The Best Handheld GPS Review

Best Overall Handheld GPS

Garmin Oregon 600t

$299.99 at Amazon See It See all prices (2 found)

Despite Garmin releasing a new "top of their line" model with the Oregon 750, we still think the Oregon 600t is the best. It has a modern, high-quality touchscreen display. It resembles our smartphones, making it intuitive and easy to use. iPhone screens are higher quality, but this GPS device offers plenty of functionality. This model is highly accurate and loads maps with optimal speed. Packed with features, it includes a Bluetooth chip that allows you to share your waypoint and track data with receiving units nearby. It also hosts an electronic compass, 1.5 GB of memory, and 16 hours of battery life. The Oregon 600t redefines the standard for handheld GPS devices. We highly recommend this to anyone that does a lot of travel in low visibility conditions or has the cash the push the performance envelope. If you want a bit more, check out the Garmin Oregon 650, which comes with an 8-megapixel camera that tags each photo with your location.

Read full review: Garmin Oregon 600t

Best Bang for the Buck

Garmin eTrex 20x

$167.17 at Amazon See It See all prices (4 found)

The Garmin eTrex 20x is a small and lightweight hiking GPS that provides ample performance for roughly half the price and weight of the other two award winners. This device will help you get back on track if the weather turns foul and you can't find your route. This is perfect for those in need of a lightweight device before going into the backcountry for an extended period of time. Add this unit to your Dream Backpacking Gear List as it may save you if you find yourself off trail. Not only that, but it will only cost you $199. If you're looking to upgrade your xTrex 20x memory storage and screen resolution, check out the Garmin eTrex 30x.

Read full review: Garmin eTrex 20x

Top Pick Award for Reliability

Garmin GPS MAP 64s

$244.49 at Amazon See It See all prices (3 found)

The Garmin GPS MAP 64s is our top pick for mountaineering, ski touring, and below freezing adventures where the reliability of push buttons in cold weather supersedes all other factors. The 64s also has a big external antenna that provides better and quicker reception than the 600t, which is useful if you find yourself in super thick forest canopies (tropical jungles), deep slot canyons (like in Utah and Arizona), or stuck in a whiteout on the side of a mountain. Our testers liked the GPS MAP 64s for colder, more extreme days but took the 600t out on most bluebird days. If money isn't a factor, consider checking out the GPSMAP 64sc if you're looking for all the bells and whistles for your Garmin.

Read full review: Garmin GPS MAP 64s

Shout-Outs

Top Pick for Accuracy: Garmin Montana 680
Top Pick for Features: Magellan eXplorist 510

Analysis and Test Results

We evaluated each model through an array of objective field and lab tests. Our testers spent hours tinkering with these units to provide you with an in-depth review. For each unit, we consider reception, ease of use, display quality, speed, weight, and versatility for evaluation.

Satellite Reception

We took these units outside in both open and dense areas and compared the accuracy of all units. At home, we engaged in four tests. In our first, we turned these units on and timed it to see how long it took to determine a location. This mimics how long it will take to get a signal in a new spot. In our second test, we turned on each unit and moved them progressively from open areas (the middle of the floor) closer to the wall and compared their recorded accuracy. In our third test, we marked a waypoint and tried to navigate back to the original location using the GPS. We measured the distance from the actual waypoint to the location the unit told us we had arrived. For our last test, we mapped out an area of 7000 square feet and (using the area calculator function) walked the perimeter of the area. The units that were closest to calculating 7000 square feet (after three trials) were deemed to be the most accurate. Through these tests and our experience in the field, we were able to determine the units with best accuracy and reception.


Of all the units tested, we were most impressed with the Garmin GPS MAP 64s and Garmin Montana 680. The Garmin Montana (the largest GPS) had the best accuracy while the GPS MAP 64s (with the biggest antennae) was a close second. Our Best Buy winner, Garmin eTrex 20x had decent accuracy picking up a signal faster than any other unit. All units except for the Magellan eXplorist 510 utilized both GLONASS and GPS networks. The Magellan eXplorist 510 provided accuracy within 15 ft.

Ease of Use

Here we assessed how easy is was to perform certain key functions such as marking and editing waypoints, creating and editing tracks, navigating to a waypoint, and following a route. In our tests, we gave these units to beginners and compared individual components. These included screen type, menu layout, keyboard type, button configuration, and software interface.


In the end, units that earned top marks were easy to use out of the box with limited reference to user manuals. We found that touch screens were easier to use than buttoned units as they have a close resemblance to smartphones. That said, units with large buttons stood out as a better option for cold weather with easier access to menu functions and better keyboard accuracy.


