Top 7 Best GPS For Hiking of 2019 • The Adventure Junkies

Do you like hiking in the mountains, exploring new trails or knowing where you are at all times? If so, you are probably a big fan of GPS units. With all the different options available on the market, sometimes it’s hard to find the best GPS for hiking that suits your preferences and budget.

It’s a complex piece of technology and reading though the specs can make your head spin. So, how do you know what is the best model for you?

That’s where we come in. One of our goals here at The Adventure Junkies is to make your life easier when it comes to choosing hiking gear. In this article we’ll walk you through what to look for while shopping for a handheld GPS and how to find the one that is right for you.

For more of our top hiking recommendations, check out Backcountry Navigation.

Quick Answer - The Best GPS for Hiking

Garmin eTrex 30x
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Garmin Oregon 650t
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Garmin GPSMAP 64s
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Garmin eTrex Touch 35t
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Garmin Montana 680
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Garmin eTrex 20x
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Garmin Rino 650t
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Comparison Table - Best GPS for Hiking

Picture	Name	Weight	Battery Life	Screen size	Price	Rating
	Garmin eTrex 30x	4.8 oz	25 h	2.2 in	$	4.2
	Garmin Oregon 650t	7.4 oz	16 h	3.0 in	$$$	3.9
	Garmin GPSMAP 64s	8.11 oz	16 h	2.6 in	$$	4.2
	Garmin eTrex Touch 35t	5.6 oz	16 h	2.6 in	$$	4.6
	Garmin Montana 680	10.2 oz	16-25 h	4.0 in	$$$	4.0
	Garmin eTrex 20x	5 oz	25 h	2.2 in	$	4.0
	Garmin Rino 650t	11.3 oz	14-18 h	2.6 in	$$$	3.5
Picture	Name	Weight	Battery Life	Screen size	Price	Rating

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Reviews - The Best Hiking GPS

Garmin eTrex 30x

Specs

Battery Life: 25 h
Screen size: 2.2 in
Weight: 4.8 oz

Features

3-Axis Compass
Barometric Altimeter
Wireless

BEST FOR HIKERS WANTING A SMALL & LIGHT GPS

PROS: Light, Small, Great Value, Long Battery Life

CONS: Small Screen, Topo Maps Aren’t Preloaded

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Garmin Oregon 650t

Specs

Battery Life: 16 h
Screen size: 3.0 in
Weight: 7.4 oz

Features

3-axis Compass
Accelerometer
Barometric Altimeter
8MP camera

BEST FOR HIKERS WHO WANT A HIGH END GPS

PROS: Maps Included, Easy To Read, Waterproof

CONS: Poor Battery Life, Pre-Loaded Topo Maps Are Based On 1:100,000 Scale Maps

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Garmin GPSMAP 64s

Specs

Battery Life: 16 h
Screen size: 2.6 in
Weight: 8.11 oz

Features

Super Bright LCD Display
Helix Antenna

BEST FOR BACKCOUNTRY & REMOTE HIKING

PROS: Accurate, Fast Tracking, Better Reception, Bright Display

CONS: Large, Heavy, Poor Battery Life

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Garmin eTrex Touch 35t

Specs

Battery Life: 16 h
Screen size: 2.6 in
Weight: 5.6 oz

Features

3 Axis Compass
Barometric Altimeter
Preloaded With Either Topo U.S. 100k or Topo Canada Maps

BEST FOR LIGHTWEIGHT HIKING, GEOCACHING AND CYCLING

PROS: Compact, Rugged, Light

CONS: Poor Battery Life, Small Screen

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Garmin Montana 680

Specs

Battery Life: 16-25 h
Screen size: 4.0 in
Weight: 10.2 oz

Features

Built-in Camera
Wireless Sharing
3-Axis Compass with Barometric Altimeter

BEST FOR HIKERS LOOKING FOR A BIG & TOUGH DEVICE

PROS: Glove Friendly Display, Big Screen, Can Mount Anywhere

CONS: Heavy, Bulky and Expensive

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Garmin eTrex 20x

Specs

Battery Life: 25 h
Screen size: 2.2 in
Weight: 5 oz

Features

6 Button Toggle

BEST FOR HIKERS LOOKING FOR A SIMPLE & AFFORDABLE DEVICE

PROS: Affordable, Excellent Battery Life, Easy To Use, Light

CONS: Small Screen, Less Accurate Than Bigger Units, No Electronic Compass

View at REI

View at Amazon

Garmin Rino 650t

Specs

Battery Life: 14-18 h
Screen size: 2.6 in
Weight: 11.3 oz

Features

5w GMRS/FRS radio
Antenna
3-axis electronic compass
Barometric altimeter

BEST FOR BACKCOUNTRY HIKERS WHO WANT GPS & RADIO

PROS: Streamlines GPS & Radio, Can Communicate With Other Hikers In Your Group

CONS: Bulky, Heavy, Not Possible To Charge Batteries Separate From Device

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HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST GPS FOR HIKING

BUTTONS OR TOUCHSCREEN?

Touchscreens operate faster because you don’t need to scroll through options. The downside is they use more battery than buttoned models, can freeze up in cold conditions, and don’t work as well with thick gloves.

Buttoned models last longer, work in all temperatures, can be used with thick gloves and are more reliable. The downside is they are slower to respond than touchscreen units and it takes longer to type in waypoints.

WEIGHT

As with any piece of gear you use for hiking, being lightweight is paramount. There are many compact models out there but if screen size is an issue for you, you might need to go for a larger one.

DISPLAY

Screen size is important for being able to clearly read the map. For touchscreen models, it is easier to use them with a large screen. The obvious downside to a bigger screen is these models weigh more and are bulky.

BATTERY LIFE

You don’t want to be out in the mountains and find out your GPS just died after a few hours of hiking. A minimum of 15 hours of battery life is recommended.

It’s a big plus if the device can take rechargeable AA or AAA batteries, because you can carry a spare set with you. Some models come with a dual battery system, which gives you the option of using the rechargeable lithium-ion pack or traditional AA batteries.

BUILT-IN MEMORY

GPS units store data internally and/or on a microSD card. This memory is used to store map data, waypoints, routes and, in some models, even audio, pictures and video. More memory lets receivers hold more data.

CONSTRUCTION

Due to the nasty weather you can encounter while in the outdoors, the handheld GPS units should be waterproof, shockproof and robust.

ADVANCED FEATURES TO CONSIDER

WIRELESS SHARING

Wirelessly share your waypoints, tracks, routes and geocaches with other compatible GPS users without using cumbersome cords or cables.

BUILT-IN CAMERA

Some models come with a built in camera to capture locations and memories. Your photos will also be “geo-tagged” so you can see where on the map you snapped the shot.

TWO-WAY RADIO

Some devices have integrated Family Radio Service (FRS) radios for up to 2 miles of range and General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) radios with a range of up to 14 miles (in ideal conditions), plus they get the latest forecast from the NOAA 7-channel weather radio.

HANDHELD GPS UNITS VS SMARTPHONES & GPS WATCHES

The handheld GPS units have several advantages compared to smartphones. They are waterproof, more robust and durable, and can be used with rechargeable AA or AAA batteries (which allows you to bring an extra set with you).

Also, the navigation is a lot easier in a handheld unit than in a GPS watch. The main reason is the screen’s size and resolution. Current GPS watches cannot simply show a good quality map suitable for hard-to-navigate terrain.

For more of our top hiking gear recommendations, check out these popular articles:

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