From Jim Walczak,
Your Guide to 4-Wheel Drive / Offroading.
FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now!

When choosing between a handheld unit versus a dash-mounted unit for your vehicle, keep in mind your primary use for the GPS receiver.

• Do you prefer a unit that will remain in your vehicle and primarily be used when you're driving?

OR

• Do you think you might want to use a GPS receiver at other times as well, such as hiking, biking, or boating?

If your needs require that your GPS unit be portable, then a handheld receiver is for you.

Pros and Cons of Handheld GPS Units

(compared to dash-mounted units):

PROS

• Easily portable for use in a variety of settings (hiking, biking, driving, boating, etc.)
• Available in many shapes and sizes, including ultra-compact and lightweight pocket size
• Most are highly durable, waterproof, and shockproof
• Can operate off a cigarette lighter or on batteries (20 hour battery life is standard)
• Comes with optional accessories for securing to the windshield or dashboard
• User friendly; quick and easy to learn
• Most popular among hikers, bikers, and kayakers
• Generally less expensive
• Can be easily operated with one hand

CONS

• Small screens can be more difficult to read, especially while driving
• Small buttons are harder for large fingers to manipulate
• Some of the best features (altimeter, compass, illuminated screens, mapping features) tend to decrease battery life
• Less powerful mapping capabilities
• Typically less sophisticated than dash-mounted units; fewer bells and whistles
• Poorer screen resolution
• Reception tends to be weaker in heavily wooded areas
• Less popular for vehicular use
• Most have no swivel mount to rotate the display screen in your vehicle

TOP HANDHELD GPS UNITS


THE BOTTOM LINE:
When selecting a handheld unit, consider the variety of situations in which you could use it. Don't overlook the fact that the same GPS receiver used off-road can also be used when walking in strange towns, hiking through the woods, bicycling, boating, or marking landmarks like gas stations or favorite restaurants on long road trips. The biggest shortcoming of handhelds is their less-than-impressive mapping capabilities.