The website is dedicated to bring you the latest information, reviews and real customer feedback on the best outdoor GPS units available today. We find the top GPS units on the market, analyze their features and benefits, and hunt down real customer feedback and comments to bring you a comprehensive review of the best outdoor gps units.

Outdoor GPS units have come a long way in the last few years. The early handheld or portable GPS units were designed for military use and tended to be heavier and cumbersome to use. Now that GPS technology is available to all, the units themselves have improved in one essential area of design: portability. The new portable GPS units allow consumers to have as much GPS power as soldiers have and in some cases have more features.

Now hikers, bikers, cross-country skiers, and all kinds of other people who travel across open country have access to low cost handheld GPS unit that are easy to carry and prevent you from getting lost.

Others like to have a GPS Units on hand in case of an emergency and to make life much easier whenever traveling to any location. Whatever your motivation, we help you find the best outdoor gps units to suit your need.

Review by Colin South

Rating:

On Sale for $123.89 (save 27%) at Amazon.com here.

• Good choice for First GPS
• high-sensitivity, WAAS-enabled
• Stores 10 routes with max 500 waypoints
• Lightweight and waterproof
• Easy One Hand Operation

 
 
Pros: Good Starter unit, Great for Geocaching, accurate, affordable and easy to use.
Cons: May need to buy additional maps, Maps out of the box are limited.

Features

The eTrex Venture HC is small and is simple to operate. It is equipped with a 256-color TFT display and you should have no problem reading it during any time of day.

This GPS receiver is very sensitive utilising WAAS technoligy so when the unit quickly loads your position from the satellites, you can accurately know your location. Don’t worry about getting lost in canyons and in patches of trees, because this GPS receiver will maintain your position in the heaviest of cover.

You can maintain up to 10 track logs plotting a maximum of 500 waypoints. The  unit comes equipped with basic maps for lakes, cities, coastlines, rivers, etc.

The unit is designed to be water resistant and offers computer connectivity via a built in USB interface. The official battery life is around 14 hours of constant use but this may be reduced if the backlight feature is frequently used.

Pros and cons of the eTrex Venture HC

USB Connectivity

This unit is lightweight and sturdy. It’s comfortable to hold and the buttons and functionality of the unit are simple. For the price you are getting a very powerful GPS unit that is fast and convenient to use, without some of the hassles of larger GPS models. This model, though powerful, is considered an entry level GPS unit.

You will find that it is very accurate and fast-loading, but don’t be deceived. This will not feel like a $1,000 GPS model. That being said, if all you need is a low priced, entry level GPS unit, then we don’t think you’ll go wrong with the eTrex Venture HC. If this will be your first GPS, then you will be happy with its ease of use.

Promised battery life (14 hours) is near the bottom of the range when compared to the existing eTrex models but considering this is constant use, it is still perfectly adequate for most uses. As the unit uses 2 standard AA batteries, it is advisable to carry a spare set of batteries with you for longer trips.

Another reported drawback for some people is built in maps. Although adequate for some ventures, the maps that come with the unit may not be enough for your hiking needs. Depending on your desired application for this unit, you may need to purchase additional maps from Garmin. If you will be looking for more detail on your maps and you do a lot of hiking, backpacking and other venturing, then you may want to factor in the cost of purchasing additional maps.

The value for the price is outstanding. If you are into geocaching this should work well. If you don’t mind carrying around a few pair of AAs on your longer trips, then by all means look further into this GPS. It’s fast, it’s compact, it gets great reception, and it is accurate. It may not suit each and every one of your needs, but then again we have yet to come across the perfect handheld GPS system. We put it among the best outdoor GPS units out there.

The Garmin eTrex Venture HC scored well with Amazon.com customer. Out of the 200+ reviews posted on Amazon.com, over 77% were 4 start or above. See what some other users have to say.

By PlukieDuckie… you get the most bang for your buck with the venture hc. you have to know what this GPSr is for and not for. it’s great for geocaching, hiking, and marking waypoints. it is highly accurate and can receive signals in deep cover of trees. buildings can interfere with the signal but not even the top end GPSr will get you better reception. i usually get an accuracy within 8-11 feet. for me, the most important thing in a handheld is getting reception and accuracy.

