whether deep in the backcountry or on open water proper navigation is a must and for route finding recording tracks or finding a geocache there is no more durable and long lasting navigator than a handheld gps while smartphones and gps watches are indeed useful for.

Navigation they can't match the interactive and detailed capabilities of a handheld gps a high quality handheld gps will allow you to view a layered overview of the terrain insert waypoints and plan a route and seamlessly log data compared to a smartphone a handheld gps.

Has major advantages including superior durability and much longer battery life simply put no other kind of device on the market can take the place of a good handheld gps as you'll see from our top picks the market is dominated by one brand gps giant.

Garmin currently there is no one that comes close to the mapping software and feature set across their lineup prices can vary widely and important considerations include whether you prefer a touch screen or buttons our comprehensive reviews go in depth to cover key features.

Capabilities and limitations so next time you strike out on an adventure you'll know you're on the right track with the best hand-held gps unit for your needs for navigating unfamiliar trails forest service roads or open water we break down the year's top hand-held gps devices.

While we do still recommend bringing a map and compass has an analog backup in case technology fails you the products on this list are the best of the best and we stand by each one let me introduce you to the latest in the garma montana series the 700 700i and 750i.

Wherever your journey leads you should be able to track your adventures we've designed the montana series to be built like a tank to tackle any terrain these handhelds are tough enough to withstand the elements meeting u.s military standards for thermal shock water and vibration and since you expect big things with this series.

The large 5-inch touch screen display is not only bright but 50 percent larger than previous montana models putting the world at your fingertips the key to any excursion is being prepared we want you to be prepared with navigation for any situation.

The montana 700 series comes pre-loaded with routable topographic maps for the us and canada you'll be able to view terrain contours elevations rivers and so much more there's even an optional display of federal public land boundaries helping to keep you.

Where you're supposed to be you'll also get the clear perspective of your location and your surroundings with birdseye satellite imagery right on your device with no subscription required you'll be able to use direct to device downloads and see photo realistic views to create.

Waypoints based on landmarks to top it off the montana 700i and 750i include pre-loaded city navigator maps so you can seamlessly transition from the trails to roads with these mapping options at your fingertips you get to choose your way out you know how important it is to check.

The weather forecast before heading out on an adventure but what about during your adventure changes in elevation or temperature throughout the day can lead to sudden shifts in the weather and catch you off guard with the active weather feature the montana 700 series can use cellular.

Connectivity to access up-to-date active weather forecasts through the garmin connect app allowing you to be more prepared for what's ahead and take cover if needed and speaking of being prepared if your adventure includes your sporting dog you know when their nose hits the ground how quickly they can get ahead of you.

To help you follow their every move the montana 700 series has dog tracking capability similar to the garmin drivetrack dog tracker and gps navigators this montana series syncs with compatible astro and alpha series handhelds to help track sporting dogs in the field giving you a more rugged.

Solution for in-vehicle dog tracking you may venture off the grid and outside of cell service but that doesn't mean you have to lose contact with friends and family back home with the montana 700i and 750i you can link up.

From way out with inreach technology using the iridium satellite network they can follow your progress and see your gps location when using the tracking feature with use of a full qwerty keyboard you can exchange messages with friends and family most importantly.

You'll have the ability to trigger an interactive sos and communicate with the geos 24 7 monitoring center to get the help you need when you need it the most and for those breathtaking views or too good to be true moments a picture is worth a thousand words.

Well with the montana 750i you can capture those exploits with an onboard 8 megapixel digital camera it even geotags your photos with coordinates so you can navigate back to those favorite sites in the future this gives you yet another way of sharing your adventure with others.

And proof of all the hard to believe stories you bring back with you battery life should be the least of your worries so we've added an expedition mode of the montana 700 series giving you an ultra low power gps reference to keep your montana tracking longer.

Between recharges while on the topic of recharging the rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack can provide up to 18 hours of battery life in gps mode and up to two weeks in expedition mode giving you the peace of mind to take off where others leave off let me introduce you to a handheld gps that's not only.

Feature rich but takes accuracy to a whole new level the garmin gps map 66 sr the 66 sr has all the premium features that you'll find in the 66 st like being built to military standards for thermal shock and water performance as well as abc sensors to help you navigate every trail.

But it takes accuracy to a whole new territory we've yet to explore with our other devices let me explain our adventures can take us to some very challenging environments and when i say challenging i mean areas where gps signals can be weak or even lost so we've added multiband.

