10 Best Handheld GPS: Definitive Review (2024)

A : Yes, it does and you can know it in a few simple steps. The grid reference system of the unit provides the necessary grid values. This can be found selected in the Settings Menu under “GPS Settings”. You can change the settings if you need to follow some other system.

You can find the grid reference of your location displayed on the screen from the “Position info” menu. This figure will depend on the location of the cursor on the map. You can also find the grid location from the “GPS Status” menu and it is usually listed under the “Location (last known)” header.

A : Most modern GPS units use a parallel multi-channel design to provide a high level of accuracy. Under normal atmospheric conditions, users can expect an accuracy level of 16 to 33 feet from the best Garmin handheld GPS units.

The accuracy also depends on the quality of the GPS receiver and antenna. The number of satellites it can connect with simultaneously is also important. Units that use the dual frequencies connect with both GPS and GLONASS satellites. The vertical accuracy of these units can be 2 to 3 times that of the horizontal accuracy.

A : For the best levels of accuracy, we’d suggest you use both. Note that the best handheld GPS units using such technologies will come with a high price tag. At present, GPS has 31 satellites in orbit while Glonass has 24. While GPS offers better coverage, Glonass offers better accuracy at higher latitudes.

It’s true that in the last decade, the coverage of Glonass has improved but it’s still not in the same league as GPS. Presently Brazil and Antarctica have the most number of Glonass stations. But, the GPS stations are distributed all across the world. So if you need to choose between the two, GPS is still the better choice.

A : Structures like buildings, mountains, bridges, and trees tend to block satellite signals. Apart from that, indoor or underground use can also affect signal strength. In some cases, signals are reflected from nearby structures. This can result in a multipath error. Radio interference and solar flares can also affect GPS accuracy levels.

For the most accurate reading, the GPS should be placed under a clear and unobstructed piece of sky. Unfortunately, that is not possible in many outdoor conditions. You can try placing the hiking or camping GPS unit in the outside pocket of a backpack or on in a handlebar mount while cycling. This can help in better signal acquisition.

As per our test results, the Garmin Montana 680 is the most accurate among the best hiking gps units in the market. The high-sensitivity receiver makes it very reliable. The unit connected with the GLONASS and GPS networks consistently. The location data that it delivered was highly accurate even in deeply shaded areas.
It also offers a track manager feature that uses a waypoint system. This makes GPS navigation for hiking very accurate. Both the tilt-compensated electronic compass and the barometric altimeter deliver high accuracy. Simply put, if precision and accuracy are what you are looking for, then you won’t go wrong picking the Montana 680.

A: Weather conditions like wind, clouds or snow do not affect handheld GPS accuracy levels. The only disturbance that the GPS signals face is from adverse space weather conditions. This happens when the signals pass through the ionosphere. So severe geomagnetic storms can reduce the accuracy of a GPS unit.

As per standard calculations, the total loss in GPS signal due to weather conditions is very rare. So this has no effect on the accuracy levels of the unit. Try to make sure that the antenna of any GPS devices for hiking is not covered by snow as that will affect the signal quality.

There you have it. You now have all the knowledge you need to buy that all-important handheld GPS with confidence. We want you to know you’re buying the right GPS for your needs and to short cut this process we’ve also included the Top 10 choices to satisfy you. We’ve included links to the Top 3 both at the beginning and the end of this review. You really are choosing from the best of the best – we know – we did the research.