Every camping experience is an epic journey and makes your day free without stress. Are you ready for your next camping adventure? Then, having a GPS tracker with you is a must. If you plan your journey days without Best GPS Trackers For Camping, You’re bound to get lost in the campground or trail.
- Garmin eTrex 30x
- Garmin GPSMAP 64st
- Garmin Montana 700i
- Garmin GPSMAP 65s Outdoor GPS
- Bouncie 4G LTE GPS Car Tracker
- Americaloc GL300 GPS Tracker
- Garmin inReach Mini
- Garmin GPSMAP 66i
- Suunto 9 Baro Titanium
- Garmin eTrex 10
- Garmin Oregon 700
The range of satellite systems they can access, battery capacity, and your desired use are the most important factors to consider when picking the best hiking Gps device for you. Don’t worry; we’ll help you find out Best GPS Trackers For Camping. Let’s jump right in.
Garmin eTrex 30x
- Price: 299$
- Battery Life: 25 hours
- Weight: 5 oz
If you are looking for a GPS tracker that is affordable with Versatile functionality, Garmin eTrex 30x is the best bet for you. The Garmin eTrex 30x is a great portable GPS with a display of 2.2-inch, 240 x 320-pixel.
The eTrex 30x comes with a built-in basemap with shaded relief and an extra 3.7GB of internal memory, and a microSD card slot for additional maps. Although the look of the Garmin eTrex 30x hasn’t improved much in a long time, its attraction to backpackers hasn’t waned, even in the face of much more showy handheld GPS choices.
Its IPX7 waterproof shielding and side button/joystick control combo allow it to be used in any weather, and testers found it to be small and lightweight, weighing just under 150g with batteries.
The eTrex 30x has a developed three-axis tilt that acts as an electronic compass and barometric altimeter to measure differential pressure and pinpoint precise altitude, making navigation and position identification smoother. When identifying your location, the GPS receiver’s HotFix satellite forecast allows you to keep a signal even when you’re in dense foliage or deep canyons.
Reviewers complimented its fast-acting satellite latching, claiming it seldom lost contact and were amazed that it had capabilities like wireless sharing, tri-axial compass, and Garmin Chirp technology that were found in higher-end versions.
Product highlights:
- Waterproof
- Unrivaled battery life and a stunning display
- 240 x 320 pixels is an excellent resolution
- The use of side buttons improves usability
- A 3-axis compass, clock, alarms, and a trip computer are all included in the model
- There’s also a barometer, an altimeter, and wifi connectivity. The tracker’s wireless feature enables it to be paired with other devices like fitness trackers
- Fantastic deal in terms of functionality
- Lightweight and compact
Garmin GPSMAP 64st
- Price: 349$
- Battery Life: 16 hours
- Weight: 9.3 oz
The GPSMAP 64st has a cumbersome build with the look of an old-school walkie-talkie, measuring more than six inches in length, 2.4 inches in width, and more than 1/2 a pound in weight once filled with batteries.
The Garmin 64st is a top-of-the-line, durable, and feature-rich handheld GPS that shines in all the right spots. When it comes to zooming in and out, the 2.6-inch color screen is incredibly smooth, making navigating directions comfortable and straightforward.
Garmin goes all-in on its BaseCamp software and BirdsEye Satellite Imagery capabilities to set itself apart in a world teeming with navigation apps and rival GPS systems.
The helix antenna, which uses GPS and GLONASS technologies, provides an extra signal boost in challenging circumstances. The 64th can swiftly locate your location and keep your signal even amid dense cover or deep gorges. With 16 hours of battery life, you’ll be able to get through an entire day of travel without running out of charge.
The 64th has 250,000 preloaded caches and 100,000 topographical maps, as well as a one-year subscription to BirdsEye satellite imagery for navigation. Thanks. In addition, when to the 8GB of onboard memory, extra maps can be easily added, which provides for further topographical and detailed navigation data. A three-axis tilt-compensated electronic compass is also included in the Garmin.
