People are often bound to getting lost when venturing into most new and unfamiliar territories. For instance, when backpacking in backcountry or adventuring through a vast desert, your sense of whereabouts may often get mixed up, and without clear directions, you will end up lost or worse. Therefore, to prevent this, you will need an all-around GPS device to help you navigate your way through the territories.
Nevertheless, the numerous brands and models of these devices have made it quite difficult to find the best. Thus, this article has simplified the process of acquiring a GPS device by providing you with a list of some of the best all-around GPS devices and some additional information to help you make informed decisions during shopping.
What Is the Best All-Around GPS Device on the Market?
Recommended Top 6 Best All-Around GPS Devices
How to Choose the Best All-Around GPS Devices for Hunting?
Purchasing the best all-around GPS device is quite challenging from the numerous models currently in the market. Therefore, you need to adhere to some of the guidelines below by considering certain factors/features when shopping. These will guarantee that you get the most appropriate device for your utilization during hunting.
Satellite reception and speed
This is among the essential considerations when planning to acquire a GPS device for hunting. Thus, you should always check for a device with the capability of connecting to the most number of satellites in an area, possibly close to at least 24 satellites. This will enhance the accuracy of the navigational process while also improving the speed of information relay.
Furthermore, a powerful antenna is also a crucial feature for consideration in this segment. This is because it will facilitate the reception of maximum signals from the satellites despite the terrain or obstacles. Henceforth, better reception will guarantee faster and more accurate navigations.
Display screen quality
This is usually dependent on a number of features such as the screen size, the color display capability, resolution, backlight, and many others. Therefore, when shopping, you should always look for an appropriately sized screen, preferably wide, since this will facilitate a more detailed viewing of the maps.
Furthermore, the resolution on these devices should also be moderate to high to allow you further clear visibility of the items displayed. Similarly, a colored screen is usually better for more realistic representations and a little backlight for versatile applications, whether in direct sunlight or shade.
Controls and ease of use
This is also an important factor because you do not want to buy a very complex device. Thus, a hunting device should be very easy to use with quick responses. Henceforth, you should look for a GPS device with easy to press and instantaneous response buttons or even a touch screen system. Furthermore, the device should be ergonomic in that it is easy to handle even with other hunting equipment in hand, thus limiting inconveniences in the fields.
Durability
A GPS device should be strong and durable. These are usually complemented by the manufacture materials and designs such as waterproofing and tough-rough casing. These will prevent damage by water or humidity or even pressure impacts due to falls on hard surfaces since these are elements pretty common in the wilderness where most hunting takes place. Therefore, your device should always be robust to be able to withstand any of nature’s destructive elements.
Power source
This is also vital when it comes to the reliability of these GPS devices while out in the wild hunting or adventuring. You should, therefore, choose a device with your most preferred power source option. These are commonly battery, and others are often rechargeable. Nonetheless, your device should be able to provide you with navigational information for the longest time possible to minimize inconveniences and being stranded because your gadget depleted its power before you completed your hunting /adventure.
Best All Around GPS Devices reviews
#1. Best For Bike – Wahoo ELEMNT Bolt GPS Bike Computer
Pros:
- Easy to set up and use
- Good battery life
- Waterproof
- Easy and straightforward to read the screen
- Aerodynamic design
- Competitively priced
Cons:
- Frustrating to read the screen on sunlight
- Requires smartphone for some setup steps
This is one of the top-ranked GPS devices currently in the market. It is liked by many because of the numerous unique features often incorporated in its design to give the user a satisfactory engagement during utilization. Some of the features include its aerodynamic design. Thus, it is usually an integrated system computer and mount built for the front of your bicycle.
This device also allows for companion app setups by interfacing with your smartphones, thus enabling for automatic pairing process, settings customization, the configuration of workout pages, easy linkage to other popular cycling apps, among others functions.
The all-around GPS device is also capable of automatic route downloads and uploads to your screen through compatible third-party apps such as the Strava, ride with GPS, Best Bike Split, Komoot, Singletracks among others. These maps will further facilitate the automatic pop-up and LED turn by turn notifications on the screen to ensure that your riding is accurate and never miss a turn.
The device also comes with a long-life battery capable of sustaining the device operations for up to 15 hours of constant utilization. The device is also waterproof up to a 5 ft. depth thus can withstand certain weather elements such as rainfall and high humidity. The GPS device also fully integrates with the Strava Live segment hence allowing you access to precise progress status.
#2. Best For Running – Garmin Forerunner 35 GPS Watch
Pros:
- Easy to use
- Versatile functionality
- Sufficient battery life
- Fairly priced and affordable
- Waterproof
- Lightweight and highly mobile
- Tracks interval training
Cons:
- Occasional compatibility issues with some customer phones
- Black and white screen quite challenging to read on sunlight
Garmin brand is often popular in the market for its high-quality products. Thus, this model product from this company is usually accompanied by various features that guarantee maximum performance during utilization.
This GPS device is usually designed as a running watch, thus usually worn on the wrists to track an individual’s distance, speed, and location, as they exercise/run. Some of its features include the Garmin elevate wrist heart rate technology used to estimate an individual’s heart rate at the wrist any time of the day or night. This is usually beneficial to the health monitoring process of an individual.
These devices can also be paired with other devices such as smartphones henceforth enabling for smart notifications, automatic uploads to Garmin Connect, live progress tracking, and even music control during your running. These GPS devices are always precise and vital in health improvement since they not only focus on your heart rate but also estimates the steps you take each minute, the number of calories burned each time, pace and also is programmable to remind the user when it is time to move/ engage in an activity. The device is also quite slim, small in size, and lightweight, thus convenient for wrist application and easy mobility during walking/running.
#3. Best For Outdoor Life – Garmin eTrex 10 Worldwide Handheld GPS Navigator
Pros:
- Ergonomic and easy to use
- Comes with preloaded worldwide maps
- Waterproof
- Cheap and affordable
- Long battery life
- Large display screen
Cons:
- Monochrome screen a little challenging to read on sunlight
- Limited internal storage
- Preloaded maps are basic and with limited details.
This is another product from Garmin with totally different design features. Nonetheless, it is equally quality built with unique features to rival any other all-around GPS devices in the market. Its design is usually ergonomic hence a little rugged on the edges to facilitate easy and perfect fitting to an individual’s palms. This device usually comes with a preloaded worldwide base map to allow for easy access to any location on the world just by a single tap, thus allowing for easy navigation. HotFix and GLONASS further support the device through a WAAS enabled GPS receiver, this further improves on locational precision, fast positioning, and signal reliability.
The screen is also quite wide, measuring the lengths of 2.2 inches incorporated with a monochrome display. This gives the user a clear and wide area of view for proper locational determination. The GPS device is also made waterproof to the standards of IPX7, thus has ample protection against weather elements such as humidity and rainfall without getting damaged in the process and inconveniencing the users. It is also eco-friendly in the sense that it minimizes the use of paper geocaching.
The device usually comes with two AA batteries for its power. These provide constant operations for at least 20 hours straight, thus minimizing frustrations of constant power depletion. The design is further programmed to indicate a variety of points on the pathways. For instance, it will show you areas of low/high altitudes, the starting point of the journey, and the finishing point and even store waypoints. This will provide you with ample information to estimate time and distance for the entire journey.
#4. Best For Golfing – Garmin Approach S10 Lightweight Golf Watch
Pros:
- Simple and easy to use
- Fairly priced
- Lightweight and comfortable
- High resolution and sunlight readable
- Rechargeable and Sufficient battery life
- Comes with preloaded worldwide golf courses
Cons:
- Occasionally slow on picking up course details
- Cheap and non-durable wrist band
This model from the Garmin brand is also very popular among customers and thus comes highly recommended. Golfers majorly utilize it; however, its features also allow for all-around functionalities. For instance, some of the incorporated features include the over 41 000 preloaded golf courses worldwide.
