Like all tech devices, hiking GPS units have brought comfort and safety to hikers, whether beginners or more seasoned. More robust, waterproof or long-lasting than a smartphone or a standard GPS, these devices dedicated to walking are plentiful on the market! Useful for some, unnecessary for others — even if it doesn't replace good old maps and compasses, it can nonetheless be recommended for certain hikes.
The hiking GPS: handle with care when you're a beginner
One might tend to think that a
Hiking GPS is ideal for beginner hikers. But not necessarily! If you can't navigate using a compass and a map, what will happen the day it breaks down? As a beginner hiker, it's important to first learn how to navigate without a tech tool before acquiring one — you can read a GPS well if you know how to read a map, but not necessarily the other way round.
Some hiking clubs offer GPS training sessions to help new users get to grips with their new device. However, don't lose sight of the fact that marked hiking trails don't necessarily require a GPS for navigation: in that case, it's more of a gadget than a genuinely useful device.
Stay safe and reassured with a hiking GPS
Whether you're for or against hiking GPS devices, certain routes and certain travel conditions make using such a device necessary. They provide both reassurance and safety. However, it's important not to lose sight of the fact that a GPS remains a tech device that can break down or malfunction. Never head out on a hike equipped with only a GPS: combine it with a map and compass, just to cover your bases.
Choosing your hiking GPS
Weight, battery life, signal quality, waterproofing, features, mapping, built-to-last construction… here are some of the criteria that can help you in your search for a hiking GPS. The type of GPS to choose depends on the type of hiker you are: do you hike for a day or a week at a time? Do you want to record your route and pull statistics from your hikes? Will the GPS be more of a safety tool in the mountains?
Like all other tech devices, hiking GPS units can be packed with features ranging from MP3 players to cameras, for example. Ask yourself how useful the features on the GPS actually are, so you don't end up with an expensive device you won't use to its full potential!
