Handheld GPS Recommendation

[Doheny]

Looking for a handheld GPS for occasional/light hiking (mostly staying on trails, but after a while everything looks the same when you're trying to find your way back.) Don't want to break the bank $. Compass function isn't mandatory, I'd likely be using a separate compass.

What does the CG braintrust suggest?

Thx.

[TonyMang_89]

Been using a Garmin 64st. Really like it . Has more features than I know what to do with. Not sure what your looking to spend though. I'm sure Garmin has some more affordable options that would fit the bill.

[ldsnet]

Dedicated handheld GPS is almost obsolete. Occasional, light hiking, look at a quality external battery and an offline app for your phone. I have a Garmin 62CSX and never use it (my phone has a better screen and more memory)

[mikeyr]

[Juniork5]

I have a Garmin etrex H I never used I will sell if your interested pm me.

[Mopar Guy]

I like the Garmin 64st. It is rugged and doesn't eat batteries and has gone down in cost since many newer versions have come out. Garmin is a decent manufacturer. Handheld will have more features. Cheapest route is probably your phone with a basic app especially if not used often. The better apps usually have some subscription and need to purchase maps to download something like GAIA or Back Country. Lots of options to consider.

[HooYah]

Garmin RINO 755t.

Have a brand new in box unit I'm selling if you're interested.

[bohoki]

i have an antient garmin colorado it still works and just uses AA batts so you can carry spares

[dave1947]

garmin 64sx with removable memory chip, 4 gigs covers west of Mississippi. but you will also have to buy maps if not already on the unit you buy. great gps aa batteries

[AreWeFree]

I have a Garmin 64s, added a 32gig sd card and downloaded topo maps from https://www.gpsfiledepot.com/

Had to use Basecamp 4.6.2 to transfer the maps, 4.7.0 didn't work correctly.
4.7.0 was needed to get the Birdseye sat images. They're kinda worthless though, definitely wont be paying for a subscription after my free year goes away.

Easy to uninstall/reinstall between the two versions if needed.

I really like the physical buttons. Easy to set waypoints and edit later on PC, saving routes, presetting routes, and reviewing elevation/speed graphs is awesome.

[Creeping Incrementalism]

To the original poster, any GPS at all that still functions will work for marking the path you took, either with manual waypoints, or an automatically recorded track. Until a few years ago I used a Magellan SporTrax with a 2004 copyright date on it. I only stopped using it when it got soaked while rafting.

Now I use a Garmin 64st, which has pre-loaded maps with adequate contour lines and landmarks . It takes 2xAA batteries. The batteries in it will last the length of a typical day hike, but you would probably want to carry spares if you are worried about getting lost, because it seems the batteries on mine are always about to die around the time it is getting dark. It automatically records your track as a blue line that is easy to follow back.

Dedicated handheld GPS is almost obsolete. Occasional, light hiking, look at a quality external battery and an offline app for your phone. I have a Garmin 62CSX and never use it (my phone has a better screen and more memory)

I get the feeling that interest in handheld GPS isn't very strong anymore because people often use their phones, but phones are becoming so big and bulky and delicate these days, I wouldn't want to risk using one.