This provides the user with information during golfing regarding yardages to the front, back, and middle of the green. It also allows the user to be aware of any hazards and doglegs on the course, thus quite effective to a golfer. The display screen on these devices is also made with sunlight readability capability and high resolution, thus allowing you a clear visualization of any mappings/indications even in an open field in the middle of the sun.
The GPS device is usually in the form of a sleek designed watch, quite comfortable and lightweight for easy utilization in the golf course without getting any fatigue from weight or discomfort. Furthermore, all the progress achieved while on the course can often be saved in terms of time taken, and total distance played for a detailed summary of the rounds. The watch also allows for compatibility with smartphone devices, thus facilitating notifications and free uploads of Garmin’s scorecards for further referencing. The GPS device often comes with a rechargeable battery that can sustain the user while in golf mode for at least 12 straight hours, thus very convenient.
#5. Best For Trekking – Garmin eTrex 22x Handheld GPS Navigator
Pros:
- Straightforward to use
- Exemplary screen quality
- Long battery life
- Lightweight and ergonomic
- Reliable easy to push control buttons
- Fairly priced
- Sufficient internal and external storage
- Sunlight readability
Cons:
- Quite primitive and limited base map
- The screen is quite small.
This is another ergonomic handheld GPS device from Garmin suppliers. This device is also designed with the highest of standards for exemplary performance during utilization. Thus, some of its features include advanced screen display. The screen usually measures 2.2 inches wide for the accommodation of a large geographical area. Furthermore, the display is also colored with enhanced sunlight readability, which guarantees clear visibility at any time of the day despite weather conditions such as sunlight without the need to strain your eyes. The display pixels incorporated in the design are also 240 by 320, which brings about high resolution, further improving readability and visibility of the screen displays.
The device also comes with preloaded Topo Active Maps with routable roads and trails for precise distance, time, and location determination, thus facilitate much more simplified trailing, hiking, or cycling. The satellite support from the GLONASS systems further facilitates easy tracking and precise readings, even in challenging weather and topographies. The device also comes with an internal memory of at least 8 GB and a slot for a micro SD card, enabling the download of additional maps to enhance your mapping further. The device utilizes two AA batteries, which are usually capable of sustaining the device in GPS mode for a constant 25 hours straight, thus quite convenient for long-distance hikers/cyclists.
When Do You Need an All Round GPS Device?
GPS devices usually come with numerous functions, which are often ultimately beneficial to the user. For instance, some of the GPS device functions include;
Precise position determination
Thus, you will always need a GPS device to find out exactly where you are geographical. This might aid in other benefits such as distance calculation or determining whether you arrived at a pre-determined location.
Navigational use
These GPS devices can also be used when moving from one place to another. They will help show you the path to take throughout your journey.
Tracking of things
These devices are often widely applied in the tracking business. Thus, you can often track individuals, mainly children, the elderly, or even those with mental illnesses, to always know where they are. You may also install them in objects such as vehicles or airplanes to assist in precise location tracking and may even help with theft and recovery processes.
Apart from these, you can also opt to track your movements to assist during a fitness exercise to determine the distance covered.
Geographical mapping
Furthermore, you may also use these devices to map out a region or a terrain to give you a clear view of the land’s layout or formulate a general map that could otherwise be used at a later date, even by others.
Timing
These GPS devices can also be used when an individual needs to know the precise time in one region and maybe the time it will take them to arrive at the next destination.
These devices are thus often configured into areas such as Emergency Response, Entertainment, Health and Fitness, Transportation, Sporting Activities, Security sectors, among others. In a nutshell, GPS devices are quite popular in the modern-day society to an extent they are often applicable in almost all the vital fields and industries globally.
Conclusion
GPS devices are usually essential in many situations and thus should be part of your everyday life adventures. Nonetheless, finding the best GPS device in the vast market is often very difficult. We have subsequently provided you with information regarding GPS devices and how to acquire the best models by simply considering certain factors. Furthermore, listed above are some of the best all-around GPS devices worth purchasing since they are of high quality and guarantees maximal efficiency during navigations.
