When you’re deep in the backcountry, you need to know two things: where you are, and which way you need to go. No device is better equipped to provide that information than a GPS tracker. 

GPS units for hiking have been around for a long time, but even as Google Maps and other smartphone apps become increasingly powerful, the utility of GPS trackers never seems to go away. There’s a reason for that. They’re reliable, accurate, and made with the durability and functionality that hikers need. It’s also worth noting that GPS trackers for hiking have come a long way since the pioneering models of the 1990s.

GPS won’t replace your smartphone (or vice versa) but can work with it to provide exceptional mapping and navigation. Of course, one of the chief advantages of GPS is that it doesn’t rely on cell service or an internet connection. With a good GPS tracker in your hands, you can find your way just about anywhere, no matter how far from civilization the trail may take you. 

Best Buy

1. Garmin GPSMAP 66s

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Garmin is, without a doubt, the gold standard when it comes to GPS trackers, and you’re going to see a lot of their products on this list. There’s really no way around it. The Garmin GPSMAP 66s is my personal favorite. 

This unit has a crisp, sunlight-readable 3″ color display and large buttons for ease of use. It has a three-axis compass and barometric altimeter, plus Multiple Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) support in addition to GPS.

One of the really great things about the GPSMAP 66s is its very impressive 16GB of memory (which you can essentially quadruple through added microSD cards). That allows the 66s to update you on the weather, provide satellite imagery, and map thousands of waypoints with ease.

If there’s one small downside to this model, it’s that connecting it to other devices is a little complicated. But all Garmin’s basic features are intuitive and easy to use, and it’s one of the most reliable and accurate GPS trackers on the market.