepending how you spend time outdoors and in backcountry, you’ll have different needs for a GPS device. All that experience has gone into my work as a writer and gear reviewer for Backpacker and Outside Magazines before becoming editor-in-chief of the backpacking publication Trails Magazine. I’ve used primitive handheld GPS units, various smartphone apps, mini satellite communicators, multiple GPS-enabled watches, and some of the most modern, top-of-the-line GPS devices on the market. Since then, in one form or another, a GPS has been a staple of my backpack from hiking and backpacking in New York’s Adirondacks Mountains to my month-long backpacking and climbing trips to the Cascades, Alaska Range, and more. Show more The Expert: I bought my first GPS unit back in middle school-an early-2000s Garmin eTrex Legend-after saving up my allowance. If you do become lost, finding your way back to safety or familiar territory is not something you should leave entirely up to battery-operated devices. I've considered a variety of GPS units, personal locator beacons (PLBs), satellite communicators, and apps to meet your needs.īut note: Don’t buy a GPS gadget with the idea of replacing your traditional tried-and-true navigational tools like a map and compass. There is a wide spectrum of GPS options today so whether you’re navigating off-the-beaten path in backcountry, following a trail, or just want to know how far you've hiked, there’s a GPS for that. ![]() Carrying a dedicated GPS device can ultimately boost your comfort level and confidence on a hike when you are out of cell range. But at the same time, there’s still a need for dedicated handheld GPS units, watches, and more, which offer greater accuracy, battery life, and durability than a smartphone. For hikers, a GPS-enabled device is a must-have for outdoor adventures to help monitor where you are and to direct you to where you want to end up.Īlmost every smartphone has a GPS receiver these days which makes the technology available for nearly everyone on the trails while apps make it simple to plot your route and view your hikes on various types of maps. Even dog collars set up with GPS can ping our lost pet’s location back to us. Our phones, based on our location, are capable of feeding us advertisements when we are near a gas station or breakfast place. Our cars use this network of satellites to help us navigate the best route to and from the office. GPS-or global positioning system-used to be a novelty, but today this technology is everywhere.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |