If you are an avid ATV camper or outdoorsman you have no doubt lost your bearings while trying to find your remote campsite in the back country. In addition to being frustrating, it can be a dangerous situation if you are not prepared. Well, there is no need for the directionally challenged to get lost anymore, with the introduction of handheld Global Positioning Systems or Handheld GPS units.
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Handheld GPS Units
These handheld GPS answer the question of what trails head where, and more importantly, which trail leads back to camp. These units receive positioning information from satellites, so you always have a signal.
Portable Handheld GPS Units Are Useful For:
- Marking a trail head
- Marking a favorite fishing or hunting spot
- Marking your campsite
- Navigating toward previous marked points
- Tracking your speed, distance, elevation, and much more.
With so many handheld gps units on the market today and with each manufacturer claiming to offer the best accuracy in a gps device, selecting a unit can be confusing. The two main types of handheld gps are non-mapping and mapping units. Non-mapping units are designed to compute basic gps information only and are the least expensive of the two types.
If you do require maps as well as location details, you should opt for a mapping handheld gps which has the capability to download maps from cd-roms and other sources such as Garmin MapSource, and Magellan MapSend. The maps are stored in lat/long wgs-84 coordinates, so they wont need to be updated. Almost every mapping capable handheld gps will come with a rough basemap to get you started.
You want a handheld gps to fit comfortably in the palm of your hand and have all the buttons positioned for easy for one-handed operation that won’t get in the way of your view of the screen. The new touchscreen displays have no external buttons making them quick and easy to navigate. For ATV camping you will want your GPS unit to be waterproof and have a handlebar mount and a DC power adapter.
The cost of a handheld gps will vary any where from $100 to $700, depending on the make, model, and features that the exact unit has. Some of the best features a typical handheld gps has is a long battery life and rugged design. Typically most units require two AA batteries and the life expectancy is typically around 72 hours of uninterrupted use. The rugged design helps protects the unit in the event on a mishap on your ATV.
So now you can have the capability of knowing how to get to that remote ATV camping spot efficiently and knowing where you have been, all in a small compact unit. Get yourself a Garmin handheld GPS with the features you need and understand, you will be surprised how inexpensive and easy to use they really are. Don’t forget the Garmin GPS accessories too. Let us help you properly equip your ATV for your next ATV camping adventure.
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