Wizdom Found

If you know for sure that you’ll be using your handheld GPS specifically for geocaching, here are a few fundamental features that you should look for in any GPS system you’re considering:

1. Get a good sized screen, one with good contrast and transreflective properties that make it easy to read even in bright sunlight.

2. How fast does it lock on to satellite signals?

3. Does it have 12 parallel channels and is it WAAS-enabled which will allow it to pinpoint cache locations with more accuracy.

4. Will it continue to receive signals and display information under tree and cloud cover, and, for you city geocachers, will it continue to give guidance beside tall buildings?

5. Will it store a minimum of 500 waypoints? Yes, you want to find the cache, but you also don’t want to get lost, 500 waypoints will give you plenty of room to mark your way.

6. Is it lightweight and will it fit into your jeans or shirt pocket. Even a few extra ounces can feel like a ton if you’re carrying it for a long distance.

7. Is it strong and durable? You can be sure that any handheld GPS will get dropped and banged around a lot.

8. Is it waterproof or at the very least is it water resistant? No way around it, you’ll drop it in a puddle, stream, or river; or, you’ll find yourself in a down pour while hot on the trail of a targeted cache.

9. Does it have at least 10 hours of battery life? Generally speaking the longer the battery life, the heavier the GPS. But, if you buy a small lightweight unit, you can take extra batteries which will extent the unit’s usage time.

Many top rated GPS units have all these features, and many of them aren’t that expensive either.