Garmin Oregon 400t
The Garmin Oregon 400t is Garmin's top-of-the-line GPS unit for outdoor use. It is rugged and has an IPX 7 rating, meaning that it can handle being submerged in up to one meter of water for 30 minutes. It also has an easy to use touch screen. The 400t model is preloaded with topographical maps, which is perfect for hikers. In addition, geocachers will appreciate its paperless geocache function, allowing users to download geocache coordinates from a website to the GPS via a computer. Additional features include a tide tab, altimeter and an electronic compass.
Geomate.jr
If you're shopping for a handheld GPS for a young person, or if the only reason you want a GPS is for geocaching, the Geomate.jr is an excellent option. The Geomate.jr is both waterproof and shockproof, making it great for the outdoors. It is also brightly colored so it's less likely to get lost. It comes pre-programmed with over 250,000 cache locations in North America. You don't need to set up your GPS; instead you can turn it on, and it will tell you what geocache sites are nearby. To make sure you don't get lost, you can simply set the "home marker" so that it can guide you back to your starting point. If you want to get new cache coordinates you will have to purchase the update kit. Though this is a basic model, it is powered by the same SiRFStarIII chip that powers most GPS units. Obviously this is not the GPS for advanced users, but if you're considering geocaching but don't yet want to make the financial commitment, the Geomate.jr is an excellent option.
DeLorme Mapping PN-40
The DeLorme PN-40 offers many of the same features as Garmin's Oregon line but without the heavy price tag, making it a bargain at around $350 compared to Garmin's $450-$500 price tag. The screen is a little smaller than the Garmin Oregon, however it has access to excellent topographical maps, although it does require a $30 per year subscription to update the maps. The DeLorme has many excellent features such as an electronic compass and a barometric altimeter. In addition, it also has 1GB of built-in memory as well as an SD card slot for additional memory. It has a rugged case that can handle being out in the woods, and has an IPX 7 waterproof rating. In addition, like the Geomate.jr, it is also brightly colored, so you won't easily lose it in the woods.