Product highlights:
- GLONASS receiver with quad helix antenna
- The very clear sunlight-readable color screen
- High-sensitivity GPS
- Compass with three axes and a barometric altimeter
- TOPO U.S. 100K maps are preloaded
- Berst wireless connectivity via Bluetooth® technology
- 1-year BirdsEye Satellite Imagery subscription is included
Garmin Montana 700i
- Price: 699.99$
- Battery Life: 18 hours
- Weight: 14.5 oz
The Montana 700i from Garmin is a perfect GPS unit for all hikers. It’s even superior: it’s adaptable and compact. So you may focus on the things that matter to you while skipping the others you don’t. Features durable military-grade structure and a 5″ touchscreen display that is 50% larger than the previous model; easy viewing and mounting options are included. Montana 700i keeps you connected and on track.
Because the device is GPS and Galileo compatible, you’ll be allowed to use more than one navigation system. This also includes accurate topographical maps. In addition, this giant touchscreen should make it simple to use. So don’t have to worry about getting caught in the rain because the device is water-resistant.
The battery on the unit is rated to last up to 18 hours in GPS mode and up to a week in Expedition mode. You can only choose messaging features or a built-in camera because the gadget is customizable.
Product highlights:
- Mode for conserving battery life
- Two navigation systems are included in the package
- Water-resistant
- While wearing gloves, you can utilize your touchscreen
Garmin GPSMAP 65s Outdoor GPS
- Price: 399.99$
- Battery Life: 16 hours
- Weight: 7.7 oz
If you are looking best GPS that has a barometric altimeter which is an accuracy of +/- 50 feet, Garmin GPSMAP 65s Outdoor GPS is the best choice for you. Users can manually adjust the altimeter using a recognized elevation or calibrate itself using GPS elevation.
All of those are excellent things because the new satellite tools make location speed considerably quicker and tracking accuracy substantially better. They also function in the rain or when wearing gloves.
The TopoActive Europe maps are accurate and freely zoomable, allowing you to see exactly where you are, what that waterfall, river, or contour line is, as well as where you want to go. Essentially, it’s everything you’d expect from a GPS device. In addition, this GPS’s IPX7 waterproofing guarantees it can work underwater (for at least 30 minutes), so it should be safe in inclement weather.
Product highlights:
- Fast and accurate
- Easy to use
- The great majority of public networks are covered
- Compact and affordable
- The waterproof rating is IPX7
- Stellar satellite access
Bouncie 4G LTE GPS Car Tracker
- Price: 77$ and 8$ (monthly service)
- Battery Life: Energy from the vehicle’s battery
- Weight: 1.28 oz
Adding a GPS tracker in your car or your pocket is essential for camping or hiking if you’re going on a long road trip or hiking. The ability to alert friends about your whereabouts and send notifications for urgent attention is the most important crucial reason to have one. They also save you from missing, which is a pain at the very least and can waste hours of vacation days. And there’s a lot to learn about these little gadgets before you invest.
Bouncie 4G LTE GPS Car Tracker is a premium, lightweight GPS tracker on this list, but it is affordable and easy to use. While this GPS tracker is more expensive than the previous alternative, the monthly subscription price is an extremely low $8. In addition, the Bouncie boasts 15-second real-time data reporting, as well as appealing functions like impact detection, which sends signals to roadside help if an accident occurs.
Is it worthwhile to invest in bouncie?
If compared to other OBD-port GPS car trackers, Bouncie is in the center of the budget range. It achieves a good combination of its competitors with a somewhat higher overall device cost but no activation fee, a reasonable monthly subscription rate, and no long-term commitments.
It also includes an SOS button, recognizes diagnostic issue codes from your vehicle, and keeps you updated on speed restrictions in real-time while on the road. In addition, users can establish a circular geofence to be notified if your car departs or enters, and the Bouncie is Alexa-compatible.
