The Best Handheld GPS Review

Product Selection
We reviewed eight handheld GPS units designed for hiking. Four are top of the line models and four are entry-level models. Although each unit was designed for hiking, all can be used for other activities like sea kayaking, mountain biking, ATV, hunting, etc. Each model we tested is waterproof to IPX7 standards, which require electronic devices to withstand accidental immersion in one meter of water for up to thirty minutes.

Criteria for Evaluation
The units we tested are much more than GPS data loggers. These are small, multi-function computers designed to collect spatial data and assist you in getting from one place to another. We evaluated each unit based on its satellite reception, ease of use, speed, screen quality, and the quality of its mapping software.

Satellite Reception
The Global Positioning System is a worldwide radio-navigation system that consists of twenty-four satellites and their ground stations that owned and operated by the U.S. Department of Defense. The handheld hiking GPS units reviewed here use satellites to triangulate your position to within roughly five meters. (Some advanced GPS units have sub-centimeter accuracy.) All the units reviewed here have similar end point accuracies, but some achieve a 3D lock on your position faster, and maintain that lock, better than others. The highest rated unit in this category was the Garmin GPSMAP 62 series, which has a large antenna that protrudes from the top of the unit. When it comes to antennae and satellite reception, bigger is usually better.

See our Buying Advice Article for a more detailed discussion of how they work and what specific features to consider when buying one.

Ease of Use
Here we assessed how easy is was to perform certain key functions such as marking and editing waypoints, creating and editing tracks, navigating to a waypoint, or following a route. The primary features that influenced ease of use were screen type and button configuration. Here you can opt for either a touch screen (faster for entering text) or normal screen (significantly easier to see and faster cold weather). Our testers much preferred touch screens for entering and editing many waypoints, but found them to be lacking in quality and precision, when compared to the screen on the iPhone or any other smartphone. Most units with buttons have circular menus that rotate through a fixed set of programs (such as Map, Compass, Trip Computer). The Garmin 62 series improves upon this and allows you to customize the set of programs for quick access to the features and options you need. The quality of buttons is another crucial part of this variable. We were disappointed by how poorly some buttons functioned. The Magellan eXplorist 310, for example, has a multi-directional toggle that’s imprecise and difficult to press. Of the eight units tested this was the hardest to use. Similarly, the eXplorist 710 splits its keyboard between two screens so you have to laboriously page back and forth in order to enter text. In contrast, we found the Garmin Oregon 550, with its large touchscreen, single screen keyboard, and programmable home page, to be the easiest to use.

Speed
This variable assessed the speed of each unit. We timed how long it took to startup, get a lock on our position, draw maps, and change from one function to another. The fastest unit was the Garmin GPSmap 62sc, which draws large map files with ease.

Display Quality
Here we assessed how easy it was to see the screen. We found that touchscreens are much harder to see than normal screens and that greater resolution doesn’t necessarily improve visibility. As mentioned previously, the touchscreens on the GPS units we reviewed leave a lot to be desired. We recommend getting one if you enter a lot of text (long waypoint names or do a lot of geocaching), but otherwise suggest a traditional screen. The model with the best visibility was the Garmin 62sc.

Mapping Software
Each manufacturer includes software designed to organize, analyze (though functions are very basic) and project the waypoints and tracks you collect with your unit. Though this review focuses on the performance of GPS units in the field we will share a few brief thoughts on software.

Garmin Basecamp is our favorite software because it’s simple, intuitive, cross platform, and provides everything a basic GPS user needs. For example, you can easily display waypoints or tracks in Google Earth, a feature no other manufacturer supports. Basecamp is also the only software that’s Mac compatible! Magellan Vantage Point is very similar to Basecamp in that it offers a comparable suite of tools. We, however, prefer Basecamp because it’s slightly easier to use and is Mac compatible. DeLorme models ship with Topo North America, a powerful and impressive suite of detailed topo maps for the Unites States. Although these maps are excellent we found the software to be harder to use than Basecamp and Vantage Point. Performing basic functions, such as viewing an elevation profile of a route, requires more mouse clicks in Topo North America than in either of the other two programs. If you want to do some analysis skip the included software and download an open source GIS.

Maps
Some of the models we tested came with preloaded 100k (1:100,000 scale) or 24k (1:24,000 scale) topo maps. 100k is a useful scale for general navigation, but most people will prefer 24k when navigating in steep terrain. Garmin and Magellan charge you for digitized, downloadable topos, while DeLorme gives you Topo North America for free. (Garmin denotes models with maps by adding a "t" to the model number.) All manufacturers offer aerial imagery downloads for around $30 per year. One advantage of Garmin units is their ability to support custom maps, which allow you to georeference and upload any map or chart to your device.

You can also download maps and satellite imagery for free and transfer them to your unit. A great source for free maps is the GPS File Depot. The U.S. National Agricultural Imagery Program (NAIP) shoots high quality, free imagery for the entire continental U.S. every year or two. The United States Geological Survey's
Seamless Data Warehouse has a wealth of free spatial data. And of course, most U.S. states have a website that houses spatial data. If you want the best maps spend some time tinkering with the free data. If you want something basic and easy be prepared to shell out around $100 for topos from Garmin or Magellan.

BOTTOM LINE
Our testers were most impressed with Garmin’s comprehensive and well-designed units. In comparison, DeLorme and Magellan units are clunky and in need of refinement.

Our Editor’s Choice Award goes to the Garmin GPSMAP 62sc, a highly accurate, responsive, and easy to use GPS that excels at land based recreation, but also performs well on the water. The 62sc’s antenna maintains reception in heavy fog, cloud cover, in slot canyons, and under dense forest canopies- locations where most other units loose reception. Its 5 megapixel camera, large sunlight readable display, reliable buttons, and programmable menus also make it a versatile performer in all conditions.

Our Best Buy Award is presented to the Garmin eTrex 20, a small, lightweight hiking GPS that provides ample performance, an intuitive touch screen, impressive battery life and comes in a small package that will fit in your shirt, and not break the bank.