Geocaching remains a popular hobby with people who want to explore new places, find cool things, and get out there and get some exercise. It is a fun activity that anyone can enjoy. In most communities, there are a range of caches hidden so people can go as far as they want into rough terrain, or stay on normal paths and still find fun caches that are more suited to their confidence level and abilities.
If you are serious about geocaching, you will need a good GPS. Finding the best GPS for geocaching can be a little tricky since it depends on your budget and personal preferences.
Garmin Montana 610t
A lot of people consider the Garmin Montana 610t to be the best GPS for geocaching because it is very accurate, and has a large and easy to read screen. However, this is a more expensive device and it might not be something that you would want to let the kids use unsupervised.
Garmin GPSMAP 64st
If you want something that is more budget-friendly then this could be a good choice. It is a more affordable GPS that still has a decent screen, and that is water resistant and rugged. It boasts a dual battery pack too, so you’ll be able to get a lot of use out of it. Perfect for camping holidays.
Magellan eXplorist GC
Garmin are widely considered to be the undisputed leaders in the world of GPS devices, but they aren’t the only company that makes them, by far. The Magellan eXplorist GC is a waterproof GPS device that is incredibly lightweight and that can run for 18 hours on a pair of AA batteries. It has a strong signal and is quite reliable location-wise, and it even gives you weather updates.
It’s quite lightweight, but it is more expensive than some Garmin models.
Garmin eTrex H Handheld GPS Navigator
This GPS Navigator is aimed at serious explorers who want more sophisticated navigation information. The upgraded version has a better screen and also supports expanded external memory so that you can save maps. You can share information with other users wirelessly, and there are lots of other ‘quality of life’ improvements, too. The one downside of this device is that it is prone to hanging quite easily.
When you’re shopping for a GPS remember that what matters is not so much the price or even fancy feature set, if you’re relatively new to the world of geocaching. What most people need is reliability, waterproofing for bad weather, and a long battery life. As you become more experienced, you can start looking for other features that you ‘wish you had’.
Common ‘wishlist’ features include expanded storage, 3D view maps, and wireless map sharing so you can go entirely paperless on bigger geocaching adventures. Aim for 16-28 hour battery life, even if you’re not going on a full day trip, because this will give you more leeway if you get lost, stuck or forget to charge the device.
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