GPS Watch or Lightweight Handheld Recommendations

[AZOutdoorsman]

Hello all,

I own an old Garmin GPSMap76CSx that I use for canyoneering - but it's a TOAD! Looking for something very lightweight, I'm thinking a watch but open to a very small handheld, for extended dayhikes. It needs to be accurate, with a long battery life, as I do loooong hikes. I would just like to know mileage, AEG, and moving time - doesn't have to have all the bells and whistles although I realize it will do more. Any thoughts, advice, experience, or recommendations you have will be appreciated. Thank you! : )

Peace,
Darrell

[LindaAnn]

Do you have a smartphone? If so, consider just using RouteScout app. It’ll do everything you need, plus a lot more. It can run in airplane mode, making battery use of your phone very minimal. I use it for 20-30 mile hikes and have never come close to draining my phone battery.

[chumley]

Like @lindaann said, if you already carry a smartphone, there are plenty of options for maps and navigation that don't weigh any extra. For multi-day backpacking trips, I bring a small powerbank to recharge my phone. It's lighter than handheld GPS device (not as light as a watch ... though I doubt battery on those last for a few days either).

Another consideration is durability. Most newer smartphones are waterproof, but still fragile, so a slightly heavier case such as an otterbox that can protect your phone in the elements is an option to consider.

But unless you are looking for satellite communication or tracking features, I think the days of the handheld GPS device are over. A modern smartphone can do all that, and so much better.

[AZClaimjumper]

@AZOutdoorsman
I don't have a so-called Smartphone; I'm still wallowing around in the dark ages with my Garmin 62ST & have absolutely no plans to buy a newer GPS & definitely am NOT going to buy a S****phone. The newer Garmin 64ST is more accurate than my 62ST because it receives GLOSSNOST & WAAS satellite signals. The newest Garmin hand-held is their 66ST which means you can find the 64ST on eBay at a very discounted price.

Battery life with rechargeable AA batteries is advertised to be 16 hours; I find I need to replace my batteries after about 14 hours & YES, I always carry 2 sets of spare batteries for my GPS as I also like to go on long hikes & overnighters. Yes, I turn my GPS off while I'm camped & overnighting.

I prefer the Garmin hand-held 62, 64, 66 series because it requires you to push buttons to navigate the menu. They are NOT touch screens which means you won't have to take off your gloves in cold weather.

I keep my GPS physically attached to MEeee at all times. I've dropped mine on several occasions, no problem, they are going to survive & keep on working when so-called S****phones when dropped, drop dead. You'll have no problems if it gets wet & dropped in water. S****phones Drop dead under similar wet situations.
My Garmin 62ST is THE ONLY GPS I've ever owned. I do have it loaded with Garmin 24K West Map when here in Nevada & switch to the Garmin 24K SW Map when in geocaching in Arizona, which is where I started geocaching & wanting a GPS so I wouldn't get lost while hiking in the Sups.

When in a canyon or hiking in remote places in the Sups ask yourself, do you want to rely on a cell tower signal that your S****phone might or might not receive, or would you prefer to have a hand-held GPS that gets is signal from a Satellite? And let's not forget that $125.00 a month cell phone bill that needs to be paid.

Finally, It looks like Weaver's Needle in the background behind the saguaro in your Avatar.

[hikerdw]

@AZClaimjumper With the right case, Smartphones hold up fairly well. I’ve dropped mine plenty of times and it is still operational. A ziplock bag keeps the water out.

[chumley]

Modern smart phones receive signals from several global constellations including GPS (US operated), GLONASS (old Soviet, now Russian), and Galileo (European). But if you are working on a commercial engineering project you may require more accuracy than a smartphone or handheld device is capable of.

[Nighthiker]

i just use a basic Garmin etrex and prefer to use a compass with USGS maps. Cycling however I prefer to use the Garmin Edge for road and mtn. biking.

[The_Eagle]

do you want to rely on a cell tower signal that your S****phone might or might not receive, or would you prefer to have a hand-held GPS that gets is signal from a Satellite?

When you run your SMARTphone in airplane mode, it uses the same satellites that your h***-h*** g** uses
(NO CELL TOWERS).
My Garmin 62 has been sitting in a box for years , because it is a frickin dinosaur.

[AZOutdoorsman]

Thank you everyone for your responses, I certainly appreciate you taking the time to help me out. I don't typically carry my smartphone when I hike ("heavy" and bulky), but perhaps I might in the future when GPS is needed. I'll do more research on the watches, as that is a more desirable size/weight.

@AZClaimjumper said, "Finally, It looks like Weaver's Needle in the background behind the saguaro in your Avatar." Yes, that was one of my favorite large saguaros that fell several years ago - it was on the edge of Black Mesa near Dead Woman's Cave.

Thank you everyone! : )

[LindaAnn]

@AZOutdoorsman
I have a Garmin Fenix 6 Pro Solar watch. It's fairly easy to follow a preloaded route on it, and the maps will definitely help you find your way. However, you are looking at a watch screen, and given the small size, is not as friendly as a phone or handheld gps screen. The watch is now my backup navigation device in case something were to happen to my phone on a hike, although I do also carry a Garmin InReach Mini.

Stats provided by the watch have to be taken with a grain of salt though--mileage runs low if you are moving slow or stopping a lot, mileage runs high if you are moving fast. Elevation gain tends to run high. Still reasonably good ballpark numbers, but not as accurate as any of my other devices (RouteScoute on smartphone-most accurate; Garmin 66st, Garmin 64st-mileage runs a little low on those two for me), but all the features of the watch are pretty fun.

[AZClaimjumper]

@AZOutdoorsman
This is a lil off-topic, however, I think it's worth mentioning that I carry a Personal Locator Beacon, the ACR ResQLink 409 just in case get in trouble & am unable to crawl back to the trailhead. It does one thing & only one thing; send a STRONG 5-watt signal to an overhead satellite that includes my exact location. No texting.

[RedwallNHops]

I second the smartphone recommendations. I bought a Garmin GPSMap 66i a couple years ago because I wanted sat communications and good GPS functionality. I do a lot of canyoneering and wanted something that would hold up. I probably end up bringing just my smartphone more often than the Garmin. The satellite accuracy on the Garmin is bad....no resolution on my issue after multiple calls to garmin. It's sad that my smartphone acquires satellites better...

[AZOutdoorsman]

@LindaAnn
Thanks again Linda. It seems that the GPS watch technology isn't quite there yet. I have read several reviews on multiple watches that the Mileage/AEG accuracy is lacking - which is what I really want it for. I can do "ballpark" stats with my maps and/or old TOPO software. These longer hikes are all on-trail (most I've done before) and I am very proficient with maps, so don't really need it for downloading a route. I guess I'll save the weight for now, and use a phone or my old GPS for canyoneering and off-trail photography trips (with heavy canyoneering gear or 10lbs of professional camera equipment, what's another few ounces). : )