Handheld GPS

A portable handheld GPS receiver that fits on your hand.

Handheld gps are becoming more popular these days not just for navigation systems for cars but also for motorcycles, bicycles, hiking, boating, hunting, golfing, geocaching or even just finding yourself lost in New York city. Most of the smart phones can also be considered as a handheld GPS receiver if it has a built in map like the iphone and when connected online to easily pinpoint your location.

These portable GPS units have different sizes in which you will definitely want the smaller and the lighter one so that it will be easy to carry around inside your pocket. Some of the brands like the Garmin have the Garmin GPSMAP which looks like a portable walkie talkie have some good reviews and is pretty durable and has a glare free colored screen that you can easily see even on bright sunlight. Their 60Sx model has an included 64 MB micro SD card for map information or for extra storage and it has a built in altimeter and compass.

Garmin also have the Garmin Etrex which has been around for a while and also offers different models and styles with different features. It includes a 24MB internal memory and also a bright color screen on the more expensive models. They also have the Etrex H which is a cheaper version and with a BW screen but still has the sensitive WAAS enabled receiver which accurately pin points your location even you are surrounded by canyons on dense tree foliage.

Aside from Garmin, we have the other popular brand Magellan explorist which is a waterproof portable gps receiver and designed to be used for geocaching. It integrates its functions to geocaching.com site where you can easily upload and sync to the device any location settings you have. It comes pre loaded with popular geocache locations around the world. Right out of the box, you can start locating the nearest geocache site.

Delorme also came out with it's own portable GPS navigation receiver. The Earthmate PN-60 is a little on the expensive side which features icon based user interface just like the Iphone. It has a 3.5 gigabyte flash memory to use for maps and extra digital storage, has a cutaway view on the maps which you can  easily find your location. It does include a built in compass and barometric altimeter for accurate elevation readings and also able to predict weather changes. It can also display Nautical charts (NOAA) where you can easily use this handheld gps for boating, kayaking or any marine activities. The Earthmate PN-60 also has geocaching capabilities and can easily be integrated to geocaching.com's user account.

Most portable GPS systems for cars can easily be used as a handheld GPS especially if you are just using it while walking around and finding your way around big cities. Like the Garmin Nuvi, you just remove it from the car mount, and type in the address that you want to go or just show the map then you can easily find yourself and not getting lost in the city.

There are some more portable and handheld gps and prices vary from less than $100 dollars to a more expensive $400 dollar one. Try to look for reviews from reputable sites like amazon.com or any reputable online electronic stores so that you have an idea about and compare the features, problems and beneficial features of the unit you are trying to buy.