Technology to the 66 sr multiband technology is not only more robust but also provides improved accuracy when signals are weak blocked or even reflected taking the 66 to the next evolutionary step of gnss accuracy.

Combine that with expanded support to include the qzss and irnss constellations and you've got a handheld that will help guide the way and provide optimal accuracy in steep country urban canyons and even forests with dense trees and when you're out in these environments.

You probably want some really detailed mapping along the way right well of course you do we want you to see peaks and valleys clearly so we've designed the 66sr with pre-loaded topoactive maps for the us and canada with topoactive you'll get detailed information.

Such as terrain contours topographic elevations summits geographical points and more if that's not enough you'll also get maps as pretty as a picture and just as detailed with birdseye satellite imagery with the 66sr you'll have unlimited access through a wi-fi wireless network giving.

You the ability to download high-resolution photo realistic maps directly to your device without a subscription birdseye makes it easy to find trails pick a stand location and even create waypoints and since you'll be trekking far and.

Wide knowing land boundaries is crucial for the safety and ethical responsibility of every person who enjoys the outdoors well we wanted to make it easy on you so we've added public land boundaries to the 66 sr this optional display of federal public land boundaries on topographical maps.

Helps you know you're venturing where you're supposed to be but what good is all of this great mapping if you can't read it that's a great question but don't worry the gps map 66sr has a large three inch color display that's easy to read even in direct sunlight no squinting.

Necessary when planning your adventure it's important to be prepared particularly with your logistics with the 66sr you'll be adventure ready with its garmin explore app compatibility the garmin explorer app and website is built for off-grid navigation.

And gives you offline access to cloud-based route planning allowing you to plan review and sync your waypoints routes and tracks you can even review completed activities while you're in the field with all these great features and the technology for improved accuracy we had to compromise the battery life.

Right far from it check this out the 66 66sr has an internal lithium-ion rechargeable battery that provides up to 36 hours of battery life in gps mode and up to three weeks in expedition mode that's more than double the battery life of the 66 st.

Helping give you the confidence to take your adventure to new places that you have yet to explore so there you have it from hiking and climbing to geocaching and kayaking wherever the outdoors leads you explore more by using this premium.

Rugged handheld with a 3-inch color display pre-loaded maps and optimal accuracy such a great tool for outdoor enthusiasts and professionals navigate your next adventure with the gps map 66 sr the e-trek series is a long-admired collection of gps handhelds.

Though small in stature their rugged water resistant design will prove trustworthy whether you're breaking in some new gear or lugging around that lucky pack for its 100th adventure now today i wanted to discuss three e-trex models in particular if your outdoor adventures are basic in.

Nature and you prefer the same in a gps handheld then check out the etrex 10. using gps and glonass satellites simultaneously the etrex 10 will provide position and tracking information on a worldwide base map available on a black and white display and with a battery life of up to 25.

Hours you won't have to rely on the position of the sun or stars to help you get you where you need to go all of that sounds great right but you need something with a little more to offer the world is full of light with intricate details and vibrant colors so why not use a device that offers the.

Same thing while the etrex 22x takes everything from the tent and comes pre-loaded with topo active maps made available on a color display and with an eight gigabyte internal memory plus a micro sd card slot you're granted the ability to add even.

More mapping to aid you on your quest you may be asking what are topoactive maps that's a valid question and i'll get to that in just a second but first let's round out our trio of handhelds with the etrex 32x much like the 22x this one simply adds sensors abc sensors in fact.

You'll gain better directional guidance thanks to the three-axis compass receive more accurate elevation readings and monitor changes in air pressure with the barometric altimeter plus pair some extra accessories like a heart rate chest strap for example using amp plus wireless connectivity.

Now let's go back to those topoactive maps taking full advantage of the color displays on the 22 and 32x these maps are optimized for outdoor activities venture with confidence following routable roads and trails in places like national state and local.

Parks forests and wilderness areas last we forget thousands of searchable points of interest ranging from campgrounds and scenic lookouts to shops restaurants and other accommodations and for a true representation of your surroundings the 22 and 32x are.

Compatible with birdseye satellite imagery integrating with the mapping already found on these handhelds water outdoor adventures without a little treasure hunt all three of these support paperless geocaching meaning everything you need about a.

Cache can be found directly on your handheld view things like cache coordinates or even review hints for those trinkets hidden in less than obvious locations before i let you go here's a quick summary of these three etrex units outlining the main differences that set these individual units apart.

From one another as you can see the etrex series will allow you to pack lightly without sacrificing the weight of information to help make whatever your expedition may be a success you