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Living in the pacific northwest, it’s only natural that I enjoy a lot of outdoorsy activities such as camping and hiking. The only problem is that I don’t have the best sense of direction, and so in order to avoid dangerous situations like getting lost, I’ve been looking into getting a handheld GPS unit for my outdoor excursions. GPS units are obviously a lot more advanced (and easier to use) than a simple map and compass, so having one should help to ensure that I don’t become easily lost in the woods.

After doing a fair bit of research, I thought it would be a good idea to share what I’ve learned about handheld GPS devices here. You see, if you’re shopping for such a device there are a few features that you will surely want to ensure are included. These features include:

Easy of use – You should choose a device that you are comfortable operating, that allows you to retrace your route in order to prevent getting lost. You’ll also want to be able to mark certain areas of the map.

Digital capabilities – The device should have a digital compass for times when satellite access is unavailable.

A rugged exterior – A GPS used for hiking needs to be able to withstand a few falls, bumps and scrapes. Ensure that yours meets this criteria.

Battery Life – What good is a GPS unit if it quickly runs out of battery life during your hiking trip? For this reason, it’s essential to choose a device with exceptionally long battery life.

There are few things sadder in this world than child abduction cases, particularly cases where the child is never returned home. I think it’s one of the chief fears of any parent, and something that we are all eager to prevent. While nothing can compare to keeping a close eye on our children, there is a interesting trend of parents using GPS tracking devices in order to help keep their children safe.

One item that parents can consider is called the Amber Alert GPS, which is a tiny two inch device that can be sewn into the child’s clothes, backpack or other item. The child can press the device’s button should they find themselves in an emergency situation, and the parents and up to five other contacts will be notified (via both phone and email). The location of the child will be identified, and monitored from that point. The parents can even set the device to automatically notify them if the child goes out of a predetermined radius. This is a device that if used in a widespread fashion, could help to seriously reduce child abduction incidents.