Best Hiking GPS

Having a GPS along with you when you are hiking is a great example of technology making the outdoor experience safer and a lot more fun.

The best hiking GPS will have a few different features that you should look out for, because when hiking, the best GPS for the job is going to be a lot different than the best GPS for other activities, like finding your way around in the city or while driving.

Best Hiking GPS Features

Here are a few of the features common to many of the best hiking GPS devices.

Durability - One feature that any of the best hiking GPS devices will have is a certain amount of durability. The outdoors is no place for delicate electronics, and any GPS device that you take in to the wilderness should be up for a little wear and tear.
Weight - Another feature common to most of the best hiking GPS devices is a low weight. Electronics are never extremely lightweight, but anything that you take in to the outdoors should be light enough that you don't consider leaving at the side of the trail.
Battery Life - Carrying around extra batteries is the last thing you want to do, so the best hiking GPS devices should also have a good battery life.

Best Hiking GPS List

Here are a few of the best hiking GPS devices currently on the market.

Garmin Etrex Legend H GPS System - The Extrex Legend from Garmin is definitely one of the best hiking GPS devices on the market. It features an 18 hour battery life, and comes loaded with maps for North and South America, along with an additional 8 megabytes for more maps. It also gets top marks from reviewers.
Magellan eXplorist GC GPS - The eXplorist, the Magellan, is another of the best hiking GPS devices on the market, particularly if you like to mix geocaching in to your hiking. It comes with a 30 day premium membership for geocaching.com, and 500 megabytes of memory to store maps. The bright color screen and 18 hour battery life are also great features.
SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger - The GPS Messenger by SPOT is a unique kind of hiking GPS device. Rather than letting you know where you are, it sends messages back to your family letting them know where you are, and whether you're ok. It can also notify emergency services as to your location in case of emergency. If you're looking for a GPS device to offer you a little peace of mind the back country, then this is the best hiking GPS for you.
Garmin Forerunner GPS Heart Rate Monitor - If you're looking for something to monitor your workouts, double as a watch and help you navigate in the bush when you get turned around, this is the best GPS device for you. It's a watch, but will record and guide you back to a preset GPS location. It also has a whole slew of features for runners and joggers. In power saver mode it will last for 4 weeks, so it's perfect for those long, rambling trips where you want a little peace of mind without having to carry any extra weight.