Track Your Location with a Handheld GPS Unit
Global positioning technology is wildly popular amongst drivers who want to navigate safely through unfamiliar or busy cities. Although, if you learn about the history of global positioning devices, you will find out that GPS devices were initially used by campers and other people enjoying the great outdoors who prefer to avoid losing their way. As manufacturers went about improving the technology in the most recent GPS devices for car owners, the same technologies were applied to the handheld GPS models as well. These modern handheld GPS devices are designed very much like mobile phones thanks to their silhouette and colored screen. Another great model to consider is TomTom GO 740 Live GPS Navigator.
Most of the GPS devices designed for vehicles can also be useful for outdoorsmen as long as they are comfortable with the interface. Most of the products marketed by TomTom, Garmin, and Magellan are unobtrusive enough to cradle in your hand or fit in your pocket. Yet if you plan on employing the device while hiking or using merely one hand, more appropriate interface may be useful. Here are a few products to think about.
Magellan Triton Series
The Magellan Triton series is a useful series to explore since each of the models from the starter model to the top of the line all look the same. The most affordable models use a very suitable 2.2” QVGA color monitor while a few of the higher end models come with a somewhat bigger screen of 2.7”. Every one of the Triton models benefit from a hardy construction and are waterproof, therefore you can confidently carry them around when crossing rivers or during rainy seasons.
Some of the Magellan models have a special AdventurePack label on them which indicates that the devices contain some specific software called the TOPO! Explorer. Extreme explorers should definitely take a closer look at these packages. The advantage with Magellan’s array of products is that they probably have a Triton GPS unit that won’t blow your budget with over 5 devices to choose from. Another nice option to consider is the TomTom GO 740 Live GPS Navigator.
Garmin Series
Garmin offers a wide range of handheld products and each particular series accommodates various types of navigation. As an example, the GPSMAP 7X series units are all maritime-friendly and ideal for crossing the open seas, while the GPSMAP 6X series units benefit from a more rugged construction for heavy duty navigation, even though they are still relatively inexpensive and contain a good set of applications like microSD support and efficient navigation.
The eTrex series are handheld GPS devices a customer ought to consider when the price is a major issue. They are easy to carry with some of them having a screen big enough to refer to with ease.
If you consider yourself a professional traveler in need of a product which is really resilient and equipped with specialized applications, the Colorado or Oregon series may meet your needs. Both series come with a multifunctional touch-screen display, a feature not provided in other Garmin series, and they even come with different maps depending on the individual model you get.
Remember that these handheld GPS devices ought not to be used for driving unless your passenger is using it. If you don’t need most of the specialized applications and want one device that can work on both the road and the trail, it might be very practical to buy a less specialized product that you can tote in a car or in your pocket. Another good item to consider is the TomTom GO 740 Live GPS Navigator.
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