Confused which GPS (Global Positioning System) to buy?

Which GPS?

       There are lots of GPS units on the market from the traditional manufacturers like Garmin to exciting new entrants like the SatMap. This can make the selection process somewhat daunting. So how do you pick the one that is right for you? Should you forget about a dedicated GPS altogether and go for a PDA, satnav unit or mapping software for your mobile phone?

In our 'Choosing the right GPS' video we outline five key criteria for making your selection and weigh up the pros and cons of the alternatives.

Do also check that you are not making one of our five most common mistakes before plumping for your final choice.

Dedicated outdoors GPS units remain an attractive choice for many walkers, not least because of their robustness and ease of use. We cover the main choices in our article on Garmin GPS units. The Garmin Oregon and Dakota are interesting new entrants to the market because they are capable of displaying both vector and raster mapping, meaning that you can view 'standard' Ordnance Survey mapping on it. However a lot of people are beginning to look elsewhere, notably because devices which combine other functions, such as a camera, can save significantly on price and weight.

PDAs and Smartphones are probably the cheapest way to get 'proper' Ordnance Survey mapping onto a GPS device, especially if you already own the device or can get one with your mobile phone contract. If you are a user of Memory-Map, Anquet or Quo digital mapping software, for instance, the PDA/Smartphone application and ability to transfer mapping to your device is included(but note that the device must be a Microsoft OS one).

On the face of it, this is a very appealing option. The mapping really is the same as your paper map, so you can instantly see where you are. You are also able to combine several functions – your PDA, for instance, can be your in-car SatNav system, contact book, notebook and GPS, all in one unit costing as little as £200 or so. Several PDAs come with built-in GPS receivers. Alternatively if you already own a Bluetooth-enabled PDA, you can marry it with a Bluetooth GPS receiver which can be carried separately in your pack. Such receivers can bought for around £40 , so the investment in upgrading need not be much (try MobileFun if you want to buy one).

A number of advanced users swear by the PDA option because it offers so many opportunities for downloading free maps from the web. Using the calibration functions in many PC mapping applications you can load in a map and see your position on it anywhere in the world. This does make it very attractive for frequent travellers, though expect to spend some time mastering the art of calibration. If you are interested in this route read our help article on calibration.

Mapping software for Smartphones is becoming very popular. Many newer phones have a GPS built in and you may be able to get one free with your ordinary mobile phone tariff when you next renew. If you have an older phone with Bluetooth you could buy separate receiver as for a PDA. Memory-Map, Anquet and Quo digital mapping software all come with Smartphone software for the Microsoft operating system, while several applications including ViewRanger are available for Nokia and other Symbian phones.

There are downsides to the PDA and Smartphone route. The units are nowhere near as rugged and waterproof as a dedicated GPS. In most cases to fully waterproof them you need to put them in a casing or Aquapac cover. The screens are not particularly bright, making them quite difficult to read in sunlight, especially if they are under a waterproof cover. And finally you need to make sure you have charged them up enough before each trip, because you can’t simply slip in a spare set of ordinary AA batteries. You can get external battery packs but it's a slightly bulky and awkward solution.

That said, you can expect to see mobile phones become more robust as time goes by. Already mobile phone manufacturers expect the phone to be usable in the rain for a few minutes and capable of surviving a drop from a metre or more. Demand for increased robustness is bound to lead to more ruggedized phones in the not too distant future. Overall the use of the phone as a GPS unit has many appeals - it means that you can have your phone, your GPS and your camera in one small device (though that of course means equally that if you lose one you lose them all).

The SatMap, a dedicated PDA-type device that also displays standard Ordnance Survey mapping, has been making considerable inroads into the British GPS market. The SatMap costs around £380, but that includes rechargable batteries and access to a new online route plotting application. On top of this you will need to buy mapping, taking the total price to £500 or more if you get a reasonable area of Ordnance Survey 1:50,000 scale Landranger mapping.

The producers of the SatMap have really got their act together recently and sorted out the problems that dogged some of their earliest devices. Most notably the rechargeable batteries now provide plenty of time 'on the hill' and mapping is beginning to become available for countries outside the UK. It is certainly worth serious consideration if you can afford the fairly hefty price tag.

So there is lots of choice, and every solution has its pros and cons. There is no such thing as the perfect GPS. It’s all about what you are going to use it for, how and where.

If you are still unsure about what to get, one suggestion would be to go on a training course, where you will be able to experiment with different models. GPSTraining run some excellent introductions to GPS where you can do just this.