With so many handheld GPS units available today, the choice can be bewildering. Sifting through the range of features to make the perfect choice can be time consuming. To help you narrow down your selection, we’ve listed our top 5 handheld GPS units of 2015.

Garmin eTrex 10 – Price around £80

Garmin eTrex 10 Outdoor Handheld GPS Unit



eTrex 10 is a highly popular and reliable handheld GPS unit. Well designed and robust, easy-to-use interface, paperless geocaching, a worldwide basemap and long battery life add up to a real contender for the best handheld GPS device of 2015.

The eTrex 10 will display where you are as a grid reference, and points you in the direction of your destination. It has a 2.2 inch monochrome screen that’s easy to read in any lighting situation. The easy-to-use interface means it’s intuitive to use and you’ll spend less time searching for information. Tough and waterproof, the eTrex 10 is built to withstand the elements, including dust, dirt, humidity or water. There is a joystick to select menu functions making gloved use simple. There is also a ‘back’ button for retracing progress through menus and screens.

Paperless geocaching is simple by downloading GPX files for geocaches and details straight to your unit. The eTrex 10 stores and displays all the information you need, including location, terrain, difficulty, hints and descriptions, so there’s no need to manually enter coordinates and paper print outs – upload the geocache to your device and start hunting for caches.

With its high accuracy EGNOS-enabled GPS receiver and HotFix satellite prediction, eTrex 10 locates your position quickly and precisely and maintains its GPS location regardless of heavy cover and deep valleys. Additionally,the new eTrex series is the first-ever consumer level receivers that can track both GPS and GLONASS satellites simultaneously. When using GLONASS satellites, the time it takes for the receiver to “lock on” to a position is much faster than using GPS alone.

Check user reviews and latest prices for the Garmin eTrex 10 Outdoor Handheld GPS Unit on Amazon.

Garmin eTrex 20x – Price around £140

Garmin eTrex 20x Outdoor Handheld GPS Unit with TopoActive Western Europe Maps

The Garmin eTrex 20x is the upgraded version of the eTrex 20 handheld GPS unit, and features an enhanced screen resolution and expanded internal memory for the preloaded mapping Garmin TopoActive Western Europe map. It inludes information that is useful for recreational activities such as hillwalking and biking. This tough, reliable GPS device is very easy to use and reasonably priced. In terms of accessories, there are a range of compatible mounts for use on bicycles, boats and motorbikes. The eTrex 20x can track both GPS and GLONASS satellites simultaneously for improved accurancy, even in difficult conditions. This portable GPS unit also supports geocaching GPX files for downloading geocaches and details straight to your device.

Check user reviews and latest prices for the Garmin eTrex 20x Outdoor Handheld GPS Unit with TopoActive Western Europe Maps on Amazon.

Garmin eTrex 30x – Price around £188

Garmin eTrex 30x Outdoor Handheld GPS Unit with TopoActive Western Europe Maps

The Garmin eTrex 30x is the the latest version of the popular Garmin eTrex 30 handheld GPS unit. It features an enhanced screen resolution and larger internal memory, meaning it can hold the preloaded mapping Garmin TopoActive Western Europe map, which includes information that is perfect for recreational activities (such as hillwalking and cycling). This robust, reliable GPS unit retains the simplicity-of-use and affordability that the eTrex range is well known for. As for accessories, there are many compatible mounts for on bicycles, boats and motorbikes. The new eTrex 30x can also use both GPS and GLONASS satellites simultaneously for added accuracy. Add to that a 3-axis tilt-compensated electronic compass and barometric altimeter, and you’re all set for any adventure.

Check user reviews and latest prices for the Garmin eTrex 30x Outdoor Handheld GPS Unit with TopoActive Western Europe Maps on Amazon.

Garmin GPSMAP 64 Handheld Navigator – Price around £180

Garmin GPSMAP 64 Handheld Navigator



The Garmin GPSMAP 64s handheld navigator includes a 2.6″ sunlight viewable screen, and a both GPS and GLONASS receivers for added accuracy. With a quad helix antenna, this portable GPS device has excellent reception. The tough and waterproof GPSMAP 64s also features a barometric altimeter and a 3-axis compass. It will wirelessly connect to your smartphone for Live Tracking and Smart Notification.

Check user reviews and latest prices for the Garmin GPSMAP 64s Handheld Navigator on Amazon.

Garmin Montana 650 Outdoor Handheld GPS Unit – Price around £280

Garmin Montana 650 Outdoor Handheld GPS Unit



Garmin’s Montana 650 from Garmin is definitely a multipurpose portable GPS unit. The 4” sunlight-readable touchscreen displays vibrant colours and is dual orientation. The high sensitivity HotFix positioning will track your location accurately, and the device is both tough and waterproof.

The Montana has a 3-axis tilt-compensated compass which shows your heading even when you’re stationary and without holding the device level. It features a barometric altimeter which tracks changes in pressure to measure your exact altitude, and you can plot barometric pressure over time to help you forecast changing weather conditions.

The Montana 650’s 5-megapixel digital camera takes images that are automatically geotagged with the location, so you to navigate back to that exact location in the future. You can keep note of your photos and show their location on a map, by connecting the Montana 650 via USB to Garmin’s free BaseCamp™ software.

There is a range of compatible mounts available, for use on boats, as a handheld, off roading or in your car. You can use the car mount with City Navigator or Garmin GB maps for spoken turn-by-turn driving directions.

Another useful feature of the Montana 650 is its one-of-a-kind dual battery system. You can use the rechargeable lithium-ion pack or traditional AA alkaline batteries.

Check user reviews and latest prices for the Garmin Montana 650 Outdoor Handheld GPS Unit on Amazon.

So there you have it, some of the best GPS devices around at the moment. Yes, they are all Garmin devices but the fact is that Garmin offer fantastic products in this area. Hopefully one of these handheld GPS units will fit your budget and activity needs.