4 best handheld gps units for hiking

Handheld GPS units for hiking are portable devices designed to provide accurate location information and navigation assistance for outdoor activities like hiking, backpacking, and other wilderness adventures. They are equipped with specialized features to help users navigate through remote and rugged terrains.Here's what you need to know about handheld GPS units for hiking:

  1. GPS Technology: GPS stands for Global Positioning System. It's a network of satellites that orbit the Earth and transmit signals to GPS receivers. These signals allow the receiver to calculate its precise location in terms of latitude, longitude, and altitude.

  2. Key Features:

    • Accuracy: Hiking GPS units are designed for high accuracy in determining your location, typically within a few meters.
    • Topographic Maps: Many units come pre-loaded with detailed topographic maps that show terrain contours, trails, rivers, and other important features.
    • Waypoints: You can mark specific locations (like trailheads, campsites, or points of interest) as waypoints for easy navigation.
    • Tracks: GPS units can record your path as a track, which can be helpful for retracing your steps or sharing routes with others.
    • Compass and Altimeter: Some models have a built-in digital compass and altimeter for additional navigation aids.
  3. Battery Life: Depending on the model, battery life can vary from a few hours to several days. Some units use replaceable batteries, while others have rechargeable built-in batteries.

  4. Durability: Hiking GPS units are built to withstand outdoor conditions, including exposure to water, dust, and rugged terrain. They often have a durable, shock-resistant design.

  5. Display: The screen size and resolution vary. Some units have color screens, while others have monochrome displays. High-resolution screens can show more detailed maps.

  6. Connectivity: Some GPS units have Bluetooth or Wi-Fi capabilities for sharing data or connecting to other devices like smartphones.

  7. Additional Features:

    • Geocaching: Some GPS units have geocaching features, which allow users to participate in the popular outdoor treasure-hunting activity.
    • Weather Information: Certain models can provide weather forecasts or real-time weather data.
  8. Accessories: There are various accessories available for GPS units, including mounts, cases, screen protectors, and additional mapping software.

  9. Brands: Some well-known brands that produce handheld GPS units for hiking include Garmin, Magellan, and Suunto.

  10. User Interface: The ease of use and user interface can vary between models. Some units have touchscreens, while others rely on buttons for navigation.

  11. Price Range: The cost of handheld GPS units for hiking can range from relatively affordable to more expensive, depending on the features and capabilities of the device.

It's important to carefully consider your specific needs and the type of terrain you'll be navigating when choosing a handheld GPS unit for hiking. Additionally, familiarizing yourself with the device and its functions before heading out into the wilderness is crucial for a safe and enjoyable hiking experience.

Below you can find our editor's choice of the best handheld gps units for hiking on the market
  

Mini Handheld GPS,Portable Handheld GPS Positioning System Mini Receiver ersonal Pocket GPS Navigator for Outdoor Hiking Camping Hunting Wild Exploration

WonVon

Based on 4 reviews Check latest price

Product description



Specifications:

Material: Aluminum Alloy

Color: Black + Army Green

Receiver: L1, C/A

Capture Channel: 51

Tracking Channel: 14

Maximum Update Frequency: 10Hz

Display: Pixel Height * Width 128 x 64 dot matrix

Backlight Type: Blue

Product Size: approx. 6.5 x 5.2 x 2.1cm / 2.56" x 2.05" x 0.82"

Memory: 512KB

Key: 3 Function Keys

Location: 10m (Support the difference correction system area up to 2 meters)

Speed: 0.1m/s

First Positioning Time: 5 seconds for hot start, 40 seconds for warm start, 2 minutes for cold start

Sensibility: -161dbm for tracking, -157dbm for recapturing, -148dbm for capturing

Data Protocol: NMA-0183 v3.01

Power Supply Voltage: USB DC 5V / 3.7V 390mA Built-in Lithium Battery

Operation Time: around 6 Hours

Power Consumption: 70mA for Capturing, 30mA for Continuous Tracking

Working Temperature: -20℃-55℃

Storage Temperature: -30℃-55℃

Humidity: Up to 80% non-condensing

Range of use: This product only work under outdoor sky open areas around elevation 15 ° no building cases to receive satellite signals!

