A lot of times, it’s easy to think that since the invention of smartphones, your life just got easier and your phone is probably the best handheld GPS system you have ever had. Well, a whole lot is made easy with smartphones as it is more like a quick fix for anything you may be looking for. However, when it comes to road trips, using your phone as a GPS may not exactly work out since it is most effective for short distances. So rather than have a lot of arguments with your partner or worse, get stuck or lost in a maze of roads, you should seriously consider making use of other handheld GPS navigation devices. There are compact GPS systems and even wireless GPS systems too. Thing is these handheld GPS systems aren’t analog, in fact, they’re brands that make it look like smartphones with about a 5-inch display. You could call those touchscreen GPS systems. Here are some reasons why you need one of these.
Handheld GPS Systems
One of the most important reasons for using these devices is their ability to keep working even in areas where there’s no signal. Keep in mind that you could get in areas where Google maps on your phone no longer receive a signal or maybe Apple maps also encounter a hitch and as such you’d be trapped or lost. These handheld GPS systems afford you the luxury to get where you want in a good time and without the headache, a lost signal would cause. It will also keep going even after your phone goes off due to battery constraints since most of these systems have replaceable batteries or batteries that can last up to 48 hours. The best handheld GPS systems have a lot of salient features and of course state of the art technologies. Here are some of them.
1. Garmin Handheld GPS Systems
Garmin is one brand that best believes has it figured out when it comes to handheld GPS systems. They have a lot of reviews and quite frankly seem to have enough types of GPS systems for every kind of client.
Garmin Etrex Touch 35
This is one of the GPS systems made by Garmin. This is made to be easy to read especially for those who have not had prior dealings with a GPS system. It has a touchscreen of about 2.6 inches and it is water-resistant. It would still be useful after a storm or rain or even strong winds, whatever harsh weather you may encounter on your trip. This system stores information and maps as it has a 4gb memory to do that and would warn you ahead of the terrain you are likely to find up ahead. It also has been loaded prior to purchase with a lot of geocaches and it’d be quite easy to navigate your way.
Garmin Inreach Explorer+
This is another device from the Garmin family. This device lets you send messages to any cell phone number or email address should you be in any kind of distress. It also works without any cell signal from anywhere in the world. You could also link your phone to the GPS system via Bluetooth so you can access more. Oh, and it has a 2200 mAh USB power bank just in case the system runs out of power.
Garmin Etrex 20
This is yet another GPS device that has a lot of geocaches already loaded in. It can give you information about the topography of a place and can maintain your GPS coordinates even in the worst conditions.
Garmin GPSMAP 64st Topo US
This GPS device comes with a 2.6-inch touchscreen and has been loaded with US maps for all of your outdoor adventures. Something of interest is that it has a year subscription for bird’s eye satellite imagery. This is an interesting way to take charge of your road trip.
2. Magellan Handheld GPS Systems
Of course, this is another brand worth checking out. They are known for their evolving technologies when it comes to GPS systems. They also have a wide range of handheld GPS systems.
Magellan EXplorist 310
This is a ready-to-use GPS system that allows you to realize its full potential right from when it is purchased. It has an LCD display of 2.2 inches and its menu is quite simple to operate. It also has about 18 hours of battery power and power save options before you would need to replace them. With the geocaches that come with it, you will be banished to a paperless trip and isn’t this what we all want?
Magellan Triton 1500
This handheld GPS device has all you’ve been looking for. First of all, it has a 2.7-inch full-color touchscreen. You could listen to mp3 files and audiobooks and also record audio files on to it. This would mean it has the storage space to house your music and audio files. For your convenience at night, it has an LED flashlight that would help you navigate better if you were hiking. So it is safe to say that this GPS system can help you find your way and also keep you entertained too.
Magellan Explorist 350H
This device is easy to use with simple menus and outright buttons that don’t feel like rocket science. It has a lot of inbuilt maps that are more like pre-installed and of course, with its SD card compatibility feature, it has a lot of space to play with. So you could add a lot more maps knowing you had enough space for them. It also has a full-color 2.2-inch display and an electronic compass that can show you where you are irrespective of how you stand even if you stood still. Its features also include a Multidirectional Patch Antenna, Rugged & waterproof to IPX-7 Standard, 2GB Internal Memory, and Satellite Imagery From DigitalGlobe™.
All of these handheld GPS navigation devices are the kind you’d easily want to use considering the fact that the technologies used aren’t far from the ones on your smartphones. It is definitely something worth owning and of course, you would need it on that trip you’re so keen on taking this weekend.
