It is a gear assessment concerning the Greatest Handheld Climbing GPS for 2024.
Handheld GPS Models are light-weight, have lengthy battery life, and are correct for figuring out your precise location.
Not everybody has mastered the artwork of studying a map and studying the right way to use a mountain climbing compass. For many who can’t learn a map, taking among the best handheld GPS items for backpacking is a tremendous strategy to preserve monitor of your hike, regardless of the place you find yourself.
Let’s have a look at the very best mountain climbing GPS units in the marketplace for 2024 and work out which ones stands out as the very best of the very best.
How We Examined
All of the Climbing GPS Units on this assessment have been extensively evaluated and researched by the skilled writer who has greater than 30 years of expertise in Via-Climbing, Backpacking, and Climbing. The analysis, testing, and expertise of the writer have mixed to provide you with the Greatest Climbing GPS Models for 2024. Learn the Evaluation Coverage for additional particulars.
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Greatest Climbing GPS for Backpacking 2024
The Greatest Climbing GPS for Backpacking in 2024 are:
Greatest Garmin Climbing GPS 2024
Garmin Montana 700i
Weight: 14.5 oz / 410 grams
Battery Life: 18 hours in GPS mode and 330 hours in expedition mode
Battery Kind: Rechargeable built-in Lithium battery
Professionals:
> Affords a slate of options that help you keep extremely secure all through your trek.
> The sturdy construct will face up to the weather and unintended drops onto by terrain.
> The Massive touchscreen show makes it simple to learn all the knowledge.
Cons:
> Options equivalent to climate and 2-way communications require a subscription
> Not Low cost
Regardless of having a big and responsive touchscreen, the Garmin Montana 700i GPS gadget is constructed to resist all the parts, and extra! Its stable development is military-tested and confirmed to resist drops from excessive heights, moist situations, and unintended impacts to the display.
All maps include detailed topo maps, to see the situations of the terrain you’re venturing in direction of earlier than you even get there, to maintain you secure, and to help you make knowledgeable selections on the fly.
When venturing to nice heights, the Garmin Montana 700i additionally advantages from a built-in Barometric Altimeter, Barometer, and digital Compass Sensors (ABC sensors).
The barometric altimeter is correct and is used to measure your altitude when navigating hills or mountains.
There’s a barometer, to trace the climate situations, which can be checked intimately through the built-in inReach Climate app.
And there’s a compass to find out which path you might be heading.
You too can stay safer by maintaining to public footpaths, because of an elective show that reveals you the boundaries of federal public land so that you simply don’t find yourself by accident trekking onto non-public property!
It additionally has an SOS PLB and is a 2-way messaging however at an added value. For those who don’t need the added additional of getting subscription-based two-way satellite tv for pc communication and Emergency Rescue Beacon, then get the mannequin with out the ‘i’ on the finish. Get the Montana 700.
General, that is the very best handheld GPS gadget in the marketplace in the intervening time.
Greatest GPS for Climbing – Runner Up
Garmin GPSMAP 67i
Weight: 8.1 oz / 230 grams
Battery Life: 165 hours in commonplace mode and 840 hours in expedition mode
Battery Kind: Rechargeable battery, built-in Lithium battery
Professionals:
> Makes use of inReach know-how for 2-way satellite tv for pc communication
> Nice shade display
> Compass, Altimeter, Barometer
> Superb battery life
Cons:
> Not the most cost effective
> Will take some time to learn to use all of the options
The brand new Garmin GPSMAP 67i is the up to date model of the top-spec 66i. The primary enchancment has been in battery life which jumps from 35 hours to 165 hours when utilizing essentially the most battery-heavy options of monitoring and in-Attain, and from 200 to 840 hours when utilizing the battery-saving expedition mode. That characteristic alone is an efficient purpose for an improve nevertheless it does include a better price ticket.
The Garmin GPSMAP 67i has the choice of utilizing the Garin in-Attain know-how to facilitate two-way satellite tv for pc communication and the flexibility to contact search and rescue within the creation of an emergency. Whereas this prices an additional $100 on prime of the value, plus a month-to-month subscription value will be worthwhile for a lot of hikers and backpackers.
It comes with the choices of a number of sorts of shade maps together with satellite tv for pc maps, the very best multi-channel GPS satellite tv for pc methods, and greater than sufficient waypoints and monitoring for most individuals.
There’s additionally the standard barometric altimeter, barometer, and compass.
This top-of-the-range mannequin does include a excessive price ticket. However contemplating the options, it might exchange a Climbing Watch, PLB, and a Climbing Compass (though you need to all the time carry a compass).