In the ease of use category, the Garmin devices reigned king. The interface software is very similar, and our novice testers thought it was the easiest to use. The Oregon 600t (Editors' Choice) was first in the category as its touch screen was extremely responsive, modern, and simple. The Garmin Montana 680 was next for its large size and touchscreen. The Garmin GPS MAP 64s and eTrex 20x (Best Buy winner) were both buttoned units that earned the same rating. The GPS MAP 64s features many large, easy to use buttons while the eTrex 20x features a central toggle functioning as a directional and enter button. Our testers weren't huge fans of the Magellan eXplorist 510 in this category. The eXplorist specifically had a keyboard split between two screens that you laboriously had to flip back and forth between to enter text.


Another important function for any GPS unit is the ability to upload your trip information to a computer. All the devices tested in this review are compatible with the popular viewing software BaseCampTM developed by Garmin. Another software program is Magellan'sVantagePoint. In this review we found BaseCamp to be the easiest to navigate.

Display Quality

Here we assessed how easy it was to see the screen. We looked at screen display in both low light and high light conditions, with and without sunglasses. All the units feature high-quality screens of different sizes. Even though larger displays are easier to see, we noticed that these usually resulted in more glare and less visibility overall. We also noticed that units with plastic screens had poor visibility in comparison to those with hard plastic or glass screens.


The Oregon 600 had the best screen quality, made from gorilla glass with a 2.5-inch display. The GPS MAP 64s and eTrex 20x both had screens manufactured from the same material (with little glare in all light conditions) but of different sizes. The eTrex 20x has a 1.7-inch screen while the GPS MAP 64s has a 2-inch screen. These performed well in all light conditions. The Garmin Montana 680 had a 3.5-inch screen (great for those with poor eyesight) but had glare in high light conditions. The Magellan eXplorist 510 was rated the poorest in this category, as the cheap plastic screen tended to reflect light in both low and high light conditions.

Speed

This variable assessed the speed of each unit. We timed how long it took to start up, draw maps, and go from one function to another. Also, we put all the units into a freezer overnight to see how the cold affected all the variables listed above. We found that none of the units' speed was affected by the cold except the Garmin Oregon that froze up with the extreme temperatures.


The Oregon 600t and Montana 680 were the fastest followed closely by the GPS MAP 64s. The Oregon 600t was the fastest to toggle between functions and type in waypoints. The Montana 680 was the slowest to start up but very quickly redrew maps. The GPS MAP 64s was the speediest buttoned unit to redraw maps and toggle between functions.

Weight and Size

We looked at the size and weight of the units. Using a precision scale, we weighed each unit and compared the relative size of the units to one another. This is an important metric to consider for those who travel light.


The Garmin eTrex 20x, our Best Buy winner, was the lightest (5.1 oz) and smallest unit tested. Many of our ski testers reached for this when heading out for a quick and light lap in the mountains.


On the flip side, the Montana 680 is a beast. It was in the running for Editors' Choice, but lost the race due to its bulk and size. At 10.3 oz, we won't be bringing it on any lightweight-dependent adventures.

Versatility

When considering this metric we simply thought to ourselves - which unit could we take anywhere? We considered the units' features, durability, battery life, weight, size, and use with gloves. Units with a smaller design, longer battery life, and more features did better in this metric.


The Garmin GPS MAP 64s is our Top Pick for Reliability with one of the highest ratings in this category. Even though it doesn't have the most features or the smallest construction, our testers felt it was the best for all weather conditions. The Magellan eXplorist 510 features a plethora of features, including a video and voice recorder and 3.2 MP camera. This made it the most versatile to thoroughly document adventures.


The Montana 680 has a large screen, perfect for navigational and hiking purposes. It also features a 8 MP camera. We also liked the eTrex 20x. Even though it was the simplest in design, it featured the longest battery life, the lightest weight, and did well in all weather conditions. Overall, all the units were quite versatile, all receiving medium to high ratings in this category.

Accessories

Rechargeable batteries-These can save you a lot of money over time.

USB cable-This USB Cable allows you to charge your device and connect it to your computer to transfer routes.

Carrying Cases-Like with any electronics, it's important to protect it with a case. The GPSMAP 64s Slip Case and the eTrex Carrying Case are two options.

Mounts-There are many different kinds of mounts available. One that is compatible with all of our award winners is the Garmin Friction Mount.

Conclusion

Navigating wilderness shouldn't be a frustrating endeavor, and with the right GPS device, it isn't. There are plenty of options available with a variety of strengths and weakness. We hope this review helps identify the top performers for your backcountry pursuits and makes the question of "Which one should I get?" easy to answer. Head over to our Buying Advice article for more info to assist in the shopping process.