Package Weight: approx. 103g



Package Includes:

1 x Mini GPS Tracker (Battery Included)

1 x Key Chain

1 x USB Cable

1 x User Manual

  • PREMIUM MATERIAL: Made of high quality aluminium alloy, anti-rust, sturdy, durable, lightweight and portable.
  • ERGONOMIC DESIGN: It can store up to 16 locations with 3-button design and ergonomic shape which offers real time longitude and latitude co-ordinates, route distance and time, traveling speed and altitude, satellite time, practical and concenient to use during outdoor adventures.
  • EASY TO USE: Easy to operate and portable with a key chain, it enables users to return to starting point or preset destination with high sensitive guiding function.
  • APPLICATION:Getting lost in the mountains? Running and biking every day, don't know how much? Finding the road treasure can accurately record your journey and winding number! Go fishing, find a nice spot, set it directly, and find it next time. Golf ball, 18 holes are most difficult to find, set each point directly according to your demand! Outdoor travel, snorkeling, don't know how far to go, find the road treasure to help you!
  • GUARANTEE: If you have any problem with this product, you can just take advantage of our 180 days warranty. We will change or refund for any reason.

User questions & answers

Question: Is a subscription service required for this unit to function
Answer: Thanks for the question. It will show the distance to major hazards on the course. If you notice hazards missing from a course, please let us know at [email protected] and we'll have the course data updated.

Walfront Handheld GPS A6 Handheld Navigator, Outdoor Handheld GPS Navigation USB Rechargeable Hiking GPS Locator Tracker, AC110V US Plug Handheld GPS Navigation

Walfront

Based on 9 reviews Check latest price
  • Multi-functional GPS Navigation Ensures Safety Tourist for You: This Handheld GPS is multiple tools for variety outdoors activities, such as outdoor hiking, orienteering, outdoor rescue, looking for campsites, outdoor adventure, cross the desert, looking for water source, navigating along the road, time-saving tool for you to enjoy a leasure and safety journey
  • Widely Applications: This Handheld GPS Navigation has widely applications, it can be applied for agriculture, forestry, geology, communication, fishing and shop inspection, such as acre measurement, length measurement, area calculation, park and garden planning, regional water quality survey, network planning, base station location, save the coordinate of fishing point, inflection point coordinates and track recording
  • Updated Version Meets Different needs: This A6 Handheld GPS Navigation fully upgrades and optimizes the operation process, data organization form, satellite navigation location module, system and map navigation, so as to meet the requirements of user acquisition, area measurement, navigation, point finding, track recording and other work in various industries as much as possible
  • High-Valued Package: There is a Handheld GPS Navigation, a hanging rope , a usb cable, a cd, a plug and a user manual inclded in the package, no needs to buy additional accssories, you can use them easily with the equipped mannual
  • Convenient Charging and Easier Carriage: USB charging and hanging rope offers more convenient operation for you

User questions & answers

Question: Can charts and maps be loaded on to this unit
Answer: If you mean by location then yes it can give you the general area to search.
Question: How does outdoor rescue work with this unit? Does it allow me to send/receive across radio
Answer: It comes with a folded sheet of instructions--the instructions are easy to read. The units measure position roughly accurate to about 5m and measure distance and areas with accuracies related to that accuracy. Note: Although the units advertise as doing BeiDou besides GPS and GLONASS, the units that I have received only do GPS and GLONASS. In the photo you can see a row of bars for GPS and a row for GLONASS. There is no third row for BeiDou despite the advertising that it will also use BeiDou.
Question: Will this unit pinpoint property lines
Answer: No but the language use is very little and it is simple to operate.

