What To Look For
At a minimum, all GPS receivers provide you with your latitude, longitude and altitude, as well as your current local time. Beyond that the best features are those that the manufacturer has packaged with other technologies to facilitate your particular activity and the conditions under which you use your GPS unit. For example, you use GPS units usually while you are doing something else that demands your attention, such as driving, flying or hiking. Choose a unit that you can understand without straining either to see the screen or interpret the meaning of its symbols. Larger screens, 5 to 7 inches, have room for more data and larger graphics that you see at a glance.
Common Pitfalls
Do not substitute your GPS unit for your common sense. No manufacturer can pack a GPS unit with enough features to eliminate the need for you to pay attention to your surroundings. GPS units are machines that use software programs to provide navigational data to you. Your GPS unit may give you the coordinates for a hiking trail, but it cannot tell you whether your feet hurt too much to cover the distance and return safely. Your GPS unit in your automobile may instruct you to make a left turn. Do not make the turn when your eyes tell you that you cannot turn safely.
Where To Buy
Most people will find a wide selection of suitable GPS units in local electronic and department stores, such as Best Buy, as well as at online retailers, such as Amazon. If you are looking for a specialty unit, you should steer clear of the general purpose stores and visit a store geared toward your activity. A hiker who uses the unit in rugged and desolate terrain will fare better shopping at a place like Eastern Mountain Sports, where the salespeople understand how she will use the unit and how others like her have used similar GPS units and can provide specific guidance.
Cost
GPS units cost varying amounts according to the features they offer. Screen size, the size and quality of the built-in maps, battery life and memory all influence the price. The majority of recreational units cost in the $300 to $500 range. Bargain hunters can find units for just over $100, while boating enthusiasts can spend over $3,000 for advanced marine units.
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