By Matthew H… This is my first handheald GPS. I got it to insure I’d never be lost in the woods again. It tracks trails and marks waypoints wonderfully. It does everything I wanted it to do. That said it does lack some features. With out and electronic compass it you start in one place and rotate it won’t catch on that your facing a new direction. The installed maps leave everything to be desired. With the cost of topo maps being about $100 if you need them you should just get an upgraded model that already has them. That said the maps and compass are not a deal breaker, especially at the price point this comes in at. It’s a great easy to use unit. And since I have a Mac I’m very impressed at how easy Garmin made it to add and manage waypoints and tracks.

By David L. Howell… This unit is an excellent value for the price. The controls are easy to learn and easy to setup. The receiver is very sensitive because it locks to the satellites inside my house and under the trees. The down sides are the poor detailed map and it is a little slow when you use a more detailed map. The maps are expensive if you purchase them from Garmin but there are free maps available on the internet that are terrific. I also own a Garmin Nuvi navigation GPS and the maps compatible with each other.

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The Garmin eTrex Venture HC is a modern, powerful and speedy GPS device with accuracy and a solid build. It is among the best outdoor GPS Units available today and should be on your shortlist.

$123.89 (save 27%) at Amazon.com CLICK HERE

Review by Colin South

Rating:

$233.12 (plus free shipping)
on Amazon.com here.

• Untra fast GPS receiver
• 500mb onboard flash memory
• Stores 50 routes with max 1000 waypoints
• Electronic Compass & Barometric Altimeter
• High-Resolution Color Aerial Imagery

Features

DeLorme is known for making GPS receivers with great built-in maps. The PN-40 comes out of the box with detailed topographical maps for the ultra-adventurous hikers and advanced geocachers. If you need a quality GPS system with detailed maps, it’s hard to pass this one up.

Some previous models had the great maps, but had slower speeds. The PN-40 from DeLorme has a 32-channel STMicroelectronics Cartesio chipset with dual core processing. What does that mean? Fast. With the PN-40, you get detailed maps without sacrificing speed.

Pros and cons of the DeLorme Earthmate PN-40

The PN-40 is an amazing GPS with incredible capabilities. It is for those with a medium sized budget who have previous experience with handheld GPS units. DeLorme is great at including built-in detailed topographic features in their GPS units. The PN-40 is no different.

Advanced hikers and geocachers will likely be impressed by the mapping capabilities of this device. The PN-40 is equipped with a dual-core processor for faster performance. However, the DeLorme may still lag behind more simplistic GPS units from other makers. If you are into geocaching, you will find that the PN-40 will equip you for truly paperless geocaching adventures.

Although the Earthmate PN-40 from DeLorme is designed for optimal usability, it’s not touchscreen, and it’s still not as simple to use as other units. If you are considering the PN-40 as your first GPS navigator, you will want to spend some time learning how to use it at home before heading outdoors.

It’s comfortable to hold and intuitive, but will still take some getting used to. The graphics are great. You won’t be disappointed by the aerial imaging in high resolution. The PN-40 is great for basic needs such as tracking your favorite fishing spots. But it’s also fantastic for advanced geocaching and rugged hiking adventures as well.

If you do decide to go on long hiking adventures, you will need to adjust yourself to how the mapping works. You want to get comfortable with it before going out. Battery life? The battery life is average to low-range. You probably won’t be impressed by how long the batteries last. Bring a few pairs of AA batteries with you on your GPS adventures.

See what some other users have to say:

By B. Johnson… We researched several GPS devices before purchasing the PN-40. We were concerned about some of the negative comments indicating that this device is not user friendly. I can only say that I don’t consider myself to be very tech savy and have had no problems learning how to operate this GPS. We have been using it to geocache and have absolutely loved it! My only complaint is that the battery life could be better. We bought the rechargeable battery pack, which serves us if we can plug it into the car between caches, but it only seems to last 4-5 hrs of continous us. This is a great GPS!

By jsdad… I’ve had the PN-40 for about a month. Main use has been geocaching & hiking right now, but plan on using it for hunting and canoing as well. Only GPS experience has been with Garmin Nuvi and Street Pilot units. This is a great little unit. Best bang for the buck right now, considering all the maps that are included at no additional cost! With the new PN-60 coming out the PN-40 price has dropped, making it a very nice bargain.