Product features

Function 1:

  • Outdoor hiking
  • Orienteering

Function 2:

  • Cross the desert
  • Outdoor adventure
  • Looking for campsites

Function 3:

  • Looking for water source
  • Navigating along the road

Datasheet Mannual Offers Clear and Convenient Operation for You:

A6 Handheld GPS Navigation fully upgrades and optimizes the operation process, data organization form, satellite navigation location module, system and map navigation, so as to meet the requirements of user acquisition, area measurement, navigation, point finding, track recording and other work in various industries as much as possible. It can also be fully applied in the outdoor field.

Widely Applications Meet Your Variety Fields Needs!

  • Agriculture: Acre measurement, length measurement
  • Forestry: Area calculation, park and garden planning
  • Geology: Regional water quality survey
  • Communication: Network planning, base station location
  • Fishing: Save the coordinate of fishing point
  • Power: Shop inspection, inflection point coordinates, track recording

Upgrade Deign Provides High Efficiency and Accurate for You!

  • Satellite system: GPS + beidou
  • Positioning accuracy: 1m
  • Positioning time: 45s
  • Plug type: US plug
  • Rated voltage: 110VAC
  • Display: 2.4 inches color LCD
  • Straight-line navigation: Support
  • Track navigation: Support
  • Compass: Support

Reliable:

Multi-functional GPS Navigation Ensures Reliable Tourist for You!

Convenient:

USB charging and hanging rope offers more convenient operation for you

Effective:

Updated Version Meets Different needs in various industries as much as possible.

Garmin GPSMAP 64x Handheld GPS with 16GB Camping & Hiking Bundle (010-02258-00)

Garmin

Based on 26 reviews Check latest price

Product description

Navigate your next adventure with the GPSMAP 64x handheld navigator series. Whether you’re hiking, cycling, geocaching or climbing, you are free to explore more with proven Garmin handheld navigation in the palm of your hand. And the series now has multi-GNSS support and TopoActive mapping. Explore the World with Reliable Navigation in HandRugged and water-resistant design with button operation and a 2.6” sunlight-readable color displayPreloaded with TopoActive maps (U.S. and Australia only) featuring routable roads and trails for cycling and hikingKnow where you’re at with a high-sensitivity receiver with quad helix antenna and multi-GNSS support (GPS, GLONASS and Galileo) and 3-axis compass with barometric altimeterCellular connectivity lets you access Active Weather forecasts and Geocaching LiveGPSMAP 64csx adds 8-megapixel autofocus camera that lets you geotag photosBattery life: up to 16 hours in GPS modeExplore the TerrainThe GPSMAP 64x handheld series comes preloaded with TopoActive maps featuring routable streets and trails so you can take the journey off the grid. Now you can know your surroundings — such as waterways and natural features as well as buildings, international boundaries and more. You can also find thousands of points of interests, including shops, restaurants, universities, parks and accommodations. Keep Your FixWith its quad helix antenna and high-sensitivity receiver and multiple global n...

  • Rugged and water-resistant design with button operation and a 2.6” sunlight-readable color display | Preloaded with TopoActive maps (U.S. and Australia only) featuring routable roads and trails for cycling and hiking | Know where you’re at with a high-sensitivity receiver with quad helix antenna and multi-GNSS support (GPS, GLONASS and Galileo) and 3-axis compass with barometric altimeter
  • Cellular connectivity lets you access Active Weather forecasts and Geocaching Live | GPSMAP 64csx adds 8-megapixel autofocus camera that lets you geotag photos | Battery life: up to 16 hours in GPS mode
  • The GPSMAP 64x handheld series comes preloaded with TopoActive maps featuring routable streets and trails so you can take the journey off the grid. Now you can know your surroundings — such as waterways and natural features as well as buildings, international boundaries and more. You can also find thousands of points of interests, including shops, restaurants, universities, parks and accommodations.
  • [BRITE-NITE DOME LANTERN] - Our Brite-Nite Dome Lantern will certainly light up your life. Using common and readily available AAA batteries, it is ideal for camping, hiking, emergencies, power outages, and other night-time outdoor activities. With the powerful magnets, hanging hooks, rubber anti-slip feet, 3 lighting modes, and multi-function design, the Brite-Nite Dome Lantern will make your next camping trip conveniently bright.
  • BUNDLE INCLUDES: GPSMAP 64x | USB cable | Documentation | LED Brite-Nite Dome Lantern Flashlight | 4 Rechargeable AA Batteries Charger | 16GB Micro SD Memory Card | Tactical Flashlight and Tactical Pen Set | 2-Pack Tactical Emergency Bracelet

