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| | Handheld GPS Buyers GuideShop by feature Shop by activity Shop by price Welcome to the best buyers guide for handheld GPS units on the internet! This guide is designed for anyone who is considering purchasing a GPS to use for outdoor recreational activities like hiking, geocaching, hunting, boating, or cycling. With over 70 different outdoor-use GPS units available from five manufacturers, picking the right unit for your specific needs can be challenging. Prices for handheld GPS units range from around $100 to over $500, but more expensive doesn't always mean better. We'll help you sort out the good from the bad, and determine what features are essential, which ones are just nice to have, and which ones are just gimmicks that aren't worth paying for. How this guide is organized This guide answers three basic questions about handheld GPS units. 1. What features are available on handheld GPS units? 2. What GPS unit is best for my particular activity? 3. What GPS units are available in my price range? You can jump right to any section by clicking on the above links, or you can just read the guide from start to finish. If you have any questions at all, don't hesitate to contact us. We'll get back to you with an answer within 1 business day. Also, be sure to sign up for our newsletter to get useful tips on how to get the most out of your GPS, as well as news about upcoming sales and new products. Shop by FeatureBelow, you'll find a list of features available on handheld GPS units. We'll explain what each feature does, what activities it's useful for, and whether or not it's worth spending money on. We'll also give a few examples of GPS units that have each feature.Receiver Sensitivity High-sensitivity GPS units will have shorter satellite acquisition time, and will be able to receive signals from satellites even in deep canyons, under dense forest canopies, and sometimes even inside a pack. Look for receivers that have at least 12 channels and are advertised as high-sensitivity, like the Garmin eTrex H series. Units that do not have a high-sensitivity receiver will lose satellite signals more frequently. Regardless of your chosen activity, in my opinion having a high-sensitivity receiver is a must-have function. Most newer units will have one anyway, and the price difference between units that have one and don't have one is negligible. If you're always losing satellite signals due to trees or other obstructions, what's the point in having a GPS to begin with? Units with high-sensitivity receivers include the following: Garmin Legend H Handheld GPS Navigator 
: Very basic GPS, good for hikers on a budgetMagellan Triton 300 Waterproof Hiking GPS  :
Color screen, good beginner GPSDeLorme Earthmate PN-40 Waterproof Hiking GPS  :
Some advanced features, can display satellite imageryColor Screen Having a GPS unit with a color screen makes it easier to read in all light conditions. It also makes details on detailed maps stand out more, like lakes and rivers. You can see the difference by comparing the pictures below. 
Since the color of the screen doesn't affect the performance of the unit, I will put this feature in the "nice-to-have" category rather than the "must-have" category. However, it is a very nice feature and I personally wouldn't buy a unit without a color screen.Units with color screens include the following: Garmin eTrex Legend HCx 
: Small, lightweight unit with expandable memoryMagellan Triton 300 GPS 
: Very basic GPS, good for beginnersLowrance Endura Out&Back 
: Touchscreen, picture viewer, microSD-compatibleAnd for comparison's sake, here's some units with black and white screens: Garmin eTrex H GPS 
: Very basic GPS, great for hikers on a budgetGarmin eTrex Vista H 
: Small and lightweight, some advanced featuresGarmin eTrex 10 
: Next-generation eTrex unit compatible with paperless geocachingDetailed Maps Almost all handheld GPS units come with at least a basemap showing major roads, bodies of water, and the location of large cities and towns. However, to really get full use out of a GPS, you'll probably want to add more detailed maps to the unit or buy one that comes with more detailed maps already installed. 
