GPS Devices for Geocaching Decatur AL
What is the Best GPS for Geocaching?
First off, you may be wondering, what is geocaching? Geocaching is a fun, low cost activity that you can do with family or friends. Many hikers love the sport of geocaching because it hones your navigational skills, and is another reason to spend time outdoors. I have written another article on geocaching, which is essentially outdoor navigation with GPS.
Geocaching is a modern day treasure hunt, although you do not keep what you find. Instead you replace it with something else of the same or higher value. When you geocache, you’re really not driven by the treasure, but rather the process of finding the cache. It is a great way to enhance your GPS navigational skills.
Participants use GPS devices to track down their treasures, therefore it is important to have a device that is easy to use.
What to look for in a GPSIf you want to find the best GPS for geocaching, there are several features you need to look for. There are hundreds of devices available, and some are great for fisherman, others are better for backpackers, and yet others are ideal for geocachers. So to help parse through the product offerings, compare the devices based on the following criteria:
- Screen size. Is it easy to see the information on your screen? Can you resize maps easily? Will you need reading glasses to look at the maps?
- Ability to lock onto satellite signals. How quickly can the device find a signal? Will it work in cloudy conditions?
- Size and dimensions. Is it of a practical size and dimensions? Can it easily clip to your daypack or is it heavy and bulky?
- Waterproof. Many claim to be waterproof, but are really just water resistant. If you think you might drop yours in a stream or lake, make sure it is waterproof!
- Battery life. A short battery life can easily cut a fun day of geocaching day short.
- Weight. If you are a hiker and backpacker, this will be important to you.
- Budget. Depending on your budget, you may also decide on a color display vs. black and white, although it won’t necessarily make you better at geocaching! There are touch screen displays, built in cameras and MP3 players, and many other features that are nice, but not necessary.
- Built in Geocaching Feature. Some GPS devices have a geocaching mode that enable you to keep track of cache locations. Some even enable you to wirelessly download locations of caches.
The Best GPS for Geocaching:
The key is to get a device that is reliable, has the functionality you need, and fits your budget. Some of the major manufacturers of GPS devices are Garmin and Magellan, so you are likely going to see a lot of them on the market. Any GPS will be useful in geocaching, but some are better than others.
Here is a list of the best ones I’ve found:
Rugged, highly functional, best value GPS for geocaching. This Garmin GPSMAP 60 has a very large display for its size, and it is waterproof and easy to read. It has more functionality than a very basic GPS dev...