General, the Garmin GPSMAP 67i is a completely featured Handheld Climbing GPS gadget that’s geared toward somebody who needs or wants all of the attainable options in a single unit.
Greatest Climbing GPS with Satellite tv for pc Messenger
Garmin InReach Mini 2
Weight: 3.5 oz / 100 grams
Battery Life: between 5 days and 14 days
Battery Kind: Lithium Rechargeable battery
Professionals:
> Extremely light-weight
> Very Good battery life
> Small dimension
> 2-way communications
Cons:
> Small Display
> Want a subscription to make use of the options
> The two approach communications are usually not as simple as some others.
The Garmin InReach 2 is an enchancment from the extremely popular Garmin InReach mini. This new mannequin was launched in 2022 and has a digital compass and a trackback characteristic so you possibly can comply with your tracks in the event you get misplaced. However most spectacular is the elevated battery life and it’s waterproof.
Though the InReach 2 is an enchancment on the unique inReach mini it’s not so spectacular that you need to do away with your inReach to improve. Actually, with the now-discounted value of the inReach mini, you possibly can avoid wasting cash by shopping for that.
The Garmin InReach Mini 2 doesn’t have good maps as compared with different backpacking GPS items because of the small display dimension. And doesn’t have as many options. But when small and light-weight is essential then this might be for you. To not point out you possibly can contact the skin world through satellite tv for pc if and when wanted.
General, if you’re on the lookout for a handheld mountain climbing GPS gadget that tracks your location, can contact emergency providers for rescue, and has two-way satellite tv for pc communication then that is the very best 2-way satellite tv for pc communication gadget in the marketplace.
Greatest Finances Climbing GPS [Currentyear]
Garmin e Trex SE
Weight: 5.5 oz / 156.5 grams
Battery Life: 168 hours in commonplace mode and 1800 hours in expedition mode
Battery Kind: AA Batteries
Professionals:
> Light-weight
> Compact dimension
> Easy to make use of and greatest fitted to newbies
> Correct GPS
> Fairly priced
Cons:
> Missing options equivalent to a shade display
The Garmin eTrex SE is the bottom mannequin and greatest price range GPS for mountain climbing. This price range providing options the identical GPS know-how as high-end multi-satellite methods that every one the opposite Garmin items use however at a fraction of the value. With the complete suite of GNSS (world navigation satellite tv for pc methods) satellites to enhance accuracy when in deep canyons or below heavy tree cowl.
It comes with a compass, monitoring, waypoints, and the flexibility to make use of Bluetooth to sync along with your cellphone for options such because the climate.
General, if you’re a newbie or simply need the fundamentals then the Garmin eTrex SE is the very best price range GPS for mountain climbing and backpacking.
Extra Backpacking GPS Models to Take into account
Garmin eTrex 32x
Weight: 5 oz / 142 grams
Battery Life: 25 hours in GPS mode
Battery Kind: 2 x AA batteries
Professionals:
> Constructed for journey, with geocaching options and satellite tv for pc photographs to entice thrilling mountain climbing.
> Crisp and clear display is simple to learn in all situations, and gained’t be affected by rain or snow.
> Small and compact development makes it simple to move with out trouble.
Cons:
> Small dimension might make it barely simpler to lose if not securely tied down, or saved away.
For those who want a mountain climbing GPS gadget that’s small and unassuming, and gained’t take up very important house in your pockets, then the Garmin eTrex 32x is ideal for you. Regardless of its small dimension, this gadget is simply as sturdy as you’d count on from the trusted Garmin model.
The Garmin eTrex 32x contains a watertight construct that gained’t be affected by rain or snow, so that you gained’t be wrestling to work together with its touch-screen.
In addition to this, the display itself is crisp, clear, and simply legible even in direct daylight, so that you gained’t have to search out your self a spot of shade earlier than you possibly can learn it.
This gadget may also make changes to its data based mostly on how you propose to get round. Wish to go Bikepacking or Biking? The Garmin eTrex 32x GPS will present you quite a few biking paths which can be good for attaining good speeds whereas remaining secure.
The Garmin eTrex 32x can be fantastic for the burgeoning journey sport of geocaching, the place you seek out small treasure troves within the exterior world that different gamers have left so that you can discover.
The eTrex 32x lets you preserve monitor of all geocaching quests that you’re on, so that you gained’t need to lug round paper clues, they’re all accessible proper out of your Handheld GPS gadget.