No matter what outdoor activity you'll be using your GPS for, having detailed maps loaded on the unit will really increase your situational awareness and make the unit a truly powerful tool.The quality and detail of available maps varies widely. With some units, you can even design your own custom maps or purchase custom maps that others have designed. Although some people will disagree with me, for the purposes of this buyer's guide I'm putting the ability to add some kind of detailed maps to your handheld GPS unit in the "must-have" category. I've used units with and without detailed maps, and when using units without detailed maps I've always just ended up breaking out the paper map every time I looked at the GPS. Units with pre-loaded detailed maps: Garmin Oregon 450t: Touchscreen, many advanced features (also custom-map compatible) Lowrance Endura Sierra: Touchscreen, gives turn-by-turn directions Units that come with Mapping software that you can use to add maps: Delorme PN-40: Advanced features, also can display satellite imagery Delorme PN-60: Advanced version of the PN-40 Units you can add detailed maps to, but for which the detailed maps must be purchased separately: Garmin eTrex Venture HC: Small, lightweight GPS, some advanced features Magellan Triton 500: Color screen, compass and barometer Custom Maps Many GPS units can load some type of detailed maps; however in most cases those maps are published by the GPS manufacturer, which means that if there isn't a map of where you want to go or showing the specific details you need to see, then you're out of luck. However, on some Garmin GPS units you can actually take any map in digital form and convert it for use on the GPS. For example, if you have a trail map of a local city or state park, you can use that map on the GPS. To see exactly how this process works, watch our video tutorial. Examples of GPS units that are custom-map compatible: Garmin Oregon GPS units: Touchscreens, many advanced features on some units, including camera and pre-loaded maps Garmin Dakota GPS units: More basic touchscreen GPS than the Oregon series Garmin GPSmap 62 series: State-of-the art GPS units Waterproof If you're going to use a handheld GPS unit for outdoor activities, it should be waterproof to some extent. Even if you don't usually hike in the rain, you want something that will survive an accidental drop in a puddle completely unscathed. Almost all GPS units designed for outdoor use are waterproof to IPX 7 standards, meaning that they can be submerged in water for up to 30 minutes at a depth of 1 meter without any damage. This should be more than enough protection for most activities. However, if you are going to be using your GPS for boating, you might consider something like the Garmin GPSmap 78--a GPS that floats in addition to being waterproof. Battery Life Having a handheld GPS that gets the most out of a pair of AA batteries is more important for some activities than others. Backpackers, for example, would not want to carry 4 pairs of AA batteries on a 4-day backpacking trip just to power their GPS unit. Even if you're just using your GPS for geocaching, however, having a unit with longer battery life will save you money on batteries and/or time spent recharging batteries. There are many variable that affect battery life, including outside temperature, type of battery used, use of screen back-lighting, and others. When camping, taking the batteries out of your GPS at night and keeping them warm can greatly prolong the battery life. Here's some examples of some popular GPS units and their battery life, as advertised by the manufacturer. Garmin eTrex Vista HCx: 25 hr battery life Garmin GPSmap 62st: 20 hr battery life Garmin Oregon 550t: 16 hr battery life Magellan eXplorist 610: 16 hr battery life Lowrance Endura Safari: 10-15 hr battery life Electronic Compass All handheld GPS units will tell you what direction you're travelling as long as you are moving. However, units with an electronic compass will tell you what direction you're facing even when you're standing still. This really helps out a lot with situational awareness. I've used units without an electronic compass before, and it gets to be a real pain having to take a few steps forward every time you want to find out what direction you're pointing. Depending on your activity of choice, this feature may not be something you need. For example, cyclists will be moving most of the time they're using the GPS unit, so having a feature that's only an advantage when you're standing still might not be necessary. However, for hikers, hunters, and even geocachers, this will be a very useful feature. I'm putting it in the "nice-to-have" category