Product highlights:
- Bouncie 4G LTE has an $8 Monthly Service
- Realtime Driving Data – Speedimportant crucial, acceleration, severe braking, idle time, and other notifications
- Auto-Refresh for a 15-second trip
- Accident Alerts – Roadside Assistance continuously monitors the health of your car and notifies you when something requires your notice
- There are no activation fees, hidden fees, or return fees, and you can cancel at any time
Americaloc GL300 GPS Tracker
- Price: 106.99$
- Battery Life: 8760 hours
- Weight: 2.24 oz
The GPS tracker has a lot of capabilities and sends out more notifications than other models in its price range. A minimal monthly subscription cost is also available. The tracker provides real-time tracking in 10-, 20-, 30-, and 60-second increments, geofencing, and an SOS button, but it also warns you when bad weather is approaching and shows you exactly when the car is switched on or off.
This version has the most extended battery life and the CAT M1 Technology. There are no hidden expenses or activation fees. This product is ready to use. Battery life is longer, and coverage is better. Real-time tracking and a one-year history of monitoring. You may track your progress from any computer, tablet, or phone, or you can use our Android or iOS app.
The Americaloc GL300 has a long battery life and can be hardwired (OBD II). The monthly service charge is $24.95, but you may get it for $19.99 per month if you pay for a year in advance. The United States, Canada, and Mexico are all covered, and they may be used in other countries with a SIM card.
Product highlights:
- This device has most extended the most extended battery life and the CAT M1 Technology
- Motion, parked, speeds, device on/off, low battery, entry or exiting zones, front button hit are all examples of alerts
- Battery life is measured not just in hours but in days or even weeks
- Real-time tracking and a one-year history of tracking
- While moving, the location is updated every minute
Garmin inReach Mini
- Price: 350.99$
- Battery Life: 16 hours
- Weight: 3.5 oz
As phones become more powerful, there’s an excellent case to be made for a gadget like the inReach Mini. However, there are a few areas where it falls short in terms of navigation. For starters, you’ll need a subscription to use the device, even only to use its GPS features (prices range from $12 to $65 per month).
The inReach Mini’s essential aim is satellite messaging and SOS (a feature that’s becoming more common on GPS devices, such as the GPSMAP 66i above), but also connects with a smartphone to provide primary navigation preloaded maps.
When you combine the inReach Mini’s small size and weight, low price, and long battery life, it’s no surprise that it’s become a popular safety device among hikers and backcountry skiers. The tracking feature, which remembers your whereabouts regularly and maps the trail on a map for family and friends to follow in real-time, is one of our favorites.
The inReach Mini solely employs GPS and lacks a built-in barometric altimeter or compass. Furthermore, Garmin’s Earthmate is mediocre among phone navigation apps. You can upgrade to the inReach Explorer+ below ($450) for significantly improved GPS functioning and a usable display screen with preloaded TOPO maps, barometric altimeter, and 3-axis compass.
Product highlights:
- GPS and satellite messaging in a small, low-cost package
- Send SMS messages to friends and families, share photos on social media, and interact with inReach in the field
- Use inReach Mini or a device to get specific weather updates. You can also get forecasts for your present location, as well as other waypoints and areas on your trip
- Monitor your location and share it with family and friends at home or in the field so they can check in on you or ping your smartphone
- Your communications, SOS warnings, and tracking are sent via the global Iridium satellite network rather than relying on telephone service
Garmin GPSMAP 66i
- Price: 599.99$
- Battery Life: 16 hours
- Weight: 7.7 oz
Garmin GPSMAP 66i is the best overall handheld GPS tracker on this list. Garmin’s superior navigation features are housed in a durable design, with the extra comfort of satellite messaging and SOS via inReach.
The capability to communicate, share a track, view weather predictions, and conduct rescues is a game-changer for adventurers heading into areas without phone coverage. In addition, the 66i’s includes a high-resolution 3-inch screen, exceptional battery life (200 hours in power save mode), 16 GB storage, and Wi-Fi capability is best-in-class among the GPSMAP family.
Although most users will be comfortable with these navigational aids, realize that devices such as the GPSMAP 66sr and 65s have improved accuracy and satellite support. Furthermore, while the 66i’s lithium-ion battery is durable and rechargeable, some customers may like the flexibility of the 64x and 65 series’ AA batteries.