In addition to indicated problem ranges, so you possibly can just be sure you are collaborating in challenges which can be best for you.
With a small extra subscription payment, you additionally achieve entry to fantastic birdseye satellite tv for pc imagery, so you may get an ideal sense of the world round you, and mark landmarks and pure wonders in your map to hunt them down personally.
General, the Garmin eTrex 32x GPS gadget is constructed for journey and enjoyable within the exterior world, whether or not alone or with household and pals, making it good for these journey junkies who simply can’t get sufficient of the world round them.
Garmin GPSMAP 66i
Weight: 8.1 oz / 230 grams
Battery Life: 35 hours in commonplace mode and 200 hours in expedition mode
Battery Kind: Rechargeable built-in Lithium battery
Professionals:
> The SOS button makes it simple to warn providers of an emergency.
> The built-in texting system means you possibly can simply journey with out having to interrupt out your smartphone.
> Good battery life makes this gadget severely stand out!
Cons:
> To entry texting features, you have to pair the gadget along with your smartphone.
With options that elevate it fully above all competing mountain climbing GPS units and quite a few additional options, it’s no shock that the Garmin GPSMAP 66i would stand other than the gang as the best possible within the enterprise.
In contrast to many handheld GPS units which focus closely both on navigational options of security and communication methods, the Garmin GPSMAP 66i finds an unbelievable stability between the 2, in a tool that may simply compete with even a few of the greatest smartphones in processing pace and effectivity.
Studying the gadget is simple, because of its easy-to-understand design, which is paying homage to a traditional Nokia cell phone. This design makes the gadget simple to study and to become familiar with.
Whereas this gadget might lack a contact display, it’s nonetheless extremely simple to work together with, and conscious of all inputs. Each button is clearly labeled, with apparent features.
The buttons themselves are giant and evenly spaced, to make sure you gained’t find yourself by accident urgent one button once you imply to press one other!
Maybe probably the most helpful buttons is the particular SOS button, which juts out clearly from the aspect of the gadget, so you possibly can simply name for assist and help once you want it, with out having to scroll by infinite menus.
You too can ship detailed SOS messages, to element accidents, or the help you might require, because of the built-in satellite tv for pc messaging system.
This built-in satellite tv for pc messaging system additionally lets you ship textual content messages through satellite tv for pc, which does value an extra subscription payment however is effectively value the associated fee.
You too can simply join the unit to good units, and entry additional options through the Garmin Discover App, to retrieve additional information out of your day’s hike. Nevertheless, these options are thought of to be extras and aren’t essential to benefit from the gadget to its fullest capability.
You don’t want to attach your handheld GPS gadget to a sensible gadget to entry its most simple options, which makes it nice for customers with out good units.
You gained’t have to fret about operating out of battery life both! The Garmin GPSMAP 66i GPS gadget can final upwards of 35 hours when in GPS Mode, on a single cost when utilizing extra superior options. If you’re simply utilizing fundamental options, then you possibly can count on the battery life to final greater than 200 hours!
That is some critical battery life, which makes the gadget good for these long-haul hikes when you might not have quick access to an influence provide.
The Garmin GPSMAP 66i GPS gadget can simply be charged by plugging it into an obtainable plug socket, or a conveyable charging gadget, to help you journey even additional, not that you will want to cost this unhealthy boy up typically!
Handheld GPS Comparability Desk
Show and Buttons
The show and talent to navigate across the display will be touchscreen, buttons, or a mixture of each. The scale of the display may also have an effect on the load, battery life, and the way effectively maps and places will be displayed.
Touchscreen
A lot of the new fashions of handheld mountain climbing GPS items characteristic a touchscreen. This eliminates the necessity for buttons and may make navigating a number of screens throughout the app a bit simpler and faster.
A touchscreen does have its downsides. When the display is moist it doesn’t all the time wish to work in addition to it’s dry and at instances will should be wiped dry. And if you find yourself carrying gloves you typically will want a particular glove that has a display pad to have the ability to be used on touchscreen units.
General, I choose a touchscreen and so do many others.
Buttons
Easy, simple to make use of, and can be utilized with gloves and in all climate. A GPS gadget that makes use of buttons to navigate by the completely different screens is easy, cheaper they usually simply work. However as time strikes on and know-how advances they’re dying a gradual demise.
Dimension
The scale of the Climbing GPS gadget will decide the decision of the display, the load, and the way compact it’s. Even the largest handheld GPS items on this assessment are comparable in dimension to a smartphone, though normally fairly a bit thicker.