for the purposes of this guide, but it's something that I would want in a GPS unit I bought for myself. Examples of units that have an electronic compass: Garmin eTrex Summit HC: Smaller, lightweight GPS, color screen Magellan eXplorist 610: Touchscreen, many advanced featuers Delorme PN-40: Turn-by-turn directions, comes with mapping software Handheld GPS Buyer's Guide top Barometric Altimeter If you're a hiker, backpacker, hunter, climber, or involved in some type of physical training regime that involves altitude gain or loss, having a barometric altimeter on your handheld GPS will be a useful feature for you. This feature will not only give you your current altitude, it will also give you a history of altitude gain and loss over a period of time. The barometer function will allow you to keep track of changes in pressure that could indicate approaching bad weather. Although most GPS units will give you an approximate altitude if they are receiving enough satellites, units with a barometric altimeter are extremely accurate. I've used these units at locations where the exact altitude was recorded on a map or sign (mountaintops, scenic overlooks, etc), and the altitude displayed on the GPS matched perfectly to the known altitude. In my opinion, this qualifies as a "nice-to-have" feature--more useful for some activities than others. Geocachers or recreational boaters, for example, probably won't get as much use out of a barometric altimeter as would backpackers or climbers. Examples of GPS units that have a barometric altimeter: Garmin GPSmap 60 CSx: An all-around great GPS unit, one of Garmin's most popular Magellan Triton 500: Color screen, compatible with National Geographic maps Lowrance Endura Safari: Color touchscreen, turn-by-turn directions Touchscreen Some more advanced GPS units have touchscreens similar to those found on some mobile phones. These can be both a blessing and a curse. It does make the units easier to use in some cases and under certain conditions. However, when it's cold out and you're wearing fat-fingered gloves, it can be a real pain (literally, if you have to take those gloves off!). Also, if it's raining or wet outside and you go to wipe the water off the screen to read it better, you could end up on a different page. If you do get a unit with a touchscreen, get one that also has good old-fashioned buttons and a screen-lock function, like the Triton 2000 . This feature would definitely go into the luxury category in my opinion. Units with this feature will tend to cost quite a bit more than units that don't (although they also tend to have a number of other advanced features as well). Examples of GPS units with touchscreens: Garmin Oregon 450: Custom map compatible, can display satellite imagery Lowrance Endura Out&Back: A more basic touchscreen GPS Magellan eXplorist 610: Advanced GPS unit with compass and altimeter, can load Summit Series topo maps Satellite Imagery Some GPS units, most notably the PN-series GPS units by Delorme, are capable of displaying high-resolution satellite imagery similar to what you'd see on Google Earth. This can really help out with your situational awareness, because you'll be able to see details like individual trees and buildings. On the Delorme GPS units, you can even choose to display a topo map over the satellite imagery. This feature is certainly not essential, but in my opinion it is useful for certain activities and situations. I would put it somewhere between the "nice-to-have" and "luxury" categories. Examples of units that can display satellite imagery: Delorme PN-40: An excellent GPS unit, one of the first with this capability Delorme Earthmate PN-60: An updated version of the PN-40 and a state-of-the-art GPS Garmin Oregon 450t: Touchscreen GPS, comes pre-loaded with detailed topo maps Camera Many advanced GPS units now include a camera that you can use to take pictures which can then be associated with a waypoint. For example, you could create a waypoint at a trail intersection and then take a picture of a sign or trail marker at the intersection to help you remember what it looks like. The cameras in GPS units are similar in quality to what you'd find on a cell phone. Most people I know who enjoy the outdoors love getting good, quality pictures of their adventures. It's hard enough to capture the raw beauty of nature even with a good camera, let alone a mediocre one. So, chances are even with a camera in your GPS, you'd probably still want to take along your high-quality digital camera. The exception to this would be geocachers who just want to take a picture of a cache location and aren't too concerned about the quality of the picture. For the purposes of this