Product highlights:
- A high-end GPS device with satellite messaging and SOS capabilities
- ABC sensors is help for navigate every route
- Using multiple global navigation satellite systems to monitor in more challenging conditions than GPS alone
- Without an annual subscription, you can download high-resolution, photo-realistic maps straight to your device
Suunto 9 Baro Titanium
- Price: 675.99$
- Battery Life: 170 hours
- Weight: 8g
If you are looking best camping GPS for minimalists, Suunto 9 Baro Titanium is the best powerful tracker on this list. When you’ve set your mind on a specific experience, you’ll want to make sure your watch can keep up. Suunto 9 is built to last, very much like you, with up to 7 days of continuous GPS monitoring.
The Suunto 9 Baro Titanium may appear to be a typical camping watch in many ways. Furthermore, like many of its Suunto 9 relatives, the clock is equipped with a powerful GPS device capable of acquiring an emergency GPS position or following a series of waypoints.
Suunto 9 is a multisport GPS watch for campers or athletes who expect more from their adventure. The watch will last as long as you need it with an intelligent battery life maintenance system and intelligent reminders.
The main drawback is handling it all while on the go, as the watch’s screen real estate is restricted. Even with the most demanding GPS setting, the battery life is 25 hours, but it can be extended to 170 hours by lowering responsiveness slightly.
Product highlights:
- Waterproof to a depth of 100 meters
- Smart Phone Notifications
- Bezel made of Titanium Grade 5
- Ultra-light and Great satellite selection
- Strap made of silicone
- It uses Fusedtrack technology
- The face of the sapphire crystal glass watch
Garmin eTrex 10
- Price: 109.99$
- Battery Life: 20 hours
- Weight: 5 oz
Are you looking for the best budget-friendly GPS device that’s genuinely purchasing your next camping or hiking experience? Garmin has your support. The eTrex ten from the brand comes with two separate navigation systems: GPS and GLONASS.
The durable Garmin eTrex 10 Worldwide Handheld GPS fulfills IPX7 waterproofing levels and can be submerged for 30 minutes in one meter of water. So you can rest assured that it will not be harmed by rain or strong splashes while roughing it in the great hiking adventure.
The Garmin eTrex 10 Worldwide Handheld GPS measures 1.4 x 1.7 x 2.2 inches and has a 2.2-inch monochrome display face. It offers 50 destinations. The device is small and compact; it should fit easily into your bag. Its touchscreen, meanwhile, claims to be simple to read and operate. The only drawback? The device is not rechargeable because AA batteries power it.
Through its logging system, customers can save over 10,000 points and 200 saved tracks, allowing them to revisit old destinations. In addition, it has a WAAS-enabled GPS receiver with HotFix and GLONASS compatibility, so you’ll always have an accurate location and a dependable signal even if you’re in the middle of nowhere.
The device should last more than 20 hours between battery replacements, although you may want to bring backup batteries with you when you’re out and about. A one-year customer unlimited warranty is included.
Product highlights:
- Best budget-friendly option
- To estimate time and distance between sites, look for high and low elevation points or record waypoints along a track
- Two navigation systems are installed
- Lightweight and compact size
- Water-resistant with IPX7 standards
- The touchscreen should be simple to operate and read
Garmin Oregon 700
- Price: 279.99$
- Battery Life: 18 hours
- Weight: 8 oz
With the new 700 series, Montana, a tremendous hit with hunters and moto explorers, has gotten a dramatic makeover. The Montana 700i from Garmin is a well-rounded GPS unit. It’s even better and adaptable.
However, the phone’s distinguishing qualities remain a giant touchscreen, a sturdy design with a raised bezel, and enhanced navigation capabilities. The 700, on the other hand, is substantially more modern than its predecessor, with a larger and higher-resolution display, more excellent durability, and an upgrade in internal memory (16 vs. 4 GB).
Its giant touchscreen should make it a breeze to read. In addition, you shouldn’t have to worry about getting caught in the rain because the device is water-resistant. Significantly, the introduction of Galileo satellite technology improves navigation reliability, and you also have the choice of the I model, which adds inReach technology to keep you linked even when there is no cell coverage.