Weight
Whether or not it’s the ultra-compact and light-weight Garmin inReach Mini 2 or the full-featured Garmin Montana 700, they’re all not that heavy. For those who require fundamental options and weight is tremendous essential then go gentle and you’ll solely want to hold 3.5 ounces. For those who want a full-featured GPS then they weigh round 14 ounces in complete.
Climbing GPS Battery Life
There’s no telling simply how lengthy a hike may final. Some days it would take you a number of hours earlier than you determine to go again dwelling. On different days, you might select to tackle a long-haul journey, one which requires you to camp out in a single day.
Due to the uncertainty that mountain climbing can current, you have to make it possible for your handheld GPS has the best battery life to fit your wants. Most individuals use both a Energy Financial institution for Backpacking or a Transportable Photo voltaic Charger for Backpacking to maintain electronics charged. Carrying one in every of these will enhance the battery lifetime of the GPS gadget and for many hikers, they’re one thing you should carry to maintain every little thing charged.
Do you propose to hike for a number of hours on daily basis? If that’s the case, you have to purchase a Handheld GPS gadget with a suitably lengthy battery life, so that you simply don’t need to concern your self with a low battery stage.
Most handheld items will final upwards of 30 hours of battery life in GPS mode with one in a single day cost, which might be greater than appropriate for a day’s mountain climbing.
For those who plan to camp in a single day, and also you aren’t certain that you simply’ll be near an influence provide, you possibly can go for a mannequin with a bigger battery capability, or carry alongside an additional battery pack, to offer you an additional day’s value of cost.
If you’re an rare hiker or somebody who solely hikes throughout shorter distances everytime you do hike, then a mannequin with a shorter battery life must be greater than appropriate.
GPS units with shorter batteries might value much less as effectively, so you need to be certain to strongly contemplate whether or not you want prolonged battery life.
Regardless, most GPS units are fitted with high-grade batteries that final a very long time on a single cost, and that don’t degrade shortly after years of use. You may count on your GPS gadget to final you a few years, with correct care.
GPS Sturdiness
Climbing is a dangerous enterprise. The game entails you pushing your self to the restrict to witness superb vistas and discover the bountiful and exquisite exterior world round you. Nevertheless, accidents can occur.
Typically you might fall a brief distance or in any other case bash into a tough floor. You might even drop a few of your cargo by chance. In these cases, there may not be a lot of a danger of hurt to your self, however any delicate belongings you’ve gotten might develop into broken.
When selecting your good GPS unit make it possible for it’s sturdy and able to tackle what you throw at it.
For those who get pleasure from climbing nice heights and exploring tough terrain, it would be best to spring for a GPS unit that’s sturdy and gained’t break when dropped or in any other case broken.
Very similar to with different options, the higher the sturdiness, the upper the associated fee. If you’re solely sometimes planning on mountain climbing, then you need to solely want a fundamental stage of sturdiness, which all handheld GPS units try towards as a typical.
Ease of Use
Extra superior mountain climbing GPS units require larger data of the right way to function them and thus are usually not vastly suited to newbie customers.
There can be no level in springing for a extremely costly mannequin with plenty of bells and whistles, as you might not even know the right way to use it correctly.
When selecting a handheld GPS, be certain to contemplate your expertise stage with such units, and the way competent you might be at mountain climbing. If you’re simply beginning, you need to accept a extra fundamental mannequin that gives you with the fundamental data to get began.
That approach, ought to you end up having fun with the game, and proceed it additional, you possibly can simply improve to a costlier mannequin. If it seems that mountain climbing isn’t for you, then at the least you haven’t spent an excessive amount of of your hard-earned money on costly know-how.
If you’re a newbie, you must also look to make it possible for security options are simple to entry. Examine for units with clear buttons and consumer interfaces, particularly these with easy-to-access SOS buttons, simply in case of emergencies.
Handheld GPS Price
To place it merely, extra options imply a better value. In case your Handheld GPS gadget has additional options equivalent to texting, or geocaching amenities, then you possibly can count on to pay a better value for these options.
Some fashions even require an additional subscription payment to make use of those options, such because the Garmin Montana 700i and Garmin InReach Mini which locks sure extras behind a paywall.
For those who solely want the fundamental data out of your GPS unit: your location, the native climate situations, and the time of day. Then you may be totally happy with a less expensive gadget that has fewer options that you simply possible gained’t even use.
If you’re a newbie hiker, that is additionally the best choice for you. Having bountiful additional options might seem to be your best option, to start with, however your lack of expertise might render these options ineffective to you.