GPS buyers guide, I would definitely consider having a camera in your GPS a luxury feature. Units that have this function will cost more, and in my opinion it's just not a useful enough feature for most activities (with the possible exception of geocaching) to justify the extra cost. Examples of GPS units with digital cameras: Garmin Oregon 550t: Touchscreen GPS, pre-loaded with detailed topo maps Magellan eXplorist 610: Touchscreen, also includes pre-loaded topo maps Information Pages Just about every handheld GPS unit on the market will include pages that give you additional information about your current location, or another location you specify. Good examples are the sun/moon pages and hunt/fish calendars, which will tell you sunrise and sunset times and good times and days for hunting and fishing. These pages can be a good resource, but they are not part of the core function of a handheld GPS unit (i.e, navigation). So, unless there is a specific piece of information related to your activity that you'd really like to see on your handheld GPS unit (like tide tables), then I wouldn't use the inclusion or exclusion of information pages as a primary factor in determining what GPS unit to buy. I'll put this feature in the "nice-to-have" category. Expandable Memory Some handheld GPS units come with internal memory, some have no internal memory but have extensive expandable memory with SD cards or microSD cards, and some have both. Depending on what you plan on doing with your GPS, this may or may not be important to you. For example, if you're just going to be using your handheld GPS for local hiking or hunting trips, a unit with an internal memory of 24 MB or so should suit you just fine. You'll be able to load enough detailed maps on the unit to cover all of your usual destinations, and when you go to new places you can just delete a few maps if you need to make room for new ones (you'll still have access to the maps on your computer). However, if you're always travelling to new areas and don't want to be constantly updating the maps stored on your GPS unit, or if you have a GPS camera and take lots of pictures with it, then you'll probably want a unit with expandable memory. I'll put this feature in the "nice-to-have" category. Examples of GPS units with expandable memory: Garmin eTrex Vista HCx: Smaller, lightweight GPS unit; good for backpackers Delorme PN-40: An excellent GPS unit, can display satellite imagery Magellan eXplorist 610: Advanced GPS unit with compass and altimeter, can load Summit Series topo maps Turn-by-turn Routing There are some outdoor-use GPS units that provide turn-by-turn directions to a destination using roads (you'll have to have detailed road maps loaded on the GPS for this feature to work). In fact, there is even one handheld GPS unit that will give you voice directions, similar to the automotive GPS units we've all grown to love and hate. This can be a useful feature to help you find your way to a trailhead, or if you're using your GPS for road biking. However, if you're expecting to have all the functions available from an automotive GPS unit on your outdoor-use GPS unit, you'll be disappointed. They're two different types of units designed for two different activities, and while they both might have some overlapping functionality, neither one will be really good at things it wasn't intended for. This function would, in my opinion, be a luxury feature on a handheld GPS unit. Examples of handheld GPS units with turn-by-turn routing: Garmin Montana 600: Touchscreen, can be used for driving or outdoors Garmin Oregon 450t:: Touchscreen, comes pre-loaded with topo maps Garmin GPSmap 60 CSx: An all-around great GPS unit, very user-friendly Communication Ability Some handheld GPS units allow the user to remotely communicate with other people. The Garmin Rino GPS units, for example, are combined with a 2-way radio that lets users communicate over a range of several miles. For more long-distance communication, try the Delorme PN-60 with SPOT, a highly innovative GPS that allows you to send text messages via satellite, and even call in a search and rescue team with the push of a button. Other GPS units can communicate wirelessly over short ranges with other, similar GPS units in order to share data. Some examples of GPS units with communication capabilities: Garmin Rino GPS units: Combination GPS and 2-way radio Delorme PN-60 with SPOT: Satellite communication capability Garmin Oregon GPS: Short-range wireless data sharing with other GPS units Handheld GPS Buyers Guide Top Shop by ActivityThe best GPS unit for one activity is often different than the best GPS unit for a different activity. Below, you'll find a