What To Look For
Handheld GPS devices have a track feature that shows a trail representing your travel with latitude and longitude coordinates; the best devices will allow you to store many different trips in the device. The best handheld GPS devices will allow you to load topographic maps, which can be helpful for navigating landscapes with difficult terrain. In addition, the best handheld GPS devices allow you to record and store hundreds of waypoints---specific geographic locations such as a trailhead, vista or geocache spot. If your adventures will take you near or into a body of water, look for a handheld GPS unit that is waterproof.
Common Pitfalls
Handheld GPS devices tend to have a smaller screen than GPS devices created for automobiles. The smaller screen may mean maps will be harder to read on a handheld device. Handheld GPS units run on battery power---usually AA or AAA batteries. While AAA batteries are lighter, they hold charges for less time than their AA counterparts. If you need a handheld GPS unit that can run off its batteries for as long as 12 hours, choose a less compact model that uses AA batteries.
Where To Buy
Visit Best Buy to try out the top handheld GPS units in a variety of brands and price ranges. Best Buy features Garmin, Magellan and Lowrance brands, and prices start as low as $80.99 for the Garmin eTrex H portable GPS receiver and go up to $549.99 for the Lowrance Endura Sierra GPS.
Cost
The price of your handheld GPS will depend on the types of preloaded maps on the device, and the amount of memory that is built into the unit. Best Buy offers the Garmin Oregon 450t GPS for $499.99---the device features a three-inch touch color screen, 3D maps, 16 hours of battery life with just two AA batteries, wireless data sharing and allows you to save 200 tracks in its memory. For less money, the Garmin eTrex Legend GPS costs $118.99 at Best Buy and has a 2.1 inch monochrome screen, two-dimensional maps and 8MB of memory.
Comparison Shopping
Once you know the specific model of GPS you want to purchase, visit a website like pricegrabber or thefind and enter the make and model of the GPS you are looking for. These websites will gather information from online retailers and present it to you on one page so you can comparision shop. Keep in mind that shipping and handling fees may vary from one retailer to another.
Accessories
You can purchase map software to load on your handheld GPS device, as well as rechargable batteries or even a charger cord that will allow you to recharge your GPS device in your car. An extra SD card or two can be convenient for saving and backing up information from your GPS device.
Insider Tips
"GPSMagazine" reviewed handheld GPS units and rated them based on their ease of use, cost, dependability, tracking and navigation quality and performance. The top two handheld GPS units that "GPSMagazine" recommends for
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