Andrea Schafthuizen
What To Look For
Geocaching is becoming more popular as this international hide-and-seek game attracts outdoors people and adventurers. The single-most important piece of equipment for geocaching is a GPS unit; however, these units differ from the GPS you might have in your car. A good geocaching GPS unit should be waterproof, have at least 12 parallel channels and have a long-life battery and car recharging system. It also should have enough memory for several top (topographical) maps, base map ability so you can find your way to the trail and the ability to store notes.
Common Pitfalls
In most cases, it isn't wise to use your automobile GPS for geocaching. They do a great job getting you to the site, but fall short after that because most don't have the capability for off-road navigation. The least expensive or even the most expensive may not be your best bet. Analyze your usage. Decide if the GPS will be used mostly for urban or rural geocaching. Focus on the features you will need.
Where To Buy
Because geocaching GPS units are generally pricier than many automobile units, and they are a specialty item, you aren't likely to find them at discount stores. Large sporting goods stores or smaller specialty stores most likely will have them in stock. Amazon.com and Buy.com both have large selections. If you are buying from an independent online seller, make sure the model you buy is up to date and under warranty.
Cost
Because of their small size and large memory capacity, geocaching GPS units are generally more expensive than standard units. The highly-rated Garmin GPS units run from $500 to $600, but there is also a budget model that costs about $160. The Magellan Triton is $400, the Navman $400 to $500.
Comparison Shopping
Garmin has a large selection of geocaching-suitable units with a choice of features. They are highly rated by consumers. Garmin also is an industry leader in all types of GPS units. The Triton, by Magellan, has many of the features of the Garmin units, but includes a 2 megapixel camera.
Accessories
A car recharger is a must for having your GPS unit fully-charged for the trail. A car mounting bracket allows the unit to do double duty. Topo maps are essential for specific areas where you will be geocaching.
Insider Tips
If you already have an iPod, you may want to consider using it as a geocaching GPS unit. However, because it needs an Internet connection to work, it is only good for urban geocaching.
