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Best GPS devices for Walkers

  
1 hour walks
Dartmoor Way on Map of Southwest for Garmin devices
Free Garmin Map of Southwest with footpaths & long distance hiking routes.
FREE UK hiking maps

for Garmin GPS devices & watches
Includes Dartmoor and Exmoor,Lake & Peak Districts,Scotland & Wales

 

 
 

What are the best sat-navs / gps devices for walkers?

Speaking from personal experience, the most versatile and widely used handheld GPS devices are made by Garmin — notably the:

  • GPSMAP 64 / 66 / 67 series
  • Oregon
  • Montana
  • Fenix 6/7/8 (watches)

Among these, the Oregon stands out for its bright, responsive touchscreen. However, its overly sensitive screen can be frustrating — simply sliding it in and out of your pocket can accidentally change your profile, affecting maps and settings.

For that reason, we highly recommend the GPSMAP series for their rugged design, button control, and reliability.

Typical GPS accuracy is around 3 metres, though in real-world outdoor use, you're often lucky to get within 5 metres.

Some GPS devices don't show maps ! You will regret not having opted for a unit that shows maps.

Pros of Garmin Handheld GPS Devices

🗺 Unmatched Map Availability

Garmin supports a vast range of maps — many are free, including detailed OpenStreetMap (OSM) options.

💾 Expandable Storage

Look for models with a microSD slot (e.g., GPSMAP 66i) to load additional maps.

🌍 Strong Community Support

A large, active user base means frequent tips, updates, and pressure on Garmin to fix bugs and improve features.

💻 Route Planning with Basecamp

Garmin’s free Basecamp software (for PC and Mac) lets you plan routes, manage your GPX files, and transfer them to your device. Maps can also be viewed and edited on your computer.

🎨 Custom Map Styling

Garmin devices allow you to customize map appearance (colours, road widths, fonts) using TYP files — a unique feature not offered by most other brands.

🌞 No Sun Glare Issues

Unlike smartphones, dedicated GPS screens are designed to remain visible in full sunlight.

Cons to Be Aware Of

🎨 Limited Colour Options

Map colours are sometimes restricted depending on the device.

📱 Smaller Screen Sizes

Handheld GPS screens are generally smaller than mobile phones, though they are more robust.

🐞 New Model Bugs

Early versions of Garmin devices can suffer from quirky or buggy firmware — however, Garmin usually releases updates fairly quickly to fix these issues.

Which Way?
 Which Way?

What to look for when selecting a gps device?

How to make the right choice and avoid buying the wrong model!