Why Use Hiking GPS?

So, you are considering buying a "hiking GPS"exactly how far you have gone, so you know
system for the next trip into the wilderness.how far you have to go. You can also more
What are you looking for in a system. Well, if youeasily identify where you are on the map, rather
are like me, you want something that is as lightthan having to look for land marks or trail
as possible to give you exactly what you needintersections.
and nothing more. Different systems haveIf you are hiking in a rather desolate area or you
different capabilities and you will have to weighare "cross country" hiking, a hiking GPS may be
the amount of technological muscle that you getespecially helpful. In general, it is rather difficult to
with the amount of actual muscle it will take toget lost on the "east coast," but if you decide to
carry the unit.go hiking out west or you are fishing in the
Some hiking GPS systems come with the optionEverglades or a place with difficult landmarks to
of downloading various maps such as topo mapsdecipher, a hiking GPS could save your life.
that you might get from the USGS website.So, what unit to choose? That´s really up
Other units are more bare bones, they may onlyto you. What are you expecting it to do. You can
provide the latitude and longitude of your locationbuy a watch with GPS to give you some simple
- you will need an actual map to figure out wherecoordinates or you can buy a massive piece of
you are.equipment that gives you everything you could
Some hiking GPS systems will track your path, soever want. So, if you just want to know your
you can see your path of where you have beenbasic location, buy something simple. If you want
on the screen. They can tell you your elevationto use the GPS to navigate or go cross country,
gain or loss and the distance covered.consider getting something that allows you to
So, why bring a hiking GPS? For one thing, theydownload maps and can track your path and
can be fun to have along. They can tell youcurrent location.