list of activities and a description of useful GPS features for each one. We'll also give examples of some good GPS units for each activity.Day-hiking Backpacking Hunting Geocaching Boating Cycling Day-hiking Handheld GPS units are a great tool for any type of hiking, but because there are slight differences in the needs of a day-hiker vs. a backpacker, I've divided them into two separate categories for the purposes of this buyers guide. For example, a day-hiker probably wouldn't be as concerned about the normal battery life of a GPS unit, since he or she can simply recharge or replace the batteries at the end of the day. Also, since day-hikers don't need to carry much extra gear with them in most cases, weight isn't much of an issue. This means that day-hikers can use handheld GPS units with advanced features such as a touch screen or camera, which tend to weigh a little more and use up battery power a little more quickly. Units like the Garmin Oregon 550t or Magellan eXplorist 710 would fall into this category. However, for day-hikers on a budget, it certainly isn't necessary to have a GPS unit that includes those advanced features. I would highly recommend a GPS that includes, at a minimum, the ability to load and display detailed maps. This will really increase the utility of the unit, as well as your situational awareness. A GPS that has an electronic compass and barometric altimeter would be useful as well. A unit like the Garmin eTrex Summit HC or Delorme Earthmate PN-40 would fit that bill quite nicely. In summary, day-hikers should look for GPS units that have, at a minimum, the ability to add detailed maps, with an electric compass and barometric altimeter being additional nice-to-have features. When considering units with additional features, remember that touchscreens don't work when you're wearing gloves, so if you do a lot of cold-weather hiking, you might want to keep that in mind. Also, if you hike in areas with heavy tree cover, satellite imagery probably won't do you much good either. Recommended handheld GPS units for Day Hikers: Garmin eTrex Vista H: Small, lightweight GPS Garmin eTrex Summit HC: Color screen, compass and altimeter Garmin GPSmap 60 CSx: Expandable memory, compass and altimeter, turn-by-turn directions Delorme Earthmate PN-60: Can display satellite imagery Handheld GPS Buyers Guide Top Backpacking Backpackers will have many of the same needs as day-hikers when it comes to their handheld GPS unit--detailed maps, an electronic compass, barometric altimeter, etc. However, there are a few additional concerns that backpackers have that day-hikers don't. For example, most backpackers I know are at least a little conscious of the weight of everything in their pack--some more so than others. So, if there are two handheld GPS units with similar capabilities and one weighs a little less, backpackers might want to go with the lighter unit. Another concern is useful battery life. Many large touchscreen GPS units, like the Garmin Oregon 450t:, only have a typical battery life of 14-16 hours. However, smaller units without the touchscreen, such as the Garmin eTrex Vista HCx, have a useful battery life up to 25 hours. That's a 10 hr difference! On a backpacking trip, that would translate into at least 2 extra days of use before you'd have to replace the AA batteries. Ok, so now you're looking for a lightweight GPS unit with long battery life, an electronic compass, and a barometric altimeter that can add detailed maps. What else? Well, some backpackers may appreciate having satellite imagery available to view (if you normally backpack in areas with heavy tree cover, don't bother--imagery will be almost useless for you). Also, for those heading into remote wilderness areas, having some method of communication with the outside world might also be nice. For a unit that combines both features, check out the Delorme Earthmate PN-60 with SPOT Satellite Communicator. It has the ability to display many types of imagery as well as topographic maps, and you can use the SPOT Satellite Communicator to send messages from anywhere on the planet. Other handheld GPS features, such as built-in cameras, custom mapping capability, and turn-by-turn road routing, may or may not be useful for backpackers depending on your individual needs and situation. However, for most people they will not be essential and may not be worth the extra cost associated with them. Recommended Handheld GPS units for Backpackers: Garmin eTrex Vista H: Small, lightweight GPS Garmin eTrex Vista HCx: Lightweight, color screen, expandable memory Garmin GPSmap 60 CSx: An all-around great GPS unit Delorme PN-60 with SPOT: Satellite text-message capability Handheld GPS