I was considering Garmin again, but the added cost of decent maps to the unit was a deal breaker. Also was hesitant with the newer Garmin units touch screen and poor bright sun visibility. I live in Wisconsin, and when you’re outdoors in winter, you want tactile hard buttons, not a touch screen. The screen on the PN-40 is smaller than some, but I believe is more readable in bright sunlight. Plus the PN-40 is the perfect balance of size vs function. It fits very comfortably in the hand and is not too big, but you can still easily read all the graphics. The price you pay for this stellar display is battery life. With the very fast processor for locking on, and the display, it will use batteries. Set the unit to battery saver mode… It makes a big difference. I can usually get a day and a half heavy use out of it. The PN-40 is very easy to use right out of the box. Best advice is … read more

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Summary of the DeLorme PN-40: Is the DeLorme Earthmate PN-40 a great value? We believe so. If you know how to use a GPS and don’t have extremely specialized needs, the PN-40 should amaze you. The maps are great. It’s speedy, and it’s handy.

$233.17 (plus FREE Shipping) at Amazon.com CLICK HERE

Review by Colin South

Rating:

$267.81 (plus free shipping)
on Amazon.com here.

• high-sensitivity, SiRF GPS receiver
• 256-color TFT color display
• Stores 20 routes with max 500 waypoints per route
• Rugged and Water Resistant Design
• Out-of-the-Box Maps may be insufficient

Features

You shouldn’t have a problem with tracking with the new Garmin 60Cx. The high-sensitivity GPS receiver will track your location no matter where you are with ease. The 2.6 inch color display is bright and easy to read.

The Garmin 60Cx will work with most Garmin MapSource products so you can navigate to fantastic fishing spots and other recreational areas. The unit also ships with automatic routing capabilities for highways and freeways.

This model will go easy on your wallet for battery usage because just two AA batteries will last up to 30 hours. The 60Cx is simple to use and easily connects to your computer. Also included in the box is a 64 MB microSD card.

Difference between Garmin 60Cx and 60Csx

The Garmin 60csx is the same unit as the 60cx but include the additional features of a barometric altimeter and electronic compass. If you need these features, go for the 60csx, otherwise save yourself $35 and stick with the Garmin 60cx

Pros and cons of the Garmin GPSMAP 60 Cx

The Garmin 60Cx is a great GPS but if you were expecting it to ship with advanced maps, you may be slightly disappointed. If you find the default maps system lacking you will need to purchase additional mapping products from Garmin.

For example, if you are looking to use the 60Cx for a lot of hiking, you may find the default maps included with the 60Cx to be lacking. In this case you may need to purchase additional maps from Garmin, so be aware that the default maps from the Garmin 60Cx may not suit you well for all purposes.

The best outdoor GPS units all have good battery life. And battery life is another one of the benefits of the 60Cx. Just throw in 2 AA batteries and you are set for up to 30 hours. Note that the 60Cx does pull power from the batteries even when it is off, and you may want to consider purchasing rechargeable batteries for this unit. The battery usage is better than many comparable GPS units. Just the fact that you can use AA batteries can be a very appealing factor. You don’t have to rely on a default internal battery.

Regarding functionality, you will love the 60Cx because when you first pull it out of the box, you notice the unit is fast! You shouldn’t have to wait around for it to load. It’s simple and you won’t have to spend too much time in the manual.

Did we mention the durability of the Garmin 60Cx? How many times do you have to drop this thing before it breaks? It will hold its own underwater (3 feet) for up to 30 minutes. The units case is lightweight and is made to withstand whatever you encounter in the outdoors. Another reason why the 60 Cx is one of the best outdoor GPS units.

So while the 60Cx does have its limitations, it has many strong points as well. You will be pleased with its durability, its ease of use, and its speed. Yes, depending on what types of outdoor activities you do, you may need additional maps from Garmin, but out of the box this handheld GPS should surprise you in many ways.

For the money, you are getting a very advanced, very powerful GPS device. Not all purchasers of this device are pleased, but if you need a handheld GPS unit that is fast, lightweight, simple to use, and powerful, then you should strongly consider purchasing the Garmin 60Cx.

See what some other users have to say.

