Holidays and Hiking - Tips For GPS Use

For your next hiking holiday, think about a GPS device. GPS or Global Positioning System is a tool that more and more hikers are bringing with them. The system, simply broken down is a series of satellites and units that people will carry. With three rotating satellites, rotating around the Earth it is easy to calculate your position using these handheld tools. Another satellite helps to determine your altitude as well.

What You'll Find

There is a variety of GPS units available today, with a range of pricing available. The more features you find, the more costly they will be, but very basic units are also available. Some allow you to find your latitude and longitude very easily within seconds. They can pinpoint where you are from east to west and north to south.

Garmin offers a full line of products in various models and styles. As one of the leading manufacturers of this product, they provide quality across the board. There are other brands available as well. Brand should not be what you are looking for, though, as you want quality in the battery life, the weight of the unit and the control placement as well.

Various Features

GPS units offer various features. Some of them are waterproof, which can be very helpful when you are traveling over rivers or find yourself in the rain unexpectedly. You will find another distinction in the different numbers of waypoints that the units have. A waypoint is actually a term that is used for terrestrial coordinates. This is the longitude and latitude as well as altitude of your location. In some GPS units, the term waypoint actually means something different and is used to describe the number of landmarks that are found on the display of your unit. This varies based on the type of map that you have loaded into the unit as well as the unit itself. While more seems to be better here, it can also be distracting and overbearing. Instead, consider the right amount of information for your needs.

As the value of a GPS goes up, you will quickly find digital benefits including a digital compass. You may also find the ability to download various maps to your unit as well as the ability to relocated and zoom. Consider the Garmin model known as the eTrex. It is waterproof and provides up to 500 waypoints. It also offers controls on the side of the unit, giving you more display size. It is lightweight, too. This unit is about $200 in cost. That is about mid range in that quality range. Remember that you get what you pay for in these units. Know what you are getting before you buy.

If you are planning a hiking holiday, do invest in a GPS unit. Choose well because a quality unit means getting the best for your money. You should always consider what fits in your budget and offers features that you will use on your hiking holidays.

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