GPS Systems and Reviews

Why a Handheld GPS Unit Maybe Your Best Buy

It seems these days GPS systems come in all sizes, prices, and designs. You can get them for a vehicle or your wrist and even to hold in your hand. The real question though, which is really best for you. We have looked at all three different types and we have come up with why the handheld is really your best option. Read further to find out why the handheld GPS system is the way to go.

Handheld GPS systems are very popular these days and in my opinion probably, your best buy right now. Let us look a little closer and see why that is. First most handhelds are so portable that you can toss them in your pocket, purse, or even briefcase. These are much tougher to steal as you can hide them where a car unit that is mounted many ties cannot be.

Do you love to hike? Ride a bike? Or even go fishing? Than the handheld is the model for you. Most handheld GPS systems now can be used for a variety of different applications. This means no matter where you are or what you want to do just toss it in your pocket and you are ready to go. Other portable units do not let you do that.

Handheld portable GPS systems are fast becoming the units of choice. There use to be a time when the screens on these models were small and ugly looking, but that has really changed. The Screen resolutions are much better and many models have introduced color, which have been big selling points for these units, but it does not stop there. Map selection in many of these models also has improved and you can almost get any map you want. This means no matter if you’re traveling on the highway or deep into the mountains, you can access the map that you need.

Other big changes that have come to the handheld GPS unit are the SD memory card slot. This means you will be able to add more things to the unit as well. You can actually change memory cards and have certain data on each one. This means you no longer have to worry about searching all the time or running out of room on a certain memory card. Battery life is something else that a handheld has a big advantage over. Most portable units have a real short battery life while these units have a much longer time. This is very important as you need them to last a long time especially if you’re away from home or have no way to charge your battery.

 Many of the newer handhelds also now use replaceable AAA or AA batteries so you can carry extra ones with you and never have to worry about your unit going dead. Prices are another area that has really seen a drop recently. When handhelds first came out they were on the expensive end, but that has change and they are much cheaper than ever before. I think that has a lot to do with the popularity of handheld GPS systems these days.

As you can see, handhelds have really changed since you first looked at them. They are much cheaper than when they first came out. You get many more extras than you can imagine. Battery life is also much longer so you can spend even more time wherever you are at. Lighted display even lets you do things at night without any worries about ever getting lost.  Toss in SD memory cards and you can see why the handheld GPS system probably is the best deal for your money.

It is true that portable GPS systems have bigger screens and maybe able to do some really nice things, but short battery life really makes these not practical for long time use outdoors. This is why more people are turning to handheld units than ever before. The ability of these to do so many things make them very enticing for people and that is why sales are really taking off for these types of models.

Overall, if you want the best product for your dollar than probably the handheld is the way to go. You get so much for your money they are really hard to beat these days. As more features are added to them, they will just become even more popular. Grab yours today and you will see why people love the portable electronic powerhouses.

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What is the Best Handheld GPS Unit?

It’s always fun to find a new device that you can tinker with like a toy. For some, this device might be a new watch, or a new stereo system, or even a new computer. But for those who like to get outside and have an adventure in a new area, their fun might be in purchasing some type of GPS device to help them navigate in the great outdoors. But of course, you can’t just go out and buy anything sitting on the shelf (or website). You have to be able to determine which ones are better than others. So in this article, we will look at which is the best handheld GPS unit according to the types available so that you can have a better idea of those that you might want to have accompany you on you next excursion.

What’s Available in the World of GPS?

Before you set out to buy the best handheld GPS unit on the market, it’s important to understand how many are really out there. Basically, there are a lot. There are some to be used for hiking, keeping track of your dog, biking, boating and more. So you will need to narrow down the reason you want to utilize one of these devices first – then begin to choose the one that has a reputation for being the best. To help you narrow down the options, I have created categories of popular use then listed the unit that had a top five ranking among reviewers. This way you can begin to determine which is the best handheld GPS unit based on your needs. 

Hiking – Magellan SportTrack

According to the experts, the Magellan SportTrack is one of the greatest options for those who love to get outdoors to hike along trails or in other remote areas. But it is not just good for hiking – you can also take advantage of features created for those who boat, bike, hunt or fish. It is revered for its high level of accuracy and offers nine large graphic navigation displays so that you can view all of the charting information regarding your travels in one place.

It is WAAS enabled and offers a quadifiler antenna that is able to pick up all 12 satellites orbiting the Earth at once (most devices on pick up 4 at a time). During your trek, you can store up to 20 of the routes you’ve taken so that you can easily go back and find where you hiked without having to guess. In addition, the device stores up to 500 waypoints, and 2,000 track points. And if you are hiking in a very remote area, the device can give you the Sun/Moon positions, and can even help calculate the fish and game in the area with incredible accuracy.

For Boating – EKP-IIIC Color

While it is hard to pinpoint the best handheld GPS unit for boating on the market, this device definitely makes the list. It is a great system for those who are on the water as professional boaters, or those who like to get out there occasionally. Its great features start with a high resolution TFT color display that is easy to view on a cloudy day or in the bright glare of the Sun. In addition, it offers WAAS compatibility, AvMap technology, and a C-MAP C-Card that lets you locate nearby areas and keeps you closely connected to other databases in the North, South and Central Americas.

Some other features of this device include internal land cartography for the Americas, a large 6.4” anti-glare screen with HIS display and 640 x 480 resolution, a simulator mode, auto zoom, and a fuel calculator. Overall, you can guarantee that this device will never let you get lost on the water.

For Fitness – Garmin Forerunner

There are several Garmin Forerunner devices on the market – seven to be exact. But what many people consider the best handheld GPS unit of the bunch is actually “wrist-held” which makes its use even more convenient. The Forerunner 101 was created for fitness purposes such as keeping track of your time, distance when running laps, cycling speeds, heart rate and more. It stores your stats from day to day so you can easily compare and improve, and even comes with a foot pod.

The best handheld GPS unit is probably impossible to find because there is so much competition. But this list will certainly help get you started. Just be sure that you have a type of device you’re interested in. That way, you’ll be able to find the best handheld GPS unit for your needs.

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