Anybody use a Handheld GPS for walking

Anyone ?? Interested in maybe getting one to assist in exploring the unknown , don't want to pay silly prices just something to get me by and smart phone apps are out of the question ( as mine is bust but the battery is rubbish anyway)

We got the little garmin cheapy thing for about £100 a few years ago and it's useless, how much are you considering to spend ?

I use an old garmin etrek, it only really plots where you've walked, but stops you getting lost out on the moors as you can easily backtrack your route. I think you can still buy them new for not very much

We bought one & couldn't work out how to use it!

This one gets mostly good reviews, although it's a bit slow

http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/garmin-etrex-30-gps-p191379

I was looking at the Etrek 10 just as a cheapy as I have memory map ( OS mapping ) and you can send a gpx file of waypoints to the device so pick a route , download it , then go out and walk it in theory but always best to have the map and compass available as a back up device . Was just wondering how useful you find them
There is also the memory map adventurer at just under £200 that has full UK os 1:50000 mapping on it but really I just need to know where the planned route and directions are , where I started ( so I can back track if I just go somewhere on spec)

you can get an walking tomtom cant you these days? with unlimited maps updates i'm sure i seen one tv ads about one

Steve wrote:you can get an walking tomtom cant you these days? with unlimited maps updates i'm sure i seen one tv ads about one

Battery life on TomToms for walking are rubbish Steve , if you are maybe off around town and need to find a street then great ( but most smart phones will do this anyway these days ) for me I want to basically either pick a route from OS maps before I go out and download it , or literally drive down the road get out of the car and walk , knowing I will be able to find the car again . We have a lot of countryside around here and I want to make use of it . I can map read but can't be bothered as I am the oldest tech geek in town . As long as I have the map of the area in my rucksack and my compass , as long as I know where I start I can't be lost , this just makes it a bit easier and a little less stress , especially when walking in more mist and stuff , or in the snow when everything looks the same

Nope, good 'ole OS Explorer and a compass for the area I'm in all the way  ... I do have a pretty good OS app on my phone, but signal is the issue in most places you need a map for so kinda defeats the object  , I also have a pretty clever watch that has allsorts of usefull features when outdoors (and is actually pretty accurate too) as a backup  

Andy wrote:Nope, good 'ole OS Explorer and a compass for the area I'm in all the way  ... I do have a pretty good OS app on my phone, but signal is the issue in most places you need a map for so kinda defeats the object  , I also have a pretty clever watch that has allsorts of usefull features when outdoors (and is actually pretty accurate too) as a backup  

So you have a GPS watch , then that makes you a GPS person

Dave wrote:

Andy wrote:Nope, good 'ole OS Explorer and a compass for the area I'm in all the way  ... I do have a pretty good OS app on my phone, but signal is the issue in most places you need a map for so kinda defeats the object  , I also have a pretty clever watch that has allsorts of usefull features when outdoors (and is actually pretty accurate too) as a backup  

So you have a GPS watch , then that makes you a GPS person

Nah I didnt go for the GPS version cus it was like £350 at the time .. but it has a self calibrating compass, a barometer to let you know a storm is brewing, and an altimeter .. also a pretty neat function that keeps you on track if you lose your visual pointers in the distance say going through woodland or in thick fog etc  .. saying that, I have considered upgrading to a full GPS watch, as they also have heart rate monitors built in  .. might be a chrimbo prezzy  

Andy wrote:

Dave wrote:

Andy wrote:Nope, good 'ole OS Explorer and a compass for the area I'm in all the way  ... I do have a pretty good OS app on my phone, but signal is the issue in most places you need a map for so kinda defeats the object  , I also have a pretty clever watch that has allsorts of usefull features when outdoors (and is actually pretty accurate too) as a backup  

So you have a GPS watch , then that makes you a GPS person

Nah I didnt go for the GPS version cus it was like £350 at the time .. but it has a self calibrating compass, a barometer to let you know a storm is brewing, and an altimeter .. also a pretty neat function that keeps you on track if you lose your visual pointers in the distance say going through woodland or in thick fog etc  .. saying that, I have considered upgrading to a full GPS watch, as they also have heart rate monitors built in  .. might be a chrimbo prezzy  

So a big watch with no GPS , understood

Yep  

http://www.facewest.co.uk/Suunto-Core-Alu-Deep-Black.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=froogle&utm_campaign=facewestFroogle&gclid=CPu6gczdm7kCFQTMtAodNWEABg