By Daniel Smoak… I bought this GPS for my hunting and outdoor excursions in Alaska and so far it has lived up to every expectation I had. It is very accurate and easy to use. It took me a little while to figure out how to put in to Alaska settings but it reads within 20 ft of our location almost all the time. We have tested it in thick cover and it hasn’t let us down yet. We are going to be doing river float trips this summer and will put it to the test some more with the new Topo software. I will update then. Good product and a great price on AMazon!

By Oscar Moseley III… I decided to replace the 76 with the 60CX and am I ever glad that I did! Although the basemap is crap and you have to spend money on Garmin maps, I can’t be mad at them as this is their business model. Fortunately, the fishing hotspots map set that I have for the 76 works beautifully on the 60CX which is saving me from buying another map set (for a while at least). The 60 CX does everything I could ever want in a GPS. It receives satellite connections super fast and it works everywhere in the house- even the basement! The unit is very easy to operate right out of the box and the battery life is superb ( and I did buy Garmin’s power adapter for the truck)! I’ve been using the unit for hours over the past 4 days and still have plenty of power remaining! I really like the fact the you can get turn by turn directions (although it’s always best to verify those directions ahead of time). I’ve also been able to load thousands of points of interest using Garmin’s POI loader. I could not be happier with this purchase and look forward to using the 60 CX for years to come!

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Summary of the Garmin GPSMAP 60Cx: The Garmin GPSMAP 60Cx is a great handheld navigator and is simple to use. However, you may need to purchase additional maps from Garmin. If you are looking for the best outdoor GPS units, you have to consider the 60Cx.

$267.81 plus FREE Shipping at Amazon.com CLICK HERE

Review by Colin South

Rating:

$84.54 (plus free shipping)
on Amazon.com here.

• Great technology in a starter unit
• high-sensitivity, WAAS-enabled GPS receiver
• Stores 20 routes with max 125 waypoints per route
• Lightweight and waterproof
• Easy One Hand Operation

 
Pros: very affordable, fast, simple and convenient to use, good battery life.
Cons: not the best for hard-core hikers who need detailed topographical maps.

Features

Amazon.com is listing Garmin eTrex H Handheld GPS Navigator for under 90 bucks, which makes it one of the least expensive yet powerful GPS models to be found anywhere. The unit is comfy to hold, the buttons are convenient, and the tracking is accurate. We think you will see that the value truly is hard to beat.

The eTrex H is very easy to use. You may be hard-pressed to find a more simple-to-use GPS than this one. The LCD display is easy to read at virtually any time of day. It is waterproof and very durable. The eTrex H runs for about 17 hours on a pair of AA batteries. This is longer than most comparative models, another reason why this GPS is easier on your wallet.

In the box you get the eTrex H GPS navigator along with a wrist strap and a users manual. There are many different carrying cases available which can be purchased for the unit, but this model is very durable so you may not need one. The eTrex H measures in at 2w x 4.4h x 1.2d inches and comes with a 1 year warranty.

Pros and cons of the eTrex H Handheld GPS Navigator

The battery life goes a little longer than many comparable GPS models. You should still carry around a few pairs of AA batteries on your long hiking trips, but you will feel the value of the battery life this unit offers.

This is a great model for first time GPS owners, and if you enjoy geocaching this model should be a great tool for you. If you are looking to do a lot of hiking then you may have to consider purchasing additional maps from Garmin as the built-in maps on this unit are not as detailed and suited to all terrain as the built-in maps on other GPS units. This model does not come with extensive and detailed topographical maps. You will have to purchase them which could cost you more than the GPS itself.

You should be able to figure out the eTrex H with ease. The buttons are simple and it feels good in your hand. For many first time GPS buyers, this model is a complete win because it is so affordable and yet very fast and very powerful. It’s comfortable and accurate. It’s hard to beat for those on a tight budget. Why spend the extra money on a bigger more feature laden GPS when you don’t need all those extra buttons and maps? They may only slow you down.

Is this the right handheld GPS for you? It depends on the types of activities that you will be focusing on. If you are just trying to keep track of your location while on fishing trips, this unit should work surprisingly well because of it’s price and ease of use. Its simplicity puts it among the best outdoor GPS units. You probably wouldn’t need any extra maps. However, if you are looking for highly detailed topographical maps for your long hiking expeditions, then you may want to consider a different GPS model or factor in the extra price to purchase a good topographical map.

See what some other users have to say.