Buyers Guide Top Hunting Hunters might be the one group of people who can benefit the most from using handheld GPS unit in their outdoor activity (other than perhaps geocachers, for whom GPS is a necessity). Because hunters often must go where there are no trails, and return to specific locations that might not be easy to find, a handheld GPS can be a very useful tool indeed. Because hunters need access to certain types of information that other people don't necessarily care about, the types of maps that can be displayed on a GPS are particularly important to them. For example, hunting GPS maps can display information about private and public lands, hunt areas and big game management units, and other data that backpackers and hikers just aren't going to care about, and that you won't find on regular GPS maps. Hunters may even want to consider a GPS that has custom-map compatibility, like the GPSmap 62s, so that they can create their own maps tailored to their unique needs. Like backpackers, hunters will probably want a GPS that has an electronic compass and barometric altimeter. They may also benefit from GPS units that are combined with a two-way radio, like the Garmin Rino 610, or with a tracking feature for hunting dogs, like the Astro 320. Either of these units would also be compatible with the hunting GPS maps referenced above. Considering all the above factors, here's some recommended GPS units for hunters: Garmin GPSmap 62st: State-of-the art GPS, custom map compatibility Garmin eTrex Vista HCx: Smaller, lighter GPS that is compatible with some GPS hunting maps Garmin 530 HCx: Combination GPS and two-way radio Garmin Astro 220: Handheld GPS that tracks your hunting dog That's by no means a complete list, but it will at least give you an idea of what's available. Handheld GPS Buyers Guide Top Geocaching For those of you not familiar with geocaching, it's basically a world-wide "treasure hunt" using GPS. People hide things (the "cache"), post the location online at Geocaching.com, and then other people look for them. There's a bit more to it than that, but that's another topic. What we want to know here is, what's the best GPS for geocachers? One of the most important considerations for a geocacher is the accuracy of a GPS unit. After all, you'll be trying to find something that was deliberately hidden, so the closer you can get to it with a GPS, the better. For this reason, you'll want to make sure your GPS is WAAS-compatible in order to get the highest level of accuracy available. Another important factor is something called "paperless geocaching". What this means is that a GPS unit has special features just for geocaching so that when you download information about a cache from Geocaching.com, it automatically includes more information provided by whoever hid the cache. Due to the wild popularity of geocaching, most new GPS units have this capability, but you'll still want to double-check. Beyond those two features, and possibly an electronic compass, there isn't much else a geocacher really needs in a GPS unit. Sure, there are units that have built in cameras like the Garmin Oregon 550 so you can take a picture of a cache, and even units designed just for geocaching like the eXplorist GC...but any GPS that is WAAS-capable and allows paperless geocaching will do just fine. With that in mind, here's some recommended units for geocachers: Delorme PN-40: Able to display satellite imagery in addition to topo maps Garmin GPSmap 60 CSx: Just an all-around great GPS unit, but lacks paperless geocaching ability Magellan eXplorist GC: Designed specifically for geocaching, but is unable to load any detailed maps Handheld GPS Buyers Guide Top Boating There are dozens of GPS units designed for boating and marine use--in fact, it's an industry in and of itself. However, our concern here is handheld GPS units that are geared toward outdoor use, but have special features for mariners, fishermen, and recreational boaters. In that category, there's only a few units worth mentioning. First, there's the Garmin GPSmap 78 series of GPS units (which replaces the older GPSmap 76 series). These units have one very unique and very useful feature that boaters will appreciate: they float! You won't have to worry about losing your GPS unit if you drop it in the water. Also, the GPSmap 78sc comes pre-loaded with U.S. coastal charts. Other than the Garmin GPSmap 78 sereies, boaters will also want to check out the Delorme Earthmate GPS units. With a map subscription from Delorme, you'll be able to download unlimited NOAA nautical charts and transfer them to your Earthmate GPS. Here's our recommended handheld GPS units for recreational boaters and mariners: Garmin GPSmap 78: Color screen, custom map compatible, waterproof and floats Garmin GPSmap 78s: All the features of the GPSmap 78, with electronic compass and altimeter Garmin GPSmap 78sc: preloaded with U.S. Nautical charts Delorme Earthmate PN-60: Can load unlimited NOAA nautical charts with Delorme map subscription Handheld GPS Buyers Guide Top Cycling With a bicycle mount, any handheld GPS unit can be used for cycling. However, there are some units that have added features that cyclists will appreciate, most notably the Garmin Edge GPS units. With the Edge GPS units, cyclists can keep track of thier speed, distance, time, calories burned, altitude, and climb and descent statistics. Also, some versions come with heart rate and speed and cadence monitors to really help you with your training. Be sure to get a unit that can load detailed road maps, like the Edge 705. For mountain bikers, a GPS that can load detailed topo maps is a must. You'll also probably want a barometric altimeter and electronic compass, and perhaps custom map compatibility--some mountain bike trails may not appear on normal topo maps. Handheld GPS Buyers Guide Top Shop by PriceThe following is a comprehensive list of current handheld GPS units offered by Garmin, Magellan, Delorme, and Lowrance. The list is by price from lowest to highest price, with a brief description of the main features offered by each unit. Don't forget to get your $50 coupon to use for a new GPS unit by signing up for our newsletter!Under $100 $100-$200 $200-$300 $300-$400 Over $400 Under $100 GPS Rentals: We have over 8 different types of GPS units available for rental. It's a great way to try out GPS units from different manufacturers to see which one you like the best. Price: $25-$40 Magellan Triton 300 GPS (Pre-owned): Good beginner GPS. Color screen, compatible with National Geographic Topo maps Price: $69.95 Magellan Triton 400 GPS (Pre-Owned): Good beginner GPS. Color screen, expandable memory, can add detailed maps Price: $69.95 Delorme PN-20 GPS (Pre-Owned): Good beginner GPS. Color screen, expandable memory, comes with topo maps and can display satellite imagery Price: $89.99 Garmin eTrex H GPS: Very basic GPS, black-and-white screen, no detailed mapping capability, but good beginner GPS Price: $85.00 Garmin eTrex Legend H GPS: Fairly basic GPS, black-and-white screen, detailed maps, good beginner GPS Price: $92.89 Magellan Triton 300 GPS: Good beginner GPS, color screen, compatible with National Geographic maps Price: $99.95 $100-$200 Garmin eTrex 10: This updated version of the eTrex H is compatible with paperless geocaching, and is a great bare-bones GPS unit for a new user. Price: $110.06 Garmin eTrex Summit HC: Color screen, barometric altimeter and electronic compass, can add detailed maps Price: $126.95 Magellan Triton 2000 GPS (Pre-owned): Touch-screen, loads of extra features (camera, mp3 player, flashlight, etc), electronic compass and altimeter, can add detailed maps Price:$139.99 Garmin eTrex Venture HC: Color screen, can add detailed maps, 24 mb of internal memory. Good basic, beginner GPS. Price: $132.49 Magellan eXplorist GC: A GPS designed specifically for geocaching. Has a number of unique features for that activity, however, it is unable to load detailed maps Price: $135.95 Garmin eTrex Vista H: Black and white screen, electronic compass, barometric altimeter, can add detailed maps Price: $137.99 Garmin eTrex Legend HCx: Color screen, expandable memory, can add detailed maps Price: $146.99 Garmin Rino 110 GPS/GMRS: Combination GPS and 2-way radio, black and white screen, WAAS-capable Price: $153.40 Garmin eTrex 20: This updated version of the eTrex is compatible with paperless geocaching, has a color screen, and can load detailed maps. Price: $179.45 Magellan Triton 500: Color screen, barometric altimeter and electronic compass, compatible with National Geographic maps, expandable memory Price: $174.99 Garmin Rino 120 GPS/GMRS: Combination GPS and 2-way radio. Black-and-white screen, can add detailed maps, WAAS-capable Price: $179.99 eTrex Vista HCx: Color screen, expandable memory, compass and altimeter, can add detailed maps Price: $183.39 Lowrance Endura Out&Back: Touchscreen, expandable memory, can add detailed maps Price: $191.53 Garmin Dakota 10 GPS: Touchscreen, add detailed maps, WAAS-capable, paperless geocaching Price: $192.99 Handheld GPS Buyers Guide Top $200-$300 Delorme Earthmate PN-60: Updated version of the PN-40. More memory, faster processor, electronic compass and altimeter, comes with maps and can display satellite imagery Price: $224.37 Garmin Dakota 20 GPS: Touchscreen, compass and altimeter, add detailed maps, expandable memory $228.99 Lowrance