The battery on the unit is rated to last up to 18 hours in GPS mode and up to a week in Adventure mode. You can also choose texting features and a built-in camera because the gadget is adjustable.
Product highlights:
- Tank-like sturdiness and a large, greater display
- Double GPS and GLONASS satellite reception with great sensitivity
- Battery-saving mode is a feature that allows you to save money on your phones
- 3-axis compass with barometric altimeter and accelerometer sensors
- Wireless connectivity has been improved
- Smart notifications through Bluetooth and automatic uploads to Garmin
- Two navigation systems are installed
- Water-resistant
- While wearing gloves, you can utilize the touchscreen
How to Purchase Best GPS Trackers For Camping – Buying Guide
If you’re a camper or hiker, you’ll want to think about a few things before purchasing the best GPS tracker for camping. First, a GPS that you bring on the trail should be sturdy and water-resistant, with batteries that can be replaced while you’re out in the woods and functions that are designed for outdoor use. Here are the main points you should consider before choosing the right GPS tracker.
Battery Life
For a worry-free trekking experience, the GPS must have long battery life. Some types run on rechargeable batteries, while others utilize AA batteries. Modern units support both. The AA battery has long been the industry standard for GPS systems. They are inexpensive, have a longer lifetime, and can be replaced as they get depleted.
Hikes can be lengthy, especially if you’re planning a multi-day excursion. And you’ll want your GPS device to last the whole of your hike. As a result, the battery life might vary between 18 and 145 hours (in GPS mode). Furthermore, specific solar-powered solutions allow you to extend your battery life even further.
On the negative, if you’re going to be gone for a long time, you’ll need to bring a lot of backup batteries. Additional weight and difficulty come with having more items, and then there’s the hassle of properly disposing of dead batteries. Although AA batteries are still used in many GPS devices, Garmin and others have developed rechargeable battery packs as a viable alternative.
The most significant benefit of rechargeable batteries is that they allow you to minimize the weight and bulk of your pack, which can save you a lot of money over time.
Mapping
Although mapping software may appear very ordinary, you’d be astonished at how many options you may add. For example, are you looking for topographical maps? What about geocaching information built-in? You can obtain a pretty great set of maps for your device if you invest a little more.
Many also come with additional preloaded maps or install more later. It will mostly rely on the product’s age for Garmin devices. Most newer versions, such as the GPSMAP 66i and Montana 700, come with TopoActive mapping, a relatively comprehensive application that includes contour lines to show elevation gain/loss, spots of interest, and some on off-road navigation dependent on your country of origin.
For flawless navigation, search for models with topo maps or other downloaded resources in addition to the fundamental base maps. Make sure your maps track, build routes, arrange data, highlight waypoints, and provide other essential data.
Global Navigation Satellite Systems
While investigating GPS equipment, you’re sure to come across the term GNSS, or Global Navigation Satellite Systems. GPS (United States), GLONASS (Russia), Galileo (EU), QZSS (Japan), and BeiDou (China) are all part of the GNSS constellation (China). Garmin is leading the way in this category, as it is in the rest of the handheld GPS market, with the capacity to connect to GPS and other GNSS networks.
Weight
When trekking, it’s best to carry as little as possible to avoid becoming overburdened. That includes your GPS device. Although most of these gadgets are relatively light, you must ensure that you make appropriate tradeoffs. For example, a small device’s screen could be too small to see in direct sunlight. Americaloc GL300 GPS Tracker is the lightest product on this list.
Size and Readability of the Screen
Huge screen size is one of the key reasons to upgrade to a high-end GPS. A larger screen is helpful for boating, hunting, and other motorized activities where you need to view data properly at a glance.
Hikers and long-distance travelers like thru-hikers and backpackers will still prefer a tiny, light device like the Bouncie 4G LTE GPS Car Tracker. However, the Garmin Oregon 700, with its 3-inch screen and 8 oz weight, is perhaps the best option for these lightweight aficionados who want more extensive capability.
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