By David Michmerhuizen… If you’re only interested in point to point navigation (geocaching, trail tracks or just finding your way back to the car or the ski chalet), then this unit will do a great job for a no-regrets price. If you’re looking for road network navigation, then this isn’t for you.

By William R. Drake… I wanted a basic, easy to use, GPS that would allow me to hike in the wilderness and easily find my way to and from various places without fear of getting lost; and to always find my way back to my campsite or car. I also wanted to be able to save locations I visited as well as locations on the topo map I had not visited yet but wanted to be directed to by the GPS. In addition, I wanted to take a reading “in the field” and be able to find that location on a topo map. This unit does all of this perfectly.

By Tim Warneka… I took this eTrex with me on a multi-day backpacking trip in Southern PA. I received the eTrex literally the evening of the day before I was to leave. I turned it on, watched a few on-line videos, and was off and running. (I even made copies of a few pages of the owner’s manual to take with me, but found that the unit is so simple to use that I didn’t need them.)

Click Here for more Customer Comments

The eTrex H is a great first GPS navigator because it offers powerful features for those on a low budget. We also put the eTrex H among the best outdoor GPS units.

$85 plus FREE Shipping at Amazon.com CLICK HERE

Outdoor GPS Buyers Guide

When you are looking to buy a new Outdoor GPS unit, there are certain factors to consider in your analysis.

Each product has it’s advantages and drawbacks so the first step is to understand exactly what features you need to have to meet the intended use of the GPS unit.

Someone involved in advanced hiking or boating in romote areas will have different needs from someone who needs a GPS to join in a geocache hunt. This article is intended to help you understand the top three features to consider when looking for the best outdoor GPS units for your purpose.

What built-in maps does the unit have?

When you are looking at the best outdoor GPS units to find the one that fits you, ask yourself this question. “Which outdoor activities will I be doing most with my new GPS?” There are many different possible answers. Road tripping. Hiking. Backpacking. Fishing. Geocaching. Random adventuring. The list goes on and on, and chances are that you do not incorporate all of these activities into your outdoor adventure routine.

This means you have specific needs, so there is a specific type of GPS that you will need. If you are going to use your GPS mostly for finding great fishing spots, then you will most likely be satisfied with a low-budget handheld GPS with no upgrades. These low-priced GPS navigators are still powerful and they are usually very speedy and convenient to use as well. They may not have the most detailed maps but they will suit your needs without putting a giant hole in your wallet. And that’s important.

But say that you are a hiker and as a hiker who likes to go on long adventure hikes you need very detailed topographical maps in your GPS. Well, know that not all GPS navigators come equipped in the box with detailed topographical maps. You may have to purchase them at an extra cost, and this extra cost may be more expensive than the GPS itself.

Loading time and speed.

GPS navigators that come out of the box with detailed topographical maps are sometimes not as speedy as other models with simpler features. So you need to take into account loading time. And this is why if you have simpler needs for your GPS then you won’t need an super functional GPS with tons of built-in maps. You just need a speedy little GPS that is comfy to hold in one hand with simple buttons that will get you to your fishing spots fast. Maybe you do geocaching. Low-budget GPS navigators are usually great for geocaching as well. If you will need detailed topographical maps then you will likely need to have more patience for your GPS to load your positions.

Price and cost of upgrades

It’s possible to grab a very powerful and functional handheld GPS for under 100 bucks. It will load your position quickly even in canyons and in covered places. But there are many upgrades that can make your GPS experience even better. Depending on the model that you choose, you may be forced to purchase upgrades.

For example, if you purchase a model that does not come packaged with detailed topographical maps, then you may find you have to purchase them at expensive costs. So try to figure out what your exact needs are and what you will use your GPS for so that you don’t have to spend extra money later on upgrades.

Additional features to look for:

Screen size: Some GPS units have 2.1 inch screens and some have 2.6 inch screens. You may need a bigger screen for your particular usage or you may be able to save money by purchasing a GPS with a smaller screen. The best outdoor GPS units have screens that are readable in good and bad lighting.

Battery life: Many GPS units run on a pair of AA batteries for convenience. However, battery life with vary from model to model. Also, some models may require you to run certain features for and extended amount of time which my use even more battery power. The average run time for batteries in a GPS is 14-17 hours.

Do not fail to take into account what activities you will do most with your GPS. Otherwise you won’t end up happy with your purchase.