User questions & answers

Question: Estos receptores tienen coordenadas UTM
Answer: Si tiene coordenadas hasta rumbo es completo no te vas a arrepentir esta bunisimo
Question: Does this unit have an electronic compass? The description states that it does but Garmin does not list it
Answer: The MAP64 is available with and without the electronic compass. The letter codes at the end tell you which options are included. Electronic compass, camera, topo maps, ect.
Question: Are state parks trails included
Answer: They were in our state parks in Missouri
Question: Does it have 2 way raido and text
Answer: No, it does not.

Garmin GPSMAP 64sx Handheld GPS with 16GB Camping & Hiking Bundle - (010-02258-10)

Garmin

Based on 18 reviews Check latest price

Product description

Navigate your next adventure with the GPSMAP 64x handheld navigator series. Whether you’re hiking, cycling, geocaching or climbing, you are free to explore more with proven Garmin handheld navigation in the palm of your hand. And the series now has multi-GNSS support and TopoActive mapping. Explore the World with Reliable Navigation in HandRugged and water-resistant design with button operation and a 2.6” sunlight-readable color displayPreloaded with TopoActive maps (U.S. and Australia only) featuring routable roads and trails for cycling and hikingKnow where you’re at with a high-sensitivity receiver with quad helix antenna and multi-GNSS support (GPS, GLONASS and Galileo) and 3-axis compass with barometric altimeterCellular connectivity lets you access Active Weather forecasts and Geocaching LiveGPSMAP 64csx adds 8-megapixel autofocus camera that lets you geotag photosBattery life: up to 16 hours in GPS modeExplore the TerrainThe GPSMAP 64x handheld series comes preloaded with TopoActive maps featuring routable streets and trails so you can take the journey off the grid. Now you can know your surroundings — such as waterways and natural features as well as buildings, international boundaries and more. You can also find thousands of points of interests, including shops, restaurants, universities, parks and accommodations. Keep Your FixWith its quad helix antenna and high-sensitivity receiver and multiple global n...

  • Rugged and water-resistant design with button operation and a 2.6” sunlight-readable color display | Preloaded with TopoActive maps (U.S. and Australia only) featuring routable roads and trails for cycling and hiking | Know where you’re at with a high-sensitivity receiver with quad helix antenna and multi-GNSS support (GPS, GLONASS and Galileo) and 3-axis compass with barometric altimeter
  • Cellular connectivity lets you access Active Weather forecasts and Geocaching Live | GPSMAP 64csx adds 8-megapixel autofocus camera that lets you geotag photos | Battery life: up to 16 hours in GPS mode
  • The GPSMAP 64x handheld series comes preloaded with TopoActive maps featuring routable streets and trails so you can take the journey off the grid. Now you can know your surroundings — such as waterways and natural features as well as buildings, international boundaries and more. You can also find thousands of points of interests, including shops, restaurants, universities, parks and accommodations.
  • [BRITE-NITE DOME LANTERN] - Our Brite-Nite Dome Lantern will certainly light up your life. Using common and readily available AAA batteries, it is ideal for camping, hiking, emergencies, power outages, and other night-time outdoor activities. With the powerful magnets, hanging hooks, rubber anti-slip feet, 3 lighting modes, and multi-function design, the Brite-Nite Dome Lantern will make your next camping trip conveniently bright.
  • BUNDLE INCLUDES: GPSMAP 64sx | USB cable | Documentation | LED Brite-Nite Dome Lantern Flashlight | 4 Rechargeable AA Batteries Charger | 16GB Micro SD Memory Card | Tactical Flashlight and Tactical Pen Set | 2-Pack Tactical Emergency Bracelet

User questions & answers

Question: what is the precision of this GPS
Answer: 10 feet

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