The 9 Best Hiking GPS Devices (2024)

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GPS—or global positioning system—used to be a novelty, but today this technology is everywhere. Our cars use this network of satellites to help us navigate the best route to and from the office. Our phones, based on our location, are capable of feeding us advertisem*nts when we are near a gas station or breakfast place. Even dog collars set up with GPS can ping our lost pet’s location back to us. For hikers, a GPS-enabled device is a must-have for outdoor adventures to help monitor where you are and to direct you to where you want to end up.

Almost every smartphone has a GPS receiver these days which makes the technology available for nearly everyone on the trails while apps make it simple to plot your route and view your hikes on various types of maps. But at the same time, there’s still a need for dedicated handheld GPS units, watches, and more, which offer greater accuracy, battery life, and durability than a smartphone. Carrying a dedicated GPS device can ultimately boost your comfort level and confidence on a hike when you are out of cell range.

There is a wide spectrum of GPS options today so whether you’re navigating off-the-beaten path in backcountry, following a trail, or just want to know how far you've hiked, there’s a GPS for that. I've considered a variety of GPS units, personal locator beacons (PLBs), satellite communicators, and apps to meet your needs.

But note: Don’t buy a GPS gadget with the idea of replacing your traditional tried-and-true navigational tools like a map and compass. If you do become lost, finding your way back to safety or familiar territory is not something you should leave entirely up to battery-operated devices.

The Best Hiking GPS

The Expert: I bought my first GPS unit back in middle school—an early-2000s Garmin eTrex Legend—after saving up my allowance. Since then, in one form or another, a GPS has been a staple of my backpack from hiking and backpacking in New York’s Adirondacks Mountains to my month-long backpacking and climbing trips to the Cascades, Alaska Range, and more.

I’ve used primitive handheld GPS units, various smartphone apps, mini satellite communicators, multiple GPS-enabled watches, and some of the most modern, top-of-the-line GPS devices on the market. All that experience has gone into my work as a writer and gear reviewer for Backpacker and Outside Magazines before becoming editor-in-chief of the backpacking publication Trails Magazine.

What to Consider in a Hiking GPS

Depending how you spend time outdoors and in backcountry, you’ll have different needs for a GPS device. If you’re out for a day hike and trail runs, your needs will be different than someone out for a weeks-long or months-long through-hike or someone who’s in the backcountry skiing or mountaineering.

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A cellphone with GPS apps is suitable for a day or even a weekend-long adventure, but keep in mind that a smartphone has a less powerful GPS antenna than a dedicated GPS unit. On top of that, a phone's batteries and chips are designed for shorter periods of time between charges than a dedicated GPS device, some of which can go for a week or more without a charge depending on the settings used.

What you want in a dedicated GPS device or satellite messenger is to be able to connect to multiple satellite networks. Other important features are having waypoints and geocaching abilities, durability and water resistance/waterproofness, large enough screen size and detail, barometer, altimeter, compass, app integration, and, for some, SOS features and satellite messaging abilities.

Satellite Networks

The more satellite networks a GPS device can connect with, the more accurate its readings should be which is especially important in places where it's challenging to get a signal like canyons and heavily forested areas.

Look for devices that can connect to multiple satellite networks including GPS, GLONASS (Global Navigation Satellite System—a Russian satellite-based navigation system that works in conjunction with GPS to provide position information to compatible devices), and Galileo (the European global navigation system), which is said to be even more accurate than our GPS in the United States, and which may help get signals faster and with more accuracy.

Also, look for systems that use WAAS (Wide Area Augmentation System), which corrects errors in data that a GPS device receives, getting your location within 3 meters at least 95 percent of the time.

Waypoints and Geocaching

Waypoints are GPS coordinates that can be pre-programmed into a GPS device or used to mark something like a stream crossing or a turn while en route. Waypoints are a fundamental feature of all GPSs, but different units have varying amounts of memory and can hold assorted quantities of waypoints. For geocaching, coordinates are used to signify where something is hidden.

Durability

Unlike most smartphones, GPS devices are designed for the wild. As such, they should be able to handle a drop or two, and even better, they should be at least water-resistant or fully waterproof. Many are IPX7-rated, meaning they can withstand being under a meter of water for 30 minutes.

Screen

Depending on use, most GPS units have an easy-to-read screen that displays a maps of your location. Some devices have touch screens which can be an extra expense. Some, like the Garmin InReach Messenger, only have a small screen, but connect with an app on your smart device for showing larger images of maps and for taking any notes.

Barometer, Altimeter, and Compass

Not all GPS units have a barometer, altimeter, and compass, but these are helpful with location and weather. The barometer can sense changes in weather and can help warn of impending storms. The altimeter senses elevation which aids in determining location and distance, and the compass shows you the direction in which you are going.

App Integration

Some GPS units work with an app on your smart devices which makes it easier to make notes or store waypoints on the device, which is great for marking features on the trail, and for helping visualize where you are.

SOS and Satellite Messaging

Certain GPS units also operate as PLBs and/or satellite messengers. This allows users to make SOS calls almost anywhere in the world and uses networks like Iridium or Global Star to coordinate dispatching help. They can also send short text messages to friends and family even without cell coverage. These services generally cost extra with a required subscription. The latest iPhone can also now access similar functions.

Importing/Exporting

Using software or an app on your smart devices, you can create routes and upload them to your GPS unit. Apps, like Gaia GPS and OnX, are also great for creating routes and exporting them to your devices, including smart devices and GPS units. You can also export the route and any waypoints you saved on your GPS device when you return.

How We Selected These Hiking GPS Devices

I combined my personal experience using most of these GPS devices over the years with detailed research, checking reviews, and reading information from manufacturers to make my recommendations for the best GPS units, watches, and apps.

I also relied on the team of editors at Popular Mechanics who regularly review the latest models and continually research customer reviews. I've relied on that combined research, usage, knowledge to reconfirm my choices. These are the best GPS devices and apps worth buying now.

Don’t Ditch Your Map or Compass, But Have One of These Handy GPS Gadgets on Your Next Adventure. Expert Ryan Wichelns on Accuracy, Two-Way Messaging and More.