Top Handheld GPS Units Review

The GPS system is very much the selling point of these unites. Yes, you can have the maps and th other features that come with sat nave,s but they aren't the main points that the marketing men concentrate on. Retailing at around $130, the Garmin forerunner 305 is not only a GPS receiver but also a heart monitor. Worn around the wrist like a watch, this handy gadget receives an exceptional GPS signal. This technology also makes it an invaluable training aid to athletes and sportsmen as you can work out your precise distance, speed and pace to give you the optimum training. Lightweight and comfortable, this would benefit all sportsmen.

Unlike the Garmin forerunner, the Bad Elf GPS receiver plugs into your iphone, ipad or ipod touch. Weighing in at only 2.1 ounces and costing around $100, the Bad Elf has cornered the market in this type of GPS receiver. It is extremely tough and rugged, making it ideal for more extreme sports and is compatible with all ios applications which are classed as location based. If you have such applications on your devices as Geocaching, Runkeeper, Motion X, zagat TO GO etc, the Bad Elf will work perfectly with all of them.

Planning your next trip or outdoor adventure will be as easy as pie if you have the Garmin eTrax venture HC GPS receiver. The receiver is so highly sensitive it will keep working in all locations and environments, whether you are in a forest or a deep canyon. The detailed base map makes planning your journey and executing it simplicity itself. It has also been cleverly designed so the 5 buttons are on the side rather than the front,something that someone who spends a lot of time in the great outdoors will greatly appreciate. This makes it easy to operate with one hand, and also leaves the front clear to accommodate the large crystal clear screen. The built in calendar gives you best up to date fishing and hunting information that is available and comes with a completely waterproof housing unit.

The Garmin eTrax vista costs a $100 more than its brother but if you are a hardcore outdoorsman is it $100 well spent. The built in electronic compass is one of the best you will find and like it's counterpart, will pick up a string GPS signal whatever environment you are in. Expansion is easy thanks to a micro SD slot, here you can insert a card preloaded with Mapsource data and have full GPS navigation at your fingertips. The baromic altimeter and automatic router make it the perfect companion for one of those adventure weekends out in the wilderness.

If you would prefer a GPS receiver that plugs into your apple device then the GNS 5870 MFI blue tooth receiver might be just what you are looking for. This is the first separate GPS receiver that Apple have certified. Many who have purchased the ipad for it's wifi facility have found that once they didn't have it any more, they have missed the GPS feature. This tiny device gives you that feature and so much more. It works particularly well with the Google maps application and will also supply GPS technology to other handhelds, PDA's and notebooks.