If you’re planning to spring for a costlier mannequin, which options satellite tv for pc messaging and Bluetooth connections, then you need to make it possible for these options are positively of use to you.
You may additionally desire a costlier mannequin if you’re extremely skilled in mountain climbing, and know the right way to maximize the settings on a handheld GPS to attain the very best outcomes.
GPS Watch
Needless to say some folks use a GPS watch instead of a devoted unit as talked about on this assessment. A GPS watch is a helpful merchandise that may do a whole lot of the identical issues as a few of the greatest handheld GPS items however they don’t have the identical computing energy, battery life, or features as a lot of the items talked about right here. However they’re getting very shut, so shut in truth that many individuals now choose a GPS Watch.
Conclusion
The Greatest Handheld GPS for Climbing and Backpacking in 2024 are:
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Steadily Requested Questions
Is A Handheld GPS Price Getting?
When you have a smartphone with GPS capabilities and map features, it will be simple to imagine that proudly owning a handheld GPS is pointless. What extra might a handheld GPS provide {that a} cellphone can’t?
What makes handheld GPS units stand above smartphones is their skill to supply reliable map information all through your hike.
A smartphone requires some type of mobile connection to have the ability to offer you the information to information you in your journey, so when mountain climbing by troublesome terrain, you might be more likely to lose connection and lose entry to your maps.
Handheld GPS units have up-to-date maps pre-installed, so that they require no type of connection to offer you an correct sense of your location, in contrast to a smartphone.
Ought to I Have A GPS For Climbing?
GPS units may help you to get a way of your bearings simply, this helps to maintain you from getting misplaced or wandering onto terrain that’s harmful, or that shouldn’t be accessed on foot.
Thus, GPS units are effectively value taking with you on any mountain climbing expeditions. It’s attainable to have a secure mountain climbing journey with out one, however for peace of thoughts, it’s best to have one helpful, even whether it is only a small and fundamental one.
Many handheld GPS units even have built-in SOS features, so you possibly can name for assist simply on the press of a button if you find yourself in a sticky scenario.
Does A GPS Want Wifi?
If you end up engaged on a mountain climbing journey, you don’t want any type of wifi connectivity. All maps are pre-installed in your gadget, so that you don’t want to hook up with wifi or use mobile information to maintain monitor of the place you might be heading.
Many handheld GPS units can hook up with the web, for features equivalent to map updates, however this isn’t important.
Some GPS units may also hook up with smartphones for added performance, however that is performed through a Bluetooth connection and requires no wifi or mobile connectivity.
Why Do You Want A Climbing GPS?
At this level, a prevailing query in your thoughts may simply be “Why do I would like a mountain climbing GPS?” What sorts of options can it probably provide, and is it any extra useful than a trusty map?
First off, it’s best to say that having a handheld GPS permits you entry to an extremely detailed map that requires no folding away, and doesn’t danger tearing from the slightest gust of wind!
A handheld GPS additionally makes it far simpler to search out your precise place, without having to triangulate it on a map.
You may additionally be questioning what a mountain climbing GPS might provide that your fundamental smartphone can’t.
Whereas it’s true that fashionable smartphones have extremely helpful GPS options that may make navigating unfamiliar areas a lot simpler, they will simply fail to take action as quickly as you run out of mobile information, or find yourself in an space with out a cellphone sign.
A handheld GPS can monitor your place on a map simply, as all maps are pre-installed into them in order that they will work regardless of the place you might be.
In addition to this, if you’re mountain climbing throughout harsh climate situations, a mountain climbing GPS will extra possible survive the weather higher than a smartphone, because of its extremely sturdy builds.
BikeHikeSafari Gear Evaluation Course of
The writer, Brad McCartney from BikeHikeSafari is a small impartial adventurer and out of doors gear tester who owns and runs BikeHikeSafari.com.
BikeHikeSafari just isn’t half of a giant weblog community and is proudly impartial. All opinions on this web site are impartial and sincere gear opinions of outside merchandise by the writer.
The writer, Brad McCartney is a really skilled triple crown thru-hiker, adventurer, and bike tourer having spent 1000s of nights sleeping in a tent and sleeping bag (Learn extra). He was a supervisor of an outside retail retailer and may be very skilled in what’s essential when utilizing and testing gear for opinions like this.
BikeHikeSafari won’t ever obtain any cash for opinions and they don’t settle for sponsored opinions on this web site. All of the feedback concerning the gear opinions are from the writer based mostly on his years of expertise. Hope this impartial assessment was useful for you.
