GPS for hiking?

[Dave M]

Can anyone reccomend a handheld gps system that can be used when out walking? Must be easy to use for parents and have a long battery life so it doesn't fail and they get lost.

Can you get detailed maps with walking routes for places like the lake district?

Lookup memory maps, you can browse your route on the PC - following the nice green paths on the OS map, then upload the way points to a small cheap gps like the yellow one posted above.

The more expensive ones have a big colour screen and you can load the OS map onto it, nice to get visual confirmation that you are on the path.

Truthfully though in the lake district you don't need either - just keep an OS map, a good guide book like a wainwright and a compass just in case you get dissorientated and don't know which way your pointing (it will rarely get taken out of the pack).

Paths in the lakes are generally very well defined and there will be people around who you can ask. I'd imagine the GPS will be far more valuable in deserted flat places (north yorks, dartmoor).

 

[Whappers]

map+ compass+ brain= win

 

[neodude]

Lookup memory maps

+1

Memory maps is VERY good. I have the full OS 50k & 25k maps for it as well as the CAA aviation maps.

 

[heeeed]

admittedly it was quite a few years back when I last looked at handheld GPS, and it seems people are saying they now have ones with OS maps loaded, but it used to be the fact that GPS would only give you lat and long readings and the OS grid doesnt always work nicely with that as its eastings and northings based grids.

I would echo whats been said before though, If you can't use a map well enough to know where you are safely then you shouldnt be out alone in an area that it matters if you get lost

 

[D.P.]

Problem is they are crap with maps and compasses, so they only want to rely on those as a backup.

Then they shouldn't go out. GPS are unreliable and you should never depend on them for hillwalking. Always, always rely upon map and compass, and have a GPS for backup or to help where necessary.

 

[neodude]

Then they shouldn't go out. GPS are unreliable and you should never depend on them for hillwalking. Always, always rely upon map and compass, and have a GPS for backup or to help where necessary.

Quoted for the truth.

I do a fair amount of hill walking up north and also climb the odd Munro. Learning how to use a map and compass is considered a bare minimum requirement if you are serious about hill walking. GPS should only be used as a backup or aid. If it's just for the odd wee walk though a GPS will do fine. Good for GeoCaching too.

 

[sist_si]

Don't know if anyone has mentioned it yet but I just upgraded my phone with Orange to the HTC TyTn II.
That has GPS built in and it's pretty darn good.

 

[neodude]

Yep. I've seen the GPS on the N95 and it's pretty good too. Can function as both an in-car satnav and a hiking GPS.

 

[greengiant]

You can go Geocaching if you own a GPS!

 

[Amp34]

Well if they cant read a map and use a compass what are they going to do when its cloudy, ****ing with rain, cold, and cant get a signal on the GPS?

You should be able to use a map and compass then move to the GPS not the other way round. Dont get me wrong GPSs are great but to have no other navigational skills is asking for trouble.



If you can get a signal, dont run out of batteries, malfunctions, drop it...

Eh? Are you trying to say GPS's can't get a signal when it's cloudy?

To the OP, it depends what type of GPS you want, you can get the Garmin eTrek for about £80 now. All you need is a normal map and you're sorted. Having said that it's advisable to know how to use a compass as well, as aside from a GPS stopping working they aren't very good at giving you bearings and direction.

admittedly it was quite a few years back when I last looked at handheld GPS, and it seems people are saying they now have ones with OS maps loaded, but it used to be the fact that GPS would only give you lat and long readings and the OS grid doesnt always work nicely with that as its eastings and northings based grids.

You can set the GPS to output pretty much any position format. from long/lat to OS others (I have used my GPS in Spain with it set to output the Spanish grid).

Then they shouldn't go out. GPS are unreliable and you should never depend on them for hillwalking. Always, always rely upon map and compass, and have a GPS for backup or to help where necessary.

Not necessarily picking on you but do you carry a second compass (even a small one) if going out (without a GPS)? If not then you can't really give the advice that going out with only GPS is bad. I know it's against accepted wisdom but modern GPS's are pretty much as reliable as compasses, just make sure you carry spare batteries for when they run out.

One rule I would say is essential is to carry a backup to your main navigation tool, you never know when your primary one will break. Unfortunately so many people don't do this, usually the people that get on your back when they see you using a GPS.