Endura Safari: Touchscreen, expandable memory, turn-by-turn directions, electronic compass and altimeter, can add detailed maps Price: $246.99 Garmin eTrex 30: This updated version of the eTrex is compatible with paperless geocaching, has a color screen, barometric altimeter, and electronic compass. Price: $249.99 Delorme PN-40: Color screen, electronic compass and barometer, comes with topo maps and can display satellite imagery Price: $259.95 Magellan eXplorist 510: Touch-screen, camera, can load detailed maps, expandable memory Price: $266.99 Garmin Oregon 450: Touchscreen, altimeter and compass, expandable memory, custom map compatible Price: $288.97 Garmin GPSmap 62: Color screen, expandable memory, custom map compatible, can add detailed maps and display satellite imagery Price: $294.99 GPSmap 78 Marine GPS: Color screen, expandable memory, add detailed maps--and it floats! Price: $299.99 $300-$400 Garmin Rino 610 GPS:: An updated version of the popular combo GPS/2-way radio, with custom map capability and other new features Price: $317.66 Garmin Rino 520HCx: Combination GPS and 2-way radio. Color screen, can add detailed maps, turn-by-turn directions, expandable memory Price: $330 Garmin Oregon 550: Touchscreen, compass and altimeter, expandable memory, camera, turn-by-turn directions, custom maps...quite a few features on this one Price: $347.98 Garmin Astro 220 Dog Tracker: GPS unit designed to help hunters track their dogs. Color screen, altimeter and compass, expandable memory, and more Price: $365.70 Garmin Oregon 450t:: Includes all the feature found in the Oregon 450, but also comes pre-loaded with detailed topo maps Price: $372.99 Magellan eXplorist 610: Touch-screen, camera, barometric altimeter and electronic compass, can load detailed maps, expandable meomory Price: $375.99 Garmin GPSmap 60CSx: One of the most popular GPS units produced in the past 5 years. Color screen, can load detailed maps, turn-by-turn directions, expandable memory, compass and altimeter Price: $378.33 Garmin Rino 530HCx: Combination 2-way radio and GPS. Color screen, can add detailed maps, expandable memory, WAAS-capable Price: $379 Garmin GPSmap 78s Marine GPS: Color screen, compass and altimeter, expandable memory, add detailed maps...and if floats! Price: $382.62 Garmin GPSmap 62S: Color screen, custom map and satellite imagery compatible, compass and altimeter, can add detailed maps Price: $387.99 Lowrance Endura Sierra: Touchscreen, pre-loaded maps, electronic compass and altimeter, expandable memory Price: $399.99 Over $400 Garmin Oregon 550t GPS: Has all the features found on the Oregon 450t, plus a 3.2 megapixel caamera Price: $437.00 Garmin Astro 320: This updated version of the Astro dog-tracking unit for hunters is based on the design of the GPSmap 62 series, and incorporates many of the same features Price: $449.99 Garmin Rino 650 GPS:: An updated version of the popular combo GPS/2-way radio, with custom map capability, an electronic compass, and barometric altimeter Price: $445.07 Magellan eXplorist 710: Touch-screen, barometric altimeter and electronic compass, camera, pre-loaded detailed maps, expandable memory Price: $467.99 Garmin GPSmap 62st (US version): All the features of the GPSmap 62s, but also comes pre-loaded with detailed US topo maps Price: $469.99 Garmin GPSmap 78sc: All the same features as the GPSmap 78s, with pre-loaded coastal charts for the U.S. Price: $462.62 Garmin Astro 220 Bundle: Get the Astro 220 bundled with the color for your hunting dog, allowing you to track your dog on the GPS. Price: $479.39 Garmin Montana 600: This crossover GPS has all the bells and whistles, including the capability of giving you voice commands for turn-by-turn driving directions Price: $496.67 Garmin Rino 655t: This updated version of the Garmin Rino, a combo 2-way radio and GPS, has a touchscreen, pre-loaded topo maps, and compatibility with custom maps and satellite imagery. Price: $529.29 Garmin Montana 650: This version of the Garmin Montana includes all of the many features of the Montana 600, with the edition of a 5 megapixel digital camera. Price: $572.97 Garmin Montana 650t: This version of the Garmin Montana includes all of the many features of the Montana 600 and 650, and also is pre-loaded with 100k topo maps of the entire U.S. Price: $591.02 Delorme PN-60 with InReach Satellite Communicator: This version of the PN-60 can send text messages via satellite and even call in a search and rescue team at the push of a button. Great for backpacking or climbing in remote areas. Buy InReach and PN-60 units together or seperately. Price: $599.95 Handheld GPS Buyers Guide Top |
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